Power BI for Excel Users
Move your team from spreadsheet-and-PivotTable reporting into Power BI. In one day, confident Excel users connect familiar workbook data, translate formulas and PivotTables into reusable measures, build a simple semantic model, and rebuild a familiar report as an interactive Power BI solution.
- Explain when Power BI is a better fit than an increasingly complex Excel reporting process.
- Move structured Excel tables and workbook data into Power BI with a repeatable refresh path.
- Transfer existing Power Query knowledge into Power BI and recognize differences in the load destination.
- Replace worksheet formulas and PivotTable calculations with reusable measures where appropriate.
This course accelerates the transition from workbook-led reporting to Power BI. It does not reteach basic Excel or repeat the full beginner orientation. Instead, it connects familiar concepts — tables, formulas, PivotTables, Power Query and Power Pivot — to Power BI semantic models, measures, visuals and publishing, while showing where the tools differ. Participants work through a realistic migration scenario rather than disconnected demonstrations, ending with an interactive report and a practical migration plan.
Participants complete a realistic Excel-to-Power-BI migration scenario and finish with an interactive report plus a practical migration plan for an existing workbook-led process.
Right for your team if…
- Confident Excel users who work with tables, formulas and PivotTables and are moving into Power BI.
- Finance, operations and analyst teams whose Excel reporting is becoming complex or fragile.
- Power Query or Power Pivot users who want to transfer those skills into Power BI.
- Teams that want a transition-focused entry point rather than a from-scratch beginner course.
What participants will be able to do
- Build a simple multi-table semantic model instead of relying on a single flat export.
- Recreate and improve a familiar Excel report using interactive Power BI visuals.
- Publish the resulting report and explain how Excel and Power BI can continue to work together.
A tangible outcome they take back to work
A working Power BI report rebuilt from a familiar Excel reporting process, plus a practical migration plan.
What we cover
- Strengths and limits of Excel and Power BI; common migration triggers; mapping familiar Excel concepts to the Power BI workflow.
Assess an existing workbook and identify what should remain in Excel and what should move.
- Excel tables, named ranges and common workbook issues; importing versus connecting; a repeatable source structure; folder-based patterns (awareness).
Prepare and connect a multi-sheet workbook for reliable refresh.
- Query steps, data types, append and merge; reference versus duplicate (introductory); loading to the semantic model.
Rebuild an Excel Power Query process in Power BI and validate the result.
- Columns versus measures; filter context at an intuitive level; SUM, DIVIDE and simple variance measures; why DAX is not cell-based.
Replace workbook calculations with reusable Power BI measures.
- Relationships, lookup tables and dates; visuals that improve on PivotTables and charts; slicers, drill and conditional formatting.
Recreate a monthly performance workbook as an interactive report.
- Publishing and sharing; refresh awareness; export cautions; Analyze in Excel and live-connected PivotTables (awareness); choosing the right tool for the next task.
Publish or simulate publication and produce a migration action plan.
How it runs
This is live, instructor-led private training for one organization. Live virtual delivery, with scheduling arranged around client requirements. A cohort of up to eight participants is recommended to protect hands-on support. The pace is faster than Fundamentals, with explicit Excel comparisons throughout and supplied workbooks resembling real finance, operations or sales reporting. The migration scenario can be adapted to the client’s current Excel workflow where a stable, non-sensitive sample is provided. Each participant needs a supported Windows environment with Power BI Desktop; where Windows or service access is unavailable, an agreed demonstration or hosted-lab fallback with completed files is confirmed before delivery. Before every cohort, a brief pre-course diagnostic confirms Excel experience, supported Windows access, service/licensing assumptions, accessibility needs, any approved client workbook and the allowable migration-scenario adaptation.
We adapt the agenda, pace, examples and exercises to the team's existing knowledge, roles and objectives. The proposal will state what adaptation is included and identify any substantial custom development separately.
Scope and progression
What this course focuses on
A transition course for confident Excel users. It does not reteach Excel or become an advanced Power BI course. Not a confident Excel user? Start with Power BI Fundamentals for Report Creators. Already building Power BI reports? Progress to Power BI Data Modeling, DAX and Advanced Reporting.
Reserved for other courses
- Basic Excel tuition, formula fundamentals or introductory PivotTable training.
- Deep Power Query M development or complex parameter frameworks.
- Advanced DAX, model optimization and time-intelligence patterns.
- Full Power BI service administration, row-level security or governance.
- Certification or exam preparation.
Progression
Other courses in this pathway
-
Power BI Data Analyst Exam Readiness
Prepare experienced Power BI users to identify and close the gaps that matter for the Microsoft PL-300 exam. Diagnostics, targeted review, applied scenarios and a personal readiness plan keep the course focused on evidence rather than generic revision.
-
Power BI Data Modeling, DAX and Advanced Reporting
Take your team from functional reports to robust, maintainable Power BI solutions. Over two days, existing report creators design proper star-schema models, master DAX evaluation context and time intelligence, diagnose and fix performance, implement row-level security, and build advanced, usable reports.
-
Power BI Fundamentals for Report Creators
Give new report creators a practical, structured introduction to Power BI. In the standard one-day format, your team will connect and clean business data, build a simple semantic model, create useful measures and develop an interactive report.
Common questions
Do participants need Power BI experience?
No. This course is for confident Excel users moving into Power BI. Comfort with Excel tables, formulas and PivotTables is what matters; Power Query or Power Pivot experience helps but is not required.
How is this different from Power BI Fundamentals?
Fundamentals teaches the complete report-building workflow from scratch. This course moves faster and is built around Excel concepts participants already know, translating formulas, PivotTables and Power Query into Power BI. If spreadsheet reporting is new to the team, choose Fundamentals.
Will this reteach Excel?
No. The course does not cover Excel fundamentals, formula basics or introductory PivotTables. The focus is transferring existing Excel capability into Power BI.
Do we still need Excel after this course?
Yes. Power BI complements Excel rather than replacing it. Participants learn when Excel remains the better tool and when Power BI provides a more scalable reporting solution.
Can we use our own workbooks?
A client workbook may be used where it is suitable, secure and supplied early enough for review. Substantial data preparation or a client-specific exercise build is scoped separately.
What if some participants use Macs?
Participants need access to a supported Windows environment for Power BI Desktop. Before delivery, an appropriate client-managed virtual desktop, hosted Windows option or trainer-demonstration fallback with completed exercise files can be agreed.
Is this certification preparation?
No. This is a skills-based course. Teams seeking PL-300 preparation should build solid Power BI capability first, then consider Power BI Data Analyst Exam Readiness.
Plan a cohort for your team
Tell us what your team needs to achieve. We will recommend the right course, cohort structure and schedule, then provide a clear private-training proposal.