How a certified semantic model and Copilot in Power BI eliminated a 3–4 week IT reporting backlog, empowering finance analysts to answer their own questions in plain English.
Finance analysts had to submit an IT ticket for every custom report or analysis. This created a 3–4 week backlog, slowed decision-making, and frustrated both finance and IT teams. Analysts had strong analytical skills but no direct, governed access to reliable data.
Built a robust, certified Power BI semantic model on top of the financial data warehouse containing all key DAX measures, KPIs, and business logic — becoming the single source of truth for all financial reporting.
Implemented dynamic row-level security using Azure Active Directory groups so each department sees only their own data while executives retain full visibility — enforced automatically at query time.
Enabled Copilot in Power BI with finance-specific synonyms and definitions, allowing analysts to ask questions in plain English (e.g., “Show Q3 variance by cost center”) and instantly receive accurate visuals and insights.
Deployed a governed Power BI workspace where finance users can build their own reports using the certified model. IT reviews and certifies high-impact reports for broader distribution.
Delivered hands-on training sessions for the finance team on self-service report building, DAX fundamentals, and effective use of Copilot Q&A, supported by ongoing office hours and a dedicated Teams channel.