Roadmap for Excel to Advanced Analytics
The roadmap is created by Sulaiman Ahmed.
This roadmap outlines a structured, step-by-step journey to evolve from simple Excel-based
analytics to enterprise-grade, cloud-supported data solutions. It is organized into three layers:
a basic level using local SQL tools with Power BI, an advanced level with Snowflake, and a
super advanced level using Microsoft Fabric. Each stage includes detailed steps from data
ingestion and transformation to reporting and orchestration, and concludes with three
end-to-end project ideas across different industries and difficulty levels.
Evolving to Enterprise-Grade Data Solutions
3 Super Advanced Level
Leveraging Microsoft Fabric for
comprehensive enterprise
solutions
2 Advanced Level
Implementing Snowflake for
enhanced data management
and analytics
1 Basic Level
Utilizing local SQL tools and
Power BI for foundational
analytics
Basic Analytics with Local SQL Tools and Power BI
Local SQL Environment
- Begin by setting up MySQL or SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) on your local
machine or an on-premise server. This foundational practice will help you understand
database management principles.
- Focus on mastering common SQL tasks such as creating databases, tables, and writing basic
queries.
Setting Up a Local SQL Environment
Install MySQL or
SSMS Create Databases Write Basic Queries
Begin by installing MySQL or Start by creating new Execute basic SQL queries to
SSMS on your machine. databases to organize data. retrieve data.
Configure SQL Create Tables
Environment Set up tables within
databases to structure data.
Configure the SQL
environment for optimal
performance.
Data Ingestion
- Learn how to import data from various file formats like XLSX or CSV.
- Explore multiple techniques: using the SQL “infile” method, utilizing an import wizard, or
leveraging Python scripts for more complex or automated data loading.
Data Ingestion Process
Identify File Choose Use SQL "infile" Utilize Import Leverage
Format Ingestion Method Wizard Python Scripts
Determine whether
Method Execute SQL Use graphical tool Apply Python scripts
the file is XLSX or command to load for data import for automated
Select between SQL,
CSV import wizard, or data loading
Python
Data Transformation
- Once data is imported, practice cleaning and transforming it within the SQL environment.
- Create views or new tables that hold the cleaned and structured data, ensuring consistency
and reliability for further analysis.
Data Transformation Process
Raw Data Import
Data Cleaning
Data Transformation
View/Table Creation
Clean Structured Data
Power BI Reporting
- Connect your cleaned SQL data to Power BI.
- Focus on building robust data models and interactive reports that visualize your data
effectively.
- Learn to design dashboards that are scalable as data volumes increase.
Power BI Reporting Steps
Data Data Dashboard
Connection Modeling Design
Connect your Build robust data Design scalable
cleaned SQL data models and dashboards for
to Power BI. interactive reports. increasing data
volumes.
Power BI Service and Orchestration
- Publish your Power BI reports to the Power BI Service.
- Set up scheduled refreshes to ensure that the data remains up-to-date.
- Finally, explore using Python or alternative orchestration tools to sequence the entire
workflow—from data ingestion and transformation to report refresh—so that each process
runs automatically and consecutively.
Power BI Report Workflow Orchestration
Use Orchestration
Publish Reports Tools
Upload Power BI reports to Apply Python or tools for
the service automation
Schedule Refreshes
Set up automatic data
refreshes
Advanced Analytics with Snowflake
Trial Setup and Environment Configuration
- Sign up for a 30-day trial account with Snowflake to gain hands-on experience with
cloud-based data warehousing.
- Configure your environment by creating a warehouse, databases, and schemas that suit
your data needs.
Setting Up Snowflake Trial Environment
Sign Up for Trial Account
Create Warehouse
Create Databases
Create Schemas
Data Ingestion in Snowflake
- Utilize Python or other data ingestion tools to upload data from Excel, CSV, or other diverse
sources into Snowflake.
- Learn about Snowflake’s ingestion capabilities beyond traditional methods, including
optimized bulk loading.
Data Ingestion Process in Snowflake
Data Preparation
Organizing and formatting data for
ingestion
Tool Selection
Choosing appropriate tools like Python
Data Upload
Transferring data into Snowflake
Bulk Loading
Optimizing data loading for efficiency
Data Transformation and Cleaning
- Transform and clean the ingested data within Snowflake using its native capabilities.
- Create views or new tables to store the refined data, preparing it for advanced analytics
and reporting.
Data Transformation and Cleaning in Snowflake
Create Views
Ingest Data or Tables
Data is loaded into New structures are
Snowflake for created to store
processing refined data
Transform
and Clean
Data
Data is refined
using Snowflake's
tools
Integration with Power BI
- Connect your Snowflake data directly to Power BI for building detailed data models and
interactive reports.
- Thoroughly test your reporting layer by publishing these reports to the Power BI Service
and configuring scheduled refreshes.
Integrating Snowflake with
Power BI
Connect Snowflake to
Power BI
Establish a connection between
Snowflake and Power BI to access data.
Build Data Models and
Reports
Create detailed data models and
interactive reports in Power BI.
Publish Reports to Power BI
Service
Upload reports to the Power BI Service
for broader access.
Configure Scheduled
Refreshes
Set up automatic data refreshes for the
reports.
Process Orchestration
- Investigate orchestration tools using Python or cloud-based solutions that coordinate the
Snowflake data pipeline from ingestion to reporting, ensuring a seamless end-to-end
process.
Snowflake Data Pipeline Orchestration
Identify
Orchestration Tools
Evaluate Python
Solutions
Assess Cloud-Based
Solutions
Coordinate Data
Ingestion
Manage Data
Processing
Oversee Data
Reporting
Super Advanced Analytics with Microsoft Fabric
Understanding Microsoft Fabric Fundamentals
- Get acquainted with key Fabric components: workspaces, lakehouses, and warehouses.
- Learn the underlying concepts of data organization and management within Fabric.
Microsoft Fabric Components Overview
Warehouses Workspaces
Lakehouses
Implementing a Medallion Architecture
- Study and create a medallion (Raw, Transformed, Curated) architecture that segments raw,
cleansed, and curated data.
- Utilize Dataflow Gen 2, T-SQL, Notebooks, Visual Queries and others for managing
transformations and enhancing data quality.
Data Refinement in Medallion Architecture
Data Ingestion
Collecting and storing raw data
Data Cleansing
Removing errors and inconsistencies
Data Transformation
Structuring and enriching data
Data Curation
Final quality checks and preparation
Streamlined Pipelines and Notebook Integration
- Build and manage pipelines that automate the process of data ingestion, transformation,
and delivery to reporting tools.
- Employ notebooks for exploratory data analysis and to develop advanced transformation
routines or machine learning models.
Enhancing Data Workflow
Pipelines Notebooks
Automate data Facilitate
ingestion, exploratory
transformation, analysis and
and delivery model
development
Advanced Orchestration and Reporting
- Connect the processed data to Power BI for high-performance analytics and complex data
modeling.
- Ensure that reports are continuously refreshed and reflect real-time data using Microsoft
Fabric’s integration with Power BI.
Data Integration and Reporting Process
Processed Data Complex Data Real-time Data
Connection Modeling Reflection
Power BI Analytics Report Refreshing
End-to-End Data Project Suggestions
The following are three comprehensive project ideas spanning different industries, each
designed with escalating complexity—from easy to advanced.
These projects offer a practical progression that helps learners understand basic data
management before advancing to cloud-based and orchestration-heavy analytics
environments across a variety of industries. By following this roadmap, students and
professionals alike are positioned to develop robust, scalable data solutions that can address
modern business challenges. This detailed roadmap and the accompanying project
suggestions provide a clear, structured path—from local SQL practices through to advanced,
cloud-based analytics with Microsoft Fabric—ensuring a comprehensive learning experience
adaptable to real-world scenarios.
Progression to Advanced Analytics
Basic Data Local SQL Power BI Cloud-Based Microsoft Fabric
Management Integration Analytics Orchestration- Mastery
Tools Heavy Analytics
Author Information
