Excel Power Pivot & Power Query for Dummies

Today’s data environment demands more from business analysts than ever before. The volume and types of data sources with which an analyst works reach far beyond the relatively small amount of data encountered just a few years ago. Analysts find themselves spending valuable time cleaning, shaping and integrating disparate data from an ever increasing array of data sources. It’s becoming increasingly important for business analysts to expand their skill-set from the one dimensional spreadsheet to new territory like relational databases, data integration, and multidimensional reporting.

 Microsoft has addressed these data processing woes with the release of the new Power BI toolset. This toolset includes two tools that have been embedded into Excel 2016 as native functionality: PowerPivot and Power Query. These new power tools provide analysts a set of easy-to-use features for automating the steps needed to integrate a wide array of data sources into Excel reporting models.Excel Power Query & PowerPivot For Dummies will introduce readers to this new set of tools and reporting capabilities that can be leveraged to more effectively source and incorporate “big data” Business Intelligence and Dashboard reports. Not only can these tools allow Excel analysts to save time and simplify their processes, they will also enable them to substantially enhance their data analysis and reporting capabilities.

Michael Alexander is a Microsoft Certified Application Developer and a Microsoft MVP. He has written numerous books on advanced business analysis with Microsoft Access and Excel. His tutorial website, www.datapigtechnologies.com, provides tips on Excel and Access for the Microsoft Office community.