7 Easy Steps to Create Dashboards in Power BI

This quick Power BI dashboard tutorial outlines the essential workflow for building dashboards in Power BI:

• Step 1: Connect to your data source (like Excel).
• Step 2: Build a data model with table relationships.
• Step 3: Create a report using data visualization tools (charts, graphs).
• Step 4: Pin those visuals to a new dashboard.
• Step 5: Enhance and customize the layout and theme.
• Step 6: Share the dashboard with your team.
• Step 7: Maintain and improve with refreshes and interactivity.

In this blog, I will break down all 7 steps in detail to help you build your first Power BI dashboard.

If you’ve been sitting in front of the Power BI interface while wondering how to get started, you’re not alone!

Power BI is one of the most powerful data visualization tools out there. And interactive dashboards are one of its core strengths.

But to build dashboards in Power BI? You will have to go through a steep learning curve! It’s slightly tricky to get started, but once you’ve got the hang of it, you will become an expert in no time!

However, the first step is always the hardest, and that’s exactly what I’m here to help you with in this step-by-step Power BI dashboard tutorial.

I will break down each and every step into a clear action you can take, and guide you through the process of making your first dashboard.

Let’s get started!

• How to Create Dashboards in Power BI: Step-by-Step Guide
• Augmented Tech Labs: Helping You Build Power BI Dashboards
• Create Dashboard in Power BI: FAQs

Before we get started with the tutorial, there are 2 prerequisites you will need to follow along:

• First, a Power BI Desktop Account (I’ve used the free version to create this tutorial). 
• Second, a sample file, like an Excel sheet with at least a few rows and columns. 

Once you’ve got these ready, follow this simple Power BI Dashboard tutorial:

Step 1: Connect to Your Data Source

The first step in building dashboards in Power BI is to connect your data with the tool. To do this:

1. Open Power BI Desktop.
2. On the “Home” page, click on “Get Data” and choose the source of your data. For this tutorial, I recommend starting with Excel.
3. Browse to and select your Excel file.
4. The “Navigator” window will appear and tell you which sheets and tables are available in your workbook.
5. Select the table(s) you want to use and click “Load” to import them directly.
6. Alternatively, you can also click on “Transform Data” to clean and shape your data first.

Pro Tip: Using Transform Data opens the Power Query Editor, one of the most powerful data visualization tools for cleaning messy data before it even enters your model.

Step 2: Build Your Data Model (Table Relationships)

If you loaded multiple tables, you need to define how they connect. This is what we call “data modelling.”

And a proper data model is the engine behind effective Power BI Dashboards. Without it, Power BI will not be able to understand how different data points are connected internally.

Here’s how you can build your data model:

1. On the left-hand pane, click the “Model” view (it should be the third icon from the left).
2. Power BI may auto-detect and create relationships (this will appear as a line between tables).
3. If Power BI does not auto-detect and create relationships, don’t worry. You can create one manually by clicking and dragging a field (e.g., CustomerID) from one table to the related field in another table.
   

Remember, properly defining relationships in this step is crucial. It will ensure that your filters and visuals work correctly across different tables.

Step 3: Create Your Report with Data Visualization Tools

This is the step towards which we have been building up, the step where you bring your data to life.

Here’s how you can build your dashboards in Power BI via the report visuals option:

1. Go to the Report view (the first icon on the left pane).
2. On the right, you should see the Fields pane (i.e., your data tables) and the Visualizations pane (i.e., charts and formatting options).
3. To create a visual: Select a chart type from the Visualizations pane (e.g., a Stacked Bar Chart). Then, drag fields from the Fields pane and drop them into the Axis, Legend, and Values buckets well.
   For example, if you want to see “Sales by Region”, drag Region to Axis and Sales to Values.
   
4. If you want to add more visuals to your dashboard, just repeat this process. Add different visuals like line charts, maps, or KPIs to your report canvas to tell a complete story. 

The report page that you have created in this step will become the source for your dashboard.

Step 4: Create Your Power BI Dashboard

As soon as you’re done with Step 3, you have created the basis for your Power BI dashboard. 

The next step in the process of building Power BI Dashboards is to bring your report to life.

1. Save your .pbix file and then click Publish on the Home page. This is where you are publishing your report to the Power BI Online Service.
2. Once published, your browser will open to the Power BI service. Open the published report.
3. Once you are viewing the report, hover over any visual. Next, click the Pin icon (it’ll look like a pushpin) that appears.
4. A dialog box will ask you to pin this visual to a new or existing dashboard. Select New dashboard, give it a name (e.g., "Sales Overview"), and click Pin.
5. Repeat this process, pinning other key visuals from your report(s) to the same dashboard. 

You are now effectively creating a dashboard in Power BI by adding the most important metrics of your report onto a single canvas.

Step 5: Enhance and Customize Your Dashboard

Till now, we have created a canvas with several “pinned tiles”.

But a great dashboard is more than just pinned tiles! It uses the full power of data visualization tools to create a source for effective decision-making!

 Let me show you how to customize your Power BI dashboards: 

1. On your dashboard, click Edit.
2. Add Text Boxes or Images: You can use the “+ Add a tile” button to include labels, commentary, or company logos. This will give context to viewers or enhance the appeal of your dashboard.
3. Resize and Arrange: You can also click and drag the corners of visuals to resize them. I highly recommend dragging tiles to arrange them in a logical, easy-to-follow layout.
4. Apply a Theme: One of the best things about building dashboards in Power BI is that you can apply consistent color schemes throughout your visual for a professional look. To do this, click on Dashboard theme and select a color scheme that suits you.

Step 6: Share and Collaborate

This is the final step of this Power BI dashboard tutorial: sharing your work with colleagues and stakeholders. 

This is another strength that makes Power BI one of the best data visualization tools - it offers several robust collaboration options, such as:

1. Direct Sharing:

• From your dashboard in the Power BI service, click the Share button (look for this at the top right of the screen).
• Enter the email IDs of your colleagues or stakeholders. You can also add a message and configure whether recipients can reshare the dashboard or just view it.
• Click Share, and they will receive an email notification with a direct link to the dashboard.
  

2. Publish to Web (Use with Caution!):

• For broader, public sharing, select File > Embed report > Publish to web (public).
  

Remember, when you click on “Publish to Web,” it will create a link that anyone on the internet can see, even if they don’t have a Power BI license! So, I suggest using this only for non-sensitive data intended for a public audience!

3. Workspace Apps (For Enterprise Teams):

• If your dashboard is saved within a workspace, you can publish it as an App.
• To do this, navigate to your workspace and click on Create app.
• You can then configure the audience, specific pages to include, and a custom theme before publishing the app for your entire organization or a specific group.

4. Microsoft Teams Integration:

• Lastly, you can directly tab and share your dashboard or report within a Microsoft Teams channel for seamless collaboration.

Once you have shared your Power BI report with the relevant stakeholders, they can view the dashboard and interact with filters. Plus, if you have granted them permission to do so, they will also be able to see the underlying reports that you have used to make the dashboard. 

This will turn your Power BI Dashboard into a central hub for data-driven decision-making!

Step 7: Enhance Interactivity and Maintain Your Dashboard

Once you have published and shared your Power BI dashboard, it is technically live. However, the process of building dashboards in Power BI is often iterative. 

And one way to enhance your dashboard’s appeal over time is to increase its interactivity.

Here’s how you can do this:

• Use Slicers and Filters: You can add timeline slicers, dropdown menus, or checkbox filters to allow viewers to explore the data on their own terms. It will add dynamism to your data.
• Configure Drillthrough: Drillthrough pages are detailed pages that focus on a specific tem, for example, a region within the chart. Once you have set up a drillthrough, users can right-click on a data point and "drill through" to a detailed page focused on that item!
• Leverage Tooltips: One of the best things about Power BI dashboards is that you can create rich, custom tooltips that appear when hovering over visuals. These will provide viewers with additional context and metrics while keeping the main view clean and concise.
• Schedule Data Refresh: To ensure your dashboard remains accurate, I highly recommend configuring a scheduled refresh for your dataset in the Power BI Service. To do this: 

1. Go to your Workspace.
2. Navigate to the Datasets tab and select your dataset.
3. Go to Settings and configure the refresh schedule under the Data Source Credentials and Scheduled Refresh sections.

And that’s it! You’ve successfully created and iterated your first Power BI dashboard!

Also Read: 10 Data Visualization Best Practices - How to Convert Data into Insights

Through this complete, step-by-step tutorial, we have discussed the A to Z of how to create a Power BI dashboard from scratch. I have also outlined how you can deploy them as a powerful, interactive tool for your entire organization.

Now, it’s time for you to slowly and steadily start building your first dashboard using Power BI.

And if you get stuck at any step in the process, you can reach out to us at Augmented Tech Labs! We have been using data visualization tools like Power BI for over a decade to help solopreneurs, enterprises, and SMBs create interactive dashboards for their operations. 

So, connect with us, and will help you troubleshoot and solve any and all errors that you might face in creating Power BI dashboards!

1. What is the difference between a Power BI Report and a Dashboard?

A Report is a multi-page canvas for detailed analysis. Power BI Dashboards are single-page, consolidated views built by pinning visuals from one or more reports.

2. Can I use Power BI Desktop for free?

Yes, Power BI Desktop is a free application for creating reports and data models. Publishing to the online service for sharing may require a licensed account.

3. What are the best data visualization tools within Power BI?

Power BI includes built-in data visualization tools like bar/line charts, maps, and matrices. The best tool depends on your data story and audience.

4. What is the first step to create dashboards in Power BI?

The first step is connecting to a data source. This foundational step in building dashboards in Power BI loads your data for modeling and visualization.

5. Where can I find more advanced Power BI dashboard tutorials?

For advanced design and efficiency techniques, Augmented Tech Labs offers expert guidance beyond this introductory Power BI dashboard tutorial.