Income Statement An income statement is a financial statement that shows you the company’s income and expenditures. it shows a company’s revenue, expenses, and profitability over a period of time. this is also sometimes called Profit-and-loss (P&L) statement. the income statement helps you understand the financial health of your company business. An income statement help business owner decides whether they can make more profit by increasing revenue, decreasing cost, or both. A business owner can always refer to this Document to check whether their strategies work. I’ll show you how you can create your income statement with a Jet in this report. Procedure Step 1 Create the Report Options and dates for our report Navigate to the Ribbon tools and click on Report Options. when you do that, a new Report Option Page will pop up. on the pop-out, you can fill in as shown below. We now have our Report Option created. A new page titled Option should appear in our workbook, this is where we create our dates. create the date using the formulas shown below Note: While creating our previous Year’s date, you must notice that we created it in such a way that we can run the full period for last year, and select a range for the current year. E.g. we are in April for the current year, the way the formula is created allows us to run for Jan-April current year, and get the whole of last year. “Date (C11,1,1) & Date(C11,12,31)“ This simply means get the value in cell 'C11', which is the year, then “1,1,” tells is it 1st of January while, “12,31” says 31st of December. So, you can always select Jan-to-current month for the current year from the pop-out and still get the whole of the previous year. we now show the date range on our report page for easy access This can simply be done by “= (then navigate to the options page and select the date)“. Do this for the period start & end of both years. Also for the title (year “2022“), we use the formula to reference the year in cell E3. We also want the title to change along with the year we run the report. we use the same formula for (the year”2023”) but in this case, Cell F3. Now, our G/L account will be referencing that date at the top of the report. Step 2(a). Creating a template The first thing to do is to create a template of what you want your report to cover, and how you want your report to display. Picking a reporting period Calculate your revenue Calculate the Cost of Good Sold (COGS) Gross Profit Expenses Net Profit Step 2(b). Adding G/L Account Number to your report. Once your template is ready the company G/L Account Number needs to be mapped to the template as well as the date range you want the result to display on. just as shown below. Step 3 Building our Jet function. Now that we have our G/L Account no mapped to the report, we can proceed to create our Jet function. we do this by clicking on the function we want to use, the GL Function. When you click on the G/L function, it brings up our function wizard, then we can fill in all that we want. We fill in as shown below. in this report, we want to show the budget, with the account number selected. we lock the column of account no by pressing the “fn function key with F4“. we select our start date and end date and lock down the row. if we want an additional filter, we can add then in the space. when you scroll down, you see a space where we have company. you can select your company’s name by clicking on the insert report option and adding the company. Once you’ve filled in the requirements, click on okay to close the wizard. Step 4 Building the jet function for other cells Since we’ve locked the necessary columns and rows, we can easily complete the other functions by simply copying and pasting or by just dragging as shown below. You can calculate other functions you have there using normal Excel formulas. e.g. Calculating Net Profit, etc. An example is shown below. you can then Hide your date and Fit the column to make your report look beautiful. Step 5 Running your report When you run your report, it should come out clean as shown Below. Note: you can include the date range as a report option, this allows Jet users (viewers) to be able to select the date range without changing the report.

Have you ever come across this error and wondered when you activated the multi-factor authentication? You also signed in via the authentication tab, you got the following error. You’ve tried several things but a solution is not in sight. Don’t be distressed. Two ways to solve the problem include; Upgrade the version of your Jet Reports to the latest version Run the following commands in an elevated PowerShell window Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\.NetFramework\v4.0.30319' -Name 'SchUseStrongCrypto' -Value '1' -Type Dword Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\.NetFramework\v4.0.30319' -Name 'SchUseStrongCrypto' -Value '1' -Type Dword NB: You might need to restart the machine after running the commands.

Efficient planning and budgeting are integral components necessary for successful business management. Organizations should possess reliable tools enabling them to collect and analyze accurately in making informed decisions derived through visual representation of organizational performances using significant platforms such as Power BI (a top-notch intelligence platform) with integrated features merged with powerful solutions like Aimplan (for planning & proper execution). This article expounds on the potential benefits of integrating Aimplan & Power BI to enhance planning & budgeting efforts. Integration of Aimplan with PowerBI: Robust data visualization capabilities are just one aspect of PowerBI integration benefits embedded into Aimplan. The combined tool offers a comprehensive financial analysis platform for planning, execution, and decision-making processes. Users can integrate seamlessly through data importation while analyzing information and collaborating effortlessly on forecasting tasks. Interactive Dashboards and Visualizations: PowerBI’s interactive dashboard creation offers the latest trend in dynamic data visualization techniques to interpret key organization performance indices in real-time, enabling stakeholders (participants/decision makers) timely insights for prompt action based on analyzed reports. Integration of Aimplan with PowerBI allows you to leverage the powerful visualization capabilities of PowerBI with your budgeted figures. Forecasting & Scenario Analysis: With Aimplan integrated with PowerBI, organizations can carry out more effective scenario analysis. Users can model various scenarios, adjust assumptions, and instantly observe the impact on budget projections. This integrated solution empowers organizations to make informed decisions based on accurate forecasts and respond swiftly to changing market conditions. Mobile Access and Reporting: With PowerBI’s mobile app, users can easily access their planning and budgeting reports while on the move, providing them with real-time insights into their financial performance. Additionally, Aimplan’s integration with Power BI ensures that reports and visualizations are optimized for mobile devices, allowing users to keep track of important metrics and collaborate with stakeholders at any time and from any location. Let’s dive into how Aimplan has transformed the planning & budgeting process from an excruciating process into a simpler one. What is Aimplan? The next-generation SaaS solution for planning, forecasting, financial reporting, and master data management extends the Microsoft PowerBI platform. How does it work? There are three critical components that make the aimplan solution. 1. Administrative UI 2. Azure SQL Database 3. Aimplan Visual The Administrative UI is the portal where all administrative duties are carried such as; 1. Adding users that will make inputs to the budget 2. Creating storage tables 3. Creating several scenarios. Scenarios can be translated as budget versions, meaning multiple entries can be made for the different budget versions The Aimplan Planning & Reporting Visual is where inputs can be made, which is then saved in Azure SQL Database. In summary, end-users make input to their budget directly in PowerBI Service, with each input being saved directly in Azure, and these inputs can be recalled back into the same PowerBI report for other reporting purposes. Also, Aimplan integrates seamlessly with your already existing data model. Therefore, eliminating the need for data duplication completely. For example, your chart of accounts resides in Dynamics 365, there is no need to duplicate this data. PowerBI reads the chart from Dynamics 365 & you create a relationship with your storage table. Irrespective of wherever your data is, performance is still the same. Below are tables from an Excel file which is what we will be working on. Planning is to be done per location. Consider this simple scenario, Mr X, who is the C.E.O. of Company Y, comes to me and said, Hey, Abdullah, revenue for the whole organization last year was $10,000,000. Let’s set a target of $15,000,000 for this year & break this target per location/branch. This would have been a long tedious task, but Aimplan said, Hey Abdullah, let’s make life easier for you. Let’s go see how it has made life easier. In conclusion, the integration of Aimplan with Power BI has revolutionized the planning and budgeting process, transforming it from an arduous task into a streamlined and efficient operation. By leveraging the robust data visualization capabilities of Power BI and the comprehensive planning and execution features of Aimplan, organizations can make informed decisions based on accurate forecasts and real-time insights. The interactive dashboards and visualizations enable stakeholders to promptly act on analyzed reports, while the mobile access and reporting capabilities ensure that users can stay connected and make informed decisions from anywhere. With Aimplan and PowerBI, organizations can optimize their planning and budgeting efforts, leading to enhanced financial performance and better adaptability in a dynamic business landscape.

Author: Testimony Akinkunmi What is shared leadership? Have you ever imagined working in an organization where everyone had a say in decision-making? Shared leadership is a strategy that encourages employees at all levels to share their ideas and opinions, resulting in more inventive solutions and better outcomes. Organizations can draw on their team's collective knowledge and foster a culture of collaboration and trust by spreading leadership roles. In this blog post, we'll look at the benefits of shared leadership and offer suggestions for implementing it in your firm. Shared leadership is increasingly being used by modern firms to achieve growth, innovation, and organizational performance. A meta-analysis by Valamis found that shared leadership is 34% more effective than traditional leadership. Furthermore, research indicates that shared leadership can increase team communication, collaboration, and decision-making, resulting in improved levels of employee engagement and job satisfaction. As firms face increasing market complexity and volatility, shared leadership examples have shown it to be a vital method for navigating these difficulties and staying ahead of the competition. 4 ways to develop shared leadership Foster a culture of trust and collaboration: Shared leadership is based on trust and collaboration. Leaders must create an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas, concerns, and feedback. Make it easy for your team members to give you feedback. This will help you improve your leadership skills and to create a more positive work environment. Team members should feel comfortable expressing their opinions and ideas without fear of criticism or rejection. Promote accountability: Shared leadership requires accountability at all levels. Leaders should set clear expectations and hold everyone accountable for their responsibilities and actions. Set clear expectations. Make sure that everyone knows what is expected of them. This can be done through job descriptions, performance reviews, and regular communication. When someone meets expectations or achieves a goal, be sure to celebrate their success. This will help to motivate them and keep them engaged. Provide opportunities for skill development: Leaders should provide opportunities for team members to develop their skills and knowledge. This includes training, mentoring, and coaching. Use collaborative tools and technologies: Collaborative tools like Jira can facilitate shared leadership by providing a platform for team members to work together, share ideas, and track progress. It can help improve productivity by making it easy for team members to stay organized and track their progress. This can help ensure that everyone is on the same page and that tasks are completed on time. Shared leadership benefits Increased employee engagement and productivity: When you use the shared leadership style, employees feel like they have a say in decision-making, are more likely to be engaged in their work, and produce high-quality results. They have the feeling that they are part of a team and that their contributions are valued. Enhanced creativity and innovation: Employees are encouraged to share their ideas when they know they have a lot of stake in decision-making, and they are more likely to come up with new and innovative solutions to problems. Because they can bring their unique perspectives and experiences to the table. Stronger team collaboration: Being part of a team makes you more likely to collaborate and support each other's work. This is because you feel like you are working towards a common goal and that you are all in it together. Reduced stress and burnout: When employees feel like they have control over their work, they are less likely to experience stress and burnout. They get to decide priorities, manage their workload, and ensure that they are not being micromanaged. Increased job satisfaction: When employees feel like they are valued and respected, they are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. In fact, it has been shown that organizations that adopt a shared leadership approach are more likely to be successful. They can tap into the collective intelligence of their team and create a culture of collaboration and trust. 3 ways Jira can be used as a tool for implementing shared leadership Jira is project management software that can be used as a tool for implementing shared leadership in a business setting. With Jira, team members can collaborate on tasks and projects, assign tasks to one another, and track progress toward goals. Jira's customizable work process allows groups to work cooperatively, with each colleague taking on an influential position in their particular subject. According to a recent survey by Atlassian, 93% of Jira users reported that it helps them collaborate better and increase transparency in their work. Jira is used for: Project management: Jira is commonly used for project management, allowing teams to track progress, identify issues, and collaborate more effectively. A survey by Capterra found that 89% of Jira users reported that it improved their project management processes. Issue tracking: Jira can also be used for issue tracking, allowing teams to identify, prioritize, and resolve issues more efficiently. Jira’s users reported that it improved their issue-tracking processes compared to when they did not have it. Service desk management: Jira Service Desk is a separate product that can be used for managing IT service requests and support tickets. According to a survey by Atlassian, 85% of Jira Service Desk users reported that it improved their service desk processes. Essentially, giving a platform for back-and-forth communication capability. Real-world examples of organizations that have successfully used Jira for shared leadership. A start-up company At a start-up company that makes things for the internet, the CEO's job was too much for just one person. To solve this problem, the company divided the CEO role into two positions of equal importance, with each leader having unique skills and responsibilities. They also brought in more experts to manage different aspects of the company, such as research, design, and sales. By using shared leadership, leaders could focus on their strengths and delegate tasks to others. This approach made the company more successful and less hierarchical. Spotify It is an excellent example of a company that has embraced shared leadership. As a leading music streaming service, they have adopted agile methodologies for their software development process and use Jira to implement shared leadership. Teams are self-organizing, and each member is empowered to make decisions. Jira enables them to work together on tasks, track progress in real-time, and achieve common goals. NASA The US government agency is responsible for space exploration and research. NASA has been using Jira to implement shared leadership in its projects, particularly in managing complex projects with multiple teams. Jira's reporting capabilities help track project metrics and identify areas for improvement. By leveraging Jira, NASA has been able to implement a shared leadership approach that allows teams to collaborate effectively and drive project success. Frequently Asked Questions What is shared leadership, and how can it benefit organizations? Shared leadership is a leadership approach that encourages employees at all levels to share their ideas and opinions, resulting in more inventive solutions and better outcomes. It can increase team communication, collaboration, and decision-making, resulting in improved levels of employee engagement and job satisfaction. Shared leadership is a vital method for navigating market complexity and staying ahead of the competition. CONCLUSION If you want to create a successful and productive team, it's essential to implement a shared leadership approach. And to achieve this, you need a tool that can facilitate collaboration, task assignment, and progress tracking. This is where Jira comes into play. Jira is project management software that can be used as a tool for implementing shared leadership in your business. With its customizable workflow, your team members can work together in a fluid and collaborative manner, with each member taking on a leadership role in their respective areas of expertise. This approach ensures that everyone is accountable for the success of the project. By using Jira, you can foster a culture of trust and collaboration, which leads to increased employee engagement and productivity. You can also enhance creativity and innovation as team members are encouraged to share their ideas. In short, it is the best tool for implementing shared leadership, and using it will result in a highly effective and productive team.

Lagos, Nigeria - May 9th 2023 - OnPoint Limited, a leading provider and licensor of cutting-edge software solutions is delighted to announce the appointment of Maureen Ogah as its new Country Manager for Nigeria. Ogah will be responsible for overseeing the company's operations and growth strategy in the Country. She will work closely with the local and international teams to drive business results and deliver exceptional customer experiences to clients. Ogah brings with her nearly a decade of experience in the Nigerian marketing communications industry. She has worked in the Financial Services, Marketing Technology, Education & Fashion industries. Ogah holds a B.S.C in Computer Information Science from Lead City University and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK. Prior to joining OnPoint Nigeria, Ogah led the Digital and Internal Communications Team at Polaris Bank, where she fostered internal brand ambassadorship through employee engagement with over 7000 staff and grew the Bank's digital community. Over the years, she has built a track record of contributing to the bottom line and increasing market share/penetration through Integrated Marketing Campaigns for products such as Blippar, Adrenaline, and VULTe, among others. OnPoint Limited Director, Stephen Abela, stated that the hiring was strategic and in line with the business objective. According to him, “Nigeria is one of our strategic markets and we've taken steps to deliver significant value to our customers. We believe it's time to scale up and do more with our international expertise and diverse team. Our existing and potential clients will benefit greatly from Ogah's extensive experience in the market. This, coupled with her passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences will be invaluable as we continue to expand in the region." Speaking on her new role, Ogah says her vision is to build strong partnerships, drive business growth, and deliver innovative solutions to all of Onpoint’s stakeholders. She further commented that "in the wake of the Digital Transformation tide sweeping Nigeria, our Agile, DevOps, IT service management (ITSM) and work management offerings powered by Atlassian will help our new & existing customers reduce operational costs, improve team efficiency as well as provide enhanced visibility into operations and IT service performance”. With a focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving business results, OnPoint Nigeria is a leading Atlassian Gold solutions partner helping businesses of all sizes and across all industries achieve their goals and stay ahead of the competition. For more information on OnPoint Nigeria and its range of cutting-edge software solutions, please visit https://www.onpointserv.com/nigeria.

What Is a Budgeting Process? The budgeting process is an important method that allows companies to plan and prepare their financial budgets for a given period. It entails reviewing previous budgets, forecasting future revenue, and allocating cash for certain costs. Budgeting You're traveling along a winding road when you come to a fork in the road. The first road goes to a dead end, whereas the second leads to your objective. Which route would you take? Consider your company as a car on the route. It's easy to get lost or find yourself at a dead end without a clear map and directions. Budgeting comes into play here. Budgeting is like a GPS that directs your company to its destination. Surprisingly, many small firms lack a defined financial blueprint. Only 54% of small businesses have an official budget for 2021, according to Clutch. According to the Harvard Business School, a budget not only provides a critical strategy but also assures resource availability. A revenue and expenditure structure is essential if you want your firm to develop and satisfy the demands of your clients. In this post, we'll review the importance of budgeting and how it can transform your business. Types of Budgets Budgeting is the process of determining the expenditure amounts for each function of an organization. It is the assessment and allocation of available capital utilized to meet a firm's stated goals. According to reputable financial advisory sources, there are four types of budgets. Incremental Budgeting Incremental budgeting is a budgeting method that uses the previous budget period as a baseline and makes minor modifications for the following period. The preceding budget is evaluated and changed in light of inflation, market changes, and new initiatives. While this strategy builds on the prior budget and requires little modification, it may not be appropriate for firms undertaking major operational changes. Activity-based budgeting Activity-based budgeting is a budgeting strategy that focuses on specific activities or tasks that must be completed to reach organizational goals. It highlights the inputs and expenses associated with each activity. Its goal is to reduce spending. It assigns budgets based on activity expenses, as opposed to blanket budgets. However, it necessitates a thorough grasp of corporate processes and may not be practical for small businesses or those with simpler operations. Value proposition budgeting Value proposition budgeting allocates a budget based on the value a product or service provides customers. Budgets are allocated depending on the value that a product or service offers to customers. It emphasizes important aspects that set a product apart from the competition. The budgeter inquires, for example, "Is it valuable to customers?" Is the price justified by the value? It's beneficial for businesses that offer one-of-a-kind items or services. However, it is difficult since it necessitates an extensive understanding of client preferences and may necessitate significant R&D costs. It may help firms in competitive marketplaces differentiate themselves based on the value they provide. Zero-based budgeting Zero-based budgeting (ZBB) is a budgeting strategy in which each year's budget is created from scratch rather than based on modifications made in previous years. It compels managers to examine expenditure priorities and make strategic judgments about what costs are required and what is not. This method is significant for firms looking to cut costs and improve efficiency since it requires thoroughly examining all expenses, and uncovering areas of waste or inefficiency. However, because of a culture of uncertainty regarding job security and project continuity, ZBB can lead to short-term thinking and employee demotivation. Goals of the Budgeting Process: A Key Component of Effective Financial Management Aids in the planning of actual operations Budgeting assists managers in planning real operations and motivates them to anticipate changes and be ready to deal with future issues. It allows them to remain ahead of the curve and adapt to any situation. Control of finances You gain control of your finances and make more confident and educated financial decisions by adopting a budget. It aids in the prioritization of your expenditure and the identification of areas where you may cut back and save money. Motivates managers to strive to achieve the budget goals When managers are given a budget to work with, they are given precise targets and goals to work toward. It provides a challenge or target for individuals and managers by linking their compensation and performance relative to the budget. Budget is a financial roadmap A budget is a blueprint that helps the owner of a small business plan and allocates financial resources. It outlines a strategy for the company's revenue and costs, as well as capital expenditures, for a specific period. The owner may guarantee that the firm has enough cash flow to pay its financial responsibilities and support its expansion by adhering to the budget. In this approach, the budget functions as a financial blueprint that directs the company toward its financial objectives. Risks of not budgeting Inability to grow business or enter new markets Possible closure of the corporation due to inability to repay debts A budget prevents waste and ensures that resources are spent efficiently. Making decisions without taking finances into account might lead to bad choices and stifle corporate growth. Before investing or lending money, investors, and lenders sometimes want a budget to analyze the financial health of a firm. It might be difficult to assess progress and measure performance without a budget, making it tough to make educated decisions and develop over time. What Steps Does the Budgeting Process Involve? The first stage is to establish specific goals for the company. These goals must be explicit, quantifiable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. The second stage is examining past performance, analyzing patterns, and finding opportunities for improvement. Following a review of the preceding quarter, the company should compute its current revenue to decide how much it has to work with. The following stage is to construct a budget by projecting new expenditure needs. Following the forecasting of expenditures, the company must make solid business decisions that prioritize spending and properly manage resources. Once the budget has been prepared, it should be properly conveyed to all relevant stakeholders. Employees and other stakeholders may be included. Finally, the budget should be implemented and monitored regularly to ensure that the business remains on track and adjusts to any changes in the business environment. Conclusion The budgeting process allows businesses to plan and prepare their financial budgets for a specified time period. It entails reviewing prior budgets, projecting future revenue, and allocating cash for specific costs. Consider it like a GPS for a car that directs a corporation to its financial objectives. The method assists organizations in controlling their finances, making educated decisions, and striving toward certain goals. If you do not want your businesses to struggle to develop, or you do not want to make poor judgments and be unable to repay loans. Setting defined goals, reviewing historical performance, computing income, and establishing a budget by forecasting future costs are all part of the budgeting process you should start.

This analysis aims to understand the day a particular product showcases its best performance in one specific location. The best-selling days for a business can vary depending on the industry and target market. The customer base is one of the essential factors in determining the best-selling days. For example, a business that primarily serves working professionals may find that the best-selling days are on weekdays when customers have disposable income and can make purchases during their lunch breaks or after work. On the other hand, a business that primarily serves families with young children may find that the weekends are the best-selling days when parents have more time to shop and are looking for activities to do with their kids. Another factor to consider is the type of products or services being sold. Some businesses, such as those in the retail or hospitality industries, may experience increased sales during holiday seasons or special events like Black Friday or Valentine’s Day. Other businesses, such as those in the fitness or wellness industries, may see an increase in sales during the start of the new year when people are looking to make healthy changes to their lifestyles. Overall, the best-selling days for a business will depend on various factors, including the customer base, the type of products or services sold, and any seasonal or special events that may influence purchasing decisions. By considering these factors, businesses can plan their sales strategies and optimize their efforts to maximize revenue. The question remains: How can we use data to understand the best-selling day? Any thoughts? Let’s go into PowerBI to turn this idea into reality. As we all know, the best performance is relative. I’m assuming my best performance is the day the average sales are the highest, i.e. if the average sales are highest on Tuesday for product A at Location B., Then Tuesday is my best-selling day for that product in that location. Based on my assumption, I need to calculate my average sales. The DAX to calculate the best-selling days is as seen below. Suppose I include this measure in a table. My best-selling day for Brittle is a Sunday in California. Similar to another region, Colorado. The best-selling day for Brittle is Friday. We can see that the same products but two different regions have different best-selling days. How does the measure work? That’s one layer of product analytics you can use to drive impact in your organization. See you next time.

I’ve always said if you call PowerBI a visualization tool, you don’t entirely know its capabilities. Also, for entry-level analysts, the analysis goes beyond exploratory analysis. You can take your analysis one level higher with anomaly detection and ask why it is happening. Good news, you don’t even need to learn any new thing. So, what is anomaly detection? Anomaly detection is simply identifying behaviour or patterns that differ from the norm. In terms of data, it merely recognizes the data points that are different from the normal behaviour of all other data points. How, then, do we do this in PowerBI? Let’s see how it is not complicated at all. I’m using the popular SuperStore data, and the model I’ve created is the one you’ve made if you’ve worked with this data. Nothing complicated, as you can see. Measures used include the following; As you can see, the measures are nothing complicated; they are things you are used to—pretty straightforward, right? I’ve also created a set of charts using the model and DAX measures above. The first chart is a scatter plot comparing each city’s total sales and year-on-year sales differences. The bar chart shows the current sales and sales LY by Product, while the line chart shows cumulative totals. Let’s focus on Q2 2017. We are comparing the Year on year sales with Q2 2016 Here we drill down to the dates. Let’s compare performance in Q4–2016 with Q4–2015 You can see with just a simple model coupled with simple DAX, you can do more than just saying so, so made the highest/lowest sales. You don’t need to understand complicated dax to take your analysis to the next level. I hope you can now see PowerBI as more than just another visualization tool.

Remember, your data model is just a set of tables linked by a relationship. This relationship could be 1-*, 1–1, *-1 or *-*, each having a unidirectional or bi-directional cross filter. For a unidirectional cross-filter, your dimension table filters the fact table and can’t be otherwise, while for a bi-directional cross-filter, both tables can filter each. Here is an example of a data model showing both cardinalities with a bi-directional relationship between the Sales and Product tables. *Cardinality is simply the direction of your relationship If the cardinality of all relationships in the model were unidirectional, the Date, Product and Customer tables would filter the Sales table. The date table cannot filter the customer or product table. Say you are interested in how many of your products were sold in a particular year, not the number of times they were sold that year. Just the list of products that were sold that year. Your guess is as good as mine; I will do a distinct count of the Product key on the Sales table. Below is an image of the result without the bi-directional cross-filter. Because the filter direction is from the Products to Sales table, the DAX measure returned a single value of 2517, which is the total inventory in the store. After enabling bi-directional cross filter So, the question is, why enable bi-directional filtering when I could get the same result without it? My answer is, what if your product table contains more information than just the product name and product key, and there is an additional drill down you want to do? Note that with an excellent model, you can do without bi-directional, but with complex DAX comes complex wahala you didn’t sign up for. If your no. of products is based on the Products table, there will be trouble, as seen above, where I had 2517 for all years. With just the product key, I can see that as the year progresses, the no. of different products bought increases which is a good thing. I’m not a champion of just a few products when over 2000 other products are in my inventory. This increase could be attributed to better marketing, discounted products etc., but that is not the topic of discussion. Now I want to drill down into how each product category is fairing yearly. This is where your knowledge of the cardinality of your relationship comes into place because of a direct relationship between the date and product table. Use case — I want to see which product category was sold each year and how many. Because I’ve enabled the bidirectional filtering, I’ve indirectly created a relationship between the product and calendar table. Result below. Note that the count of the product key on the sales table is a distinct count. If I remove the bidirectional filtering, I get the wrong figures—the same set of numbers each year. So the question is, how does this work? Now you have seen what a bi-directional relationship is and how it works. Cheers mate

Data-driven decision-making is the key to project management success in today’s fast-paced business environment. Project management is a complex and dynamic field that requires organizations to make quick, informed decisions. With the growing demand for better results and greater efficiency, project managers must have access to data-driven insights that enable them to make informed decisions and drive better outcomes. Jira, a powerful project management tool, that collects data on various aspects of project management, providing valuable insights into project progress, team performance, issue trends, lead and cycle times, resource utilization, customer satisfaction, and prioritization. To take advantage of these data, organizations need a way to visualize and interpret the data effectively, and that’s where PowerBI comes in. By combining the power of Jira and PowerBI, organizations can turn their data into actionable insights, drive better outcomes, and achieve their goals. In this article, we will explore how organizations can leverage the power of Jira data with the visualization capabilities of PowerBI for truly data-driven project management success. Project progress By tracking the status of tasks, issues, and projects in Jira, organizations can monitor their project’s progress over time and identify any potential roadblocks or delays. This information can be used to make informed decisions about the project’s direction and to take proactive measures to address any issues that arise. Team performance Jira data can be used to analyze the workload and efficiency of individual team members and teams, which can identify areas for improvement, such as underutilized team members or allocate resources more effectively. Additionally, by tracking the time it takes for team members to complete tasks, organizations can identify exceptionally skilled individuals in certain areas and allocate tasks accordingly. Issue trends With PowerBI, organizations can identify patterns in the issues that arise, their causes, and the steps taken to resolve them. Understanding this can lead to improving processes and preventing similar problems from arising. For example, if a particular type of issue frequently occurs, organizations can take steps to address the root cause and prevent it from happening again. Lead and cycle times Organizations can measure the time it takes for tasks, issues, and projects to be completed from start to finish while identifying bottlenecks in the process, such as long approval times, and making changes to improve efficiency. Resource utilization Jira data can be used to evaluate how effectively resources, such as time and personnel, are being utilized. For example, organizations can identify opportunities to optimize resource allocation and allocate resources more effectively by tracking the time spent on each task. Customer satisfaction Organizations can use Jira data to improve products and services by tracking customer feedback and satisfaction levels. For example, if customer feedback indicates that a particular feature is necessary, organizations can prioritize the development of that feature. Prioritization With JIRA & PowerBI, organizations can prioritize tasks, issues, and projects based on data-driven insights. For example, by analyzing the time it takes to complete tasks, organizations can prioritize tasks that are taking longer than expected and make informed decisions about which projects to focus on. Overall, Jira data provides a wealth of information that can be used to gain insights into projects, processes, and performance. By leveraging PowerBI, organizations can make data-driven decisions to improve their operations and achieve their goals.

Profit analysis, also known as profitability analysis, is the process of evaluating a business’s financial performance to determine how efficiently it generates profits. This can be a crucial step for companies as they seek to understand the financial health of their organization and identify areas for improvement. There are several methods that businesses can use to conduct a profit analysis. One common approach is calculating the profit margin, which is the percentage of revenue that a company retains after deducting all expenses. A high-profit margin indicates that a business generates a significant profit relative to its income. In contrast, a low-profit margin may suggest that the company struggles to control costs or generate sufficient revenue. Although we won’t be taking the profit margin, our approach (profit growth) requires four metrics, namely revenue, cost, profit and the previous year’s profit. Remember, we aim to understand which product contributes to profit growth and how much they contribute. Profit growth refers to the increase in a business’s profits over time. It is a vital measure of a company’s financial performance and can be a crucial factor in attracting investors and demonstrating the viability of a business. Several factors can contribute to profit growth. One of the most important is increasing revenue, which can be achieved through various means, such as expanding the customer base, raising prices, or introducing new products or services. Another critical factor is controlling costs, which can involve reducing expenses or improving efficiency. This can include streamlining operations, negotiating better deals with suppliers, or finding cost-effective ways to produce goods or deliver services. Profit growth can also be driven by investments in new technologies or other assets that can improve the productivity and efficiency of a business. For example, investing in new equipment or software may help a company reduce costs and improve its bottom line. Overall, profit growth is a crucial factor in the success and sustainability of a business. By increasing revenue, controlling costs, and making strategic investments, companies can drive profitable growth and position themselves for long-term success. Now let’s calculate the profit growth. Let’s see this on a card. Clearly, between the end of 2015 and the end of 2016, a profit of about $309,157.63 was made. The question is now which products constitute this profit. It’s pretty straightforward, just storytelling from now as you have created the necessary measures. Let’s use a waterfall chart to communicate this. From the chart above, we can quickly identify in about 5 seconds which product contributes to the profit growth and how much. Let’s show the profit growth as a percentage because, say, there were zero sales for Product 1 last year, and this year, a profit of $52k was made, that’s a 100% increase in profit, and we want to be able to see those also. Let’s see this in a visual With percentages, your stakeholders can now begin to picture it better. For instance, Product 5 had a profit of $52k; I didn’t even imagine it well enough until I saw over 200% increase from the previous year’s profit which is a massive increment. If an investment guarantees me a 200% increase in a year, I will throw all my money into it. The sweet part is all this is integrated with our data model. Pretty straightforward, right? Sometimes a simple solution is all you need to solve that problem. This would be the last article this year—Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance. See you hale & healthy in 2023, Inshallah.

I was privileged to be among those who reviewed the submission for the Datafest Africa program. Some of the submissions prompted the need for this article. This is a detailed approach to how I would tackle the business problem if Zentel Network were my client. Background info This is data from a Zentel Network Service centre. Every day, customers log their different types of complaints across their branches and expect quick responses and resolutions to their queries. Some of these customers have a Service level agreement with the Network service provider to resolve their daily queries within a particular average duration. This service center has different Managers and operators looking into the customers’ issues and performance can be measured weekly and daily. Based on the Service Level Agreement between Zentel incorporated and our clients, here are the terms of engagement: - All issues must be responded to within 10 seconds of ticket initiation - All issues must be resolved within 3 hours of response - Average Ticket response time must not exceed 15 seconds - Any ticket not resolved within 3 hours must be escalated to the Manager Before I think of the data, I define a clear objective. Why am I carrying out this analysis? What do I hope to achieve? Thankfully the goals have been provided, as seen below; Kindly provide a general outlook of the performance of the business based on relevant metrics. One of the top executives is of the opinion we should optimize TAT(Turn Around Time) between 6 pm to 9 pm every day due to backlash from disgruntled customers. Do you agree? Show us the data to support your position. Based on SLA, issues are meant to be responded to within 10 seconds after they are raised. What are the key factors leading to a delay in ticket response time? Hint: Show how the different variables affect the ticket response time. Which Managers and operators are performing well and struggling to meet the required resolution Time? Make recommendations as to how they can improve. You can download data here. Data Preparation The following tables were loaded into PowerBI Since the data provided is just a month’s data, there is not much need for a calendar table. The final model looks like this. Here comes the tricky part. As much as creating charts and graphs is important, understanding the business problem is essential. Let’s dive into the business problem a bit. Earlier, we were told there was a service agreement between the company and its customers. Also, disgruntled customers feel the terms of the agreement aren’t being fulfilled on the customer’s end. Understanding this will then lead you to use the appropriate metrics. Hence, your exploratory analysis should speak to helping you, the analyst, understand how zentel is performing in fulfilling that agreement. I’ve almost maintained that the greatest tool of an analyst is their mind, not PowerBI, Excel, Python etc. The ability to ask questions and think supersedes the tool itself. The tool is just a means to an end. In our case, questions that help you understand if and where Zentel is underperforming in terms of fulfilling the agreement include What is the percentage of issues responded to within the agreed 10secs? Is the average response time not greater than 15secs? What is the percentage of issues resolved within the agreed 3hours? You can also leave it as no. of issues responded to with 10secs, but I prefer using percentages as it is easier to picture than a number. Those questions will determine what kind of DAX measure to use. Now that we understand the business problem, let’s prepare our data. To know the % of issues responded to within 10secs, we need to find the difference between the ticket open time and response time for every case. The DAX below gets that for us. For the resolved time, a tiny detail specified can change the direction of the result. The agreement was that issues must be settled within 3 hours of response time, not ticket open time. Although the DATEDIFF() allows you to calculate the hour difference, I discovered it is not entirely accurate, as it uses the start of the hour. This was a mistake I noticed in some of the submissions. See the sample below. The hour difference is 1.5 hours ( 1 hour 30 minutes), but because it uses the start of the hour, the 30 minutes is ignored. The recipe for understanding the general outlook of business performance is almost ready. Kindly provide a general outlook of the performance of the business based on relevant metrics. This is just simple exploratory analysis, and the questions we raised while understanding the business problem will help us create relevant metrics. My approach to analysis has always been to ask the questions of what, when, where, how and why. This greatly helps in effective insight communication, which is the approach used in creating the report. The following DAX measures will help us understand the performance of the business. Terminated issues were excluded because it means the customer no longer needs assistance; a terminated issue is no longer on the operator’s desk and can’t be a factor in determining the operator’s performance. I prefer dynamic measures to multiple pages if I have to deploy the report in the client’s environment. Dynamic measures were used for EDA here. EDA tells us that less than 20% of issues were responded to within 10secs and less than 60% were resolved within 3 hours. We are beginning to understand why customers are disgruntled. Across all areas, we would discover the organization is mainly underperforming. See the full report here. One of the top executives is of the opinion we should optimize TAT(Turn Around Time) between 6 pm to 9 pm every day due to backlash from disgruntled customers. Do you agree? I wouldn’t agree, and data doesn’t agree with the executive. Let’s justify my disagreement. Turnaround time is the difference between when the issue was open and closed. Optimizing TAT could be that operator has other tasks, but between 6pm — 9pm, their only focus should be resolving the issues raised by the customer. The executive assumption is based on customers raising more tickets during that period, but data says otherwise. The essence of this article is to show you how to rather than show you the result. To be able to justify when to optimize TAT, a critical question to ask is what period customers raise issues the most. Sadly, ticket open time is not a categorical but a discrete variable. We need to find a way to make it an ordinal variable. To do this, create a new column on your service data, as seen below. What the column is saying is this. Let’s see this visually. Data clearly shows optimization should be done between 8am-12pm. Based on SLA, issues are meant to be responded to within 10 seconds after they are raised. What are the key factors leading to a delay in ticket response time? You can use the Key Influencer for this. If we go back to our EDA report here, we will discover that social media has the highest number (1.7k) of issues raised, with only 12% of those issues responded to within 10secs. Which Managers and operators are performing well, and which are struggling to meet up with the required resolution Time? In this case study, the average is not the most efficient metric for determining who is performing well or not. Consider the following scenario, Mr A and Mr B both worked on ten different issues. Before the 10th issue, Mr A’s average time to resolve the problem was 0.8 hr, while Mr B had an average time of 2.2 hours. But on the 10th issue, Mr A had outliers and didn’t conform to his typical performance, which then increased his average, making Mr B outperform Mr A. Let’s imagine the required time to resolve an issue is 2 hrs. Mr A success rate becomes 90% while Mr B’s success rate is 20% if we use the percentage of issues resolved within the stipulated hours. See the report here to see who was the best and struggling manager/operator. Now you have been able to tackle the business problem effectively. I will leave you to make recommendations for me.