Combination charts
There are multiple combination chart visuals that pair line and column charts into one visual. This allows you to see multiple values plotted over a common axis. For example, Figure 9.17 shows gross revenue in different product categories over time and shows us gross profit across the same time periods. This is useful because we can now not only see the impact of sales (revenue) for each product category but also link those sales to profit. Using a combination chart visual like this can sometimes allow you to save space by combining the data and using one visual to show what might normally need two visuals to show:
Figure 9.17 – Combo chart with bars and lines
Card visualization
Sometimes you just want to display a single value. For that, Power BI has the card visualization. This is great for displaying important data that you want to keep an eye on with your Power BI report, such as YTD sales, gross revenue for different product categories, or year-over-year manufacturing output. For multiple values, there is the multirow card visualization. When multiple values are used with the card visualization, the visual will show multiple rows for each data point.
Figure 9.18 – Card visual showing $82.11M in gross revenue
The following figure shows another card visualization that shows various revenues:
Figure 9.19 – Card visual showing gross revenue for multiple rows (Helicopter and Airplane)
Funnel visualization
The funnel visual is great for displaying steps in a linear process over time. Funnel charts are most often seen displaying workflows or processes such as an order being fulfilled or a sales opportunity moving through various stages from envisioning with a potential customer to onboarding the product to the customer.
Though that is what it is designed for, that does not mean you have to use it that way. If a funnel chart can add context to your data story, use it.
Figure 9.20 – Funnel visual showing gross revenue by year
Funnel charts can be useful in these contexts:
- Depicting staged or sequential movement of data through a process
- Illustrating the work to be done in various stages, such as when work items increase or decrease across multiple stages
- Showing challenges that might occur in a linear process