Shows
The Dashboard EffectMaking Data Work for Small Firms Without a Big BudgetThink you need a big BI team and a big budget to get value from your data? Think again. In this episode, Brick Thompson and Landon Ochs share how small professional services firms can start using data effectively—by focusing on one meaningful problem, starting simple, and iterating over time. Hear practical tips, common pitfalls, and a real-world success story that added millions to the bottom line.At Blue Margin, we help middle-market companies turn their data into a competitive advantage. As a Microsoft Gold Partner specializing in Power BI, we build simple, actionable dashboards that give le...
2025-09-2208 minThe Dashboard EffectChoosing the Right Data Platform for Your Business: Fabric or Snowflake?Choosing between Microsoft Fabric and Snowflake? In this episode of The Dashboard Effect, Brick Thompson and Landon Ochs break down when, why, and how to choose the right data platform for your organization. From ecosystem compatibility and AI capabilities to cost management and developer experience, we unpack the real-world trade-offs we see every day at Blue Margin.Whether you're building from scratch or evaluating a transition, this conversation will help you make a smarter, more informed decision.Don’t forget to subscribe for more data strategy insights!
2025-07-0712 minThe Dashboard EffectFrom Theory to Practice: Making AI Work in the Real WorldIn this episode of The Dashboard Effect, host Jon sits down with Lisa Weaver Lambert, author of The AI Value Playbook. Lisa shares her deep expertise in AI, offering practical advice for non-technical leaders on how to leverage AI effectively. From addressing common pitfalls to discussing actionable strategies, Lisa’s insights are a must-hear for anyone looking to implement AI in their organization.Lisa’s book, The AI Value Playbook, is a practical guide for non-technical leaders looking to harness the power of AI. You can purchase it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1835461751?ref=c...
2025-01-1640 minThe Dashboard EffectHow to Build Smarter Reports with Power BIIn this episode of The Dashboard Effect, Brick and Landon discuss the importance of truly understanding your data before diving into report building. Whether you’re an analytics engineer or using Power BI, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for making better decisions and creating impactful dashboards.Key Moments:[02:15] Why understanding your data source improves report outcomes.[05:30] How Power BI simplifies data visualization and decision-making.[08:45] Common pitfalls in analytics and how to avoid them.Thank you for tuning into The Dashboard Effect Podcast! Subscribe for more insights on data, BI, an...
2025-01-0309 minThe Dashboard EffectIs Raw or Aggregated Data Better for Analytics Decisions?Knowing when to use raw data or aggregated data can make or break your analytics strategy. In this video, Brick and Landon explain the key differences between raw and aggregated data, how each affects decision-making, and the best times to use them. Whether you’re managing transactional data or scaling analytics for your business, this discussion has you covered.Tune in to learn how these data strategies can impact your reporting, analytics, and overall business performance.If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to hit the like button and subscribe to our channel for...
2024-12-0507 minThe Dashboard EffectSchema on Write vs. Schema on Read: What’s Faster for Your Business?In this episode of The Dashboard Effect Podcast, Brick and Landon break down the differences between schema on read and schema on write. They discuss when to use each approach, the pros and cons, and real-world applications for businesses of different sizes. If you're navigating the complexities of data lakes, data warehouses, or lakehouses, this episode will give you clarity.Tune in to learn how these data strategies can impact your reporting, analytics, and overall business performance.If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to hit the like button and su...
2024-11-2106 minThe Dashboard EffectUnderstanding Semantic Models and Data Lake House LayersIn this episode of The Dashboard Effect Podcast, host Brick Thompson and Blue Margin’s Director of Solutions, Landon Ochs, dive into the nuances of semantic models and the bronze, silver, and gold layers within a data lake house. They explain the roles of each layer, how data is transformed at each stage, and why collaboration with business users is essential for accurate and actionable BI reporting.Through this episode, you'll learn why different layers serve different purposes—from storing raw data to pre-joining tables for efficiency to creating finalized data ready for reporting. They also discuss how...
2024-11-0710 minThe Dashboard EffectNetSuite Data Pipeline: Surprising API Challenges & ODBC SolutionIn this episode of The Dashboard Effect, Brick chats with Landon, Director of Solutions at Blue Margin, about a surprising challenge faced while extracting data from NetSuite. Despite NetSuite’s well-developed API, handling massive datasets proved problematic. Landon shares how they solved the issue using an unexpected solution—the ODBC connector.They discuss the limitations of the API, how ODBC outperformed it for large data sets, and the unconventional yet effective workaround using a virtual machine. If you’re working with NetSuite or other cloud-based systems and experiencing similar challenges, you’ll want to hear this episode....
2024-10-2307 minThe Dashboard EffectHow Bad Data Models Can Sabotage Your ReportsIn this episode, Brick Thompson and Caleb Ochs discuss the critical role of good data models in making business intelligence tools like Power BI efficient and scalable. They cover the pitfalls of poor data models, including delayed reporting and data category issues, and offer insights into designing flexible, transactional-level data models that can grow with your business needs.Key Moments:- Example of a Bad Data Model- The Benefits of Transactional-Level Data- Why Developers Take Shortcuts- Common Data Model MistakesBlue Margin increases enterprise value for...
2024-10-1010 minThe Dashboard EffectThe Blueprint for Rolling Out BI to Hundreds of UsersIn this episode of The Dashboard Effect, hosts Brick and Caleb discuss the challenges and best practices for rolling out Business Intelligence (BI) solutions to large audiences. With a real-life example of implementing BI across 600 retail locations, they dive into how to navigate common pitfalls, ensuring user adoption and success. Whether your rollout is for a small team or a large enterprise, these insights will help you optimize your process.Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market companies by building and managing their data platforms. Our strategy, proven with over 250 companies to-date, expands multiples through data...
2024-10-0210 minThe Dashboard EffectSimplifying Your Data Pipeline for Maximum PerformanceIn this episode of The Dashboard Effect, hosts Brick and Caleb explore the essential steps to building efficient and reliable data pipelines. They discuss the critical factors in moving data from transactional systems to data lakes, highlight the importance of simplifying pipelines, and share practical strategies for handling pipeline failures, API connections, and ensuring scalability. Whether you're a data professional or a business leader looking to enhance your data processes, this episode offers valuable insights to guide you.Enjoyed the episode? Hit Like, subscribe to our channel, and tap the bell icon to stay updated on the...
2024-09-1216 minThe Dashboard EffectThe Data Team Dilemma: Strategies for Surviving High TurnoverIn this episode of The Dashboard Effect, Brick and Caleb explore the pressing challenges of assembling and sustaining a robust data team in today’s volatile tech landscape. With tech turnover rates on the rise, developing strategies to attract and retain top talent is more critical than ever. They share insights on the importance of redundancy, effective documentation, and keeping solutions simple to ensure your data team stays strong. Join us to learn practical approaches to future-proofing your data team.Subscribe to our channel for more insights on data analytics and team management.Blue Margin in...
2024-08-2908 minThe Dashboard EffectThe Strategic Edge of Outsourcing Your Data PlatformIn this episode of The Dashboard Effect Podcast, hosts Brick and Caleb dive into the often-overlooked advantages of outsourcing data platform management. They explore why mid-market companies should consider this option, discussing the challenges of in-house management, the importance of expertise in data integrity and security, and how outsourcing can free up your team to focus on core business analytics.Whether you're a growing company struggling with data management or an executive looking to optimize your data strategy, this episode offers valuable insights into making your data work for you without the headaches of platform management.
2024-08-1513 minThe Dashboard EffectGenerative AI Analytics: Hype vs. RealityWelcome to The Dashboard Effect Podcast! In this episode, Brick and Caleb discuss the world of generative AI analytics, reflecting on the initial excitement and the current state of the technology. They share their insights and personal experiences, examining the progress made since the Microsoft Build Conference 2023 and evaluating whether generative AI tools are living up to their expectations. Visit our website https://BlueMargin.com for more insights and resources. Episode Highlights: - Initial Excitement and High Expectations: Brick and Caleb reminisce about the excitement surrounding the Microsoft Build Conference 2023 and the potential the...
2024-08-0111 minThe Dashboard EffectHandling Multiple Currencies in Power BIIn this episode of The Dashboard Effect Podcast, we tackle the complex world of multi-currency reporting in Power BI. Whether you're a BI professional or a business analyst dealing with international data, this episode is packed with valuable insights to enhance your reporting capabilities.Brick and Caleb dive deep into:Effective strategies for displaying different currency symbolsThe power of dynamic formatting in Power BIAn innovative approach using a "concatenated fact table"Best practices for handling currency conversion ratesBalancing data duplication and compression for optimal performanceReal-world examples of multi-currency implementation for global businessesThe hosts share...
2024-07-1808 minThe Dashboard EffectModern Reporting with Power BI: Moving Beyond Email ReportsIn this episode of The Dashboard Effect Podcast, hosts Brick Thompson and Caleb Ochs discuss the pros and cons of emailing reports in business intelligence. They explore why the common practice of sending daily Excel sheets or PDFs is limiting and outdated, and offer better alternatives using modern BI tools like Power BI.We cover in this episode...- The limitations of static, emailed reports- Power BI's subscription feature as an improvement- The importance of live, interactive data- Alternatives for users who need raw data access- Storage...
2024-07-0308 minThe Dashboard EffectThe Pitfalls of Augmenting Transactional Data with Excel for ReportingIn the latest episode of The Dashboard Effect Podcast, Brick and Caleb discuss a common challenge businesses face when trying to extend their data for reporting purposes using Excel files to categorize or group data in ways not supported by the original system.While this approach may seem simple and straightforward, it can lead to several problems down the road, such as:Difficulty matching numbers between the transactional system and the reporting tool (e.g., Power BI)Inconsistencies in categorization when new data is addedMaintenance overhead and potential for errors as the Excel file grows...
2024-06-2009 minThe Dashboard EffectMastering Delta Loads: Caleb's Best Practices, Tips, and WorkaroundsBrick and Caleb get technical this week with a special focus on delta loading. They break down the concept of delta loading and highlight its benefits over traditional full loading techniques in terms of speed and resource efficiency. Caleb covers the typical obstacles faced when implementing delta loading, including issues with legacy systems and API limitations. He also shares strategies for effective delta loading, with practical tips and workarounds that you can apply directly to your operations.Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market companies by serving...
2024-06-0608 minThe Dashboard EffectA Speed-Trust Equation: Fast Power BI Reports Increase End User ConfidenceBrick and Caleb share the essentials of performant Power BI reports. They discuss the ideal loading performance benchmarks, the implications of load times on user trust, and helpful strategies for debugging and optimizing data models and DAX measures. Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market companies by serving as their fractional data team. We advise on, build, and manage data platforms. Our strategy, proven with over 300 companies to-date, expands multiples through data transformation, as presented in our book, The Dashboard Effect.Subscribe here to get...
2024-05-2309 minThe Dashboard EffectWatch Out for These Data Model Red FlagsBrick and Caleb discuss the importance of data modeling and good DAX in Power BI, highlighting common mistakes that can lead to poor report performance. For fast and efficient reporting, you need a sound data model that contains the right level of detail, dimensions, and relationships, avoids snowflake schemas, and uses simple (and standardized) naming conventions. Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market companies by serving as their fractional data team. We advise on, build, and manage data platforms. Our strategy, proven with over 300 companies to-date, expands...
2024-05-0909 minThe Dashboard EffectBlueprints for Building an Internal BI Team(This episode is a re-release, but the content is still just as relevant as it was the first time around!) Brick and Caleb discuss the complexities of building an in-house BI department. In addition to sharing their firsthand experience and insight from years of supporting mid-market companies, the duo discusses the potential benefits and pitfalls of moving from relying on external BI vendors to establishing internal teams. They explore why companies might want to bring these capabilities in-house despite the challenges and offer practical steps and advice for those considering this shift. Tune in to learn about the hiring...
2024-04-2515 minThe Dashboard EffectBehind the Scenes in Power BI: Tips to Streamline Data ModelingThis week, Brick and Caleb get a bit technical and discuss how to improve Power BI report performance through effective semantic modeling and minimizing data transformation with Power BI. They unpack the challenges of managing data transformations directly within Power BI and highlight the advantages of using serverless SQL views instead. Their insights will help Power BI report developers avoid common pitfalls, streamline data processing, and improve Power BI report performance.Jump to a Section:0:40 How Blue Margin approaches semantic modeling with serverless SQL views1:45 Power BI is not an ETL tool, so use SQL...
2024-04-1108 minThe Dashboard EffectHow to Democratize Data and Avoid the Chaos of Data SprawlBrick and Caleb explore the balance between empowering analysts with data access and the governance required to prevent data sprawl and maintain integrity and consistency across reports. They provide strategies for enabling departments to independently use data for their own insights and how to use a centralized data team to review, refine, and distribute only the best individual reports to be used by the entire company. Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market companies by serving as their fractional data team. We advise on, build, and manage d...
2024-04-0408 minThe Dashboard EffectThe Human Side of AI Readiness - How to Prepare Your Team and Business LogicIn a continuation of their AI-readiness discussion, Brick and Caleb outline the importance of the human element in preparing for generative AI analytics. They share strategies for ensuring that your company's culture is ready to harness the power of AI, from how to start improving data literacy to defining clear and consistent business logic. Click here to watch this episode on our YouTube channel.Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market companies by serving as their fractional data team. We advise on, build, and manage data platforms. Our strategy, proven with over 300 companies to-date, e...
2024-03-2809 minThe Dashboard EffectLaying the Groundwork for Gen AI in Business AnalyticsBrick and Caleb explore the steps businesses must take to prepare their data for the inevitable integration of generative AI analytics. They use this episode to explain the "why" behind data consolidation and semantic layers. What you'll learn:Why consolidating your data is the first step for AI-readinessThe challenges and solutions for dealing with data from disparate sourcesThe importance of a semantic layer in making data accessible for AI and business usersWhy you should take an agile approach when developing data infrastructureClick here to watch this episode on our YouTube channel.Blue M...
2024-03-2108 minThe Dashboard EffectThe Layman's Guide to Data Terminology: Part ThreeThis episode is the third installment of Brick and Caleb's series on breaking down data terminology. They cover foreign and primary keys, data lakes and data lakehouses, parquet and delta parquet files, ETL and ELT, and data pipelines, before concluding with Python, PySpark, and visualizations. Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market companies by serving as their fractional data team. We advise on, build, and manage data platforms. Our strategy, proven with over 300 companies to-date, expands multiples through data transformation, as presented in our book, The Dashboard E...
2024-03-1411 minThe Dashboard EffectThe Layman's Guide to Data Terminology: Part TwoThis episode is the second installment of Brick and Caleb's series on breaking down data terminology. They cover Kimball data warehouse methodology, fact/dimensional tables, star vs. snowflake schemas, and data models vs. semantic layers. Click here to watch this episode on our YouTube channel.Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market companies by serving as their fractional data team. We advise on, build, and manage data platforms. Our strategy, proven with over 300 companies to-date, expands multiples through data transformation, as presented in our book, The Dashboard Effect.Subscribe here t...
2024-03-0710 minThe Dashboard EffectThe Layman's Guide to Data Terminology: Part OneThis episode is the first installment in a series of episodes that will serve as a primer on the key terms and technologies surrounding data management. Brick and Caleb begin with the fundamental differences between transactional and analytical databases, explaining concepts like OLAP, OLTP, normalization, and denormalization in an accessible way. They also clarify the essence of SQL, how it interacts with databases, and introduce the concept of Serverless SQL. Whether you're new to data or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode is a good place to start getting a handle on common data terminology. Click...
2024-02-2909 minThe Dashboard EffectThe KPIs You're Overlooking: Better Data Insights for ManufacturersIn this episode, Caleb and Kate discuss important KPIs for the manufacturing industry. While there are no one-size-fits-all solutions, they outline and provide insight on the leading and lagging KPIs that have helped our midmarket manufacturing clients improve sales operations, inventory management, labor and machine utilization, and cash flow.Click here to watch this episode on our YouTube channel.Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market companies by serving as their fractional data team. We advise on, build, and manage data platforms. Our strategy, proven with over 300 companies to-date, expands multiples through data transformation...
2024-02-2214 minThe Dashboard EffectA Case Study: Unifying Data Sources with Azure Data Lake and Serverless SQLBrick and Caleb discuss Blue Margin's use of Azure Data Lake for unified data management. Using a recent client project as an example, Caleb explains how he integrated multiple data sources using serverless SQL to create a single data repository with a semantic model to enhance consistency across projects and reports. They also discuss the current performance benefits of using a serverless SQL and the Microsoft Fabric OneLake updates they're waiting on before transitioning from Azure Data Lake.In this episode:Introduction to Azure Data Lake: Caleb kicks off the discussion with an overview...
2024-02-1510 minThe Dashboard EffectFrom Data Setup to Power BI Reports: Considerations for Your Data Model (Semantic Layer)In this episode, Brick and Caleb explain the distinctions of and interdependencies between data setup/data pipelines, data modeling, and reporting, emphasizing their individual roles within an effective approach to data analytics and BI. Starting by explaining the necessity of a solid data pipeline structure, this episode highlights how the specific requirements of a report influence the development of a corresponding data model (also known as a semantic layer) and concludes with a practical discussion on balancing the complexities of data models. Click here to watch this episode on our YouTube channel.Blue Mar...
2024-02-0710 minThe Dashboard EffectHow to Generate Realistic, Synthetic Data for Power BI with ChatGPTBrick and Caleb explain how Blue Margin is using ChatGPT for generating synthetic data to populate data models in Power BI reports. Caleb shares his insights on how this approach has streamlined the process of creating sample reports with fake, yet realistic data, to demonstrate work without compromising customer data privacy. They discuss the limitations of traditional data-generating tools and highlight how ChatGPT's ability to produce specific data sets, like email addresses or location codes, significantly eases the task of generating authentic-looking fake data for reports. They also explore other practical applications, such as anonymizing sensitive data, generating test...
2024-01-3112 minThe Dashboard EffectHow to Structure Your Data for Power BI CopilotBrick and Caleb call out key aspects of Microsoft's Power BI Copilot documentation related to structuring datasets for Large Language Models (LLMs) and explain how to get these best practices in place. Data structure and organization are critical for getting useful outputs from advanced analytics tools like Power BI Copilot, and useful outputs will determine, in large part, whether or not these tools will be widely adopted. Here is the Microsoft documentation referenced: Update your data model to work well with Copilot for Power BI - Power BI | Microsoft Learn Click here to watch this...
2024-01-2413 minThe Dashboard EffectA Closer Look at Microsoft Fabric's Direct Lake and Data PipelinesWhile some features are not quite up to par (yet) with Azure Synapse Pipelines, Brick and Caleb discuss Microsoft Fabric's Direct Lake mode and Data Pipelines and the speed and advances they're bring to data management. Fabric's unified platform and source control integration streamline development, and Direct Lake allows organizations to operate off of a single copy of data -- providing data consistency and near real-time Power BI updates.Click here to watch this episode on our YouTube channel.Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market companies by serving as their fractional data team...
2024-01-1810 minThe Dashboard EffectHow to Prepare Your Data for AI AdvancesFor months, Brick and Caleb have been recommending that companies start preparing their data infrastructure to leverage the current and upcoming AI technologies. In this episode, however, they break down how to prepare. They emphasize the need for data consolidation (and recommend OneLake on Microsoft Fabric), a robust semantic layer for report development, data literacy development within the organization, and consistent metric definitions.Click here to watch this episode on our YouTube channel.Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market companies by serving as their fractional data team. We advise on, build, and manage...
2024-01-1013 minThe Dashboard EffectData Quality Sets the Stage for Generative AI: AWS's CDO Agenda for 2024In this episode, we discuss the key takeaways from the AWS report "CDO Agenda 2024: Navigating Data and Generative AI Frontiers." According to the report, the top focus for CDOs is creating visible value and achieving business objectives while preparing company data to leverage generative AI advances. Brick and Caleb share strategies for improving data infrastructure and considerations for generative AI's growing impact. Regardless of when/whether generative AI advances materialize, companies stand to benefit from consolidating their data tools onto a single platform to improve their data quality and security. Click here to watch this episode on o...
2024-01-0311 minThe Dashboard EffectData is Gold in AI's Wild West: Insights from Salesforce's State of Data & Analytics ReportIn this episode, hosts Brick Thompson and Caleb Ochs discuss the current state of data and AI, inspired by a recent report from Salesforce. They discuss the importance of a strong data foundation (and what constitutes one) for effective use of generative AI, emphasizing the need for high-quality, consolidated, and secure data. They also cover some of the challenges of advancing data initiatives (e.g. keeping data projects aligned to business goals, differing perceptions of data quality and usefulness across business departments, etc.)Click here to watch this episode on our YouTube channel.Blue Margin...
2023-12-2715 minThe Dashboard EffectHow (& Why) to Prioritize Data Projects During ERP TransitionsIn this episode, hosts Brick and Caleb discuss the hesitation many companies have to pursue data projects during ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) implementations. They dissect the risks of delaying these initiatives and highlight how running data projects in parallel can streamline processes, enhance data validation, and drive a faster return on investment. This discussion is helpful for leaders and executives aiming to harmonize their data strategy with ERP upgrades and ensure continuous business growth and operational efficiency. Click here to watch this episode on our YouTube channel.Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market c...
2023-12-2009 minThe Dashboard EffectWhen it Comes to Power BI Dashboards, Simple is BetterIn this episode, Brick and Caleb discuss the fine line between adding value and overwhelming users with too much information when it comes to developing Power BI dashboards. They give insight into the dangers of overloading reports with excessive visualizations and the importance of maintaining simplicity and clarity in data reporting.Key Points:The Risk of Overreporting: Too many reports can lead to inefficiency rather than improved performance.Don't Overcomplicate: Why report developers might add too many elements to a report, and the impact it has on user experience and...
2023-11-3010 minThe Dashboard EffectEmbracing Change: Use an Iterative Approach to Keep Your BI Relevant(This week’s episode is a rerelease from earlier this year, and it’s just as relevant now as it was then.) Brick and Caleb highlight how constant evolution in the BI process is key to a data initiative’s success. They emphasize the need for flexibility and incorporating user feedback for continuous improvement. They discuss the inevitability of business evolution and how BI reports must be updated to meet those evolving needs. Listen to learn why an iterative approach isn't just beneficial—it's essential for keeping up with the dynamic nature of business data and decision-making. Did you k...
2023-11-2212 min