What is Power BI and why use it?

Data now forms the basis of all effective and well-considered strategic decisions. For fast-growing organisations, it can sometimes be daunting or even difficult to actively manage the increasing flow of information and data collected on a daily basis.

This is where it becomes relevant to turn to data management, visualisation and distribution support tools such as Power BI.

What is Power BI?

Power BI (Business Intelligence) is a data analysis and visualisation tool developed by Microsoft. It can be used to connect, model and present data from multiple sources, including Excel files, CRM systems, SQL databases and cloud applications such as SharePoint and Azure.

Thanks to its intuitive interface and drag-and-drop functions, even non-specialists can create interactive reports and dashboards without coding.

Power BI has three main components:

• Power BI Desktop: the desktop authoring and modelling tool.

• Power BI Service (Cloud): the online platform for sharing and collaborating on reports.

• Power BI Mobile: the app for viewing your data in real time on your mobile devices.

By combining these tools, Power BI offers a complete, scalable solution that is equally suited to SMEs and large enterprises.

What are the benefits of Power BI?

Here are the main benefits that Power BI can offer your business.

1. Visualise and understand your data at a glance

Power BI transforms your raw data into clear and dynamic interactive dashboards. Using graphs, maps and visual indicators (KPIs), you can analyse your business performance without going through complex reports.

The aim: understand your results quickly and act faster.

2. Promote better decision-making

By centralising all your data in a single environment, Power BI gives you a consistent and reliable overview. No more multiple Excel files or contradictory reports. Everyone has access to the same up-to-date, verified information.

So you can :

• Identify trends before your competitors.

• Track your goals in real time.

• Make decisions based on hard data, not hunches.

3. Seamless integration into your Microsoft ecosystem

Power BI integrates naturally with your everyday working tools:

• Excel for data manipulation,

• SharePoint for document sharing,

• Teams for online collaboration,

• Power Apps and Power Automate to automate the creation of reports and alerts.

This integration within the Microsoft Power Platform creates a unified environment where your data flows freely and securely.

4. Improved accessibility and collaboration

Power BI facilitates collaboration between teams and departments. Your dashboards are available online, on mobile or in Teams, giving everyone access to the relevant information, wherever they are.

You can also :

• Share your reports with secure access,

• Work with several people on the same dashboard,

• Add personalized comments and alerts for your colleagues.

a more open and participative data culture, where every decision is based on concrete, shared information.

5. Security, compliance and scalability

Because it is integrated into the Microsoft Azure environment, Power BI benefits from the highest standards of security. Access is managed according to user roles, data is encrypted, and organisations can define precise confidentiality and governance policies.

What's more, the solution is highly scalable. You can start with a small dataset and expand your use as your needs grow, with no loss of performance.

Use cases for Power BI in business

One of Power BI's greatest assets is its versatility. Whether you need to monitor financial performance, analyse sales or better manage human resources, this tool can be adapted to every department and every sector of activity.

Finance

Power BI is an essential ally for finance teams. It enables you to centralise all accounting data from various systems (ERP, accounting software, Excel spreadsheets) to produce reliable, automated reports.

Here are a few examples of concrete uses:

• Monitor revenues, margins and expenses in real time.

• Compare performance between subsidiaries, divisions or projects.

• Automate monthly reports without manual re-entry.

• Create cash flow, profitability and budget forecast dashboards.

The result for you : fewer errors, greater transparency and significant time savings for controllers and CFOs.

Human resources

HR departments use Power BI to analyse and visualise human capital indicators:

• Turnover and absenteeism rates,

• Training and recruitment costs,

• Changes in performance and employee satisfaction,

• Time sheet and leave tracking via Power Apps integrations.

With a unified view of HR data, managers can better anticipate workforce needs, optimise planning and strengthen team commitment.

Sales and marketing

Power BI connects data from your CRM, advertising campaigns and analytics platforms (Google Ads, Meta Ads, Google Analytics).

You can :

• Measure sales by product, channel or region.

• Track conversions, marketing ROI and customer trends.

• Identify growth opportunities and performance gaps.

This enables marketing managers to adjust their campaigns in real time and align their strategies with the data on the ground.

Operations

In the manufacturing, industrial or distribution sectors, Power BI improves operations and supply chain management.

Dashboards can be used to :

• Monitor inventory and production levels.

• Identify bottlenecks or supply delays.

• View key indicators: machine utilisation rates, productivity, preventive maintenance.

By integrating data from your ERP or IoT systems, Power BI helps you reduce costs, anticipate disruptions and improve overall performance.

Public and professional sectors

Public organisations, service companies and accounting firms use Power BI to make data accessible and transparent:

• Internal performance dashboards,

• Environmental or social impact indicators,

• Client reports and real-time monitoring of mandates.

At Mallette, we often integrate Power BI with internal portals or financial dashboards to provide a clear, reliable and collaborative view of performance.

Entrust your Power BI project to experts in digital transformation

At Mallette, we believe that data is only valuable when it is properly exploited. Our digital transformation consultants help Quebec businesses implement bespoke Power BI solutions, from connecting data to creating dynamic, high-performance dashboards.

Contact us today for a free diagnostic of your business intelligence needs and find out how Power BI can turn your data into a lever for growth.