How to Connect PostgreSQL to Power BI using Local PostgreSQL.

Meghan Maina — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:12:27 +0000

Power BI is a business analytics and data visualization platform by Microsoft that is used to analyze data. It transforms raw data into interactive dashboards and visualizations that make data reporting easier.

It enables users to get data from a variety of sources using in-built data connectors. Once a connection is established, you can easily load your data into Power BI, then transform it as you would like with Power Query.

The most common place to store data is in databases. There are many types of databases including PostgreSQL, and Power BI provides a way to connect to each type. In this article, I will detail the steps to connect your locally hosted PostgreSQL database to Power BI.

Step 1: Open a new Power BI window and select 'Get Data'.

Once logged into your Power BI desktop application, open a new file and select Get Data to select your data source. On the drop down menu, select More... to see a variety of data sources.

Step 2: Select database (PostgreSQL).

Once the menu is open, select the PostgreSQL Database connector and click Connect.

Step 3: Configure the server name(localhost), port number, and database name.

When you click Connect, you will be required to enter the name of the server where the database is hosted. In this case, we are connecting to the localhost. I use the IP address for localhost in this case for simplicity.

Enter the port number as well, i.e. 127.0.0.1:5432, and the name of your database.

You may use Direct Query to establish a real-time connection with your database, or any of the advanced options. For this use case, select Import to import our data from the database.

Step 4: Enter your credentials.

You are required to enter your username and password to sign into your database. Click Connect then wait for the connection to load.

Step 5: Select schema/tables to load.

You are now ready to start the import process. To do this, select the schema or tables that you would like to import to Power BI. In this example I'm using the healthcare schema, which has various tables.

You may choose to load data then transform it, or load first then transform later. In this example, I chose Load.

Step 6: Load tables.

The data has been successfully loaded onto Power BI. You can now transform and report on it.

Next, we will discuss how to connect a PostgreSQL database hosted on a remote server to Power BI. It is just as simple and easy to do, with only a few minor adjustments. Until then, have fun trying this tutorial out!

Is Excel Still Relevant in 2025?

Meghan Maina — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 11:06:45 +0000

Since launching in 1985, Microsoft Excel has been the go-to spreadsheet application for businesses and professionals. For decades, Excel has powered business operations and data analytics dashboards.

In 2025, with the existence of AI, Power BI and Python to automate and speed up analytics workflows, many wonder if Excel is finally past its prime.

Fun fact: Excel was first launched on Apple Macbook, then later launched on Windows when it became a more popular OS.

Here’s the truth, Excel is here to stay. In fact, it continues to evolve, incorporating advanced features each year to stay aligned with the ever changing tech ecosystem. Whether you are a business owner, startup founder or a professional in any field, Excel is the most accessible, intuitive, widely used and accepted tool in the workplace.

Fun fact: Excel has over 750 million users worldwide.

Here’s why:

Low barrier to entry. Excel is easy to learn and start using immediately, unlike Python and Power BI which have steeper learning curves. Anyone can use Excel regardless of their technical background.
Excel is the global standard at the workplace. It is deeply embedded into business operations worldwide, from financial reporting, to marketing and logistics. Its intuitive interface ensures smooth collaboration, as nearly all professionals use and understand it.
Modern Excel offers advanced features. With features such as Power Query, Pivot tables and AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot, Excel now supports automation and advanced analytics which might have once required the use of Python and Power BI.
It is used alongside Python and Power BI. Excel is not in competition with Python and Power BI, but rather complements them. Data professionals often use all three; Excel for quick analysis, Power BI for visualization and Python for automation and modelling. Together, they create a powerful ecosystem for data management.

To answer the question, yes, Excel is still relevant in 2025. It might not be the most advanced tool for data analytics and management out there, but it continues to evolve to fit the future of work. Its strengths include simplicity, accessibility and reliability, which make it a timeless tool even as the ways which we handle data get more complex.

Forem: Meghan Maina