How to Learn Power BI

One of the most popular business intelligence and data analytics tools currently available is Microsoft Power BI. This data visualization and reporting tool is relied on by individuals and teams around the world to help gather actionable insights from large datasets and apply these findings to their business processes. However, the number of options for learning Power BI might be overwhelming at first glance. There are books, video tutorials, classes, and more to choose from; it all depends on your learning style and personal preferences. 

Here, we’ll discuss the various methods of learning Power BI so you can decide how you’d like to get started.

What is Power BI?

Microsoft Power BI is a group of BI (business intelligence) services and products that converts data from various sources into reports, visualizations, and interactive dashboards. This allows users to share data insights with others who work at their organization or to embed them onto a website or application. Power BI offers effective business solutions with each of its individual elements and provides users with even more capabilities when these components work together.

One of the main benefits of working with Power BI is that it can integrate with other Microsoft services and products and third-party platforms. Users can connect Power BI to Excel, Teams, SharePoint, and Exchange, among others. Whether your data is stored in an on-premises data warehouse, a cloud-based warehouse, or an Excel spreadsheet, Power BI can easily connect to these data sources, provide visualizations based on the data they contain, and offer insights that you can then share with other stakeholders. There are several Power BI products, each of which has different uses; Power BI Desktop creates reports, Power BI Services publishes the reports, and the Power BI mobile app provides users with a way to view each dashboard or report.

Read more about what Power BI is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Power BI?

Power BI is a valuable tool for illustrating what’s happening within an organization in the present. It also has applications for helping to anticipate what may transpire in the future. Because it relies on machine learning capabilities, Power BI can locate patterns in data, then draw from these patterns to predict various “what-if” scenarios. Based on these predictions, Power BI users can create forecasts and work to prepare for different demand patterns that may emerge. They can then communicate this information through data visualizations, which impart key data findings to stakeholders to make more educated business predictions.

Power BI is a go-to for those who work with data because it can be used to input huge stores of data that would be a struggle for other platforms to process. Because this intelligence suite is cloud-based, it provides users with regularly updated algorithms and intelligence capabilities. Those who use Power BI can personalize their experience by creating dashboards that allow them to quickly and easily access necessary data. In addition, it’s possible to create alerts in Power BI, which provide users with up-to-date measurements. Best of all, because this platform can integrate with other business management tools, such as Office 365, SharePoint, SAP, Google Analytics, and Hadoop, it remains a hugely popular tool for those working with data across platforms. 

In-Person Power BI Training

In-person Power BI classes provide learners with many benefits. They offer access to an instructor who is there to field questions and provide support, and they also allow students to connect with other learners on the same educational journey. Those studying Power BI in person have access to a computer lab with the latest software already loaded. Although this form of training involves regularly commuting to and from campus, which can require additional transportation or parking fees, it provides extroverted learners an excellent opportunity to retain the information they learn. 

Noble Desktop currently has an in-person Power BI Bootcamp available for learners who want to study in Manhattan. This course provides participants access to an expert instructor who guides them through Power BI’s capabilities. Students receive instruction on topics such as using Power Query for querying data, working with Power BI’s data model for connecting to datasets, and this tool’s report view to design data visualizations and dashboards. Case studies help learners work with multiple Power BI capabilities and teach participants to use the DAX language to depict their data findings visually. 

In addition, other top educational providers also have Power BI courses available in-person as well. Interested learners may consider enrolling in Skillspire’s Intro to Data Analytics class. Intermediate learners can sign up for ONLC Training Center’s Power BI Intermediate. And those seeking advanced instruction might opt for The Academy’s Analyzing Data with Power BI.

Live Online Power BI Training

Another excellent learning option for those interested in studying Microsoft Power BI is to enroll in live online classes. This learning format provides many of the same perks as in-person study with none of the hassle. It allows students to connect with skilled instructors in real-time, who are available to offer support and answer questions as they arise. Instead of wasting time and money driving to and from class or searching for parking spots near campus, live online coursework has the added perk of allowing students to work remotely from the comfort of their home or office. 

Many live online Power BI training options are available for beginners, intermediate, and advanced learners. Noble Desktop’s Power BI Bootcamp is available for those interested in learning how to use Power BI to create business reports and data visualizations. Students receive guidance from an expert instructor on core Power BI concepts, such as how to use Power Query, connect multiple data sources into one relational model, and craft in-depth time intelligence reports. 

In addition, Certstaiffix Traning has several online Power BI courses available, like Microsoft Power BI Online, Microsoft Power BI Desktop, and Microsoft Power Query. The Knowledge Academy also has a beginner-friendly course, Microsoft Power BI Training, in which participants spend a day creating different data visualizations, such as tables and charts.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

If you’re not ready to invest in a lengthy course, you can still start learning how to work with data for free online. In Noble Desktop’s free Data Science Webinar, you’ll receive instruction on core data science concepts, such as how professionals can use data science in the business sector and the different tools Data Scientists use when handling data. This 80-minute webinar is a great way to familiarize yourself with the field of data science and learn more about how professionals manage and analyze large volumes of data.

In addition to Noble Desktop’s business intelligence and data science resources, other top educational providers also offer free Power BI instruction. Udemy’s Power BI Quick Start is a free, two-hour course containing helpful video content on creating your own interactive Power BI dashboard. Students also receive instruction on creating full reports and publishing them on the Power BI service. Udemy also has another free Power BI course, Learn Power BI Fast, in which users learn how to create a professional Power BI report in under two hours. Participants also receive instruction and both basic and advanced data visualization concepts.

In addition, Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Power BI is free from edX. This course teaches students how to use Microsoft Power BI in approximately four weeks. Certification is available for those who pay for the course, or students can elect to simply explore the free content. 

Read more about free Power BI videos and online tutorials. 

On-Demand Power BI Classes

If you aren’t fully ready to commit to an in-person or live online course, another way to study Microsoft Power BI is through on-demand training. Unlike synchronous study, which meets at predetermined times, asynchronous Power BI learning typically involves pre-recorded videos and online tutorials that can be completed around other personal or professional commitments. In addition, you can pause or rewatch videos as often as needed to ensure that you retain the information. This learning option is typically much more affordable than bootcamps or certificate study; some Power BI self-paced courses are even offered for free.

Many self-paced study options are currently available for studying Power BI. While this means that students can select coursework that fits their learning needs, it can also make selecting the best training option a bit more challenging. Because of the amount of video content available on this topic, it may be difficult to decide which is the most up-to-date on current Power BI best practices, which comes from a reputable provider, and which provides a combination of theory and practical, hands-on lessons. While asynchronous Power BI training can provide a basic overview of how to use this tool, in-person or live online study may be a better learning option for those seeking more advanced training.

Which Learning Method is Right for Me?

Because so many resources are available to help beginners learn Power BI, you may be unsure about which one is right for you. Since everyone has different learning styles and preferences, you can experiment with multiple tools to see which one feels right for you. One of the great things about directing your own learning is that you get to pick which combination of tools you prefer since you don’t have to stick with those a teacher chooses.

It’s also essential to consider your current schedule before selecting a learning method. If you have responsibilities such as family commitments or a full-time job, you may be unable to devote the needed time to a structured course that meets regularly. In this case, a self-paced class or video tutorials may be a better option since you can access them when your schedule allows. On the other hand, those with a more flexible schedule may prefer a structured course offered in-person or live online. 

Why Learn Power BI?

Microsoft Power BI has over 115 million users and is considered the industry-leading BI platform. Companies worldwide rely on this data solution, and the demand is expected to grow as more organizations see the value in collecting data. This versatile tool is relied on by Developers, Administrators, Designers, Marketers, and Accountants, among others, to cut down on risk and errors and facilitate intelligent decision-making. Many professional benefits await those with a background in using Power BI, and knowledge of this suite of tools can open many professional doors.

Power BI’s drag-and-drop system can quickly and easily transform data into meaningful visualizations. Power BI users can create dashboards or reports that present their findings in mere minutes from inputting data. Professionals can easily share these reports with both internal and external stakeholders. In addition, Power BI provides a way for users to monitor and control data usage, providing access only to those who should have it. When using Power BI, users can view real-time data at any time and from any location, making it a popular tool for those on the go.

Read more about why you should learn Power BI. 

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost 

Most users consider Power BI relatively easy to learn and estimate that it takes approximately four to six weeks to become familiar with its essential data visualization capabilities. The speed at which you learn Power BI will depend on different factors, such as your prior experience working with data or visualization software, your familiarity with basic mathematical concepts, and how you approach the learning process. As with most skills, studying Power BI in a structured environment, such as an in-person or live online course, can make learning much easier and faster than it would be in self-directed study.

If you want to begin learning Power BI, several prerequisites can help speed up the learning process. A background in data visualization, such as creating charts or graphs, is one such skill that can expedite the learning process. In addition, a basic familiarity with data modeling and how to pull data from sources such as the internet is another beneficial first step. Also, having a background working with spreadsheets such as those in Microsoft Excel is a common first step toward learning Power BI since Power BI can seamlessly integrate with Excel to facilitate data analysis and visualization.

If you are considering purchasing Power BI, several packages are available for different price points. Power BI Desktop is available as a free download, Power BI Pro is currently offered for $9.99/user/month, and Power BI Premium costs $20/user/month. In addition, a free Power BI trial is also available from Microsoft.

Read about how difficult it is to learn Power BI. 

Learn Power BI with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop's Power BI Bootcamp is an excellent option if you want to learn more about using Power BI. This project-based course prepares students to use Power Query for data querying, Power BI’s data model for connecting to datasets, and its report view for designing interactive data visualizations and dashboards. Students work with different case studies to learn how to work with various Power BI capabilities and this tool’s DAX language for creating visualizations based on their data. All students have the option of a free retake for up to one year to revisit the material and gain additional practice.

Another excellent learning option for individuals who are interested in working with Power BI is Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate. This intensive course is offered in the in-person and live online format and provides participants with hands-on instruction with core data analytics and business intelligence tools and programs. Those enrolled complete real-world projects using Microsoft Excel, Python, SQL, and Tableau and have the option of also taking the Power BI Bootcamp free of charge. All students receive instruction from an expert instructor and one-on-one mentoring.

Key Insights

• Most people who learn Power BI consider it relatively easy to learn. It takes the average person approximately four to six weeks to become proficient with this software’s basic data visualization and reporting capabilities.
• The speed at which you learn Power BI depends on many factors, such as learning environment and prerequisite study, as well as your familiarity with data analytics, data visualization, business intelligence, and spreadsheet applications.
• A variety of learning options are available for those interested in studying Power BI. Some people prefer studying in the classroom environment, whereas others gravitate to online options, such as live online study, self-paced coursework, or free videos and tutorials. 
• If you are looking to begin studying Power BI, Comprehensive training is available in the in-person and live online format through Noble Desktop.