Power BI combines data from different sources and visualizes it understandably. It enables automatic reporting and real-time analysis and supports information management, which improves the organization’s decision-making. Read how Polygon Finland improved reporting with the Power BI tool.

Power BI is a business intelligence analytics tool developed by Microsoft that enables organizations to analyze and visualize data effectively, supporting decision-making and knowledge management.

The versatile Power BI tool allows data collected from different sources to be combined, processed, and presented in easy-to-understand ways that serve business goals. The tool especially enhances the work of financial management professionals, as it enables automatic reporting and visual analyses without heavy manual processes.

Key features and tools of Power BI

Microsoft Power BI offers user-friendly features and a flexible analytics platform that enables organizations to leverage their data in various ways.

Power BI consists of the following key tools:

• Power BI Desktop: A desktop application designed to create complex reports and analyze data. Power BI Desktop allows users to connect data from multiple sources and build visualizations that clarify the analysis results, such as charts and graphs.
• Power BI Service: A cloud-based platform to distribute reports throughout the organization. In the cloud, reports stay up-to-date with automatic updates. They are available to all relevant stakeholders in real time.
• Power BI Mobile: A mobile application allowing reports to be viewed anywhere, anytime. This significantly increases the ability of sales teams and mobile professionals to make fast and informed decisions on the spot.

Power BI’s ability to connect different data sources and provide a consistent visual platform saves time and simplifies analysis processes. Data is always available in an easy-to-use format, speeding up reporting and improving decision-making quality.

A well-designed data warehouse is the foundation of Power BI

The benefits of an effective reporting tool are maximized when it is used alongside a well-built data warehouse. A data warehouse serves as the foundation of Power BI, as it collects data from different systems and transforms it into a consistent format, reducing the need for manual work and ensuring the data’s reliability.

A well-built data warehouse is a key part of effective knowledge management. It consists of the following elements:

• High-quality and standardized data: The data in the data warehouse is carefully documented, high-quality, and standardized, which ensures its reliability and usability.

• Time-bound: Data is stored in a temporally organized manner, which enables trend tracking and historical analysis.

• Unified data layer: A data warehouse combines data from different sources into a unified whole, facilitating data management and analysis.

• Consideration of user group needs: A data warehouse is designed to effectively serve the information needs of different user groups, which increases the organization’s productivity and responsiveness to changes.

Thanks to a data warehouse, an organization can be confident that all data used in reporting is accurate and easily accessible. Data warehouse-based reporting can speed up because the data is already pre-processed and harmonized from different sources.

In addition, a data warehouse improves the reliability and repeatability of analyses. Data storage and documenting correctly enable more diverse and in-depth analyses, such as examining historical trends and developments, which helps the organization understand business trends and make proactive decisions.

A well-built data warehouse also offers flexibility and scalability, which means that it can be adapted to the organization’s evolving needs. With a data warehouse, BI reporting is more sustainable and supports knowledge management at all levels of the organization.

Power BI reporting at Polygon

Implementing the Power BI reporting tool at Polygon Finland Oy has significantly improved the company’s reporting processes. The project began in the spring of 2020 to create a weekly report for field personnel. After the scorecard report, reporting has expanded to cover several reporting needs in the company’s financial and operational areas.

Polygon specializes in investigating and repairing property damages and indoor air problems, as well as managing conditions e.g. during construction.

Power BI brought together scattered information and increased availability in the initial phase. Today, Power BI has completely replaced reports built manually in Excel, significantly automating and streamlining reporting processes.

With the deployment of Power BI, reporting has become more transparent and centralized in one place, with reports automatically updated every night. In addition, dynamic reports work across the entire organization, which has made it easier to share and analyze information.

“In practice, all key financial reports, performance reports, project reports, invoicing, incoming orders, and, among other things, utilization rates run in Power BI,” says Polygon’s Controller Salla Javanainen.

According to Salla, Power BI has reduced her manual workload by two days a month: “Of course, there has been some additional work in maintaining, reconciling, and developing our reporting tool called Powero, but mainly those two working days have been available for other more important things.”

Power BI’s visual reports have helped users understand and assimilate information better, reducing the need for Excel skills among staff and making reporting more accessible to all users.

Salla says that reducing manual work has freed up time for more interactive work, such as analyzing figures, discussing them, and advising users.

“We have been collaborating for many years, and I think it has worked very well in the big picture. Sometimes there are situations where we need help quickly, so it has been great that Solu has been able to react quickly and flexibly,” Salla says.

Power BI supports knowledge management

Power BI helps organizations utilize data more effectively and supports strategic and operational decision-making by combining data into a consistent view. The tool improves the accuracy of analyses and speeds up reporting processes, helping organizations develop their operations and respond to rapidly changing circumstances.

Is your organization’s knowledge management foundation in order, or does it need deeper utilization? Contact us, and let’s map out a solution that suits your needs without wasting time and adding budget costs.

Jere Palanne
CTO, Partner