Excel in Bi

Over the years that I have been working in the technology industry, data has been a vital part of this journey. Whether it has been collecting data with field devices or processing data to measure certain processes, data has been all over the place.

That is why creating visualisations has become a routine to add value to the work I do. However, the first visualisation you think of doesn’t always reflect the full story that the business needs to understand. It’s not about how well I can use MS Excel or how proficient I am with Power BI, it is about choosing the right visual to create the impact needed with all the data I have been working on in the background.

Here are five practical tips to help you succeed with your data visualisation effectively:

1. Understand Your Audience Before choosing your visualisation, consider who will be viewing consume it. Different stakeholders have different needs and levels of understanding. Personalise your visuals to communicate the key messages that are most relevant to your audience.

Question to answer: Who are the primary stakeholders for your data visualisation, and what specific insights are they looking for?

2. Choose the Right Type of Chart Not all charts are created equal. Use bar charts for comparisons, line charts for trends over time, pie charts for proportions, and scatter plots for relationships between variables. Selecting the appropriate chart type is crucial to distribute your message.

Question to answer: What type of chart best represents the key message you want to convey with your current data set?

3. Keep It Simple Avoid cluttering your visualisation with too much information. Focus on the most important data points and remove any unnecessary elements. Simplicity helps in making your visualisation more digestible and impactful. Question to answer: What elements in your current visualisation could be simplified or removed to enhance clarity?

4. Use Colours Wisely Colours can enhance your visualisation by highlighting key data points and making the chart more appealing. However, use them sparingly and consistently to avoid confusion. Ensure that the colours chosen are accessible to those with colour vision deficiencies. Find a colour palette that creates contrast on your main points.

Question to Answer: Are the colours you have chosen in your visualisation helping to highlight the most important information without creating confusion?

5. Provide Context Always include titles, labels, and legends to provide context to your visualisation. This helps your audience understand what they are looking at and why it matters. Annotations can also be used to highlight important insights directly on the chart.

Question to answer: Does your visualisation have clear titles, labels, and legends to help the viewer understand the data and its significance?

By following these tips, you can create data visualisations that not only look good but also tell a compelling story. Effective visualisation is about making your data work for you, presenting it in a way that is both understandable and actionable for your audience.