Goal of the Day

Today you will learn the basics of Looker Studio and Power BI, and build a full end-to-end dashboard connecting Procurement, Logistics, Sales, and Supplier KPIs.
You will document your dashboard design choices and plan final improvements to ensure a professional, business-ready project.

Detailed Tasks with U2xAI Prompts and Interview Preparation Focus

1. Introduction to Looker Studio and Power BI Interfaces

  • What to Do:
    Explore both tools:
    • Data import process
    • Basic drag-and-drop interfaces
    • Filter creation (Region, Supplier, SKU)
    • Chart and visualization options
    • Dashboard layout management
  • U2xAI Prompt:
    "Compare the features of Looker Studio and Power BI for building supply chain KPI dashboards, and explain when you would choose each."
  • How This Helps for Interviews:
    Interviewers may ask, “Which dashboarding tool do you prefer and why?” — Being able to compare both positions you as a thoughtful analyst.
  • Time Recommendation: 1.5 hours

2. Identify the Key KPIs for Final Dashboard Visualization

  • What to Do:
    Finalize your KPI list for dashboard building, such as:
    • Total Procurement Spend
    • Forecast Accuracy (MAPE)
    • Freight Cost per Shipment
    • Inventory Fill Rate
    • Supplier On-Time Delivery Rate
    • Overall Fulfillment Rate
  • U2xAI Prompt:
    "Suggest a list of key supply chain KPIs that should be visualized in a comprehensive management dashboard for better business decision-making."
  • How This Helps for Interviews:
    Shows you're strategic: ready to explain “Why did you select these KPIs for senior management?” — a must-have conversation during final project or job interviews.
  • Time Recommendation: 30 minutes

3. Build an End-to-End Dashboard with Filters, Slicers, and KPIs

  • What to Do:
    • Import the integrated dataset into Looker Studio or Power BI
    • Create core visuals:
      • Spend by Supplier (bar chart)
      • Forecast Error by Product (line chart)
      • Freight Cost by Transport Mode (pie chart)
      • Fulfillment Rate Trend (line chart)
    • Add filters:
      • Region
      • Product Category
      • Supplier
  • U2xAI Prompt:
    "Guide me through creating a basic interactive supply chain dashboard in Looker Studio or Power BI using KPIs and filters."
  • How This Helps for Interviews:
    Prepares you to handle technical assessments like, “Build a basic KPI dashboard with filter options.”
  • Time Recommendation: 2.5 hours
  • What to Do:
    For every KPI and visual, write a short explanation:
    • Which business question it answers (e.g., “Where are freight costs highest?”)
    • Why it matters to business decisions (e.g., “Improve carrier negotiation strategies”)
  • U2xAI Prompt:
    "Help me prepare a short explanation for how each dashboard chart connects to a specific business objective or supply chain improvement opportunity."
  • How This Helps for Interviews:
    Many senior-level interviewers expect you to say: “This dashboard helps leaders make X decision.” — You’ll be ready.
  • Time Recommendation: 1 hour

5. Document Dashboard Features, Filters, and Logic

  • What to Do:
    Write a document or slide deck including:
    • KPIs included
    • Visuals and filters added
    • Key design decisions (e.g., chosen layout, colors for quick scanning)
  • U2xAI Prompt:
    "Suggest a simple documentation format for describing dashboard KPIs, visual types, filters, and design decisions for supply chain dashboards."
  • How This Helps for Interviews:
    Demonstrates structured communication — critical when handing dashboards over to users or stakeholders.
  • Time Recommendation: 45 minutes

6. Plan Final Dashboard Improvements and Final Checks

  • What to Do:
    Prepare a checklist:
    • Are filters working correctly?
    • Are all axis labels and legends clear?
    • Are critical KPIs visible without extra clicks?
    • Are color codes intuitive (green = good, red = alert)?
  • U2xAI Prompt:
    "List important final checks you should perform to validate and improve a dashboard before presenting it to business users."
  • How This Helps for Interviews:
    Sets you apart when asked, “How do you validate your dashboard before going live?” — You’ll show thorough professional habits.
  • Time Recommendation: 30 minutes

Step-by-Step BUILDUP Application for Day 16

  • Breakdown:
    Focus on assembling KPIs into a unified interactive dashboard.
  • Understand:
    Learn core features of Looker Studio and Power BI to make efficient dashboard builds.
  • Implement:
    Build dashboards with full interactivity: KPIs, filters, slicers.
  • Link:
    Tie each visual and KPI directly to real business objectives.
  • Document:
    Clearly explain dashboard KPIs, filters, layout choices, and visual storytelling.
  • Upgrade Progress:
    Perform final checks and plan presentation improvements for final project review.

Deliverables for Today

  • Completed Interactive Dashboard (Looker Studio or Power BI)
  • KPI Business Mapping Table (Visual ➔ Business Objective)
  • Dashboard Features and Design Documentation
  • Final Improvement Checklist and Action Plan

Practice Interview Questions for Day 16

  1. What are the advantages of using Looker Studio or Power BI for supply chain dashboards?
  2. How do you decide which chart type or visualization best fits a KPI?
  3. How do you make dashboards interactive and user-friendly for business users?
  4. What final checks would you perform before publishing a dashboard?
  5. How do you ensure your dashboards tell a clear business story and not just show disconnected charts?

Bonus Practice:
Prepare a 90-second answer:
"If a senior leader asks, 'Why should we trust your dashboard for business decisions?', how would you respond?"