Dashboards with multiple user input for projection

[MinCK]

Hello folks!

This may not be related to PowerBI that much, but I would love your expertise comments on the solution to build the dashboard with multiple user manual inputs.

We have our own cost projection Excel file that we use quarterly to forecast the cost and eventually strategy for the future. The file requires around 20 manual costs inputs which are tied to formula in the excel for the cost projection. Here is where the story comes, we want to move it to PowerBI or any other applications that serve the same purposes for everyone in the company can utilize it. However, I am not sure if PowerBI really supports multiple inputs like what Excels does or are there other options that work better for my case. I noticed Power Apps is looked like one of the option but not really sure. So I would love to hear the comments from experts in this community. Thank you in advance.

Best,

Min

[123abc]

o implement an efficient data collection and live analytics solution using Microsoft tools, follow these steps:

1. Data Collection:

   • Use Microsoft Forms to gather inputs seamlessly from users.
   • Data from the form submissions is automatically compiled into an Excel file, either stored locally or in the cloud.

2. Data Integration:

   • Store the compiled Excel data in Microsoft SharePoint for centralized access and collaboration.
   • SharePoint ensures data is securely stored and accessible across the organization.

3. Live Data Visualization:

   • Connect the SharePoint-hosted data to Power BI for dynamic reporting and visualization.
   • Power BI provides real-time insights, enabling live analysis of all collected inputs.

This setup ensures a modern, automated workflow with minimal manual intervention, offering scalable and interactive analytics.

2nd Option is:

Moving your cost projection process to a more collaborative platform like Power BI or Power Apps is a great idea. Here are some options and considerations for building a dashboard with multiple user inputs:

Power BI

Power BI is excellent for data visualization and analysis, but it has limited capabilities for direct user input. However, you can use the following methods to incorporate user inputs:

1. Parameter Tables: Create parameter tables in Power BI where users can select values from dropdowns. This is useful for scenarios where inputs are predefined.
2. What-If Parameters: Use What-If parameters to allow users to adjust values and see the impact on projections.
3. Power BI Service: Publish your report to the Power BI Service and use Power BI’s Q&A feature to allow users to ask questions and get insights.

Power Apps

Power Apps is more suited for scenarios requiring multiple user inputs and can be integrated with Power BI for visualization. Here’s how you can use Power Apps:

1. Custom Forms: Create custom forms in Power Apps where users can input data. These forms can be connected to your data source (e.g., Excel, SharePoint, SQL Server).
2. Integration with Power BI: Embed Power Apps within Power BI reports to allow users to input data directly into the report. This data can then be used for real-time analysis and projections.
3. Automation: Use Power Automate to automate workflows based on user inputs, such as updating databases or sending notifications.

Other Options

• Excel Online: If your team is comfortable with Excel, consider using Excel Online. It allows multiple users to edit the same workbook simultaneously and integrates well with Power BI for visualization.
• Google Sheets: Similar to Excel Online, Google Sheets supports real-time collaboration and can be connected to various data visualization tools.

Recommendation

For your scenario, Power Apps combined with Power BI seems to be the best solution. Power Apps will handle the user inputs efficiently, and Power BI will provide the powerful visualization and analysis capabilities you need.

If you need more detailed guidance on setting this up, feel free to ask!

[dk_dk · Accepted solution]

Hi @MinCK , depending on the kind of inputs and the cost projection formula, you might be able to achieve this in Power BI only, using parameters. You can include the parameter values in the measure calculation of your cost projection, and the users would be able to change the value of each parameter within the report.


See an example with 2 numeric range parameters:

Where Calc is defined as:

Calc = param1[param1 Value]*param2[param2 Value]+300