Power BI liberates users… But how can you maintain control of your platform over time?

Power BI empowers users…   But how do you maintain control of your platform over time?

Power BI is setting a precedent in the world of data visualization: virtually all major companies in the world have deployed it as a corporate solution or,  at a minimum , as a supplementary solution (for certain business lines)  – and we understand why: attractive licensing, ergonomics, native integration with the Microsoft ecosystem (Excel, Azure, SQL Server, Microsoft 365) already present almost everywhere.   This accessibility has a downside: as the platform opens up to users, dashboards multiply, data sources diversify, and complexity increases.  Governing the platform is already a challenge – or will become one. It's a shame when you know that adopting a new dataviz tool is an opportunity to rebuild on a sustainably sound foundation, not to create debt at breakneck speed. It is with this in mind that we have considered a tool-based approach, designed for data teams, but also for business users. It allows us to maintain a clear view of data quality and to sustainably manage the platform – without hindering adoption 😊!

Controlling your Power BI platform - Axis #1: Inventory and continuously qualify your portfolio of Power BI dashboards (and others).

When a company uses thousands of dashboards across 2, 3, or 4 different technologies, having an overview seems absolutely essential...   The "Report Browser" that we developed within {openAudit}  allows you to view the entire Power BI portfolio  : dashboards, folders, last use / refresh, modification, dashboard ID, CUID, dashboard weight, number of consultations, response time, etc.  In the case of multiple technologies – which is almost always the case – all the technologies are presented on the same interface.

Controlling your Power BI platform -  Axis #2:  An impact analysis in Power BI to evolve the platform securely

Modify a column in a table? Delete an obsolete dimension? Before touching any element of the platform, the impact analysis of {openAudit}  indicates where and how that element is used throughout the Power BI environment (and beyond in the case of multiple tools). Result: fewer errors, fewer regressions, etc.

Controlling your Power BI platform -  Axis #3:  Analyzing replication in Power BI to eliminate clones

Some dashboards, although very recent, can already be widely replicated.  To avoid unnecessary duplication,  {openAudit}  compares each dashboard with all others along five key axes. This is done using {openAudit}   's database, which stores the dashboard's intelligence and structure. The replication percentage reveals similarities (in green) and differences (in red), which can then be analyzed in detail ("drill through").   The criteria analyzed: "Similarity"  : percentage of similarity of content (loaded data) between the master dashboard and its clones. "Formulas"  : comparison of formulas and variables, i.e. intelligence. "Structure"  : analysis of containers, i.e., graphic components. "Filter"  : measurement of the replication of applied filters. "Deep filter"  : evaluation of the replication of the filtered data itself.

Controlling your Power BI platform -  Axis #4:  Data lineage in Power BI, to have a clear view of flows and dependencies.

Through  {openAudit} , we offer a highly understandable data lineage system, as it is modular and connected to the sources. Each data point in every Power BI dashboard can thus be automatically traced back to its operational sources. Through this data lineage, we will be able to identify the sources used, the datasets involved, the expressions implemented, etc.    🆕  This data lineage can now be activated directly from the Power BI Online dashboard with our Chrome / Edge plugin!    Use cases: Understanding where the information presented comes from , especially when an indicator seems poorly calculated (or deserves to be calculated differently). Identify dependencies  in case of modification of a system element. Document, if necessary, certain regulatory data, etc.

🛠️     Bonus: some tools suggested to make life easier for teams

To go further, we have developed various tools based on customer specifications, designed to enable data teams to work faster. Up-to-date backups:  we automatically create Git versions of dashboard templates.  Automated PBIT ⇄ PBIX conversion:  to facilitate workflows between local development and Cloud. Deployment to Power BI Cloud:  to automate and ensure reliable deployment to production. Mass archiving:  replicated or obsolete dashboards can be archived in bulk with our tools, to maintain the simplest possible platform in the long term.  Furthermore, we  centralize business rules in databases,  which allows us to factor them or even harmonize them.

In summary, Power BI opens up immense possibilities, provided you maintain control! Thanks to tools designed for both data teams and business users, it is possible to reconcile agility and governance, innovation and stability.