Power BI — leading BI platform for mid-market companies
Power BI is Microsoft's business intelligence platform and the most widely used BI solution in mid-market companies. With Power BI you connect data from ERP, CRM, SQL databases, Excel and cloud APIs in one central data model — and visualise it as interactive dashboards and reports. Leaders see KPIs in near real time; business units build their own views without waiting on IT.
Without professional data modelling, Power BI projects often become data swamps: many reports, inconsistent metrics and slow queries. We therefore build clean data models (star schema, DAX measures, row-level security) and dashboards people actually use. For customer portals and SaaS we integrate Power BI Embedded. See also database & business intelligence, data analytics and database solutions.
Power BI delivers the most value on a clean data foundation: for centralised storage and a data warehouse with our database solutions we combine dashboards with reliable sources, and recurring data preparation is automated via Power Automate workflows. For cross-department KPI dashboards and BI governance we connect Power BI with our database and BI service. Key terms are explained in our glossary: Power BI and Power Automate.
Project references
Selected case studies from our project work
Documented examples with transparent evidence types — browse matching references or open the full case study.
Our Power BI services
From database connectivity through DAX and dashboard design to BI governance — we deliver the full Power BI setup for mid-market companies, often together with Microsoft 365 and Azure.
Data modelling and Power Query
A strong Power BI project depends on the data model. We build star-schema models with clear dimensions (customers, products, time, region) and fact tables (revenue, orders, costs) — for consistent metrics and fast queries. Power Query (M) transforms raw data from ERP, SQL databases, REST APIs, SharePoint lists and Excel. Well-modelled reports stay performant as volumes grow — especially after data quality work upstream.
DAX development and KPI design
DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is the formula language for Power BI metrics. We develop measures for revenue, margin, contribution by product/customer/region, time intelligence (YTD, MTD, prior year), forecast vs. budget and ABC/Pareto analysis. Professional DAX is what separates a slow, fragile file from a maintainable BI system — aligned with your BI strategy and dashboard design.
Dashboard and report design
We build interactive dashboards for management, sales, controlling and manufacturing — with drill-down, cross-filtering and mobile layouts. Reports follow a clear information hierarchy: KPIs on top, details one click away. Corporate design, consistent colours and labels make dashboards acceptable in the boardroom. We train key users to extend reports in Power BI Desktop — alongside data analytics services.
Power BI Embedded and governance
For Power BI Embedded — dashboards inside your apps, customer portals or SaaS — we implement Azure capacity, service-principal auth, row-level security for multi-tenant reports and REST API integration. For growing BI estates we add BI governance: certified datasets, deployment pipelines (dev/test/prod), sensitivity labels and usage monitoring. With Microsoft 365 we align licences and tenant policies.
Data sources and defensible metrics
A sales dashboard may combine orders, margin and forecast. Before visualisation, business owners define every KPI's meaning, filters, period and authoritative source. SQL, ERP, CRM and spreadsheets are not merged blindly; discrepancies enter a documented review supported by data analytics.
Model, refresh and role-based access
The model records relationships and calculation logic. DAX measures are tested against known cases. Scheduled refreshes receive monitoring, while row-level security is tested with representative roles. A reliable database and warehouse foundation remains a separate architecture decision.
Publishing, licences and measurement
Service, Embedded and local authoring use different identity, capacity and licensing models. Vendor costs are separated and checked at the time of proposal. Acceptance covers reconciliation, refresh status, role tests, loading time and business sign-off. We do not guarantee business impact or flawless source data; broader governance belongs to our BI consulting service.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is Power BI and who is it for?
Power BI is Microsoft's business intelligence platform for visualisation, reporting and self-service analytics. Desktop supports authoring, Service supports publishing and Embedded places reports inside applications. It may fit when ERP, CRM, spreadsheet, SQL or API data is combined through clearly defined metrics. Existing Microsoft contract entitlements must be checked for the customer.
What does a Power BI rollout and data model cost?
Licences plus implementation: one dashboard with 2–3 sources typically €3,000–8,000; full BI with star schema, Power Query, RLS and 10+ reports €15,000–40,000; enterprise BI with warehouse and governance €30,000–80,000. We often start with a pilot dashboard before the full roadmap.
Power BI vs. Tableau vs. Qlik — which is better?
The choice depends on the existing platform, data volumes, visualisation needs, governance and licensing model. Power BI integrates closely with many Microsoft environments, while Tableau and Qlik take different approaches to exploration. We compare requirements using a representative pilot dataset; no tool is universally superior.
What is Power BI Embedded and when do I need it?
Power BI Embedded embeds dashboards in your applications, customer portals or SaaS without end-user Power BI licences — using Azure capacity and REST APIs. We implement integration including token handling and row-level security for multi-tenant scenarios.
What does Power BI cost for companies?
Vendor cost depends on licence type, region, contract, user roles and any required capacity. We check Microsoft's current pricing and the customer's agreement when quoting and show development and operations separately.
What is the difference between Power BI Desktop, Pro and Premium?
Desktop: free local authoring. Pro: cloud sharing. Premium per user: AI features, larger models, paginated reports. Premium capacity: viewers without Pro licences.
Which data sources can Power BI connect?
Power BI provides connectors for sources including SQL databases, SAP, Dynamics 365, SharePoint, Excel and web APIs. Availability, authentication and refresh mode are checked for the specific source. DirectQuery is not automatically real time and has source-dependent performance limits.
What is DAX and when do I need it?
DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is the formula language for measures, calculated columns and time intelligence in Power BI — required for professional development.
How secure is company data in Power BI?
Row-level security limits data per user (region, department, customer). Data is encrypted in Azure data centres. For GDPR configure EU storage location.
Can Power BI evaluate SAP data?
Yes — via SAP HANA and SAP BW connectors. DirectQuery enables near-real-time SAP reporting without copying data. Complex SAP setups may use an on-premises data gateway.
How are Power BI metrics defined?
Business owners define each KPI's meaning, filters, period and source. We document the definition before implementing the data model and DAX measure.
Are Power BI licences included in development?
No. Microsoft licences and capacities are vendor charges separate from implementation. Edition, region and current terms are checked before quoting.
Power BI: data from every system in one dashboard
Power BI connects data from ERP, CRM, Excel, PostgreSQL, SQL Server and cloud services into one picture. Decision-makers see current KPIs at a glance; departments analyse without IT tickets; reports refresh automatically.
A professional setup is more than one dashboard: data mapping and data quality checks are the foundation. DAX, a structured model and row-level security for GDPR turn a one-off report into a sustainable BI platform.
- ✓200+ native connectors: SAP, Salesforce, SQL, Excel, REST APIs and more
- ✓Self-service with governance — certified datasets and clear usage rules
- ✓Made in Germany — development and support from Leer/Ostfriesland
