Advanced Analytics with Power BI and Excel

Empowering You to Master Business Intelligence and Solve Real-world Analytical problems.

 Key Features
● Fulfill your business analytics objectives through comprehensive theory and hands-on, real-world examples.
● Dive into the world of advanced Business Intelligence using data science with Power BI.
● Acquire in-demand skills that align with the current job market and enhance your career prospects.

Book Description
In today's analytics landscape, proficiency in Excel and Power BI is practically a prerequisite for a successful career. This book provides a concise yet comprehensive exploration of these foundational elements of modern Business Intelligence (BI).

Comprising ten chapters, this book covers the entire development journey of a Power BI analytical solution, spanning from data modeling and preparation to report creation, publication, and dashboard and app deployment. It offers insights into security measures and performance optimization, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of the BI ecosystem. Furthermore, it delves into advanced topics, such as leveraging data science algorithms within reports, offering readers an extensive learning experience.

The book takes a holistic approach to these technologies, offering a contrast to the narrow perspectives often adopted by contemporary BI professionals who rely solely on a single tool or language. The book allows data enrichment through calculations that can be achieved using various languages, including SQL queries at the source, Power Query Formula Language, M, Python, R, and DAX.

What you will learn
● Learn the art of crafting comprehensive reports and analyses using Excel and Power BI.
● Discover efficient methods for sharing your insights and reports with your team or clients.
● Gain the skills to maintain and update your analytical solutions effectively.
● Understand the significance of extracting valuable information from data in today's business landscape.
● Address the increasing demand for skilled analysts, filling a critical gap in the industry.

Who is this book for?
This book caters to aspiring Business Intelligence developers, analysts seeking to enhance their skills, and beginners looking to efficiently use tools like Excel. It also appeals to data enthusiasts and serves as a practical resource for students and educators in data-related fields.

1. Introducing the Theoretical Background for Democratizing Analytics
2. Acquiring and transforming data from multiple sources
3. Power Query Transformations and Formula Language (M) Overview
4. Building a simple analytical solution with Power Pivot in Excel
5. Enhancing the model and business analysis with DAX
6. Creating reports in Power BI Desktop
7. Using the Power BI Service
8. Data Science in Power BI
9. Optimizing Power BI models and reports
10. Deploying, Maintaining and Securing Power BI Assets
Index

Dejan Sarka, MCT and Data Platform MVP alumni, is an independent trainer and consultant that focuses on the development of database and business intelligence applications. Besides projects, he spends about half of his time on training and mentoring. He is the founder of the Slovenian SQL Server and .NET Users Group. Dejan Sarka is the main author or co-author of nineteen books about databases and SQL Server before this book. Dejan Sarka has also developed many courses and seminars for Radacad, Microsoft, SolidQ, and Pluralsight. 

Jernej Rihar is experienced in data analytics, data visualization, data preparation, and integrated data systems development, mostly in companies operating in the energy, retail, and manufacturing industry. He is currently working in the service industry and is serving external client needs by directly developing data-related projects.

Klemen Vončina, MCT, started as a trainer for Microsoft Office, with an emphasis on Microsoft Excel, gradually advancing into Excel BI. He later started focusing more and more on the various services offered in Microsoft 365, mainly on the Microsoft Power Platform and SharePoint Online. Besides training, he also works on IT projects with the aforementioned technologies and offers support and consultations to customers.

 ABOUT TECHNICAL REVIEWERS

Orrin Edenfield: He has 20+ years of experience with data. Analyzing it, transforming it, curating it, and processing it using a wide range of technology from mainframe systems, and clusters in the public cloud to IoT edge devices. He has wide-ranging experience architecting data solutions for multi-terabyte-sized data sets for healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and retail organizations.

He cut his teeth on financial services data in the Department of Defense while working as a civilian and then spent 7 years with a global analytics company serving retail and healthcare customers. There,he helped transform the data services organization from an IT cost center to the epicenter of value creation for the company by utilizing automated processing, a global workforce, and modern technology with distributed computing platforms. After that,he spent a year with a large consulting firm helping healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing organizations with distributed computing, cloud, predictive analytics, and other complex data solutions. 

Nicky van Vroenhoven is a BI professional focused on the Microsoft stack and a Data Platform MVP. He mainly works with Power BI, Power Platform and T-SQL. Nicky started working with SQL Server and SSIS in 2005 in the DWH space, and later moved from Power Pivot to Power BI. After working 10 years in BI-consultancy jobs in several industries and companies, he worked for 5 years as a Power BI Administrator at a wealth management bank, and he is currently working as Unit Lead Fabric/Power BI at Powerdobs in the Netherlands.

Nicky has spoken at several User Groups, SQL Saturday Events, the Power BI World Tour and SQLBits. In addition, he enjoys tweeting and blogging about topics like Power BI and PowerPlatform at https://nickyvv.com.