BI - what does it mean?

Business Intelligence, or BI, is the discipline that deals with collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to support business decision-making. 

In today's world, where data is a crucial resource, Power BI, developed by Microsoft, is an essential tool. Power BI enables users to create interactive reports, visualise data, and build advanced dashboards that instantly understand trends and key business metrics. 

With its ease of use and ability to integrate with various data sources, Power BI enables companies to effectively manage data and make strategic decisions based on sound analysis. This tool is becoming increasingly indispensable in today's business world, allowing companies to gain a competitive advantage by better understanding their environment and responding to change faster.

Microsoft Power BI system - how is it built?

The architecture of the Microsoft BI system consists of the following:

- desktop application (Power BI Desktop) - used for data processing, building reports, and their presentation. It is the most advanced version of the program.

- a cloud application (Power BI Service) - allows the building of reports and sharing them between users. This is a version of the program available in the cloud, enabling you to download data and work on them without needing to install the software. 

- mobile application (Power BI App / Mobile) - provides for comfortable browsing of reports and interaction with them anytime and anywhere. It is a version of the program designed for phones and tablets. 

Power BI - what are its applications?

Power BI is a business analysis software that allows users to create and share interactive reports based on company data efficiently. The ready report can be easily shared with all or selected team members. The system's advantage is its intuitive interface and "drag and drop" functionality, which makes it easy to create professional-looking but straightforward reports.

Power BI is a complete set of analytical tools that support the functioning of companies and organizations from various industries - from commerce through manufacturing plants to healthcare. Microsoft products are used by global companies such as HP, Adobe, Pepsi and Toshiba.

When is it worth implementing Business Intelligence class systems?

Business Intelligence systems, including Power BI, answer companies' needs, primarily aiming to develop and strengthen their market position. In their case, analytical tools will be an invaluable support in implementing the adopted strategy.

Implementation of Power BI is recommended especially for those organizations where, despite data collection, no specific conclusions are drawn from them. The software will help notice correlations between information and use it to plan business activities.

It is worth remembering the limited possibilities of still commonly used Excel. With large amounts of data from different sources, their analysis and reporting take much time and are burdened with the risk of errors. In this case, a better choice is modern Business Intelligence tools, for which the analysis of this type of data, and also in real-time, is not a minor problem. Additionally, Power BI enables the effective creation of attractive data and reports visualization.

In which areas of the business does Power BI benefit?

Power BI is widely used across disciplines and industries, enabling organisations to analyse data, generate reports and make better-informed decisions. Here are some of the main applications of Power BI:

Business Analytics

Microsoft Power BI enables companies to analyse financial, sales, and operational data to help identify trends, forecast performance, and optimise business processes.

Reporting and monitoring

With Power BI, users can create interactive reports and dashboards that allow them to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) on an ongoing basis and respond quickly to changes in the organisation.

Marketing analysis

Marketing agencies and corporate marketing departments can use Power BI to analyse advertising campaign effectiveness and customer behaviour and forecast market trends.

Human resources analysis

Microsoft Power BI allows the analysis of data related to human resources, such as employee turnover, salary analysis, or employee satisfaction analysis, which can help optimise HR strategies.

Financial data analysis

The financial sector can use Power BI for investment data analysis, risk analysis, portfolio management, and monitoring of changes in financial markets.

Sales data analysis

Companies across industries can track sales data, analyse customer preferences, forecast product demand, and optimise inventory management using Power BI.

Operational data analysis

Manufacturing and logistics companies can analyse operational data such as production times, raw material consumption, production costs, and more, helping to optimise production and logistics processes.

Educational data analysis

Microsoft Power BI can analyse student performance, teacher evaluations, and attendance analysis in the education sector and monitor educational progress.

These applications are just a few examples of Power BI's capabilities. Thanks to its versatility and ease of use, this tool can be adapted to any industry or organization's different needs and specifications.

Implementing Microsoft Power BI - Steps

Implementing a Microsoft Power BI data analysis system is a multi-stage process that requires careful analysis and planning. It can be outlined in the following steps:

1. Analysis of needs and objectives:
   • The first step in the Power BI implementation process is thoroughly analysing the organisation's needs and objectives. This is the stage during which we define what specific benefits the company wants to achieve through business intelligence tools.
2. Data aggregation:
   • In this phase, we focus on assessing the availability and quality of existing data. We identify if there are any gaps or inaccuracies and prepare a plan to correct them. The value of analyses carried out with the help of Power BI depends mainly on the data quality, so the data aggregation and segmentation process is extremely important.
3. Designing the structure of reports and dashboards:
   • Design is a crucial stage where we define the structure of reports and dashboards. We consider what information is vital for different users and how to present it in an understandable and useful way. Designing an intuitive interface ensures that employees use the tool effectively.

1. Implementation:
   • Once the structure of the reports is established, we move to the implementation stage. Power BI integration with existing systems and data import are key elements of this stage. In addition, we configure security settings to ensure that data access is appropriately controlled.
2. User training:
   • The introduction of a new tool requires robust user training. We organise training sessions to teach staff how to use the Power BI interface, interpret reports, and use the data analysis features effectively.
3. Monitoring and optimisation:
   • After implementation, the effectiveness of reports and dashboards should be systematically monitored. Analysis of user feedback data and regular optimisation of ETL processes keep system performance high. A proactive approach to monitoring and optimisation is crucial for long-term success.

What benefits can companies gain from implementing Microsoft Power BI?

Implementing Microsoft Power BI benefits companies by covering different business areas. Key among these are:

Improved data analysis

Power BI enables real-time data collection, analysis, and visualisation. This allows companies to understand their data faster and more accurately, leading to more relevant analyses and business decisions.

Intuitive reporting

The platform offers an intuitive interface for creating reports and dashboards. This makes it easy for even those without technical expertise to generate clear and attractive reports, speeding up decision-making.

Easy integration with other tools

Power BI integrates with other tools and platforms like Microsoft Excel, SharePoint, and Azure. This facilitates using existing resources and ensures seamless collaboration between different systems.

Data centralisation

With Power BI, data from different sources can be combined and processed in one place. This eliminates the need for multiple data analysis tools and makes information management more effortless.

Rapid response to change

Dynamic reporting and real-time analytics allow companies to respond quickly to changing market conditions. This is crucial, especially in today's dynamic business environment.

Improving operational efficiency

Microsoft Power BI automates many of the processes involved in data analysis, saving time and resources. Companies can focus on essential tasks rather than manually processing data.

Improving organisational transparency

With access to accurate data at different organisational levels, all employees have a complete picture of the company's situation. This, in turn, fosters a better understanding of objectives and a shared drive to achieve them.

Implementation of Power BI - tailor-made solutions

Are you planning to implement Power BI in your company? Modern analytical tools are convenient for companies wishing to manage their data efficiently. However, to fulfil their tasks, they must be ideally suited to the needs and expectations of a given organization. At EBIS, we implement Microsoft BI products based on an individual offer prepared for a given client.