Managing cloud environments can be tough, especially if you’re not a tech expert. Microsoft Copilot for Azure is here to help. This AI-powered tool makes it easier to design, manage, optimize, and fix issues in your Azure applications and infrastructure. Whether you’re technical or not, Copilot can help you get the most out of your cloud operations. 

Introduction 

Cloud computing offers flexibility and scalability, but managing it can be complex. Microsoft Copilot for Azure simplifies these tasks using AI. This guide covers how Copilot helps you design, manage, optimize, and troubleshoot on Azure, making cloud management accessible to everyone. 

What is Microsoft Copilot for Azure? 

Microsoft Copilot for Azure is an AI assistant in public preview. It uses advanced language models to help you manage your Azure environment. With Copilot, you can handle tasks like setting up infrastructure, managing applications, optimizing resources, and solving problems—all using simple language. 

Key Features

• Design: Set up services that fit your needs and follow your company’s rules.
• Operate: Ask questions, create complex commands, and perform actions using plain language.
• Optimize: Get tips to save money, improve security, and make your setup more reliable.
• Troubleshoot: Find and fix issues by understanding problems and getting solutions. 
• Code Optimization: Create scripts in various languages, manage APIs, and handle Kubernetes files. 
• Resource Management: Look up resources, check service health, manage costs, and ensure security. 

How It Works

Large Language Models (LLMs) 

Copilot uses large language models to understand and respond to your queries. You ask a question in plain language, and Copilot turns it into actionable commands in Azure. 

Integration with Azure Control Plane 

Copilot connects directly with Azure’s control systems. This means it can manage resources like virtual machines and Kubernetes clusters within your Azure account. 

Security and Privacy 

Microsoft prioritizes your data’s security. Copilot works within your subscription, following your organization’s security policies and keeping your data safe. 

Even we can view the data on more finite level the data received in last few hours and etc. on all or specified storage account. 

Even with the co-pilot and user we can create resources based on the requirement we can specify, and it provides the suggestion that can be considered and if then mentioned the correct details it provided Azure CLI command that can be executed so that the resource can be created on the required specification. 

Hands-On Experience 

Getting Started 

Once you get access to the public preview, you’ll see the Copilot icon in the Azure portal’s top bar. Click it to open a sidebar where Copilot is always ready to help based on what you’re doing in the portal. 

Use Cases 

Understanding Your Azure Environment 

You can ask Copilot about your current resources. For example: 

• Q: How many resources are running in my subscription? 
• A: 184 resources. 

You can also ask for specific details: 

• List all VMs that are not running:
  – Copilot will show you which virtual machines are currently turned off.
• Show resources created in the last 24 hours:
  – Get a list of new resources added recently.

Working with Azure Services 

Copilot helps manage different Azure services easily: 

• Deploying Virtual Machines (VMs):
  Q: Help me create a low-cost VM.
  A: Copilot guides you through creating a VM, offering options to enable or skip features based on your needs.

While creating VM we can get suggestion/guidance for creating/optimizing the VM based on the use case or creation, even the use case is suggested or we can mention the use case, and it provide options and guidance. 

Can copy VM to another region, we need to give the region it will auto fill all details and will give us the portal ready to create the VM manually. 

Deployment Steps 

• Managing AKS Clusters:
  Q: Create a cluster.
  A: Copilot provides the necessary commands and steps to set up your Kubernetes cluster.

AKS Management 

• Executing Commands: 
  Q: Run a command to update my resources.
  A: Copilot generates and runs the required Azure CLI commands for you.

Command Execution 

Code Optimization and Scripting 

Copilot assists with coding tasks: 

• Script Generation: 
  Create scripts in Azure CLI, PowerShell, Terraform, or Bicep without writing them from scratch.

• API Management: 
  Set up and manage API policies easily.

• Kubernetes YAML Files: 
  Generate and manage configuration files for Kubernetes deployments.

Security and Cost Insights 

Copilot helps keep your environment secure and cost-effective: 

• Security Checks: 
  Q: Check security weaknesses in my storage account.
  A: Copilot runs security checks and lists any vulnerabilities.

It will provide the details and even the resource graph explorer query also which again we can run and extract the details in csv without the need of writing it down manually. 

Security Checks 

• Service Health Monitoring: 
  Q: What is the health status of my resources?
  A: Get real-time updates on outages and health events.

Service Health 

• Cost Management: 
  Q: Are there any sudden cost spikes this week?
  A: Copilot provides insights into your spending trends (this feature is being improved).

Cost Insights 

Collaborative Operations 

Copilot works alongside you, handling routine tasks so you can focus on bigger projects. This teamwork boosts productivity and efficiency. 

Benefits 

Enhanced Productivity 

Copilot automates everyday tasks and provides quick access to information, saving you time. This lets you focus on more important work. 

Simplified Cloud Management 

Whether you’re tech-savvy or not, Copilot makes managing your cloud environment easier. It bridges the gap between technical and non-technical users. 

Cost Optimization 

Copilot helps you control your cloud spending by identifying unused resources and suggesting cheaper alternatives. This ensures you get the best value from your Azure investment. 

Improved Security Posture 

With Copilot’s security checks and recommendations, your Azure environment stays secure. It helps prevent breaches and keeps you compliant with industry standards. 

Limitations 

While Copilot is powerful, it has some limits: 

• Resource Action Limits: Can’t manage more than ten resources at once. For bulk actions, use other tools. 
• Usage Limits: You can make 15 requests per chat and have up to 10 chats in a day. 
• Response Limits: Lists are limited to the top five items. 
• Resource ID Requirement: Sometimes, you need to use the Azure resource ID instead of the name. 
• Language Support: Currently, only available in English. 
• Preview Phase: Not recommended for production environments yet. It’s still in development, so use it cautiously. 

Future Outlook 

Microsoft Copilot for Azure is expected to grow quickly. As it moves from preview to general availability, expect more features like: 

• More Language Support: Making it accessible to non-English speakers. 
• Increased Limits: Handling more resources and requests per day. 
• Better Cost Management: More detailed financial insights. 
• Expanded Integrations: Working with more Azure services and third-party apps. 

AI and machine learning advancements will keep improving Copilot, making it smarter and more helpful over time. 

Conclusion 

Microsoft Copilot for Azure is a significant step forward in cloud management. It combines AI with Azure’s tools to create an intelligent assistant that simplifies complex tasks. By making cloud operations easier and more efficient, Copilot helps both technical and non-technical users manage their Azure environments better. 

Although it’s still in preview, Copilot shows great potential. As Microsoft continues to develop it, Copilot is set to become an essential tool for managing cloud operations, helping organizations get more out of their Azure investments. 

The post Improve Azure Performance with Copilot’s Intelligent Insights appeared first on Beyond Key.

Welcome to our latest guide on utilizing Microsoft 365 to streamline your employee onboarding process.

Today, we’ll explore how three powerful Microsoft 365 tools—SharePoint, Beyond Key’s Employee Onboarding SPFx, and Microsoft Copilot—can transform your onboarding experience with our BuddyBot Chatbot.

Why Employee Onboarding Processes Matter

Every organization, whether large or small, needs a robust onboarding process. Effective onboarding ensures new employees are integrated smoothly, increasing productivity and employee satisfaction. The right tools can make this process not only efficient but also stress-free.

The Power of SharePoint in Onboarding

SharePoint is an ideal platform for managing your onboarding documents. It offers a centralized location where all necessary documents can be stored and accessed securely.

SharePoint’s enterprise-level security features ensure that all sensitive personnel information remains protected. This makes it an excellent choice for organizations looking to maintain compliance and safeguard their data.

Introducing Beyond Key’s Employee Onboarding SPFx

At Beyond Key, we’ve developed an Employee Onboarding SPFx specifically for SharePoint. This tool is designed to guide you through the employee onboarding process, making it easier to manage and track new hires’ progress.

In upcoming tutorials, we’ll provide detailed steps on how to use this SPFx effectively.

Microsoft Copilot: The Future of Onboarding Support

Microsoft Copilot, a generative AI tool like ChatGPT, is another onboarding game-changer. We’ve integrated Copilot into our BuddyBot chatbot, which can answer employee questions in real-time. Whether it’s a query about leave policies or other HR-related matters, BuddyBot provides quick, accurate responses.

Real-World Application: How BuddyBot Enhances Onboarding

Imagine you’re an employee who needs information on the company’s leave policy. Instead of searching through documents, you can ask BuddyBot.

The chatbot will pull the relevant information from the appropriate documents and provide you with an answer. This saves time and reduces the frustration of navigating complex HR policies.

The Benefits of Integrating AI into Onboarding

The main advantage of using AI like Microsoft Copilot in onboarding is the ability to work smarter, not harder. Employees spend less time searching for information and more time focusing on their core tasks. This leads to increased efficiency and overall job satisfaction.

Conclusion: Streamline Your EmployeeOnboarding Process

Incorporating tools like SharePoint, Beyond Key’s Employee Onboarding SPFx, and Microsoft Copilot into your onboarding process can significantly enhance the experience for new employees. If you’re interested in learning more about implementing these tools, contact us via the link below.

We’d love to hear your thoughts! If you have any questions or comments, please share them below. Let’s work together to create a more efficient and effective employee onboarding process for your team.

The post Transform Employee Onboarding Processes with BuddyBot ChatBot appeared first on Beyond Key.

The tech world is constantly evolving, and the recent announcement from Microsoft regarding the retirement of SharePoint Add-In and Azure ACS is a testament to this ongoing transformation. As of November 27th, 2023, these features in SharePoint Online will no longer receive new investments, with a complete phase-out expected by April 2026.

SharePoint Framework (SPFx)

This shift signifies a new era, where the SharePoint Framework (SPFx) emerges as the primary development model. This transition poses both challenges and opportunities for developers and users alike. Understanding the implications of the App Catalogs, the necessity for timely data migration when transitioning to SPFx, and the comparison between SharePoint Online and on-premises versions is crucial.

The SharePoint Framework (SPFx) ushers in a new era with its flexible, modern development standards. This transition requires developers to adapt and upskill, leveraging SPFx’s compatibility with Microsoft products and the Microsoft Graph API to enhance productivity and collaboration in SharePoint’s evolving ecosystem.

The blog post will delve into how these changes impact user profile updates, taxonomy, and the move towards SharePoint Online Webhooks. It’s a story about technological change and adaptation, resilience, and forward-thinking in the digital landscape.

For developers and tech enthusiasts, keeping up with these changes is vital. This blog post aims to guide, inform, and inspire as we navigate through this significant technological shift.

It’s a journey towards embracing new possibilities, unlocking innovative potentials, and staying ahead in the rapidly evolving digital landscape of technology and cloud services.

SharePoint and Azure ACS Retirement Final Thoughts

Check out Microsoft’s detailed FAQ for a deeper dive into these changes and their implications. And for innovative intranet solutions tailored to your needs, head over to beyondintranet.com.

Embrace the future of digital collaboration with our cutting-edge tools and personalized services. Your transformation journey starts here, leading to a smarter, more connected workspace.

The post A Guide to Understand the SharePoint and Azure ACS Retirement appeared first on Beyond Key.

The post Exploring SharePoint Online Intranet Site Pages appeared first on Beyond Key.

Do you want to ensure your corporate documents are safe and accessible simultaneously? Then you need the right technology to ensure this happens. That is why more and more companies migrate their documents to SharePoint Online. Microsoft’s enterprise-level security and cloud access ensures that registered users can access and share their files on any device.

The podcast episode shares how the SharePoint Migration Process works. Also, check out our on-demand webinar to learn more about the Benefits and Strategies for SharePoint Migration.

5 SharePoint Migration Process Steps

When we talk about the SharePoint migration process, here are 5 steps that take you from an on-prem to an online SharePoint Document Management System.

Step 1: discovery

As the name suggests, with the discovery, you start by evaluating your current on-premise server. For example, “We have 100,000 documents stored on our site.” The question becomes how many of these documents are PDFs. How many of these documents are word docs? How many are JPEGs or images?

It’s important to understand this breakdown, research that information, and see how much space you’re using on your current server. Discovery gives you a baseline of what and how much data you need to transfer.

Step 2: Assessment

Now you can assess what your needs are. Again, maybe you have 100,000 documents, but maybe 10,000 haven’t been opened in three years or more. Do you still need old files? With that line of thinking, how long do you need to keep documents in your organization?

For example, you must keep financial documents secure for seven years because that’s how long the IRS can go back to audit. So by looking at this information, you have to assess your specific needs and which documents you should migrate ahead of time.

Step 3: Pilot

Once you’ve assessed your documents, you could start creating a pilot. Instead of just moving everything over at once, you want to test that things work correctly first. You may have a few department members test how the process will work. Instead of sending 100,000 or 90,000 documents, you send 1000 documents over and test whether it works in that small, limited pilot.

Since documents and data are the lifeblood of your organization, you want to reduce interruptions. A pilot migration can help with this objective.

Step 4: Execution

The SharePoint migration doesn’t start until you get to the execution stage when you send over your documents. Remember the first three steps focus on the functional migration part of this process.

The fourth step we’re talking about for execution handles the content side. You can automate this process using the right software and tools when you perform steps 1-3.

You can find a demo of the SharePoint migration process in the on-demand webinar we mentioned previously.

Step 5: Onboarding

Once you finish the execution stage, remember you still need to finish the onboarding because your staff needs to know how to use your new SharePoint online site correctly to ensure it fits in with your processes and systems.

SharePoint Migration Process Final Thoughts

If you are interested in learning more about how your organization can migrate your SharePoint site, contact us for a free 1-hour consultation.

The post Breaking Down SharePoint Migration Process Steps appeared first on Beyond Key.

If you had superpowers, would you want to know what they are and how to use them? So does every other organization. That is why we help organizations learn more about how they can leverage PowerApps to supercharge their operations.

The latest Beyond Transformation Podcast covers a clip from our free On-Demand Webinar, Discover the 5 PowerApps Use Case Superpowers. As the name suggests, the webinar covered information about leveraging PowerApps for your organization. We provide you with different use cases that explore how various organizations use this tool.

PowerApps Webinar Transcript

Using tools like PowerApps, you have an enterprise-level platform that helps you easily build new business applications or customized existing apps.

How can PowerApps help your organization?

PowerApps is a framework to run your cloud-based PowerApps applications. You can even leverage their sample apps library. So, even if you don’t know the exact business processes or don’t know how to connect different things, you have a sample apps library that guides you to update your processes.

Furthermore, you don’t always need to know how to code.

The great thing about PowerApps is it connects your PowerApps with over 480 different data sources, as the last time we checked, and this is a growing list. As you continue to watch this, it’s very possible that it will continue to grow over time because it has so far.

In addition, I mentioned that you don’t need to have a lot of coding experience. The one coding they have on PowerApps is what’s called Power FX. Power FX is an open-source coding based on Excel formulas. The idea is that you’re using these formulas to help understand how to manipulate the data for your own purposes. With that said, there are some limitations of PowerApps. We’re not going to say this is the end-all, be-all of all applications.

So, you must first know that this is not for commercial use. So, you’re looking at PowerApps, you’re like, “Oh, this is so great. It connects all this data. It does all these things.”

What does PowerApps not do?

One thing it does not do is you cannot sell it on an app store. So, for example, if you go into the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, you could download an application. This is not for that type of use. This is for internal audiences only.

Additionally, because this is designed for citizen developers, there are some limitations on what developers can do with customizing HTML and JavaScript code. Furthermore, you’re also reliant on Microsoft to roll out new functions. That said, they do have a regular schedule.

For example, we talked about the Dataverse in terms of connecting information and connecting data. One of the things they just rolled out was a simplified Dataverse search to help connect all this information together, and you now have a way to search for it. There are also advanced lookup capabilities and model-driven apps.

There are model-driven and canvas apps. And this is a model-driven app that helps you so that you have better ways of creating those different model-driven apps. So again, they are rolling out new functions regularly, but you are relying on Microsoft to roll out those functions in the first place.

Final Thoughts

Thanks again for listening to the Beyond Transformation Podcast. Hope you enjoyed this episode. And again, don’t forget to check out the free webinar.

The post What PowerApps Can and Cannot Do appeared first on Beyond Key.

The blog post today is from the webinar on how to Discover the 5 PowerApps Use Case Superpowers. By understanding PowerApps’ capabilities you can start to understand their superpowers more effectively.

6 PowerApps Capabilities

1. Drag and Drop Builder

You don’t have to be a coder. PowerApps is a low code tool. The only code is the low-code power FX, where you’re using Microsoft Excel formulas. The cool thing about using PowerApps is you have the ability as a citizen developer to create this without getting an IT degree.

2. AI Builder

PowerApps is also an intelligent system with a built-in AI Builder when you need it.

For example, you can extract text from a picture using OCR (optical character recognition) capabilities.

In this case, let’s say you take a picture of a mountain. That’s great; you now have a picture of a mountain. If you tag that mountain, every time someone else takes a mountain picture, the AI builder starts to recognize, “Oh, wait, that’s a mountain.”

PowerApps starts learning what that information is to identify items in the future. This is great for organizations with an extensive list of products where people take photos of the products to purchase. More and more uses like this are being created every day.

3. Microsoft Dataverse

The Microsoft Dataverse connects over 480 data sources (connectors) directly into PowerApps. Therefore, if you want to combine different ERP, CRM, marketing automation, or HR tools, you can connect those tools directly to Microsoft’s PowerApps.

4. Azure cloud platform

PowerApps is a cloud-based service that runs on the secure Azure Platform. Azure is Microsoft’s cloud platform. Because the server runs on Microsoft secure Azure Platform, your application also has access to enterprise-level security.

5. User Roles

As an enterprise-level tool, it is possible to create multiple admin roles. For example, if you need different roles for different people, you can give them varying levels of access to your applications.

6. Scalabilities

Thanks again to the Azure Platform; you can scale your applications. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a small organization or a Fortune 100 company; you can scale the PowerApps to your specific needs.

This scalability relies on how you customize the application to fit your strategy and business processes because PowerApps is not about creating an application just to make an application. The tools help you create an application that fits your specific needs.

PowerApps CapabilitiesFinal Thoughts

PowerApps has the flexibility to help your organization with a number of different tasks. If you want to learn more about their capabilities, then schedule a free consultation with our team.

The post 6 Best PowerApps Capabilities Your Organization Can Use appeared first on Beyond Key.

The SharePoint intranet did not just appear. It took time to develop into the employee engagement tool you see it as right now.

The video and information below about the SharePoint Intranet transformation is part of a larger webinar on A New Modern Intranet for Modern Employees.

SharePoint Intranet Transformation

When we talked about the intranet, we shared different SharePoint features. These features did not appear randomly but developed over decades to create the modern intranet. The transformation from a basic intranet service to the next generation intranet we’re talking about today.

1990’s

We must go back to the 1990s when they introduced essential intranet services. The service allowed executives to a top-down communication platform.

There is nothing wrong with the top-down communication platform. Employees want to know about the latest hires, acquisitions, revenue numbers, company mission, or other internal news.

However, top-down communication is not the only line of communication in an organization. That would be employee-to-employee communication. As the 2000s started, the intranet added new social features. It wasn’t as interactive, but it was the beginning of the next-generation intranet movement. Also, the content management tools helped with collaboration features. Eventually, it became a hub for forums, processes, news, policies, and procedures.

2000’s

Facebook and Myspace started in the 2000s, and they began to become popular with business crowds around the last crash. What started happening over the previous decade was how the intranet took its cue from social networks with interactive features for employees like shares, likes, and comments.

Instead of being a top-down communication platform, you have cross-departmental and peer-to-peer or cross-departmental communication. For example, when sales and marketing need to talk, the intranet helps them connect.

2010’s

SharePoint created a digital workplace solution in the past decade with additional social features like shares, likes, and comments.

It was closer to what we would want for a modern intranet but there was not enough development towards the employee engagement they needed.

2020’s

When we talk about how the next generation operates in the 2020s, we start talking about personalization. These updates are a crucial development from being a podium where executives could dictate the organization’s future.

1. Personalization

Today when you want to engage employees, you can personalize the look and feel of each employee.

2. Knowledge Hub

The intranet is a knowledge hub, with an easy-to-use and accessible format for finding your information. For companies with remote workers, SharePoint Migration strategies are more vital.

3. Employee Directories

The great thing about the intranet is that you have a lot of utilities that make it better than the platform on it’s own. You have additional features like employee directories and employee onboarding apps to help employees connect.

4. Mobile-friendly

SharePoint is now a mobile-friendly tool thanks to how it moved over to the cloud. The cloud is a crucial component because employees can use the intranet on their mobile devices. They can access SharePoint anywhere, which allows the organization to engage employees more thoroughly.

5. Integrations

There are also easy integrations as well. Whether you want to connect with Microsoft 365 systems like Dynamics, Power Apps, or third-party systems like Smartsheets, you can get more out of your intranet.

6. Gamification

Furthermore, the engagement increase with gamification features as well. Reward employees and give them a sense of accomplishment by tracking and awarding them points for a job well.

7. Secure and Confidential

It is essential nowadays to ensure you have secure, confidential information in an intranet because all your employees’ information is there.

That’s why the power of having Microsoft-level security for their enterprise is so valuable because Microsoft developed their resources into making sure it continues to be secure and confidential. It’s also the reason why we prefer SharePoint because we know we give our clients the best system possible.

SharePoint Intranet Transformation Final Thoughts

As you can see from this article, SharePoint took a long time to become the modern intranet it is today. However, without that development, it would be difficult to create the level of employee engagement that makes the solution so impressive.

If you are interested in learning more about the SharePoint intranet, then our SharePoint Consulting session can help you,

The post Discover the SharePoint Intranet Transformation over Time appeared first on Beyond Key.

Every business is unique, and the right business intelligence (BI) software considers them and offers a complete, customized solution. One such solution is Microsoft Power BI, which allows you to access your business data visually. In a world that constantly sees massive data increases yearly, you must have a quick and easy way to determine what information is important and actionable. Power BI calls for using creative tools to attain effective results and protect data through modern-day encryption, sensitivity labeling, and other techniques. 

Moreover, Power BI has outstanding distribution capabilities, and its integration with other Microsoft services and products makes it worthwhile. With Power visuals and intuitive dashboards, Power BI is the right decision for your business.  

Today, we will see how you can get the most out of Microsoft Power BI for your enterprise. This article provides the foundation for you to get more out of your data.   

Microsoft Power Platform  

To explain Power BI, we need to step back and explain the Power Platform. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated, “Empowering citizen developers is what the Power Platform has been built for. It’s great to see the momentum–whether it’s on Power BI, Flow, or PowerApps.”   

The vision for the Power Platform is that instead of relying solely on developers in the future, every employee can access the relevant parts of the Power Platform to develop apps, automate systems, and analyze information. That is because the Power Platform is a low-code platform.  

To help empower citizen developers, they created four modules.   

• PowerApps  
• Power Automate
• Power BI  
• Virtual Agent 

Here is a quick overview of these services.  

Microsoft PowerApps helps professionals create actionable applications based on their data from customers, vendors, and partners. Microsoft Power Automate integrates multiple tools or applications. Virtual Agent makes bot creation almost as easy as using a word document.   

Finally, Power BI puts all this data and information together in one place for users to access.   

What is Power BI?  

BI (Business Intelligence) is the study of analyzing data to understand an enterprise’s past, present, and future results.   

While traditional BI usually focuses more on past and present data, Power BI also has several artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help you predict future results. This predictive analytics capability separates it from traditional BI tools.  

Additionally, the tool provides stunning visuals you can access with a mouse click. Instead of scouring rows of excel spreadsheets, Power BI charts and graphs track results automatically for you once they are set up. You get a complete business analytics solution that helps visualize data and inculcate relevant insights into the business solutions. It is a collection of various software and services that convert unrelated sources into refined and insightful matter.  

Because it is so easy, you can integrate and filter multiple data sources in one central location. You can use these visuals to determine what steps your enterprise needs to take next to remain competitive and grow. It thus provides a unique platform for potential users to build solutions for analyzing data creatively.  

The key is that you need to know how to use the software, which we will discuss next.   

Who uses Power BI? 

Statisticians, analysts, and administrators of different businesses use Power BI to understand the progress of various departments across industries. Management sectors of various businesses use Power BI to prepare reports and build business transcripts and statements computing the track record.  

Key features of Power BI 

The most significant features of Power BI are listed below- 

• Data Import 

Power BI lets users import data from various databases and analyze it through interactive dashboards, informative reports, and intuitive transcripts. The interactive Power BI Desktop allows users to create reports without having any technical background.  

• Visualization Tools 

One of the noteworthy features of the platform is the presence of attractive visualization tools. Users can construct bar charts, line charts, funnel diagrams, and so on with the help of this platform.  

• Derive Data 

The Get Data feature allows users to derive data from different data sources present in the spectrum. This platform also allows users to filter data according to the demand of the study.  

Power BI components 

Power BI’s key components include the Power Query, Power Pivot, Power View, Power Map, and Power Q&A.  

1. Power Query– It allows users to extract data from various databases like SQL, MySQL, SQL Server, etc. Power Query allows users to fetch data from relevant records, delete data, and excerpt relevant data. 
2. Power Pivot– It is used to model simple data, creating relationships between different variables displayed in Pivot tables. Power Pivot offers tremendous space to create designs and visualize diagrams.  
3. Power View– Helps in preparing convincing reports and visualizing data using slicers. This component offers a ‘drag and drop function’ that assists users to obtain visualizations in their Excel sheets.  
4. Power Map– Assists in visualizing data in 3D mode. Power Maps are used to highlight differences present in the data with the help of colors and shades.  
5. Power Q&A– Allows users to obtain solutions for the queries raised by them. This component is significant as it recognizes users to raise questions in their natural language.  

Reasons to use Power BI 

1. Power BI allows the streamlined distribution of data across various sources.  
2. Power BI also uses Artificial Intelligence to integrate with Azure Machine Learning. Users can easily customize and upgrade the settings at their convenience. It also gives the ability to customize security features.  
3. Dashboards available on Power BI are quick in service and allow users to identify and eliminate problems without much hassle. 
4. Users can easily share reports, dashboards, and data with others using the Power BI service. The real-time feature allows users to obtain access to real-time analytics from multiple sources.  
5. The platform offers a workspace to users and allows them to share reports outside the organisation that have a Power BI license.  

Thus these trending features satisfy user requirements and allow Power BI to stand apart from the crowd.  

Power BI Architecture 

The Power BI apps available on Power BI allow users to remain connected to their data. The Power BI architecture service website is based on Azure. The Power BI desktop helps visualize datasets and create reports. Power BI services are used to publish records with better efficiency and understanding. Power BI services help create visualizations that bring data to life.  

How to use Power BI?  

Planning  

The first step is determining how you can use their visual dashboards. While it sounds great to put all your data in one location, it could diminish the value of the actionable data you can receive if you do not have a plan.  

Often when we do Power BI consulting with clients, the most challenging part of the process is identifying what data points they want to analyze for their business. Once you have that information, it is much easier to set up the system.   

For example, we work with a sports medicine company in California. They are a growing company that just merged with two other companies. The challenge is the new company has different metrics.   

To help them find areas of interest to analyze, we created reports all employees could access by combining Power BI and SQL Server Reporting. It took time, but now everyone in the company receives the same standardized reporting.  

Design  

Once you finish planning, you can start designing your Power BI dashboards. You want to keep the best UI practices in mind to ensure your dashboard layouts make sense to your users.   

For example, when executives review your sales dashboard, can they understand what metrics you are tracking in 30 seconds or less? If not, your dashboard might not have the right information or terminology.   

Make sure you design a dashboard specific to your users’ needs. It sounds basic, but far too many dashboards are too complicated. Users stop relying on them because it takes more time to go through the dashboard and then check the data independently. Good design prevents this from happening.   

Implementation & Development  

Once you have the design, it is time to implement your dashboard. You can choose between several dashboards, including Power BI, Tableau, Qlik, and Domo.   

While our developers have experience with all these technologies, below, we share how to implement Microsoft’s Power BI. We find that the Power BI services include the analytical reports and integrations most of our customers need.   

That said, it is important to have developers with the right Microsoft SQL Certifications (SSIS/ SSRS/SSAS) to help with the implementation and development. At Beyond Key, our developers are dedicated to ensuring your dashboard extracts, transforms, and loads (ETL) your data correctly.   

If you have any questions about what type of dashboard you should use, feel free to contact us. We will be delighted to review your options.  

Integration  

We have already discussed how Power BI integrates with the Power Platform (Power Automate and Power Apps). However, the software can connect with a lot more tools such as Microsoft tools like Dynamics 365, Excel Spreadsheets, and SharePoint.   

Keep in mind that Power BI is not limited to Microsoft products. The intelligence dashboard also connects with third-party tools like GitHub, Mail Chimp, and Google Analytics, to name a few services.   

For example, we helped a not-for-profit reproductive healthcare center improve its reporting on the data it had from its EHR system. All patients’ records were then integrated into the BI solution to integrate and display massive amounts of data in one central dashboard.   

By connecting the EHR to Power BI through a SQL Service, they improved productivity across their 20+ health centers. Additionally, the scalable reporting process and automated system saved time and money from their earlier processes.   

QA  

You must verify your ETL processes work correctly. This can require several tests such as Data Uniformity, Load, Load & Performance, and BI Reporting tests.   

We often work with leaders in their field who need to make sure their data is correct. This is often the challenge with excel reports. They often break or are difficult to maintain over time.   

We were working with an audiovisual technology company in Colorado. They needed to ensure accurate data to track refunds and other sales metrics for their enterprise.   

QA played an important role in ensuring they received quality reports. The more accurate this data is, the better they were able to increase their performance.   

Final Thoughts  

As you can see, Power BI can help enterprises analyze, aggregate, visualize and share their data. It allows firms to improve their operations and meet business metrics. It is a self-service tool that permits employees to analyze data and bring necessary reforms in management. It permits users to create subsets of data and change complex data to simple compositions. The key is to set up the platform correctly at the beginning. 

Have any queries about how to set up Power BI for your Business? Let us help. Contact us today for a free 1-hour Power BI Consultation. 

The post Power BI: Game Changer for Your Business appeared first on Beyond Key.

Everything has changed because of digitization and technology. Whether it’s a business, how people work, or even a charity, technology is a crucial part of them. Non-profit organizations have come a long way from their traditional reliance on donations. Now, they are tech-savvy, which helps them grow at the rate they need to stay alive in the modern world. 

The success of a non-profit organization relies on how much money or donations it gets from outside sources and how well it uses the money it already has. If the fund isn’t used right or isn’t managed well, clients, trust, and status could be lost. So, non-profits must use tools that work well and don’t cost too much to handle the whole process. 

One technology, Microsoft SharePoint, a web-based collaborative platform, is the answer to this problem. 

How Can SharePoint Benefit Non-profits?

A SharePoint Version that is Affordable and Effective 

At a time, SharePoint was thought to be a technology that only big, successful companies used. Now that Office 365 and SharePoint Online are out, non-profits can find a version of SharePoint that is both cost-effective and useful. Microsoft offers Office 365 and SharePoint either totally free or at a significant discount to non-profits (depending on the plan). This is a no-brainer considering all the features and benefits that are provided. 

Central Location for All Your Important Documents 

Most email accounts for non-profits are scattered among Yahoo, Gmail, and other mail providers. Important documents are also stored all over the place (i.e., Dropbox or personal drives). When you use SharePoint, all these essential parts of your non-profit come together in one place. With SharePoint, everything works together in a way that streamlines things easier. When an employee leaves, all important documents are saved in one place. This way, no data is lost, and it is always easy to find the correct information. 

Shallow Pockets for IT Budgets

SharePoint is a cloud-based system that allows you to work 100% online. Since your files are in the cloud, Microsoft controls the security aspect and spends millions of dollars on that effort, so you don’t ever have to worry about your data being breached. Non-profits do not need to worry anymore about server hosting, software licensing, or separate IT support. This all comes as a bundled package under services provided by Microsoft. If you need to scale up or make the tools more effective as per your use case, the platform is highly flexible for customizations.

Sharing Internal Documents with External Partners

Non-profits work mostly with external partners. SharePoint is a well-known platform for document management and seamless collaboration. You can easily set up a document library where all the important documents related to vendors, donators, or stakeholders can be placed, and you can also manage user permission levels to access the documents. Apart from document management, you can also set up group calendars to track projects, tasks, meetings, and events, or create custom workflows that simplify your specific processes. We have a complete SharePoint team of experts who can demonstrate how to set up these processes in SharePoint easily. 

But when we say document management, we don’t mean DROPBOX! SharePoint isn’t just a drop box. 

Knowledge Management and Collaboration 

SharePoint is excellent when it comes to knowledge management and collaboration. We know that organizations, including non-profits, can suffer when there is miscommunication or no communication at all. It is important to bridge this gap and SharePoint Knowledge Management tools have taken the charge to determine how they can help you reinvent the way you work! 

Users can search, share, add, or access important company information whenever and wherever they want within high security levels. 

Value of Your Own Non-Profit Intranet 

Just like with SharePoint, having an intranet of your own was also at one time thought to be just for larger companies! Small organizations avoided giving even a thought to their OWN COMPANY INTRANET. Surprisingly, though, experts state that non-profits are among the companies that can benefit the most from having their own intranet. Resources are required to collaborate and work from anywhere, anytime. It is necessary that everyone continuously shares the latest docs and info at one common location, always ensuring easy access.  Only SharePoint can make this happen. 

A well-thought-out intranet can be the nexus where staff can easily find relevant documents, organizational charts, employee directories, employee benefits, forms, general directions for operating as a member of your nonprofit, and more. SharePoint Online makes setting up and modifying your intranet super easy. All you need to do is plan up your Intranet carefully. 

Scalability and Customization 

SharePoint is a highly customizable application, one that is designed to accommodate your changing needs. You can not only create custom workflows of any of your business processes within this, but you can also set up document libraries to allow for easy document sharing, setting up group calendars to track projects, tasks, meetings, and events, and more. 

Microsoft also takes good care of keeping SharePoint Online updated with new features on a regular basis, making the platform up to date as well as highly scalable.

Features of SharePoint for NPO

• Easily create custom applications, functions, and websites. 
• Provide secure access to important information for employees, members, and donors. 
• Collaboration is possible from anywhere with mobile and online capabilities. 
• Reduce costs by consolidating intranet, extranet, and Internet sites. 
• On-premises or cloud-based deployments are available. 
• Take advantage of hundreds of Microsoft and independent add-ons. 

Use cases    

1. Donor Management solution on PowerApps

Data from past, present, and potential donors can be put in one place, which lets your organization make smart decisions. This centralized data allows you to divide and sort potential and current donors. Using our solution for managing donors, you can keep track of donations by location, type, and year. Using Excel spreadsheets and emails, our tech solution can keep track of data.

2. Intranet for Collaboration

Nonprofit organizations discuss with multiple stakeholders to raise money and get support. We offer SharePoint intranet solutions that keep employees and other interested parties up to date. With our intranet solution, you can give teams and people content that fits their roles. With the intranet solutions we offer to nonprofits, you can plan events, give out tasks, and keep track of group projects.

 3. Document Management System

Nonprofit organizations help make the world a better place, but they don’t have much money, time, or talent. Due to the sheer amount of paperwork, document management helps nonprofits get the most out of their resources by saving time, preventing bottlenecks, and safely following rules. With our SharePoint Document Management System, you can safely organize, store, share, and search for all your essential documents.

 4. Power Pages for rapid website development

1. Microsoft Power Platform is a set of tools that give businesses access to business intelligence, app development, and app connectivity. With Power Pages, the tool can be used to build websites independently. It expands the idea of showing data from the back end to the front end. So, Power Platform’s features can be used to make interactive websites quickly.

 5. Data analytics and reporting on Power BI

Data analytics can be useful for nonprofits. About half of the nonprofits that collect data don’t use it to its full potential. Nonprofits should use data well to get the most out of them. Our data analytics solution for NPO can help find and keep supporters, raise money, meet goals, and plan for future campaigns by analyzing their data.

 6. Customizing workflows

  SharePoint offers a variety of options for creating, maintaining, and executing workflows, as Microsoft designed it with business process management. Many common processes can be handled  with built-in workflows, such as getting approvals, collecting feedback, or collecting signatures.With SharePoint’s customization capabilities, enterprises can automate complex business processes like: 

• Tender or Bid management 
• Employee Recruitment and Onboarding 
• Managing Contracts 
• Support desk ticketing system 
• Complaint management center for customers 

Conclusion

Hey, non-profits! You continuously serve your communities, so give Beyond Intranet the chance to serve you!

Beyond Intranet, (a subsidiary company of Beyond Key) is a SharePoint custom development expert for the last 20 years and can help you in any aspect of SharePoint customization, ready-to-use SharePoint add-ins, integration capability, and enterprise intranets. We have built an enviable reputation as an expert in SharePoint-based consulting, Custom Application Development, Intranet Design and Development, Branding, and SharePoint Migration.

Reach out to us at contact@beyondintranet.com and connect with our SharePoint experts to get a free SharePoint consultation today!

The post SharePoint: The Epic Hack to Supercharge Your Non-Profit Organization appeared first on Beyond Key.