Power BI - Finally I can make decisions based on facts

Enterprise Software Development

Join the Conversation #PowerBI @UlyssesMac

Power BI

Finally I can make decisions based on facts


.NET User Group - October 2016

SSW General Manager

Ulysses Maclaren #ulyssesmac

ulysses.maclaren ulyssesmaclaren

At SSW for over 10 years Obsessive Scrum Master Teaches Salsa and won a World Latin Dance

Cup in 2014Join the Conversation #PowerBI @UlyssesMac

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Disclaimer: I am not a developer

Making a New Report from Scratch

Power BI to the Rescue

History

The Age of Traditional Reporting

Table of Contents

Tips

Summary

1970 – First Database systems invented, known as Decision Support Systems (DSS)1985 – Excel1991 – SQL Server 1.11991 – Crystal reports (AKA Quick Reports)1992 – Access 1.02004 – SQL Server Reporting Services2011 – Telerik Reporting2015 – Power BI Join the Conversation #PowerBI @UlyssesMac


Google Trends



History


Tips

Summary

I have questions:Who could I book

for upcoming client work?

Are my salespeople

keeping on top of their

opportunities

How is the company going

financially?

No problem… I’ll make you a report in SQL

Reporting Services

Reporting Services (old)

Once reports have been developed, I can get key information quickly




These reports allow me to answer FAQs




These reports allow me to answer FAQs

I can see dashboards, and with enough work, they can look

pretty good


The ProblemsLong report development timeHigh cost of report developmentDelayed answers to key questionsMissed opportunities I can’t freely ask new questionsThis does not breed a culture of curiosity


The Big ProblemDue to the difficulty in getting quick answers,

I was making decisions based on guesses and war stories



Examples:Should I talk the boss into opening a new

office in another state? – high $$When should I hire a new guy (or sack)?What technologies should we be focussing

on?Plus more… like seeing trends on an Ad Hoc

basis



History


Tips

Summary


I can’t show you client reports - Private data

Timesheet data from


Finance data from


Sales data from CRM



Phone call data from

Phone call data from


Source Control data from

Here’s some I prepared earlier

My Journey• A developer setup my 1st dataset• Started with the browser editor• Moved to Desktop• Using Git for source control• Discovered calculated columns• Discovered the Custom Visualisations Marketplace• New Power BI reports are now very fast to spin up


Custom Visualisations Marketplace

Power BI - ProsReports can be made by power usersEasy to drill up/down

Can interactively cross filter charts

Easy to merge multiple data sources into one reportDashboards are mobile friendly (responsive)


Power BI - ProsData gets refreshed on a schedule

Can easily be triggered manually

Can also be set up with direct query



Power BI - Unexpected benefitsData cleanedBusiness processes improved – new fields

added

Power BI – Cons – our version is at http://bettersoftwaresuggestions.com/category/microsoft/powerbi/

http://bettersoftwaresuggestions.com/category/microsoft/powerbi/

http://bettersoftwaresuggestions.com/category/microsoft/powerbi/

Power BI - ConsNo alignment helper controls for

visualisations



visualisations

No year-month slicer (I had to add a custom dimension for this)



visualisations


Can’t hide slicer section


Power BI - ConsNo alignment helper controls for visualisations



No easy way to specify financial year rather than annual year



visualisations



No easy way to specify financial year rather than annual year

No source control for collaboration




History


Tips

Summary

Creation ProcessConnect to a data sourceUse the modelling tab to manipulate your data setCreate visualisations on reports and dashboards


Warning: Live Demo

SummaryPull in the data you want…Tables from SQL Server in this case



SummaryClick on Edit Queries | Choose Columns… To focus on what you care about



SummaryDrag and drop fields to create visualisations


SummaryAdd slicers and/or page filters… To limit the dataset


SummaryAdvanced: Create measures or columns if necessary to view your data in different ways…Using DAX



SummaryChoose the visualisation type that works best


SummaryPlay with formatting (e.g. changing titles, removing unnecessary headers, using Aussie state colours, etc…)

NSW = Blue, QLD = Maroon


SummaryPublish/share reports



History


Tips

Summary

TipsCreate measures and new columnsThis will let you see metrics and slice up your data any way you want


Calculated Columns and MeasuresCalculated columns:

• Stored in the database• Often used to filter/group dataMeasures:

• Computed on aggregates of values• Computed at query time• Often used to give a numerical metric

Learn some basic DAX – even just IF statements – it’s cool and less scary than I thought


TipsIf you can do Excel formulas…



TipsIntegrate with SQL Server Reporting Services

Your 1st reports will be from the starting point of “What can I do with the data I have?”

After that, your best reports will have the starting point of “Who am I and what do I want to know?”

Don’t get stuck on using your “favourite visualisation” – use the best one for the situation

TipsKnow when to use Dashboards vs Reports

Put slicers on the left when possible… the check boxes line up


Tufte Principles: Think of your Data-Ink Ratio


Sort Order (Alphabetical sucks)


Question: Date Sorting



History


Tips

Summary

Remember The Big Problem?Due to the difficulty in getting quick answers,

I was making decisions based on guesses and war stories


Should I talk the boss into opening a new office in another state? – high $$

When should we hire a new guy (or sack)?

What technologies should we be focussing on?

Plus more, like Ad Hoc seeing trends

Thank you!

https://www.ssw.com.au/ssw/Consulting/Power-BI.aspx https://rules.ssw.com.au/rules-to-better-power-bi

[email protected]

Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane

https://www.ssw.com.au/ssw/Consulting/Power-BI.aspx

https://www.ssw.com.au/ssw/Consulting/Power-BI.aspx

https://rules.ssw.com.au/rules-to-better-power-bi

https://rules.ssw.com.au/rules-to-better-power-bi

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Power BI - Finally I can make decisions based on facts

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