Master power bi - de a à z course

Data is only as useful as one interprets it. And to get the most out of the data available, it must go through different stages of data analysis to facilitate decision-making. This is where Power BI comes into play, as it is a unique cloud-based tool for businesses and individuals interested in understanding the intricacies of data analysis.

Learning about this tool helps you gain proficiency in data preparation, visualization, and interpretation. We have outlined six paid courses to learn Power BI on Coursera to help you get started. But first, let's look at the definition of Power BI.

What Is Power BI?

Power BI is a collection of software services and applications that work together to transform data into coherent insights and make the result shareable across different platforms. Simply put, Power BI is a Microsoft data analytics tool used to break down raw data into actionable information.

This tool is interactive, customizable, provides end-to-end data protection, and can connect to other cloud-based data sources—such as Azure SQL Database, Excel, and Dynamics 365. It consists of three major elements that facilitate operations.

They include Power BI Desktop (Windows desktop application), the Power BI Service (the online Software-as-a-Service), and the Power BI Mobile Apps for Windows, iOS, and Android devices. You can use these elements independently and collectively when necessary, as long as you have an internet connection.

Furthermore, people use Power BI differently in diverse fields, such as finance, marketing, healthcare, and HR, to mention a few. Whatever niche you major in, Power BI is great for data analytics and helps bolster decision-making. Specifically, it’s a tool to consider when getting started as a data analyst.

Power BI also has three user licenses for business owners. That is the free, pro, and premium per-user licenses. But however you use the tool and the user plan you opt for depends on your role in the team, the project theme, and what you intend to achieve. Not to worry, the following courses will help you understand the tool and its diverse functions.

1. Getting Started With Power BI Desktop

This two-hour project-based course is suitable for people who want to unravel the mysteries of Power BI in a relatively short period and subsequently launch a career in data science. You will learn the basics of using the Power BI desktop software and how to import, transform, and visualize data.

Moreover, your learning space is cloud-based, which you can integrate into your browser, so you won't have to download any course material. The course is also available in English, with the option of splitting your screen for a better learning experience.

2. Data-Driven Decisions With Power BI

In this course, you will acquire hands-on experience on how to clean and model data into the Power BI desktop application. You will also learn how to report to the Power BI service, explore the interface, and create and utilize dashboards. The course is beginner-friendly and fully accessible online.

Meanwhile, the ideal duration is five weeks with 14 hours' worth of material, but you can reset your deadline to align with your schedule. Plus, you get a certificate upon completing the course, which you can use to boost your portfolio.

3. Power BI Report Development Crash Course

This crash course is one of the highly-rated Power BI course offerings on the Coursera project network, with tons of positive reviews. It is suitable for learners without prior knowledge of Power BI. Here, you will learn how to obtain data, create relationships, develop reports, share with intended recipients, and publish them to the Power BI service.

Moreover, the course duration is two hours, and you must complete five tasks in a cloud-based work area before your time elapses. Finally, you can only take this course with a desktop, with English being the language of instruction.

4. Build Dashboards in Power BI

Building dashboards is a difficult task in Power BI, but this course will help you get through the process easily. However, you must complete other beginner courses before attempting to build dashboards, as this course is for learners at the intermediate stage.

The course teaches data extraction and transformation, dashboard and report creation, and visual generation from your reports. In other words, you will learn how to summarize relevant information on a dashboard with visual data efficiently. You will also need to complete the course in approximately two hours in a cloud-based learning environment.

5. Google Data Analytics

The Google Data Analytics course on Coursera helps you build a foundation in data science even without any experience or degree. In this course, you will acquire several analytical skills—using tools like Power BI and Tableau—and learn how to prepare data to aid decision-making.

It takes six months to complete the course online, at least 10 hours weekly. However, you can tweak your deadlines to fit into your schedule. And in the end, you get a professional Google certificate usable anywhere in the world.

6. Use Power BI for Financial Data Analysis

Unlike other Power BI courses, this course is specifically for financial data analysis and accounting. In two hours, you will learn how to build effective financial report dashboards and connect them for clear visualizations. You will also learn to create financial statements for businesses and governmental and non-governmental organizations.

The course content is available in English and is appropriate for beginners. Also, you do not need to download course materials, as your learning space is cloud-based in your browser. Finally, you will develop data analysis, reporting, and visualization skills.

Enrich Your Portfolio With Power BI on Coursera

Albeit complex, Power BI is fast becoming the most-preferred data analysis tool for businesses, corporate organizations, and data specialists. Learning how to utilize it gives you experience, expertise, and career or business advantage in your industry.

Most importantly, Coursera provides detailed Power BI courses, qualified instructors, and a community of learners to boost your morale in pursuing knowledge. So, you get to acquire core data analytics skills from a reputable platform. However, if you have personal reservations about the tool, you can consider other alternatives to Power BI that also offer great value.