This is the first time that the European Commission has organised a workshop on this topic.

A German-based training workshop titled “From Excel to Power BI, Efficient Data Analysis & Dashboards” has been announced for August 25, 2026. The event will take place online and is designed for professionals seeking to transition from traditional spreadsheet tools to more advanced data analysis platforms. Organized under the banner of c’t and hosted by heise online, the workshop aims to guide participants through the process of leveraging Microsoft’s Power BI tool for enhanced business intelligence capabilities. The session will focus on helping organizations move beyond the limitations of Excel, which many teams find inadequate for handling complex datasets, recurring tasks, and distributed data sources. As companies accumulate vast amounts of data, the ability to extract actionable insights efficiently becomes critical. Power BI addresses these challenges by integrating data from multiple systems, creating clear models, and transforming raw information into interactive reports and dashboards. This shift enables automated analysis and targeted reporting tailored to different user groups within an organization. The workshop will be led by Johannes Curio, who will demonstrate key features of Power BI through practical examples. Participants will learn how to import, structure, analyze, and visually represent data effectively. The emphasis will be on both technical skills and strategic considerations, such as determining when the adoption of Power BI truly benefits daily workflows. The course will cover topics ranging from building robust data models to designing intuitive dashboards that facilitate quick decision-making. One of the central themes of the training will be the creation of powerful data models. Attendees will explore how to define relationships between datasets and establish hierarchies that support structured analyses. Building upon this foundation, they will gain insight into crafting visualizations and reports that make relevant information easily accessible. These exercises will be grounded in real-world scenarios, allowing participants to apply their learning directly to their work environments. The workshop combines theoretical instruction with hands-on practice. By examining typical application cases, attendees will develop solutions that can be implemented immediately in their professional settings. This approach ensures that the knowledge gained is not just conceptual but applicable and transformative. The session will provide opportunities to experiment with Power BI’s functionalities, reinforcing understanding through active engagement. To participate, attendees must have Power BI Desktop installed and access to the Power BI service. They should also bring a current web browser and a headset or microphone for communication during the live sessions. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central European Time, offering a full day of immersive learning. Registration is required, and further details including the registration link are available on the official event page. The workshop targets individuals who regularly use Excel and feel constrained by its capabilities, as well as those interested in exploring Power BI for more efficient data handling. It is particularly suited for users aiming to improve their analytical processes, create interactive dashboards, or manage larger datasets with greater precision. With a fee of 629 euros, the program offers a comprehensive introduction to modern data analytics techniques, equipping participants with the tools needed to advance their data-driven strategies.