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Power Bi

Power Bi Logo

What is Power BI?

Power Bi allows you to take unrelated data sources and make them visually immersive, and interactive. Imagine taking Excel spreadsheets, cloud-based data, and on-premises data and viewing them all together in an interactive experience! Power Bi easily allows you to connect data sources, visualize and discover relationships in your data, what’s important in your data; and then share it with anyone you want! Pretty cool, no?!


The three parts of Power Bi


There are several elements to Power Bi – however, we start with the basic three:


  1. Power BI Desktop (Windows) application.
  2. Software available online as a service called (SaaS) the Power BI service.
  3. Power BI Mobile apps for Windows, iOS, and Android devices.


These three elements are designed to let you create, share, and utilize business insights.


How does your role match up with Power Bi?

Using Power Bi depends directly on your specific role in your project or team. The way you use Power Bi may vary from others you work with depending on their specific roles and responsibilities.

 

The flow of work in Power Bi

For the most part, workflow in Power Bi begins by connecting to data sources in Power Bi Desktop and building a report from there. That report subsequently gets published from the Power Bi Desktop to the Power Bi Service, and then it can be shared so business users in the Power Bi service and mobile apps can view and interact with the report. Workflow is common and really illustrates how the three main Power Bi elements complement each other.

 

What is the Power Bi Desktop?

First and foremost, Power Bi Desktop is a FREE application you install on your local computer that permits you to connect to multiple data sources, transform, and visualize your data. When you combine multiple data sources we call that “data modeling”. The data model allows you to build visuals, as well as collections of visuals that you can share as reports with others inside your organization. 


Common uses for Power Bi:

·        Connect to data

·        Transform and clean data so you can create a data model.

·        Create visuals – Charts which provide a graphical (pictorial) representation of data (A picture is worth a thousand words!)

·        Create reports representing collections of visuals into one or more report pages.

·        Sharing reports with others in your organization using Power Bi services.


Who uses Power Bi?

If your title happens to be “Data Analyst” or “Report Creator” your responsibilities may include using the tools provided in Power Bi. While it isn’t necessary to have a job title as mentioned above – many people in industry, and business utilize the tools provided in the Power Bi world to create data models and shar the reports the create with their coworkers and their organizations.  If your position requires you to work with multiple data sets and sources Power Bi may be the answer you’ve been looking for.


Contact sales@westernts.ca or call or text to get more information on this exciting data modeling tool that can make your life easier! 


See the Course

1 - Hour 0 - Stress MAXIMUM - Copilot

By Christina Bower-Arsenault • January 30, 2026
Copilot - Turning "I hope this work' into ... " Nailed It! ", since 2026 At Western Training Solutions , our motto is "Work Smarter. Not Harder!" With AI tools multiplying, it’s hard to know where to start—or how to use them safely. That’s where we come in. We hear it everywhere—from government, agencies, and SME businesses, and individuals: "We’ve banned all AI except Microsoft’s Copilot." We get it—security matters. Many generative AI tools gobble up your data, and that’s a privacy risk—especially if you use them on devices tied to sensitive info like online banking. That’s why we’ve created Power Hour : fast, focused 1-hour sessions to help you master Copilot in your favourite Microsoft apps. Reach out to sales@westernts.ca or call sales at 1-204-837-4776 to discuss individual sessions or group training for your department or organization. See you in a session! Discover what you didn't know, you didn't know!
Gold Balloons and 2026 Wishing everyone Happy New Year

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By Christina Bower-Arsenault • January 6, 2026
Let The Work of 2026 Begin How can it already be January 6th?! I was wa rned when I was wee (little) that as I got older that time has a way of speeding up! Boy! Were they right! Here we are in the first full work week of 2026 and it already feels like an out of control locomotive!! What are your goals for 2026? Not ones to actually buy into "New Years Resolutions" - we at Western Training Solutions usually look at what we see as trending or up and coming in the world of end-user technology to prepare and be ahead of the curve! This year, as last year proved - we are concentrating on AI - in particular - Copilot (Microsoft's version of Generative AI) Look out for new " Power Hour " sessions on using Copilot with M365 and what it can do, and what it can't! As always, Western Training Solutions has your backs. We're doing the work, so you don't have to. We look forward to seeing you in classes / sessions in 2026. Here's to Success for All in 2026 from Your Friends at Western Training Solutions

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By Christina Bower-Arsenault • December 22, 2025
Greetings of the Season Warm wishes filled with cheer, For moments wrapped in laughter And memories held dear. May your days be bright with kindness, Your nights be calm and clear, And may the spirit of the season Bring joy throughout the year. Here’s to peaceful little pauses, And to hearts that feel at ease— May the simple gifts around you Be the ones that truly please. Wishing you warmth and wonder, In all the days to come— May the season’s gentle magic Touch each and every one. Warm Wishes, Western Training Solutions
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