Microsoft Power BI Reviews

“flexible reporting with third party data”

Pros

Customizing reports with third party data is very simple and it makes building exactly what I need much more convenient.

Cons

Takes a bit of time at the start to used to how it works.

“solid spreadsheet insights”

Pros

I really enjoy using this program to analyze the data from my spreadsheets. It fits perfectly with what I need and integrates very well for the kind of analysis I'm looking for.

Cons

Price is one of the main reasons I'd hesitate to buy a license for personal use at home.

“Reliable data visualization tools”

Pros

Among the products available, this feels like one of the best for presenting data visually. It also comes with excellent features for analysis.

Cons

The connection with Microsoft Access could be better but aside from that, I haven't noticed any real issues.

“Strong data analysis tools”

Pros

A really solid software for analyzing and classifying data. It handles those tasks very well and delivers a strong overall experience.

Cons

Nothing specific stands out as a downside. Overall, it works very well.

“easy move from excel”

Pros

Switching from Excel to this feels very easy and the overall simplicity makes the transition really comfortable.

Cons

It works especially well if you already know Excel but without that background, getting up to speed can take a bit longer.

“custom dashboards”

Pros

Getting started with your data feels surprisingly easy. After only a little exploring or a quick tutorial, it becomes clear how simple it is to transform, filter and present data in all kinds of ways. Trying a visualization only takes a moment and adding the fields you want is just as quick. If something doesn't look right, you can remove it with a drag or a click and keep going without any difficulty. The more time you spend in Power BI, the more confident you get and before long you're building polished, informative dashboards that really communicate the story behind the data.

Cons

One thing I'd change is the licensing since people who aren't directly working in Power BI still need a Pro license just to view or do what feels like pretty basic-level tasks. There's also a bit of a learning curve at the beginning when it comes to figuring out where and how to bring data into the platform. On top of that the data isn't truly uploaded into Power BI in the way some people might expect because if the original source file on your computer gets moved, renamed or deleted, Power BI Desktop can no longer access the report that was built from it.

“easy to build dashboards”

Pros

The ability to create custom dashboards and connect to a wide range of data sources is a big advantage.

Cons

Training materials could be improved especially around connecting to data sources other than Excel.

“dynamic insights”

Pros

One thing I appreciated most about this software is how simple it is to build dynamic analyses and visual dashboards. It makes it possible to map every area of the company and review performance, progress and productivity in a much more visual and practical way.

Cons

The part I appreciated least was the learning curve at the beginning when trying to understand the tools and how to use them properly. It would be very helpful if newly registered users had access to tutorial videos in multiple languages that explain the features more clearly and show how the software works in practice.

“impressive KPI storytelling”

Pros

Has been one of the best tools I've used for presenting KPIs. It lets you easily build visuals which makes company presentations much more effective and helps deliver results more successfully.

Cons

Getting started with it is quite challenging though. It takes a lot of hours before everything begins to click and you finally feel comfortable working with the platform.

“real time sales insights win”

Pros

Being able to pull up real time sales numbers whenever the information is needed is incredibly convenient. The app felt a bit sluggish when it first came out but it has improved a lot and works really well now. On the occasions when something does go wrong, customer support is always quick to respond and help out.

Cons

One area that still needs improvement is sharing information with people who do not use the platform. Most of the time, I end up compiling and exporting the data I need, then sending it out as a PDF by email.

“Useful desktop app”

Pros

Having data extraction and transformation available right at the desktop level in one package is a big plus. It's convenient to handle everything in a single tool instead of relying on separate solutions especially since some other platforms already include built in data transformation features.

Cons

Once the report is published online, the setup can become a bit frustrating. Tasks like configuring gateways for auto refresh take extra effort and aren't as easy as they should be.

“solid sharing and customization options”

Pros

It helps us share data and results across the companyvery easily. The ability to customize the layout and adjust different inputs is also really useful and gives us a lot of flexibility.

Cons

Can feel overwhelming especially for someone who is new to data analytics since there is a lot to learn and absorb at first.

“reliable analytics for growing teams”

Pros

Gives companies a solid starting point for analyzing their own data and it supports that growth well by letting users progress from beginner to expert within the same platform.

Cons

Delivers a lot of value especially at its price point though its feature set is a bit more limited than what you get with some of the more expensive data analytics platforms.

“amazing flexibility”

Pros

Comes with a strong set of features and I really appreciate the different ways it lets you present and visualize datasets.

Cons

That said, it can feel a bit confusing at first and it takes some time to get the data displayed exactly the way you want.

“Versatile data connections”

Pros

Connecting data from different sources is very easy which makes the platform simple to use.

Cons

It can feel a bit frustrating when you push it into more advanced use cases but it still gets the job done.

“Helpful cross filtering and integrations”

Pros

One of the biggest advantages is how well it connects with third-party applications making it possible to pull in data from sources that are simple to maintain while getting around their limitations in how that data is displayed. Paired with the cross-filtering available within visuals, it becomes much easier to dig deeper into the data and understand the key drivers behind it.

Cons

The interface can feel a bit frustrating at times especially when you're trying to customize visuals through the small panes on the right side of the screen. Some features also seem a little tucked away and aren't very obvious unless you already know where to look. That said, the community forums are usually very helpful when you need answers. If you've hit an issue, chances are someone else already has too and there's often a solution available.

“useful resource tracking insights”

Pros

Has given us a clear way to monitor which resources employees are actually using.

Cons

Does require some insider knowledge to really operate it well.

“Could be better”

Pros

Power BI is a very powerful tool for building dashboards and handling data analysis quickly and efficiently.

Cons

Connecting local data stored on your own laptop, such as Excel files, to corporate dashboards is not very easy.

“strong integrations across tools”

Pros

It connects really well with third-party platforms like Google Analytics and other external tools which makes pulling data together much more convenient.

Cons

Learning DAX which is such a core part of Power BI, can be pretty challenging and takes time to get comfortable with.

“simple to use”

Pros

Right away, the range of features stands out and the platform feels very convenient to work with. It's also simple to use which makes the overall experience even better.

Cons

At this point, I really haven't run into any problems using it at all.