Power BI Org Chart: Boost HR Impact Fast!

Key insights

• Power BI Org Chart: Power BI allows users to create interactive organizational charts using hierarchical data from employee or user tables. These charts help visualize reporting lines and relationships within an organization, even though there is no dedicated built-in org chart visual.


• Deprecation of Legacy Org Chart: Microsoft will remove the classic Organization Chart web control from Dynamics 365 Sales and Customer Service by November 2025. Users are encouraged to use Power BI for building and embedding organizational charts, as it offers more customization and interactivity.


• Customization and Fast Setup: HR teams can quickly set up org charts in Power BI—sometimes in just ten minutes—using custom visuals available from AppSource or community sources. This enables organizations to present clear, interactive views of their structure with minimal effort.


• Recent Feature Enhancements: Updates in March and April 2025 have improved Power BI’s support for hierarchical data visualization, performance, and integration with AI tools like Copilot. For example, Copilot now helps generate DAX queries that reference hierarchies, making complex chart creation easier.


• Key Advantages: Power BI org charts are highly customizable to match company branding, allow for dynamic exploration of employee relationships, can be embedded into platforms like Dynamics 365 and SharePoint, and benefit from ongoing feature updates by Microsoft.


• Future Direction: With the removal of legacy org chart controls, organizations should adopt Power BI’s flexible approach for hierarchical visualization. Enhanced integration with AI technologies supports faster data analysis and rapid deployment of organizational insights for HR teams.

Introduction to Power BI Org Charts: A New Era for HR Visualization

Microsoft’s organizational visualization tools are evolving, and the recent YouTube video by "How to Power BI" highlights this shift. The video, titled Power BI Org Chart: Impress HR in 10 Minutes!, showcases how organizations can leverage Power BI to create dynamic and visually appealing org charts, especially as Microsoft phases out the classic Org Chart control in Dynamics 365. This change, effective from November 2025, means that businesses must now look to Power BI for flexible and interactive org chart solutions.

With this transition, HR professionals and data analysts are exploring new ways to present hierarchical employee data. The video breaks down how to utilize Power BI’s capabilities to quickly build org charts, emphasizing both efficiency and customization. As a result, organizations can maintain up-to-date visual representations of their teams, which is crucial for modern HR operations.

Building Org Charts in Power BI: Methods and Flexibility

Power BI does not offer a dedicated, one-click org chart visual similar to the legacy Dynamics 365 control. However, users can still create impressive organizational charts by utilizing hierarchical data from employee tables, such as manager and direct report relationships. The video explains how to set up these visuals using built-in hierarchy features or custom visuals available through AppSource and community contributions.

The process typically involves importing employee data, defining the reporting structure, and selecting an appropriate custom visual. With just a few steps, HR departments can transform raw data into interactive org charts. This flexibility allows organizations to tailor the visuals to their specific branding and operational needs, striking a balance between ease of deployment and visual sophistication.

Recent Updates and the Shift from Legacy Tools

A significant focus of the video is the recent deprecation of the Organization Chart web control in Dynamics 365 Sales and Customer Service. Microsoft’s decision to end support for this legacy tool underscores the importance of adopting modern visualization platforms like Power BI. While this shift offers more customization and interactivity, it also presents challenges for organizations accustomed to the simplicity of the older control.

Transitioning to Power BI requires HR and IT teams to become familiar with new workflows and features. However, the March and April 2025 updates to Power BI have made this process smoother, introducing enhanced AI-driven capabilities and improved performance. Notably, Copilot now supports referencing hierarchies in DAX queries, simplifying the creation of complex org charts and analytics.

Advantages and Tradeoffs of Power BI Org Charts

Power BI offers several advantages for organizational chart creation. Its high degree of customization enables users to adjust formatting, colors, and layouts to match corporate branding. Additionally, the interactive nature of Power BI visuals allows stakeholders to drill down into specific teams or individuals, providing a deeper understanding of organizational structure.

Moreover, Power BI charts can be embedded directly into platforms like Dynamics 365 and SharePoint, ensuring seamless integration within existing business processes. AI and Copilot features accelerate data shaping and analysis, making it possible to generate meaningful org charts rapidly. However, these benefits come with tradeoffs, such as the need for initial setup and a learning curve for users unfamiliar with Power BI’s advanced features.

Challenges and Future Outlook

One challenge highlighted in the video is the lack of a direct, out-of-the-box replacement for the old Dynamics 365 Org Chart control. Organizations must now rely on custom visuals and manual configuration, which may require additional training and support. Balancing rapid deployment with the need for tailored visuals can be complex, especially for larger organizations with intricate reporting structures.

Looking ahead, Microsoft’s ongoing updates to Power BI are likely to further streamline org chart creation and integration. As AI capabilities continue to evolve, the process of building and maintaining organizational charts will become even more efficient, offering HR professionals powerful new tools to visualize and manage workforce data.

Conclusion

In summary, the "How to Power BI" video provides valuable insights into the current and future landscape of organizational chart visualization. While the deprecation of Dynamics 365’s classic org chart tool requires adjustment, Power BI stands out as a powerful and flexible alternative. By embracing Power BI’s customizable visuals and leveraging recent feature enhancements, HR teams can create impressive org charts that both inform and engage stakeholders—often in less than ten minutes.

Keywords

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