Power BI dashboards, built on your data
Excel • Microsoft SQL Server • Data Modelling • Dashboards • Reports
We build Power BI dashboards and reports on data from Excel files and Microsoft SQL Server, and share them securely across your organisation.
UK businesses • Remote-first • Direct engineer access
From raw data to a shared dashboard
The steps involved in turning your Excel files and databases into something your team can actually use.
Requirements
Understanding what decisions the dashboard needs to support, and which numbers actually matter to your team. We identify the necessary UK data standards (e.g. tracking by UTR or CRN rather than non-UK identifiers).
Connecting Sources
Connecting Excel files and Microsoft SQL Server as data sources. For on-premises databases, we deploy a secure Microsoft Data Gateway for automated refreshes.
Data Model
Structuring the connected data into a reliable, GDPR-compliant model. We clean the data, build relationships between tables, and create standardized DAX measures.
Dashboards & Reports
Building interactive dashboards and paginated reports based on the agreed requirements.
Sharing & Licensing
Publishing reports to the Power BI Service. We advise on the required Power BI Pro licensing structure to ensure secure sharing across your team.
Data Refresh & Automation
Keeping your dashboards up to date automatically. We configure scheduled data refreshes and automated updates so your reports always reflect the latest available data, without manual intervention.
Typical Reporting Scenarios
How UK service businesses and accountants use our Power BI implementations to gain control over their data.
Consolidated Financial View
The Problem: Month-end reporting requires manually merging multiple Excel spreadsheets from different departments, leading to version control issues and hours of wasted administrative time.
The Solution: A central Power BI dashboard that pulls data from structured Excel files stored in SharePoint. Key metrics update automatically, providing a single source of truth for the management team.
ERP to Visual Dashboard
The Problem: The company relies on a robust on-premises ERP or CRM system backed by Microsoft SQL Server, but extracting reports and dashboards is overly complex for non-technical staff.
The Solution: We deploy an on-premises data gateway and build a Power BI model directly on top of the SQL database. Sales and operations teams view up-to-date KPIs in their browsers without needing database access.
Looking for automation or Microsoft 365 instead?
Frequently Asked Questions
What data sources do you connect to Power BI?
Excel files and Microsoft SQL Server. We connect these sources, build a data model, and design dashboards and reports on top of them.
Do you manage or optimise our SQL Server database?
No — we use Microsoft SQL Server as a data source for Power BI. Database administration and optimisation are not part of this service.
How does data refresh work for on-premises SQL Servers?
For local SQL Server databases, we configure an On-premises data gateway. This acts as a secure bridge, allowing Power BI to schedule automated data refreshes without exposing your database directly to the internet.
What licensing is required to view the reports?
To publish and securely share reports within your organisation, users viewing the reports will need a Power BI Pro license (included in some higher-tier Microsoft 365 plans like E5, or available as a standalone add-on). We can advise on the most cost-effective licensing route during the requirements phase.
Turn your spreadsheets into shared dashboards
Excel and SQL Server data, modelled and reported in Power BI.
Discuss Your ReportingPrefer to talk directly? Call an IT engineer: +44 333 880 1344
Power BI Dashboards for UK Businesses
SmartOps IT builds Power BI dashboards and reports for businesses across the United Kingdom, connecting data from Excel files and Microsoft SQL Server, building a data model, and sharing the finished dashboards across your organisation. We adhere to local data standards and implement secure Data Gateways for on-premises infrastructure. For process automation, see Workflow Automation; for Copilot and AI-assisted workflows, see AI Automation; for the wider Microsoft 365 tenant, see Microsoft 365 Support.