Tech Talk with Toni

Power BI is one of the fastest-growing skills overall according to Coursera's Skill Report 2024  Today’s post is inspired by my decision to learn more about Power BI over Tableau. My bias stems from the fact that Power BI was my first data visualization love, and you never forget your first! Now, when you're in the dashboard creation game, you're likely to be familiar with Tableau and Power BI (PBI for short). If not, think of these tools as canvases for placing your data visualizations such as donut charts and histograms to tell a cohesive story around a specific problem you are trying to solve.  I want to explore the key differences between the two to form a more balanced argument when discussing with a Tableau enthusiast who claims that  "Tableau is better" (very funny). Just so you know, I don’t outright hate Tableau. In fact, I use it for most of the dashboards I create at work. The Tableau community is fantastic, and the tool allows for highly customized vis...

  When I think of Reporting, I think of the news.  Throughout my career in Technology, I have encountered two Microsoft products, Power BI and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), both designed to serve the same purpose: Reporting.  Today, I decided to delve into their origins and explore their respective strengths and weaknesses. A Brief History on SSRS  If you were to ask me, "What is SSRS?" before my current job, I'd probably just stare blankly and shrug my shoulders. However, now I can confidently tell you that SSRS stands for SQL Server Reporting Services. Here's a fun fact: It started in 2004 as an add-on for SQL Server 2000. People really liked it because it could work with all sorts of data, such as tables from SQL Server databases, Excel, and XML files. And you know what's interesting? Even after all these years, people are still using it. SSRS Strengths SSRS is better suited for generating paginated reports, such as invoices and statements. Report subs...

  XLS is the default format used with Office 97-2003 The iconic logo of Microsoft, with its red, blue, green, and yellow squares, immediately comes to mind when I think about the company. I also think of Excel, Word and PowerPoint but, there is more to Microsoft than these three desktop staples.  My perception of Microsoft expanded when I started my first technology-related role and discovered Power BI, an impressive visualization tool. During the pandemic, I opted for a graphics tablet instead of an iPad due to budget constraints.  It was then that I became familiar with Microsoft's Whiteboard, which proved invaluable for my online tutoring. Given Microsoft's ubiquitous presence across industries and its significance in the modern workplace, investing time to learn their offerings can be highly advantageous for personal and professional growth. With that being said, here are some of my top picks for Microsoft software worth learning:  PowerApps  A low-code deve...

  A simple pie chart that looks like Pac-Man Many people frequently approach me with questions like, 'Toni, how did you get a job in Data Analytics?' or 'Do you have any advice for someone trying to break into the field?'  As someone who was in their shoes just a year ago, I understand the confusion and frustration that comes with trying to find your way in.  While I don't consider myself a data guru, I've gained a reputation as an expert in the field. However, I want to make it clear that I don't have some grand story about how I solved a complex data problem. In fact, I still classify myself as a beginner, constantly learning and using my blog as a way to reflect on the problems I encounter.  Despite this, I firmly believe that anyone can get a job in this field with the right mindset, network, portfolio, and a bit of luck. So, to help those trying to get into the data field, here are six essential points to keep in mind: Excel is now your best friend This...