You’re a data person. You’re ready to take the leap into data analytics and visualizations through Microsoft Power BI. Where do you start, and how can you learn to be a rock star on your own, at your own pace?

To fill that need, one of Onebridge’s senior engineers is writing a book, Learning Microsoft Power BI, to be released by highly respected technical publisher O’Reilly late this year. O’Reilly is now offering access to the early release of the first two chapters on their learning platform.

Why This is the Power BI Book for You

“Whether you work with data in Excel or you’re a hardcore data scientist, I wrote this book with you in mind. I’ll guide you, step by step, right there at your own computer, to learn how to use Power BI. Before you know it, you’ll be able to deliver meaningful insights about your data,” said author Jeremey Arnold, Senior Analytics Architect at Onebridge, a business intelligence, data analytics, and enterprise application development consulting firm.

A lot of organizations turn to Onebridge for hands-on help with Power BI, but the company saw a need to take it further.

Focused on data and analytics initiatives, Onebridge team members know that success in a data initiative involves more than just helping companies with the technology aspect of data. The other vital parts of the equation are streamlining processes and empowering people.

In the people arena, it’s important to make sure teams are equipped to use the data they have. And they must be able to work with it to extract business intelligence.

That’s why Arnold agreed when O’Reilly approached him about writing their first Power BI book. It was a natural fit.

Arnold said his goal is to take someone with little or no experience in Power BI and train them to feel comfortable using Power BI to work with their own data to create the reports, dashboards, and visualizations they need.

“Through hands-on, guided lessons, you’ll be able to produce reports that will lead your company to make better decisions based on analytics and business intelligence. That’s what it’s about,” he said.

Arnold has almost 15-years’ experience in the data and analytics space, with a track record of success in analytics. He’s led impactful data initiatives across multiple teams to help numerous organizations improve profitability and operational efficiency; and he’s created demonstrable outcomes for sales teams.

Colleagues at Onebridge describe Arnold as technically brilliant, yet able to explain the complex in a way that anyone can understand.

They say his technical intelligence is matched only by his wit and mischievous nature. Dubbed the “Captain of Fun” at Onebridge, Arnold has endeared himself to those he works with. Where Arnold is, there is usually laughter.

Learning Microsoft Power BI Summary

When thinking about how Power BI has evolved, Arnold remembers “simpler” times when Power BI’s predecessors first hit the market in 2011. Today, Power BI has grown into an entire business intelligence (BI) ecosystem that can be very intimidating to the new user.

Learning Microsoft Power BI takes away the fear factor. At the end of each chapter, Arnold makes sure you’re on track and learning what you need to know.  

His book is brimming with tips about what specifically to focus on as a new user, where you can unknowingly tread into trouble if you aren’t careful, and exactly how to efficiently leverage the power of Power BI.

At the end, you’ll have a deep understanding of the user interface and full knowledge of how to go from collecting data, transforming it, and creating and sharing “amazing visualizations that will wow your colleagues and make your mom and dad proud,” Arnold muses.

Mostly, you’ll be able to confidently use Power BI as your go-to data analysis and reporting tool.

As an overview, you’ll learn how to:

• Import, manipulate, visualize, and investigate data in Power BI
• Approach solutions for both self-service and enterprise BI
• Use Power BI in your organization's business intelligence strategy
• Produce effective reports and dashboards
• Create environments for sharing reports and managing data access with your team
• Determine the right solution for using Power BI offerings based on size, security, and computational needs

O’Reilly Offers Advance View of Chapters 1 and 2

Get a sneak preview of the early release of the first two chapters of Learning Microsoft Power BI by signing up for a free trial on the O’Reilly Learning platform.

Or sign up for our Onebridge newsletter below if you want to be one of the first to know when our book is ready.

Check Out This Article
Eager to get started? Read how you can make the best of your Power BI journey in our Onebridge article, Power(ful) BI: How to Get the Most Out of Power BI.

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