Welcome to the second instalment of our Expert Voice series, where we explore another game-changing tool within Microsoft’s Power Platform – Power BI.
In this interview, HG Technology’s Khalid Muhdar shares his insights on how this business intelligence tool gets data and teams talking.
Beyond just real-time visibility, Power BI turns raw numbers into clear, actionable insights that drive business decisions and help bridge the gap between tech and business.
With its intuitive reports and dashboards, Khalid believes every business should be using it.
How Does Power BI Help Bridge the Gap?
I studied Information Systems at university and have always been fascinated by big data – how, when properly analysed, it empowers businesses to make smarter, faster decisions.
At HG Technology, my role is to help clients consolidate raw data from multiple sources into a single, accurate view. Many organisations have valuable data, but it’s often scattered – especially in Excel.
When we first work with clients, it’s common to see individuals building their own spreadsheets using the same data, yet their reports look completely different. Power BI solves this by providing a single source of truth, eliminating inconsistencies and bringing clarity to decision-making.
It’s not just about numbers; presentation matters too. Power BI’s interactive visuals – like dynamic pie charts that shift when clicked – make data engaging and digestible, encouraging teams to use it.
What Do You Mean by “the Right Response”?
To understand this, think about who within a business relies on data:
- Executives & Leadership: Power BI gives them an instant, real-time overview of performance, profitability, and productivity. It enables budget management, revenue tracking, and strategic planning—even across national or global markets. Plus, built-in security and governance features provide peace of mind.
- Finance & Sales Teams: Financial reports can show budget vs. actual spend, helping managers stay on top of costs. Sales leaders can track monthly performance in real-time via customised dashboards.
- Business Development Teams: Instead of static reports, they can monitor performance live – making faster, more informed decisions that directly impact sales.
In sales, Power BI can even be used as a motivational tool when applied creatively.
How Can Power BI Be Used Creatively?
Power BI is intuitive, but most businesses don’t realise its full potential – which is where HG Technology comes in. We blend technical expertise with creativity to maximise impact.
Two examples stand out:
- Alternative Bridging Company (ABC): They wanted better visibility on sales performance. We suggested live sales dashboards on TV screens throughout their office, updating hourly. The result? A motivated, engaged team that always knows where they stand – whether grabbing coffee or heading to a meeting.
- Tilstone (Warehouse REIT): They needed an interactive property vacancy report. Instead of manually sending brochures, we built a searchable, real-time map on their website, letting users check availability and click directly to brochures. This streamlined their inquiry-to-sales process while ensuring data was always up to date.
In both cases, Power BI wasn’t just a reporting tool – it became an active business asset.
Why Is Working with Multiple Data Sources So Valuable?
Power BI’s ability to connect multiple data sources makes decision-making more strategic, accurate, and collaborative.
It integrates with:
- Cloud platforms (Google Analytics, Salesforce, Azure)
- Databases (Oracle, SQL Server)
- Enterprise tools (SAP, Zendesk)
- Microsoft apps (Excel, SharePoint, Teams, Dynamics 365)
By consolidating data across systems, businesses reduce manual errors and gain a unified, real-time view of performance.
For example, ABC now uses Power BI to generate paginated client reports by pulling data from both CRM and sales databases. Conditional columns automate data filtering, reducing errors and saving hours of manual work.
A Bit About Khalid
Khalid Muhdar is a Project Manager at HG Technology, specialising in SharePoint implementation, reporting, and business intelligence. A graduate of Royal Holloway University in Management with Digital Innovation, he’s our “irregular” representative in Abu Dhabi – he insists it’s for business, not just the weather!
Want to Chat?
For a free, no-obligation 30-minute chat about how Power BI can help your business, click here.
