Explore advanced reporting strategies and integration with AI visuals. Participants will learn how to connect multiple and cloud-based data sources, manage workspaces and apps, and implement secure, scalable, and dynamic reports. With a focus on performance optimization, storytelling, and collaboration in the Power BI Service, this course equips learners to build enterprise-ready, visually compelling, and data-driven solutions.

Course Pre-requisites

This is an advanced Power BI course

• Participant has completed “2-Day Power BI Essentials: Visualizing Data for Beginners” course – ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT.
• Participants are required to
  • Bring an Internet enabled laptop for hands-on exercises, and
  • Download and install Power BI Desktop software from Microsoft at https://powerbi.microsoft.com
  • Require WEB BASED access to Microsoft 365 apps, including Power BI –no software installation is required for this

Objective

Connect Multiple Data Sources:

• Combine and transform data from various sources such as SQL Server, Excel, APIs, Azure, and web services into a unified model.

Design Visually Compelling Dashboards:

• Learn principles of effective visual communication, dashboard layout, color theory, and storytelling to create aesthetically appealing and functional reports. Customize report appearance for consistency and branding.

Use Advanced Chart Types and Custom Visuals:

• Explore advanced visualization techniques including decomposition trees, waterfall charts, heat maps, KPI indicators, and integrate custom visuals from the Power BI marketplace.

Implement Interactive and Dynamic Reporting:

• Master the use of bookmarks, tooltips, slicers, drill-through pages, and buttons to build interactive experiences tailored to user needs.

Use AI Visuals in Reports:

• Leverage built-in AI visuals like Q&A, Key Influencers, Smart Narratives, and decomposition trees to enhance insights and decision-making.

Design and Connect to Cloud Datasets:

• Learn how to create and connect to centralized cloud-based datasets, enabling scalable and consistent reporting across the organization.

Manage Power BI Workspaces and Apps:

• Understand workspace roles, content deployment strategies, and how to build and distribute apps for broader access.

Enable Cloud Data Refresh:

• Set up scheduled data refreshes using gateways and cloud connections to ensure reports always reflect the latest available data.

Outline

Day 1
1. Connecting and Preparing Diverse Data Sources

• Connecting to SQL Server, Excel, Web, and API data sources
• Integrating data from Azure and other cloud platforms
• Transforming and cleaning data using Power Query Editor

2. Designing Visually Compelling Dashboards

• Principles of visual communication and dashboard best practices
• Effective use of layout, whitespace, and alignment
• Applying color theory and accessibility guidelines
• Using report themes and templates for branding
• Adding titles, labels, and visual cues for clarity
• Aligning visuals to support business storytelling

3. Advanced Chart Types and Custom Visuals

• Creating waterfall, funnel, and gauge charts
• Using decomposition trees for root cause analysis
• Implementing heat maps and KPI visuals
• Importing and configuring visuals from the Power BI marketplace
• Customizing chart properties and behaviors
• Selecting the right visual for the data narrative

4. Building Interactive and Dynamic Reports

• Using slicers and filters for user-driven views
• Creating drill-through pages for detailed exploration
• Adding navigation buttons and dynamic headers
• Syncing slicers across multiple pages

Day 2
1. Enhancing Reports with AI Visuals

• Introducing Power BI's AI capabilities
• Creating and interpreting Key Influencers visuals
• Using the Q&A visual for natural language queries
• Adding Smart Narratives for auto-generated summaries
• Comparing decomposition trees with standard charts

2. Cloud Dataset Design and Integration

• Creating and publishing centralized datasets to Power BI Service
• Connecting multiple reports to shared datasets
• Managing dataset permissions and access
• Dataset versioning and documentation best practices
• Managing Workspaces and Publishing Apps
• Creating and organizing workspaces in Power BI Service
• Assigning roles and managing workspace access
• Publishing reports and dashboards to workspaces
• Creating Power BI apps for structured distribution
• Controlling app audience and permissions

3. Automating Cloud Data Refresh and Maintenance

• Scheduling dataset refreshes from on-prem and cloud sources
• Monitoring refresh history and troubleshooting failures
• Configuring incremental refresh for large datasets
• Alerts and notifications for data update issues
• Ensuring data security and compliance in automated refreshes

Who should attend

Anyone who works with more or complex data and wants to transform it into clear, insightful dashboards and reports using advanced Power BI features.

Methodology

Participants engage in immersive learning experiences, where they apply advanced development techniques and workflow design principles in simulated business scenarios. Instructors provide personalized guidance and feedback, fostering an environment conducive to skill mastery and knowledge retention.

Peter Goh's Profile

Peter Goh embarked on his illustrious teaching journey in 1990, assuming the role of an IT Instructor in secondary schools. His commitment to education led him to serve at Tanjong Katong Girls' School and subsequently Anderson Secondary School, where he imparted fundamental IT and internet skills to students. Throughout his evolving career, Peter has donned multiple hats in the IT domain, holding positions such as Systems Administrator, Programmer, Systems Architect, IT Project Manager, and Chief Technology Officer.

Peter's extensive expertise is underscored by a plethora of certifications, including Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) and Certified Scrum Master (CSM) from the Scrum Alliance, Certified Cloud Practitioner from Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Certified Azure Fundamentals from Microsoft. Additionally, he boasts a WSQ ACTA certification, demonstrating his prowess as a trainer.

Demonstrating his prowess as a seasoned developer, Peter has contributed to diverse projects for prominent entities like the Peoples' Association and ST Engineering, as well as small to medium-sized businesses such as Fancl, Olam, Heinz, Watsons, KBox, and Sakae Sushi. His portfolio encompasses the development of web-based applications and native mobile apps for both Android and iOS platforms. Leveraging his proficiency, Peter has also conducted training sessions on various programming languages, including Java, C#, Swift, Angular, React, and Flutter, along with courses on systems and cloud topics. He imparts knowledge at Authorized Training Organizations (ATOs) and serves as an adjunct faculty member at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.