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NICK SEAL. Data. Architecture. Insight.

Better decisions start with better data.

Real stories, practical advice and honest opinions on business intelligence, data architecture and building a data-driven culture.

Practical advice you can use
Real-world stories from the front line
For analysts, leaders and architects

Everything I write falls into five pillars.

The Data Detective

Forensic investigations into data problems.

Beyond the Dashboard

Practical insight beyond the charts.

Architecture Corner

Data architecture from a practitioner's perspective.

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Power BI in Practice

Real-world Power BI patterns and techniques.

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Data Leadership

Leading teams and building data culture.

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Power BI in Practice

Why You Still Need to Know BI in the Age of AI

AI can write DAX, build Power Query transformations and explain Power BI features in seconds. But Business Intelligence has never been about writing code alone. This article explores why understanding data, business context and architecture remains the difference between creating reports and delivering meaningful insight.

Architecture Corner

Star Schemas Explained

Star schemas are one of the simplest concepts in data architecture, yet they underpin some of the world's fastest and most reliable reporting solutions. This guide explains what a star schema is, why it matters, how it improves analytics, and why experienced Business Intelligence professionals rely on it.

Architecture Corner

Fact Tables vs Dimension Tables

Many Business Intelligence projects struggle long before the first dashboard is built. The real success or failure often comes down to one deceptively simple decision: what belongs in a fact table, and what belongs in a dimension. Learn how experienced data modellers make that decision and why it matters.