Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Power BI Dashboard

Attractive and meaningful data visualization has become a significant part of everyday decision-making for business organizations. In recent years, the dependence on data visualization has increased remarkably, mainly because of their ability to provide clear and evocative insights that are crucial for making informed decisions for the business. Business Intelligence and Data Visualization tools like Power BI, Google Data Studio, and Tableau enable executives and managements to make quick yet well-informed and thoughtful decisions while making the overall data management process easier.

Without effective data visualization, it becomes very difficult for companies to monitor their productivity levels, the efficiency of their sales, efficacy of marketing campaigns, and overall performance of the business and business operations. Power BI is a self-service business intelligence tool that combines artificial intelligence and web analytics capabilities which results in powerful data visualization.

Assuming that you are here to learn about ‘How to create Dashboard in Power B”, which means that you are already familiar with the Power BI tool and that what it can do. Still, for those, who don’t know what Power BI is, here is a very brief overview. Created by Microsoft, Power BI is capable of turning boring, data encumbered Excel sheets into visually attractive, easy-to-understand charts and graphics that can be comprehended by anyone without relying on the expertise of an IT professional or data scientist.

How to Develop Dashboards in Power BI? 

Since we at Code Creators Inc. understand how important data visualization is for a company to become data-driven, so here we have created a step-by-step guide for creating a Power BI Dashboard.

Step 1: Download Power BI Desktop

Like any other software tool, Power BI Dashboard Setup also starts with the Sign-In requirements for Power BI Desktop. And, if you have already logged in to Power BI, you can simply opt for installing Power BI Dashboards. To do so, you need to follow these steps;

• Go to Power BI Home.
• Click on ‘Sign Up Free’.
• Click on ‘Start Free Trial’.

 

Once you have filled in your email address, name, and other required details, etc. you will be then directed to the homepage of your Power BI Desktop, where you can find your Power BI Dashboards, Power BI Reports, Datasets, and Workbooks under the My Workspace option.

But remember that Power BI is only well-integrated and compatible to be used with Windows OS; so, unfortunately, if you use operating systems like Mac OS or Linux, then it’s going to be tough luck for you.

Or not so tough as there are plenty of great Data Visualization tools on the market, here’s their comparison, by the way, A Comparative Analysis of Data Visualization Tools: Google Data Studio, Power BI, and Tableau.

Step 2: Install Power BI Desktop

To install your setup file and go to Next > ☑I accept the terms in the License Agreement > Choose the destination folder > ☑Create a desktop shortcut > Install > ☑Launch Microsoft Power BI Desktop > Finish.

Step 3: Import data to Power BI Dashboard

Data visualization is not possible without numbers. This is why the third step of creating a Power BI Dashboard is to import data from your desired data sources. To do so, you need to click on Home ® Get Data ® Choose a Data Source ®Connect in your Power BI Desktop Dashboard.

Also Read → Everything You Want to Know About Microsoft Power BI

Step 4: Format data in Power BI Dashboard

Once you have chosen a data source, your Power BI tool will start to process your data and organize it in a new Navigator window. For example, below you can see how two different components i.e. Ranking and Document of the worst and the best states for retirement, have been visualized by Power BI in the left side panel.

So, choose data that you want to be visualized or sorted and see the potential results in the preview. This gives you a perfect chance to format or change your data visualization for the future; by giving you the option to choose between ‘Load’ (if you want to visualize it as it is or to go for ‘Transform Data’.

 

Step 5: Create Data Visualization in Power BI Dashboard

Once you have imported data to your Power BI dashboard, the process of creating a data visualization dashboard is actually quite simple from now ahead. All you need to do is simply go to the ‘Field’ panel on your right-hand side and then drag-&-drop or check the desired field. For instance, Affordability, Abbreviation, State, Overall Rank or Weather, etc. on to your Power BI Dashboard.

If you want to create another Power BI Dashboard, which demonstrates correlations between different values, then just check the values that you want to be visualized within the ‘Field’ section (as shown below) and MS Power BI will generate a data visualization for you automatically.

Also Read → Difference Between Power BI Pro, Power BI Premium, Power BI Report Server

All you need to do is simply check on any Pie, Bar, or Donut Chart or any other type of data visualization type or method that you may want (under the ‘Visualization’ tab on the right-side panel).

Voila! You are done! Your Data Visualization Dashboard at Power BI Desktop is now finally created. Now, you can add your desired graphs and charts to your dashboard with additional information and visualization types until your dashboard is finally ready and looks the way you want or at least something like this.

Find the Right Advice at Code Creators Inc.

We believe that by now you have learned how to create a data visualization dashboard in your MS Power BI tool. But, if you are still confused about it or thinking about choosing any other data visualization platform such as Google Data Studio or Tableau, then have a word of consultation with our Power BI experts, and we are sure that you will get the best advice.