Advanced Power BI and Data Visualisation Training Course

Duration 5 days 10 modules · 33 contact hours
Level Advanced Certificate on completion
Who attends Business Intelligence Analyst, Data Analyst and others
Fee from USD 1,100 KSh 95,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 16 Nov 2026 Course code SD-BI-110

Before you join: Participants should be regular Power BI Desktop users who can import data, create basic relationships, build simple visuals and publish reports.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

Senior analysts and BI teams are expected to turn complex operational, financial and customer data into decisions that can withstand scrutiny. Many Power BI reports fail because the data model is fragile, DAX measures produce misleading totals, visuals obscure exceptions, or published content lacks clear ownership and refresh controls. This course addresses those issues through disciplined modelling, calculation design, visual communication and governed deployment.

Participants build advanced capability in Power Query transformation, star-schema modelling, DAX measure authoring, time intelligence, calculation groups, performance diagnosis and row-level security. The course also covers report-page design, accessibility, drill-through analysis, bookmarks, tooltips, deployment pipelines and workspace governance. Participants learn to select visuals that answer defined management questions rather than simply display available fields.

Instruction combines concise technical briefings with worked Power BI cases drawn from banking, public services, retail, manufacturing and programme delivery. Participants inspect model failures, write and test DAX, redesign weak report pages, and review publishing decisions against defined requirements. They leave with a reusable Power BI report design pack containing a semantic model blueprint, DAX measure catalogue, visual specification, performance checklist, security design and publication plan.

The course suits experienced Power BI users, reporting analysts, data professionals and managers responsible for trusted self-service reporting. It is particularly relevant where reports are shared across functions, contain sensitive data, or inform performance reviews, budget decisions, service delivery and risk management.

What you will be able to do

  • Design star-schema semantic models for reliable Power BI reporting
  • Transform and combine source data using advanced Power Query techniques
  • Write DAX measures using filter context, CALCULATE and iterator functions
  • Build time-intelligence calculations for comparative performance analysis
  • Diagnose slow reports with Performance Analyzer and DAX query inspection
  • Create accessible report pages using visual hierarchy and interaction design
  • Configure row-level security and governed Power BI workspace publication
  • Produce a reusable report design pack for a business reporting requirement

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Create DAX measures that remain correct under slicers, totals and drill-down
  • Reduce report rework through reusable model, measure and page-design standards
  • Present performance exceptions through focused visual narratives and interactions
  • Troubleshoot common model and DAX performance problems with diagnostic tools
  • Demonstrate competence in governed publication and sensitive-data access controls

For your organisation

  • Improves consistency of KPIs through shared semantic-model and measure-design practices
  • Reduces spreadsheet dependency for recurring operational and management reporting
  • Shortens report response times through structured performance diagnosis and optimisation
  • Protects sensitive data through row-level security and controlled workspace access
  • Improves decision quality with readable reports focused on exceptions, trends and drivers

Course modules

10 modules over 5 days

Participants can design a stable Power BI semantic model that supports accurate, reusable analysis.

  • Power BI semantic models, reports, workspaces and dataflows distinguished clearly
  • Star schema design using fact tables, dimensions and conformed dimensions
  • Grain statements defined before relationships, measures and visual requirements
  • Surrogate keys and natural keys assessed for relationship reliability
  • Single-direction filtering selected to prevent ambiguous filter propagation
  • Role-playing dimensions handled with inactive relationships and USERELATIONSHIP
  • Many-to-many relationships evaluated against bridge-table modelling alternatives

Participants can prepare maintainable datasets using advanced Power Query transformation patterns.

  • Query folding assessed to preserve efficient source-system processing
  • Parameters created for server names, reporting periods and environment settings
  • Reference queries separated from staging and presentation queries
  • Merge and append operations applied with documented join cardinality
  • Custom functions built for repeated file and table transformations
  • Error rows isolated, profiled and corrected using data-quality rules
  • Incremental refresh prerequisites identified for large historical datasets

Participants can write DAX measures that behave correctly across report filters and totals.

  • Row context and filter context distinguished through calculation examples
  • CALCULATE used to modify filters within reusable business measures
  • Iterator functions SUMX, AVERAGEX and RANKX applied to derived calculations
  • Variables introduced to improve measure readability and query efficiency
  • ALL, ALLSELECTED and REMOVEFILTERS compared for denominator control
  • KEEPFILTERS applied when additive filters must remain visible
  • Measure branching used to organise base, derived and presentation measures

Participants can create calendar-based measures for trend, variance and comparative analysis.

  • Marked date tables built with complete, contiguous calendar dates
  • Year-to-date, quarter-to-date and month-to-date measures authored accurately
  • Prior-period comparisons created using DATEADD and SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR
  • Rolling twelve-month calculations controlled by selected reporting dates
  • Working-day calendars incorporated into service and operational metrics
  • Variance, variance percentage and contribution measures formatted consistently
  • Dynamic measure labels generated from selected period and scenario filters

Participants can reduce duplicated DAX through calculation groups and standardised measure logic.

  • Calculation groups introduced for time intelligence and scenario transformations
  • SELECTEDMEASURE applied to reusable calculation-item expressions
  • Precedence settings managed where multiple calculation groups interact
  • Dynamic format strings configured for currencies, percentages and quantities
  • Tabular Editor used to inspect measures, folders and calculation groups
  • Display folders structured around business domains and reporting audiences
  • Measure descriptions documented for controlled self-service consumption

Participants can design report pages that communicate decisions, exceptions and drivers clearly.

  • Decision questions translated into page objectives and visual specifications
  • Visual hierarchy established through layout, contrast, alignment and whitespace
  • Bar, line, scatter and waterfall charts selected by analytical purpose
  • Small multiples used to compare categories without cluttered legends
  • Reference lines, error bars and conditional formatting reveal exceptions
  • Drill-through pages designed for controlled movement from summary to detail
  • Report accessibility checked using colour contrast, labels and tab order

Participants can build guided report interactions that support focused investigation.

  • Bookmarks configured for guided views, scenarios and explanatory narratives
  • Buttons and page navigation organised around common decision journeys
  • Report tooltips designed to add context without overcrowding visuals
  • Field parameters enable controlled switching between measures and dimensions
  • Slicers synchronised across pages while preserving purposeful local filters
  • What-if parameters used for assumptions, targets and scenario comparisons
  • Decomposition trees assessed for driver analysis and exploratory questioning

Participants can identify and resolve common causes of slow Power BI reports.

  • Performance Analyzer used to isolate slow visuals and DAX queries
  • DAX Studio introduced for query plans, timings and server metrics
  • High-cardinality columns reviewed for compression and model-size impact
  • Unused columns and automatic date tables removed from models
  • Import, DirectQuery and composite models compared for reporting requirements
  • Aggregation tables designed to accelerate detailed, high-volume analysis
  • Slow measures refactored using variables, base measures and simpler filters

Participants can publish Power BI content with appropriate access, ownership and lifecycle controls.

  • Row-level security roles defined with static and dynamic filters
  • USERPRINCIPALNAME applied to identity-driven access control tables
  • Workspace roles matched to development, publishing and consumption responsibilities
  • Apps used to distribute approved content to defined user groups
  • Deployment pipelines structured across development, test and production stages
  • Refresh ownership, gateway dependencies and failure notifications documented
  • Sensitivity labels considered when reports contain confidential information

Participants can assess report quality and plan controlled application of advanced Power BI methods.

  • Acceptance criteria written for model accuracy, usability and performance
  • Reconciliation checks compare Power BI measures with source-system totals
  • DAX test cases defined for blanks, totals, filters and edge conditions
  • Peer review checklists applied before publication to business users
  • Semantic model ownership assigned across data, reporting and business teams
  • Report adoption metrics selected for usage, refresh reliability and feedback
  • Ninety-day application plans prioritise report improvements and governance actions

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. Star-schema semantic model blueprint
  2. DAX measure catalogue template
  3. Report visual specification template
  4. Power BI performance diagnostic checklist
  5. Row-level security design worksheet
  6. Ninety-day Power BI application plan

Who should attend

  • Business Intelligence Analyst — needs dependable models, measures and management reports
  • Data Analyst — needs advanced Power BI methods beyond basic dashboards
  • Finance Analyst — needs controlled financial reporting and time-based variance analysis
  • Reporting Manager — needs standards for reusable, trusted team reporting
  • Data Engineer — needs effective preparation of data for Power BI semantic models
  • Digital Transformation Manager — needs governed self-service analytics across business functions

Skills and tools covered

Semantic data modellingAdvanced DAX authoringPower Query transformationVisual analytics designReport performance tuningPower BI governance

Tools and standards

Power BI Desktop, Power Query, DAX, Tabular Editor

How the course runs

Training methodology

The instructor alternates short technical briefings with guided analysis of realistic reporting cases. Participants work individually and in groups to model data, test DAX calculations, assess visual choices and diagnose report performance. Cases include management reporting, service performance, financial variance and customer analysis. Trainers use discussion, peer review and structured design critiques to surface trade-offs in modelling, security and publication. Each participant develops an application plan and reusable report design pack aligned to a reporting requirement from their own role.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should be regular Power BI Desktop users who can import data, create basic relationships, build simple visuals and publish reports. Familiarity with spreadsheet formulas and basic data concepts, including tables, keys and aggregations, is assumed. Some prior exposure to DAX is helpful, but participants do not need to be expert DAX authors. SQL, Python, data engineering experience and Microsoft Fabric administration are not required. Bring a laptop with Power BI Desktop installed and access to a suitable Microsoft account if organisational policy permits publishing practice.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

You should already be comfortable importing data, creating basic relationships, building visuals and using Power BI Desktop. The course develops advanced modelling, DAX, visual design, performance and governance rather than introductory report creation.

Bring a laptop with the current version of Power BI Desktop installed. A mouse is strongly recommended for modelling and report design; trainers provide course files and scenarios.

It is designed for analysts, BI professionals, finance and reporting specialists, data engineers and managers who already use Power BI. It also suits teams establishing standards for shared reporting and controlled self-service analytics.

Introductory courses focus on importing data, simple visuals and basic reports. This course concentrates on star schemas, advanced DAX, calculation groups, performance tuning, accessible visual design, security and publication controls.

Participants can use the model blueprint, DAX catalogue, visual specification and quality checklist on an existing report or planned dashboard. The final application plan identifies practical report improvements and governance actions for the next ninety days.

The course runs from 08:30 to 16:30 each day, providing about 6.5 contact hours daily. Time is divided between instructor briefings, worked cases, technical build activities, peer review and application planning.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.

Ask on WhatsApp info@skillsetdevelopment.com

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