The Ultimate Guide to Power BI Data Visualizations

Knowing how to use Power BI data visualizations effectively is advantageous in many ways. Data visualizations in general, align with how humans process information. Human beings tend to process visuals easily and retain more information.

Data visualizations simplify and present information in a way people can understand. This allows for faster decision-making and improved key performance indicators (KPIs).

Data visualizations are not created equal. Dashboards, for example, are ideal for summarizing information. Reports are, however, more detailed.

Knowing several Power BI visualization types will help you choose the most appropriate ones.

You can also create different visualizations and use them on dashboards with Power BI (PBI).

This article defines Power BI and the visualizations you can find on the platform. We look at some Power BI data visualization types and Power BI data visualization examples.

We also learn how to use Power BI to create interactive charts and visualizations. Finally, we look at frequently asked questions regarding Power BI data visualizations.

Table of Content:

1. What is Power BI?
2. What are Visualizations in Power BI?
3. The Best Power BI Data Visualization Types and Examples
4. How to Create Power BI Data Visualizations?
5. Wrap Up

What is Power BI?

Power BI (PBI) is a business and data analytics service. It enables users to visualize and analyze data with greater speed, efficiency, and effectiveness.

It provides a suite of tools and services for data preparation, data visualization, and data exploration.

Users can create custom dashboards, reports, and interactive Power BI data visualizations.

PBI includes powerful data modeling and analysis capabilities. You can integrate it with Excel, SharePoint, and Teams to streamline workflows.

With PBI, you can use data from a variety of sources:

• CSV files
• Databases
• Excel
• Online sources, for example, APIs

You can also set alerts for KPIs powered by machine learning algorithms and AI.

What are Visualizations in Power BI?

Visualizations in Power BI are graphical representations of data. They help to communicate insights and patterns in a clear and concise manner. They are the cornerstone of any successful data analysis and dashboard creation in PBI.

There are a variety of Power BI visualization types. Some include bar charts, line charts, scatter plots, pie charts, tables, and maps.

These visualizations can be customized to suit specific needs and combined to create powerful and interactive dashboards in Power BI.

PBI visualizations can be created using a simple drag-and-drop interface. You can select data fields and drop them onto the visualization canvas.

After creating PBI visualizations, you can easily manipulate, filter, and share them with others.

PBI also offers a wide range of pre-built templates and themes. You can easily create professional-looking dashboards and reports.

The Best Power BI Data Visualization Types and Examples

There are several kinds of visualizations available in PBI. In this section, we look at the best  Power BI visualization examples and types.

Your use case will have a major impact on the best PBI data visualization type you choose.

Here are some PBI visualizations you might consider:

• Area charts

One class of Power BI charts is area charts. They are helpful for observing trends and patterns across time.

Time is represented on the x-axis, while the data value is shown on the y-axis. To compare different data sets, they might be layered or overlapped.

An area chart can be used to show profits over time. It will draw attention to the overall profit.

An illustration of an area chart is as follows:

• Doughnut charts

One example of a Power BI data visualization is a doughnut chart. They have a hole in the middle and are round.

Each segment’s size corresponds to its share or percentage of the whole.

Pie charts and doughnut charts are similar. However, they do have a hole in the middle.

An additional piece of information, like a summary or total value, might be displayed in the hole.

Each section of a doughnut chart represents a type of data or collection of data. Each segment’s size reflects the amount or percentage of that category.

The segments are arranged in a circular pattern. The total or summary value is visible through the center hole.

Doughnut charts are helpful for examining the relative sizes of various categories.

Additionally, they display how much each category contributed to the overall value.

The following is an illustration of a doughnut chart:

• Gauge charts

A Gauge Chart is used to display data in a circular format. It resembles a traditional speedometer or a gauge.

It is commonly used to show a single value within a specific range. A good example is showing progress toward a goal or a KPI.

The PBI Gauge chart allows you to visualize data as a gauge. It has a range of values that can be customized to fit specific needs.

You can present a range of values and the colors and data labels for the gauge, too.

In addition, you can:

• • Set the maximum and minimum values for the gauge.
  • Change the colors.
  • Add a needle or pointer to indicate the current value.

The following is an example of a Gauge chart:

• Treemap

Hierarchical data is displayed as a group of nested rectangles on a treemap. Each rectangle’s size and color correspond to a numerical number or category.You can quickly and simply visualize complex data using a treemap to spot patterns and trends.

Treemaps are a powerful tool in Power BI for exploring and analyzing data from various angles. To further hone your analysis, you take advantage of interactive elements like slicers and tooltips.

Treemap use cases:

• When displaying a substantial amount of hierarchical data.
• Whenever a bar chart cannot handle the number of values, as they are numerous.
• To show the proportions of the pieces to the whole.
• To illustrate the distribution of the metric across the various levels of categories in the hierarchy.
• To display characteristics by using color and size coding.
• To spot trends, anomalies, important causes, and exceptions.

Here is an illustration of a treemap:

• Sankey diagrams

A Sankey diagram displays the flow of data or information through a system or process.

It consists of nodes and links. Nodes represent the categories of data. Links represent the flow of data between them.

The width of the links is proportional to the amount of data that flows between the nodes. This makes it easy to identify the most important relationships in the data.

Sankey diagrams can be used for a wide range of applications, including:

• showing the flow of website traffic,
• customer journeys,
• energy consumption,
• and financial transactions.

The following is an illustration of a Sankey diagram:

How to Create Power BI Data Visualizations?

There are numerous Power BI data visualizations. However, we are going to use the Sankey diagram to illustrate how to create visualizations in PBI.

Sankey diagrams are also known as Sankey charts and are one of the Power BI charts. The following section will teach you how to create Sankey Diagram in Power BI.

How to Create a Sankey Diagram in Power BI?

Stage 1: Logging in to Power BI

• Log in to Power BI.
• Enter your email address and click the “Submit” button.

• You are redirected to your Microsoft account.
• Enter your password and click “Sign in“.

• You can choose whether to stay signed in.

• You are then redirected to the Power BI home screen.

Stage 2: Creating a Data Set and Selecting the Data Set to Use in Your Sankey Chart

• Click on the “Create” option on the left-side menu.
• Select “Paste or manually enter data“.

• We’ll use the following cash flow data for this example.

Earnings Source	Revenue	Expenses & Profit	Departments	Categories	Amount
Providing services	Revenue	Expenses	Managerial	Training Sessions	10,000
Providing services	Revenue	Expenses	Managerial	Office rental	16,000
Providing services	Revenue	Expenses	Managerial	Wages	9,400
Providing services	Revenue	Expenses	Commercial	Wages	11,300
Sales of products	Revenue	Expenses	Commercial	Travel allowance	10,000
Sales of products	Revenue	Expenses	Commercial	Advertising	12,000
Sales of products	Revenue	Expenses	Production	Material Payment	25,000
Sales of products	Revenue	Expenses	Production	Loan Payment	8,500
Sales of products	Revenue	Expenses	Production	Wages	19,500
Loans	Revenue	Gross Profit		Taxes	11,000
Loans	Revenue	Gross Profit		Net Profit	13,000

• Paste the above data table in the Power Query Window.
• Select the “Create a dataset only” option.

• On the left-side menu, click “Data Hub“.
• Power BI populates the data set list.

• Choose a data set for the Sankey chart.
• PBI populates the screen as shown below:

• Click on the “Create a report” dropdown.
• Select “Start from scratch“.

• A Report Canvas screen appears as below:

Stage 3: Adding the Power BI Sankey Diagram Extension by ChartExpo

• To finish creating our Sankey Diagram, we’ll use an add-in or Power BI visual from AppSource.
• Navigate to the Power BI Visualizations panel. It’s on the right side of your Power BI dashboard.
• Click the ellipsis (…) highlighted below to import the Power BI Sankey Diagram visual by ChartExpo.

• The following menu opens:
• Select the “Get more visuals” option.

• The following window opens.
• Enter “Sankey Diagram for Power BI by ChartExpo” in the highlighted search box.
• You should see the “Sankey Diagram for Power BI by ChartExpo”, as shown in the image below.

• Click the highlighted “Add” button.

• PBI will add the “Sankey Diagram for Power BI by ChartExpo” in the visualization panel.

Stage 4: Drawing a Sankey Diagram with ChartExpo’s Power BI extension

• Select the “Sankey Diagram for Power BI by ChartExpo” icon in the visualization panel.
• The following window opens in the report section of your dashboard:

• You can resize the visual as needed.
• Navigate to the right side of your Power BI dashboard.
• You should see “Fields” next to “Visualizations“.

• You’ll select the fields to use in your Sankey chart here.
• The ChartExpo visual needs to be selected, though. Select the field in the following sequence:
  • earning source,
  • revenue,
  • expenses, and profit,
  • departments,
  • and categories.

• You’ll be asked for a ChartExpo license key or email address.

Stage 5: Activate your ChartExpo Trial or Apply a Subscription Key

• Select the ChartExpo visual.
• You should see three icons below “Build Visual” in the Visualizations panel.

• Select the middle icon, “Format visual“. The visual properties will be populated as shown below.

• If you are a new user:
  • Enter your email address in the “Email” textbox in the “Trial Mode” section.
  • This is the email address to which your ChartExpo license key will be sent.
  • It should also be the same email address you used to subscribe to the ChartExpo add-in.
  • Ensure that your email address is valid.
  • Click “Enable Trial” to activate your 7-day trial.

• You should receive a welcome email from ChartExpo.
• If you do not find the email in your inbox, kindly check your spam folder as well.
• The Sankey Diagram you create under the 7-day trial contains the ChartExpo watermark (see below).

• If you have obtained a license key:
  • Enter your license key in the “ChartExpo License Key” textbox in the “License Settings” section (see below).
  • Slide the toggle switch next to “Enable License” to “On“.

• Your Sankey diagram should now be ready (see below).
• Note that it does not have a watermark.

• To add colors, expand the “Level Colors” properties and select a color. Do this to change the color of each node.

• All changes will be automatically saved.

• Let’s add the prefix (e.g., $ sign) with the numeric values in the chart.
• Expand the “Stats” properties.
• Add the prefix value (e.g., the $ sign).

• Your final chart will look like the one below.

Insights

• At the first level, it is evident that product sales are the main source of revenue. They account for 51.48% of the total.
• On the second level, the company’s total revenue stands at $146K.
• At the third level, out of $146K, $122K were expenses, representing 83.5% of the total revenue. The gross profit is $24K, representing 16.5%.
• The fourth level explains managerial, commercial, and production expenses. They make up $35.4K, $33.3K, and $53K, respectively.
• The gross profit is split into taxes and net profit, $11K and $13K, respectively.
• The managerial node is divided into three subsections: training sessions, wages, and office rental. They tally respectively at $10K, $9.4K, and $16K.
• The commercial node is divided into travel allowances, advertising, and wages. The travel allowance has the highest amount.

FAQs

Is Power BI a good data visualization tool?

Yes, Power BI is a great data visualization tool. It allows you to visualize and analyze data from different sources. It also has a user-friendly interface, powerful data modeling capabilities, and a variety of visualization options. You can use these visualizations to create interactive dashboards and reports in Power BI.

Why is Power BI used for data visualization?

There are several advantages to using Power BI for data visualization. It is easy to use and offers lots of interactive visualizations. It also integrates with a wide range of data sources and comes with collaboration features.

Wrap up

We have discussed Power BI data visualizations, their advantages, and their importance in decision-making and KPI achievement.

We began by defining Power BI (PBI) and what we mean by visualizations in PBI.

We then looked at the best Power BI visualization types and Power BI visualization examples. These include area charts, doughnut charts, gauge charts, and treemaps.

Sankey diagrams are also another type of data visualization that you can create with PBI. We used Sankey charts to demonstrate how you would create a PBI visualization, step by step.

We also answered some FAQs related to PBI visualizations.

You should now be ready to take the plunge and try PBI data visualizations.