What's Inside
The blueprint your developer will thank you for.
Most Power BI projects fail not because Power BI is hard — but because nobody scoped the work. This plan does the scoping: what to measure, where the data lives, how to model it, what DAX to write, who sees what, and how to ship it in 4 weeks.
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Dashboard Architecture: 4 specific pages designed — purpose, audience, key questions, primary visuals, and interaction patterns
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KPI Specifications: 6–8 metrics with definitions, formulas, target ranges, drill-down paths, and criticality
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Data Model: Star-schema fact/dimension table recommendations with grain, relationships, and Date table guidance
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Microsoft Connector Strategy: Specific connectors for SharePoint, Dataverse, SQL, Dynamics, Excel Online, and your other sources
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DAX Code: 5–10 actual measure snippets — YoY growth, rolling averages, % of total, dynamic titles, KPI variance
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Security & RLS: Workspace strategy, row-level security rules, sharing approach (Apps, embedded, Teams)
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Licensing & Capacity: Pro vs PPU vs Premium recommendation with cost estimate and Fabric considerations
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Refresh & Performance: Refresh schedule, incremental refresh recommendations, gateway needs, performance optimizations
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Paginated Reports: When to use Power BI Report Builder for pixel-perfect outputs (invoices, statements, regulatory PDFs)
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4-Week Build Roadmap: Week-by-week activities with deliverables — Foundation, Data Model, Visuals & DAX, Polish & Deploy
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Build Effort Estimate: Realistic DIY hours vs consultant hours vs $ estimate so you can plan budget honestly
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Governance & Deployment: Workspace setup, deployment pipelines, version control (PBIP), monitoring approach
Microsoft Connector Coverage
Wherever your data lives, we plan the right connector.
Power BI ships with hundreds of connectors. The plan recommends specific ones for your stated sources, with notes on Power Query approach, gateway requirements, and refresh strategy.
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SharePoint Online
Lists, libraries, document metadata · Native connector
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Excel Online (Business)
Files in OneDrive/SharePoint/Teams · Cloud-native refresh
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Microsoft Dataverse
Power Apps & D365 backend · TDS endpoint
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Dynamics 365
Sales, F&O, BC, Customer Insights · Direct + Dataverse
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SQL Server / Azure SQL
On-prem (gateway) or cloud · Direct Query supported
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Microsoft Fabric
Lakehouse, Warehouse, Real-Time · OneLake integration
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Synapse / Data Lake
Azure Synapse, ADLS Gen2 · For larger data volumes
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QuickBooks, Salesforce, etc.
Native connectors for non-MS sources · Configuration notes included
FAQ
Common questions.
Will I get a built dashboard?
No. This is a build PLAN — the spec, blueprint, and roadmap your team or developer would use to build the dashboard. Building the actual dashboard is a separate engagement (typically $5K–$15K). We're upfront about this because $147 doesn't buy 40+ hours of development.
I don't use Power BI yet — is this still useful?
Yes. The plan includes licensing recommendations (Pro vs PPU vs Premium), environment setup guidance, and a 4-week roadmap. You'll know exactly what to license, what to install, and what to build first.
What if my data lives in non-Microsoft tools?
No problem — Power BI has hundreds of connectors. Microsoft sources (SharePoint, SQL, Dataverse, Dynamics, Excel Online, Fabric) get the deepest treatment, but the plan covers what you actually use — QuickBooks, Salesforce, HubSpot, NetSuite, custom APIs, etc.
Will I get actual DAX code?
Yes — 5 to 10 DAX measure snippets including common patterns like YoY growth, rolling 12 months, % of total, dynamic titles, and KPI vs target variance. Treat them as a starting point: column names use realistic placeholders that you'll adjust to match your model. Always validate DAX against your actual data before deploying.
I'm in GCC or GCC-High. Does this work for me?
Yes. Tell us in the intake and the plan will flag connector availability gaps (e.g., many premium connectors aren't yet available in GCC-High), recommend GCC-compatible alternatives (Azure Data Factory, etc.), and call out any data residency considerations.
Do I need Power BI Premium?
Probably not — and the plan tells you exactly when you do. Most small/mid businesses can run on Pro or PPU for years. Premium capacity only makes sense at scale, with paginated reports, or when you need Fabric features.
How long after I pay until I get the plan?
AI generation completes in roughly 5 minutes. Tamara then reviews and QCs every plan personally — typically delivered within 24–72 hours of payment. You'll receive an email when it's ready.
What if I need help building it after?
The plan includes a build effort estimate (DIY hours vs consultant hours vs $) and a "when to hire help" section. If you'd like Tamara Cook Analytics to scope a build engagement, the plan you receive becomes the perfect starting point.