Key skills to look for in a Power BI consultant

With over 97% of Fortune 500 companies using Microsoft Power BI, it’s clear it plays a significant role in turning data into valuable business insights.

This widespread use leads to a growing need for Power BI consultants who can help businesses make the most of its capabilities.

Now, the question is, how do you find the right Power BI consultant to get the most out of this business intelligence tool? In this article, we’ll provide practical advice on the skills and qualities you should look for in a consultant.

Why businesses need Power BI consultants

Power BI is a versatile tool, offering integration capabilities, an intuitive interface, advanced data visualization tools, efficient large dataset handling, and seamless integration with Microsoft products.

It gives businesses an efficient way to turn data into actionable insights.

The features and benefits of the Power BI platform may sound simple, but to fully leverage its capabilities, you need to find the right Power BI consultant.

Their expertise with Microsoft Power BI means that they are better equipped to work with Power BI in these areas:

1. Data organization: They’re experts at setting up data structures that fit your business on Power BI, so your data works smoothly.
2. Custom solutions: Consultants tweak Power BI to match your specific data needs, so you get the most out of it.

In-depth insights: They’re skilled at using Power BI’s advanced data analysis features to uncover valuable information.

Skills to look for in a Power BI consultant

While many specialized consultants might have a good grasp of Power BI, finding the right one for your specific needs is key.

Let’s take a closer look at the specifics.

Technical expertise

Their technical expertise is a key area to focus on in a Power BI consultant. This includes their ability to work with complex data, create efficient models, and extract meaningful insights. Here are the specific skills to look for:

Proficiency in DAX (Data Analysis Expressions):

DAX is an important part of Power BI, used for making custom calculations and measures. It has a big library of over 200 functions, operators, and constructs, giving you lots of options to analyze data in different ways. This is how it turns basic data into useful insights.

Look for a consultant who not only knows the basics of DAX but can also handle complex formulas. They should be able to tackle challenging data analysis with ease.

Data modeling skills:

Data modeling in Power BI involves organizing and structuring your data so it’s easier to work with and understand. A consultant who’s good at this will help make your reports run smoothly and give you better insights.

You’ll want a consultant who knows data warehousing well and can design data models that grow with your business. They should also be familiar with star schema, snowflake schema, and normalization techniques. These skills help in building data models that fit your specific needs and make your Power BI experience more effective.

Power Query skills:

Power Query is a tool within Power BI that’s used for sorting and preparing data. It has a range of features for importing, cleaning, and transforming data, making it easier to work with. Essentially, Power Query streamlines the process of getting your data ready for analysis.

You’ll want someone who is skilled at extracting data from different sources and shaping it into a usable format. Being familiar with the M language, which is used in Power Query, is a plus.

Data visualization and reporting

Data visualization and reporting are where data analytics truly comes to life. A skilled Power BI consultant can transform numbers and metrics into clear, actionable insights. Here’s what to look for in these areas:

Ability to design interactive Power BI dashboards:

Creating informative and visually appealing dashboards is a key skill. An expert who creates good data visualizations understands how to present Power BI data in a way that is accessible and useful for end-users.

A skilled consultant should be able to design Power BI dashboards that meet the needs of end-users, making data easy to understand and driving decision-making.

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They need to balance visual elements with functionality, ensuring the dashboards are practical and engaging.

Advanced reporting techniques:

A Power BI consultant should know how to make reports that fit what your business needs, showing your data clearly and effectively.

Key competencies include:

1. Power BI Desktop: Proficiency in this tool allows them to craft precise reports and visuals that align with your business requirements.
2. Power BI Service: Mastery of Power BI Service enables consultants to publish reports, collaborate with your team securely, and facilitate remote data access.
3. Power BI Premium: For larger enterprises or complex data environments, expertise in Power BI Premium is valuable. It handles more data and offers superior performance, accommodating your growing data challenges.
4. Power BI Report Server: Ideal for businesses operating on-premises, this skill aids in managing and sharing reports within your organization, ensuring data security and compliance adherence, particularly for sensitive data.

Integration and implementation skills

When you’re looking for a Power BI consultant, you’ll want someone good at Power BI implementation and integration so you can leverage the full capabilities of the tool.

Power BI setup is about getting things up and running as well as working smoothly and securely. This way, you can concentrate on what matters most – pulling useful insights from your data.

Look for these skills in particular:

Integration with various data sources:

Power BI excels in combining data from hundreds of sources like SQL databases, Excel spreadsheets, cloud services like Azure, and even social media platforms.

Snapshot of some of the data sources for Power BI.

A skilled Power BI consultant should be proficient in connecting Power BI to the various databases and cloud services. This skill is important for creating a cohesive and comprehensive view of your data.

A good consultant needs to know the ins and outs of each data source. This helps make sure that when they bring everything together, it all works smoothly and gives you the results you need.

Deployment and security:

After setting up Power BI, there’s more work to do to keep it running well. This means managing things like data gateways and making sure data refreshes happen correctly, so your information stays current and accurate.

When it comes to keeping your data safe, especially sensitive information, you need a consultant who really knows Power BI’s security and privacy features. An expert offering Power BI consulting services should be up to speed on the best ways to handle your data in Power BI, making sure it stays secure.

Soft skills and business acumen

When you’re on the lookout for a Power BI consultant, remember it’s not all about their tech skills. Their soft skills and how well they get the business side of things are just as key to making sure they add value to your business.

• Clear communication: They should be great at breaking down complex data into something everyone can grasp. This way, everyone on your team, regardless of their data expertise, can make well-informed decisions.
• Collaboration: Power BI projects often bring different departments together, so the consultant needs to be good at collaborating and getting everyone on the same page.
• Problem-solving: They should be quick on their feet with solving data-related problems. This skill keeps your projects moving smoothly and avoids unnecessary hold-ups.
• Analytical thinking: The ability to see the bigger picture from the data is a big plus. A consultant who can dig out deeper insights from the data can help steer your business in the right direction.
• Strong business acumen: A Power BI consultant who really understands business operations and strategy can make sure the Power BI solutions they develop are in tune with your specific business goals. This way, the data analysis they provide directly contributes to your overall business objectives.

Continuous learning and adaptability

A consultant who’s always learning and can adapt quickly will help keep your Power BI setup current and efficient, so look for these qualities when evaluating candidates:

• They are up-to-date with Power BI. Since the tool is always getting updates and new features, a consultant who keeps up with these changes can help you use the latest and best features right away.
• They show adaptability. When Power BI changes, a consultant offering Power BI services should be able to smoothly bring these new features into what you’re already doing. This means you won’t have to worry about big disruptions whenever there’s an update.

How to find your ideal Power BI consultant fast

Finding the right Power BI consultant is a detailed process. It requires careful consideration of their specific skills, how well they understand your business, and whether they fit within your budget.

Since 2007, Right People Group has been connecting businesses with highly skilled IT consultants, including data analysts. Businesses trust us for sourcing IT and business consultants because we focus on making their search efficient and effective.

Here’s what you can expect from us:

• Quick matching: We understand the importance of your time, so we aim to connect you with the right consultant quickly.
• Quality assurance: The consultants we connect you with are not only skilled, but they are also among the best in their field. Find out more about our selection process.
• Personalized approach: We recognize every project is unique, so we match you with consultants who understand and align with your specific project requirements.

Ready to find your ideal Power BI consultant? Reach out to us today and start your search with confidence.

Conclusion

The skills and qualities discussed in this article are crucial when seeking the right Power BI consultant. These experts play a pivotal role in using Power BI to turn data into actionable insights, and their technical expertise, data visualization skills, integration capabilities, soft skills, and commitment to continuous learning are all key factors to consider.