Power BI is a powerful business analytics tool that allows users to create interactive visualizations and reports to help them make data-driven decisions. The Power BI Mobile App makes it easy for users to access these reports and visualizations on-the-go, from anywhere and at any time. In this blog post, we will discuss how to create and share mobile reports using the Power BI Mobile App.

Getting Started with Power BI Mobile App

Before we dive into the creation and sharing of mobile reports, let's take a moment to discuss how to get started with the Power BI Mobile App. The first step is to download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store. Once the app is downloaded, log in using your Microsoft account credentials. If you do not have a Microsoft account, you can sign up for one for free.

Once you log in, you will see the Power BI Mobile App dashboard. From here, you can access your existing reports and dashboards or create new ones. To create a new report, tap on the "Create" button in the top right corner of the screen.

Creating Mobile Reports with Power BI

Now that we have covered the basics of the Power BI Mobile App, let's move on to creating mobile reports. Mobile reports are designed to be viewed on smaller screens and are optimized for mobile devices.

To create a new mobile report, tap on the "Create" button and select "Mobile report" from the drop-down menu. You will be taken to the Power BI Mobile Report Builder.

The Mobile Report Builder is a drag-and-drop interface that allows users to create mobile reports without any coding skills. Users can choose from a variety of data visualizations and arrange them on the report canvas as desired. The Mobile Report Builder includes a variety of visualizations, including charts, tables, maps, and gauges.

Once you have selected the data visualizations you want to use, you can add data to them by connecting to a data source. Power BI supports a wide range of data sources, including Excel spreadsheets, SQL databases, and cloud-based data services.

After you have connected to your data source, you can start building your report by dragging and dropping visualizations onto the canvas. You can customize the visualizations by changing their colors, fonts, and other properties. You can also add filters to the report to allow users to interact with the data.

Sharing Mobile Reports with Power BI

Now that you have created a mobile report, it's time to share it with others. Power BI makes it easy to share reports with others, whether they are using the Power BI Mobile App or the web-based Power BI service.

To share a report from the Power BI Mobile App, tap on the report you want to share and then tap on the "Share" button. You will be prompted to enter the email addresses of the people you want to share the report with. You can also specify whether you want to give the recipients view-only access or edit access to the report.

Once you have shared the report, the recipients will receive an email with a link to the report. They can view the report on their mobile device by opening the link in the Power BI Mobile App.

If you want to share a report with someone who does not have the Power BI Mobile App, you can share the report from the web-based Power BI service. To do this, log in to the Power BI service and select the report you want to share. Click on the "Share" button and enter the email addresses of the people you want to share the report with. You can also specify whether you want to give them view-only access or edit access to the report.

Once you have shared the report, the recipients will receive an email with a link to the report. They can view the report in their web browser, even if they do not have the Power BI Mobile App installed.

Additionally, Power BI allows you to embed reports into other applications, such as SharePoint or a website. To do this, click on the report you want to embed and select the "Embed" option. You will be given an HTML code that you can copy and paste into the application where you want to embed the report.

Best Practices for Creating and Sharing Mobile Reports

Creating and sharing mobile reports can be a powerful tool for communicating insights and driving business decisions. However, there are some best practices to keep in mind when creating and sharing mobile reports to ensure they are effective.

Design for Mobile: Mobile reports are designed to be viewed on smaller screens, so it's important to keep that in mind when creating them. Use visualizations that are optimized for mobile devices, such as simple charts and tables. Keep the report layout simple and easy to navigate.

Use Interactive Visualizations: Mobile reports should allow users to interact with the data. Use interactive visualizations such as filters and slicers to allow users to drill down into the data and see different perspectives.

Optimize Performance: Mobile reports should be optimized for performance to ensure they load quickly on mobile devices. Use data sources that are optimized for performance and avoid using large datasets that could slow down the report.

Share with Purpose: When sharing mobile reports, make sure to share them with the right people for the right reasons. Don't overwhelm recipients with unnecessary reports or data. Instead, focus on sharing reports that are relevant to their job function and help them make informed decisions.

Monitor Usage: Finally, it's important to monitor the usage of mobile reports to ensure they are effective. Use analytics to track how often reports are accessed, which visualizations are most popular, and which recipients are engaging with the data. This information can be used to optimize reports and ensure they are meeting the needs of the audience.

Conclusion

The Power BI Mobile App makes it easy to create and share mobile reports that can be accessed from anywhere and at any time. Mobile reports are optimized for mobile devices and allow users to interact with data in real-time. By following best practices for creating and sharing mobile reports, businesses can effectively communicate insights and drive data-driven decision-making.