An Analytical Journey with Microsoft Power BI [FastTrack] is a hands-on, instructor-led program designed to help professionals begin their data analytics journey using Microsoft Power BI. This course focuses on building strong foundational knowledge while ensuring learners can confidently connect, transform, and visualize data for meaningful insights.
In today’s data-driven environment, organizations rely on accurate and timely insights to guide decisions related to revenue, profitability, and operational performance. Microsoft Power BI is one of the most widely adopted business intelligence tools for turning raw data into actionable dashboards and reports. This course provides a structured and practical introduction for individuals who want to move beyond spreadsheets and start analyzing data visually.
Throughout this two-day fast-track workshop, learners will be guided step by step through the Power BI ecosystem, from understanding how Power BI works as a service to developing interactive dashboards. The course emphasizes real-world usage, making it suitable for business users, analysts, and professionals who regularly work with data but have limited exposure to analytics tools.
What learners will gain from this course:
A clear understanding of Microsoft Power BI features and components
Practical skills to connect Power BI to various data sources, including Excel and databases
Ability to cleanse, format, and transform data using Power Query
Foundational knowledge of Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) for calculations
Skills to design meaningful reports and dashboards for business insights
Key learning areas include:
Microsoft Power BI as a Service
Understanding the Power BI ecosystem, applications, and subscriptions
Navigating the Power BI service and desktop environment
Getting to Know Your Data
Connecting to Excel and database data sources
Understanding datasets and table relationships
Data Transformation with Power Query
Cleaning and preparing data
Merging and appending multiple datasets
Introduction to DAX
Calculated columns versus measures
Creating simple calculations and quick measures
Data Visualization
Building reports and dashboards
Applying common visuals, selections, and bookmarks effectively
This course is ideal for beginners and professionals with minimal exposure to data analytics or programming concepts. Participants are expected to have basic familiarity with Microsoft Excel and an awareness of business concepts such as financial performance and profitability.
By the end of the programme, learners will be able to confidently use Microsoft Power BI to transform raw data into clear, visually compelling insights that support informed decision-making across departments.
Training Course Modules
Module 1: Microsoft Power BI as a Service
What is Power BI?
The Power BI service and its ecosystem
Product and subscription information
Familiarizing with Microsoft Power BI app and service
Module 2: Getting to Know Your Data
Using Excel as a Power BI data source
Using databases as a Power BI data source
Understanding the Power BI dataset
Importance of table relationships
Module 3: Data Transformations using Power Query
Power BI Desktop queries
Cleansing data and transformations
Consolidation of data through appends and merges
Module 4: Introduction to DAX
What is DAX?
Calculated columns vs. measures
What are quick measures?
Performing simple calculations
Module 5: Visualizing Your Data
Creating Power BI reports
Creating Power BI dashboards
Common visuals and their usage
Selections and Bookmarks
Go from Excel-dependent to Power BI-enabled: visualize trends, KPIs, and outliers in real time.
Uncover powerful insights with drag-and-drop visualizations, DAX calculations, and smart dashboards.
Empower yourself or your team to make faster, data-backed business decisions — without relying on IT.
Course Overview
Today’s businesses generate more data than ever — but without clear visuals and analysis, it's just noise. This fast-paced 2-day instructor-led workshop helps professionals convert that noise into insight using Microsoft Power BI.
You’ll learn how to bring in data from Excel, databases, and other sources, then cleanse, format, and merge it using Power Query. The course covers creating calculated fields with DAX, as well as designing professional reports and dashboards using intuitive visual tools.
Whether you’re in finance, operations, sales, or marketing, Power BI gives you the ability to uncover performance gaps, track key metrics, and drive decisions based on real data. This course is the starting point of your data journey — ideal for users transitioning from spreadsheets to real-time dashboards.
Learning Objectives
Power BI Desktop and Service navigation
Connecting data from Excel, databases
Power Query for data cleansing and transformation
Introduction to DAX: measures vs calculated columns
Building reports and dashboards
Using visuals, filters, bookmarks, and selections
Designing for storytelling and performance
Who Should Attend
Excel-heavy users transitioning to Power BI
Business analysts and finance professionals
Marketing and sales ops teams
Newcomers to data visualization and dashboards
Prerequisites
No coding required.
Basic familiarity with Microsoft Excel is recommended.
No prior Power BI experience necessary.
Course Modules
Module 1: Microsoft Power BI as a Service
Understand the Power BI ecosystem, cloud service, licensing, and how to navigate the interface.
Module 2: Getting to Know Your Data
Connect to Excel and database sources, and understand data structures and table relationships.
Module 3: Data Transformations using Power Query
Cleanse and reshape your data using Power Query, including merge, append, and transformation techniques.
Module 4: Introduction to DAX
Learn to use DAX for calculations, creating measures and calculated columns, and performing basic analytics.
Module 5: Visualizing Your Data
Design impactful dashboards using visuals, slicers, filters, bookmarks, and story-driven report layouts.
Professional Outcomes
This course prepares you for roles like Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Developer, Reporting Analyst, or Business Ops Specialist — with Power BI as your core analytical tool.
Certification Details
No specific exam for this course
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this course beginner-friendly?
Yes — it’s designed for non-technical users who want to build dashboards and reports using Power BI.
Do I need Excel experience?
A basic familiarity with Excel helps, especially for data connections and transformations.
Does it cover both Desktop and Service?
Yes — you’ll work with Power BI Desktop for development and explore publishing via Power BI Service.
Will I learn DAX?
Yes — the course introduces DAX basics and shows how to use it for common business scenarios.
What types of visuals will I build?
You’ll use bar charts, KPIs, cards, tables, slicers, and bookmarks to create interactive dashboards.
Will I create a full report from scratch?
Yes — guided exercises take you from raw data to a complete multi-page dashboard.
Is this aligned to Microsoft’s Power BI certification path?
No — this course is designed for immediate, practical application of Power BI skills to your daily job tasks. The PL-300 course, however, is structured to prepare learners specifically for the official certification exam.
Is it HRDC claimable?
Yes, for eligible Malaysian employers.
Can we arrange this for our internal team?
Yes — GemRain offers private sessions for corporate teams.
Is it available virtually?
Yes — both in-person and virtual instructor-led options are available.