Automating Data Management with Azure: Streamlining SQL and Power BI Pipelines

This presentation showcases how to leverage Azure to automate data pipelines, including SQL and Excel, to provide data reports and Power BI dashboards. In the presentation, we detail two projects built by the Data Strategy, Analytics, and Reporting team at Gies College of Business to improve data management and information access. First, we will share the process from initial setup through a detailed walkthrough of Azure components (such as Data Factory, Logic Apps, Storage Accounts, and Function Apps), used in conjunction with Microsoft Forms, Box, SQL, and Power BI to create on-demand data reports and exports for clients. Next, we will demonstrate how we created a Power BI Inventory in Excel and used Azure to import this data into SQL and provide navigation and visualization of dashboards in Power BI. Azure continuously monitors updates to the Excel inventory, which automatically refreshes data in SQL. Overall, this presentation highlights how Azure, Microsoft Forms, SQL, and Power BI can work together to enhance and automate data management workflows.

Presenters:
Lauren Gray, Data Analyst, IT Partners
Sahar Pani, Data Reporting Specialist, IT Partners