Power BI - Dashboard Introduction

Power BI allows users to convert data into visuals and graphics to explore and analyze data, collaborate on interactive dashboards and reports. A Power BI dashboard is one page that shows different charts and visuals all designed to explore and interact with your data easily.

How to Create a Simple Dashboard?

Step 1: Importing data.

The first step after opening the Power BI application is to gain access to your data. You can easily import your dataset from any format. Then click on the Get Data button located at the middle left corner of the screen. You can download the dataset from here

The navigation pane shows the option of Files. Click on Files and browse to the location where your Excel Workbook or any other format is located. Choose your file and then click on the Connect button. 

It takes a little time to process which depends on the file size. Make sure the data is extracted and load the data by clicking the Load button.

Step 2: Explore Your Data.

From the Data tab you can view the tabular form of data. On the right you’ll find a list of fields within those tables. 

You can select a table or field to perform formatting actions on them. If you have fields such as date, time, city, state, percentage value, currency, etc. You can change the datatype or format from the Modeling tab.

Step 3: Choose the Right Chart.

So for our dashboard we decided to work on five fields: Hiredyear, RecruitmentSource, Position, EmployerId and male-female employment. The first visualization that we’ll make is a Card. Select Card from the visualizations section.

Select the columns you want to add to the visual from the Fields section. You can also drag and drop the fields into respective columns indicated by the image below.

You can select columns, apply filters and format the visual from the Format icon. The first card we prepared shows the Total number of Employers.

The Same procedures were followed for the remaining cards. The second, third and fourth cards show the Number of Recruitment Sources, Positions and Maximum Salary respectively.

Next we’ll create a Pie Chart and a Donut chart which is going to show the Count of positions and Male - female rate respectively. Add this chart from the Visualizations.

Finally add Funnel and Stacked Bar Chart to show the Number of Hired yearly and Recruitment source proportionally. Format the title, data labels, legend, axes, plot area, data colors, etc. As you can see in the below image.

Note: You can also add some interactive colors to make it more attractive.

Power BI Dashboards vs Reports

Here we will see difference between reports and dashboard.

Both tools are strong and flexible that help you to see the full picture of your data or focus on the tiny details depending on what you need. A good IT manager can use the tools at their disposal according to the needs and demands of the situation. So Both Dashboards and Reports are Effective in their own way.

Advantages of Power BI Dashboards

• Embedded Attributes: Dashboards can be added directly into websites, apps or other tools. This means users don’t need to open Power BI separately.
• Rich Features: It offers many built-in tools like charts, maps, slicers and AI visuals. These help users understand their data better and make smart decisions quickly.
• Easy Implementation: Setting up Power BI is simple. You don’t need to be a tech expert. With just a few steps you can connect data, create reports and share dashboards.
• Drag and Drop: It uses a drag-and-drop system. You can easily build charts and visuals by just dragging data fields onto the screen no coding needed.
• No Upfront Cost: You can start using Power BI for free with the basic version. This makes it budget-friendly especially for beginners or small businesses.
• Allows Collaboration: It allows you to share dashboards with team members. Everyone can see the latest data and work together in real time which improves teamwork and decision-making.

Best Practices to make an Effective Dashboard

There are some tips to make your dashboard more interactive and visually attractive:

• Know your Audience: Understand who will use the dashboard. Show only the data they care about in a way they can easily understand.
• Tell the Story at First Glance: Your dashboard should give a quick summary of what’s happening without needing to deep dive into details. The key message should be clear right away.
• Make Use of Full Screen: Use the full screen space wisely. Spread out your visuals so the dashboard looks clean and easy to read.
• Highlight the Most Relevant Information: Make the most important numbers or charts stand out using bold text, colors or size. This helps users focus on what really matters.
• Use the Right Visualization: Pick the right chart for your data. For example, use a line chart for trends, bar chart for comparisons and pie chart for parts of a whole.