As Power BI consultants, one of the most common questions we get from prospective clients is how long it takes to create a Power BI report. In this blog post we explore this question and provide a comprehensive guide on Power BI report project timelines, expectations, and costs.
Whether you are implementing a Power BI project on your own or working with a consultant, like Go Analytics, it is crucial to know what goes into a Power BI report and understand the factors that influence project timelines and costs.
Duration: The Multifaceted Timeline
Creating a Power BI report is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Depending on the complexity and the specifics of the project, it can range from a few days to several weeks. Here’s a rough breakdown of an average project.
Data Gathering & Cleaning: 1-7 Days
Before crafting any report, understanding and cleaning the data is crucial. The duration largely depends on the data’s quality and structure – this can range anywhere from one to seven days.
On the low end of the spectrum, would be a simple dataset that is relatively clean and already structured in a way that can be easily ingested and analyzed in Power BI.
Practical Example
A local not-for-profit organization holds an annual fundraising event. They maintained a single Excel sheet that logs donations from the event. The sheet contains columns for donor names, donation amounts, and dates of donation for the current year.
Alternatively, on the high end of the spectrum, would be combining data from multiple sources such as Excel, structured databases, online services, PDF reports, or even handwritten notes. In this case, the intricacies of the data cleaning process are multi-fold. There could be discrepancies in how donor names are recorded (e.g., “John Doe” vs. “Doe, John”), variations in currency if operating in different countries, missing data fields, or duplicate entries. Identifying these issues, rectifying them for consistency, ensuring accuracy, and making the data ‘readable’ for Power BI demands meticulous effort and time.
Practical Example
A large not-for-profit organization working in multiple countries has received donations through various channels: online platforms, bank transfers, on-ground collection drives, and more. They have multiple Excel sheets, a couple of databases, and even some handwritten notes that need to be digitized.
Design & Development: 3-14 Days
This phase involves designing the visuals, creating measures, and integrating different data sources. A simple report with a few visuals can be done quickly, while a comprehensive dashboard with multiple sources might take longer.
A simple Power BI report design and development could be one with a single data source, one or a couple of report pages with simple visualizations, and basic filterability.
Practical Example
A local bookstore wants to visualize its monthly sales data to understand which categories of books (e.g., fiction, non-fiction, children’s) are most popular.
On the other hand, a complex Power BI report design and development could be one that combines data from multiple sources, many report pages, advanced filterability, and complex interactions between visuals on report pages.
Practical Example
A not-for-profit organization operating in multiple countries wants to visualize its operations data, including donations received, projects executed, beneficiaries reached, and volunteer engagement across different regions.
Feedback & Iteration: 1-7 Days
Once the initial draft is ready, it’s vital to gather feedback and make adjustments. This iterative process ensures the final report aligns perfectly with the client’s needs. In the case of simple Power BI reports, one round of feedback meetings and revisions may be sufficient while complex projects may require several touch points and revisions.
Setting the Right Expectations
For any Power BI project, clear communication is pivotal. As a client, understanding the following can be beneficial.
Complexity Matters
A report analyzing a single department's quarterly sales is vastly different from one that offers a panoramic view of a global organization's yearly operations.
Collaboration is Key
The more involved and responsive you are, the smoother the process. Prompt feedback, clear objectives, and accessible data can expedite the process.
Continuous Learning
Power BI is an ever-evolving platform. While the initial report serves as a foundation, there might be newer features or insights that can be incorporated over time.
Costs: Investing in Insightful Returns
Power BI consulting services, while being an investment, offer returns that can be numerous. The cost of creating a Power BI report can be broken down as follows.
Consultation Fees… this varies based on the consultant’s expertise and the project’s intricacies. While some might charge hourly, ranging from $100 to $300, others might offer a fixed price for the entire project. At Go Analytics, we offer flexible pricing that can include hourly rates for smaller projects and fixed price for larger projects.
Software & Licensing… if you don’t already have Power BI licenses, there might be additional costs involved. Power BI Pro, necessary for report sharing, comes at a monthly fee. Licensing costs can vary depending on the size of your organization and how you intend to deploy Power BI. For more details on licensing requirements and costs, you can read our “Navigating Power BI Licenses and Costs” blog post.
Training & Maintenance… for organizations new to Power BI, there might be added costs for training sessions. At Go Analytics, we offer clients training workshops for Power BI report creators and/or end users of Power BI reports. Additionally, maintaining and updating the report as data evolves can have associated fees. Go Analytics offers tiered services for Power BI maintenance services that can include full-service or simple maintenance.
The Wrap Up
Embarking on the Power BI journey promises a paradigm where data-driven decisions become second nature. While the duration and costs involved might vary, the essence remains constant: transforming data into a strategic asset. As you consider Power BI consulting services, understanding the timeline, setting clear expectations, and having a transparent view of costs will ensure that your investment yields impactful, insightful dividends.
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