In the last couple of years, there has been a massive spike in demand for professionals in the business intelligence field. And this is no wonder, considering the rising importance of Big Data and new data-centric strategies that have become essential for business decision-making in any industry. As a result, the number of professional opportunities for data analytics experts has skyrocketed — including those providing Power BI consultancy services.
But what does this kind of work entail — and what are the benefits it brings to businesses?
What is Power BI?
There are plenty of software suites that make data analytics more accessible and more practical through data visualization — and Microsoft’s Power BI (Business Intelligence) is one of the most advanced tools for such purposes on the market. It helps business decision-makers gain tons of actionable insights from their available data — of course, as long as they have someone proficient in Power BI to handle it for them.
Power BI Job Roles
There’s a wide range of tasks that Power BI professionals perform on a daily basis — from the administration of Microsoft Power BI tools to analyzing datasets, building data models, creating dashboards, and reporting.
Though it’s worth noting that not every Power BI professional does the same job — the work of a Power BI developer can substantially differ from that of a Power BI consultant, for example. Still, the main things they have in common are their reliance on Power BI and the high demand for their job roles.
Power BI Consultants
Data analytics professionals who work in these roles are responsible for developing and executing data analysis policies — they create and verify new data models for business decision-making. Typically, they work with technical teams in various companies to improve their business intelligence and data analytics techniques.
Power BI Developers
Generally, a Power BI developer is responsible for the direct administration and usage of BI tools. Their task is to transform raw data into actionable, meaningful insights on the “ground level.”
They do this by leveraging Power BI software to create user-friendly and interactive dashboards and reports.
Skills of a Power BI Specialist
Regardless of their specific job role, there are some skills that any Power BI specialist must have to be proficient in their line of work. The typical job of a Power BI professional Requires:
- Ability to produce operational reports
- Knowledge required to set functional specifications for reporting applications in line with business requirements
- Ability to produce dashboards and automated reports using reporting tools like Power BI
- Experience with systems and tools such as TSQL, SSRS, Power BI, Power Query, etc.
- Ability to quickly reshape data into analytics and reporting solutions
- Knowledge of database fundamentals