top of page

Power BI Update: November 2024 – What's New for Firms

Writer's picture: Lachlan McLeodLachlan McLeod

The November 2024 Power BI updates deliver exciting tools designed to streamline workflows, improve data security, and enhance reporting. From mobile-friendly insights and standardised metrics to improved security and advanced visualisation, these updates are tailored to help firms deliver better, faster, and more secure reporting to their clients. Here’s a deep dive into the November 2024 updates that are particularly relevant to firms.


Copilot in Power BI Mobile Apps (Preview)

Accessing real-time insights on the go has never been easier. With Copilot in Power BI Mobile, you can now generate quick summaries or dive deeper into data, all from your mobile device.

Used with permission from
Used with permission from Microsoft.

Why It Matters:

  • Enables on-the-go access to report summaries, perfect for client meetings or travel.

  • Facilitates faster decision-making with real-time insights, reducing manual analysis.


Bottom Line: Accountants can stay productive on the move, leveraging real-time financial insights to respond to client queries with precision and speed.


Copilot Summaries in Subscriptions (Preview)

Imagine receiving an email with not just your report, but a clear summary of key insights. Copilot Summaries in Subscriptions automates this process, saving time and enhancing clarity.

Used with permission from Microsoft.

Why It Matters:

  • Simplifies report interpretation by summarising key points directly in emails.

  • Helps teams deliver concise, actionable updates to clients without additional effort.


Bottom Line: This feature ensures clients receive digestible insights alongside financial reports, improving communication and efficiency.


Visual Calculations: Export Support (Preview)

Sharing calculated insights just got simpler. Power BI now supports exporting visuals with custom calculations, such as moving averages or trendlines.


Why It Matters:

  • Allows direct sharing of calculated metrics with clients or stakeholders.

  • Saves time by eliminating the need to recreate calculations in spreadsheets.


Bottom Line: Accounting firms can streamline reporting workflows by effortlessly exporting and sharing calculated financial insights.


Small Multiples for Card Visuals (Preview)

Compare financial metrics across categories with ease. The new Small Multiples feature allows you to display multiple card visuals in a grid format for better data visualisation.

Used with permission from Microsoft.

Why It Matters:

  • Helps accountants track metrics like revenue or expenses across departments or regions.

  • Enhances dashboards with clear, organised layouts for easy comparisons.


Bottom Line: Use this feature to create visually appealing dashboards that improve client presentations and decision-making.

 

Metric Sets: A New Era of Metric Management (Preview)

Consistency is critical in financial reporting. Metric Sets standardise metric creation, making it easier to discover and reuse accurate metrics across reports.

Used with permission from Microsoft.

Why It Matters:

  • Ensures all financial reports rely on consistent, trusted metrics.

  • Speeds up report creation with pre-built metrics, reducing discrepancies.


Bottom Line: Accounting firms can deliver accurate, consistent reports, fostering trust in financial data across clients and services.


Purview DLP Policies for Data Access Restriction (Preview)

Protecting sensitive data is now simpler with Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies. Admins can restrict access to sensitive information within semantic models.

Used with permission from Microsoft.

Why It Matters:

  • Enhances data security by blocking unauthorised access to sensitive information.

  • Ensures compliance with regulatory standards, safeguarding client confidentiality.


Bottom Line: This update fortifies data security and compliance, a critical requirement for managing confidential financial data.


New Text Slicer (Preview)

Precise filtering made easy. The Text Slicer lets users filter large datasets by entering specific text, saving time and improving data exploration.

Used with permission from Microsoft.

Why It Matters:

  • Helps accountants quickly filter datasets, such as client invoices or transaction records.

  • Simplifies analyses during audits or financial reviews.


Bottom Line: Streamline dataset filtering to make large financial reports easier to analyse and customise.


Path Layer for Azure Map Visual

Geographic insights come to life with the Path Layer, which visualises connections between geographic points like shipment routes or branch revenues.

Used with permission from Microsoft.

Why It Matters:

  • Relevant for firms working with clients in logistics or retail, providing geographic context to financial data.

  • Enhances analysis for location-specific revenue or asset tracking.


Bottom Line: While niche, this feature provides geospatial insights, useful for clients with distributed operations.

 

Keep following this space for more insights on how Power BI can transform your accounting firm.

Comments


bottom of page