I love Excel.

For years it was my bread and butter as a Data Analyst (still often is).

But it took a long time of using Excel before I learned what it’s truly capable of.

Excel is the most widely used data tool on the market, but most people only scratch the surface of what it can do.

While basic functions like XLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, and conditional formatting are useful, they only tap into a fraction of what makes Excel truly powerful.

If you want to take your Excel skills to the next level, here are six features that will completely transform the way you work with data:

• Power Query – Automate data cleaning and transformation

• Power Pivot – Work with millions of rows without slowing Excel down

• DAX – Unlock advanced calculations for deeper insights

• Data Modeling – Connect multiple datasets without complex formulas

• Dashboarding & Design – Build interactive reports and visualizations

• Dynamic Arrays – Make formulas spill automatically into multiple cells

Let’s break these down one by one.

1. Power Query

Power Query is Excel’s built-in data automation tool.

It allows you to clean, reshape, and transform data easily.

Instead of relying on complicated formulas, Power Query automates the process of pulling data from different sources and refreshing it with a single click.

How Does It Work?

Power Query works as a separate editor within Excel.

You can import data from multiple sources, apply transformation steps like filtering, splitting columns, and merging tables, and then load the cleaned data back into Excel. The best part? These transformations are saved and can be refreshed automatically with updated data.

Why It’s Important

• Saves hours of manual work - Automate repetitive data-cleaning tasks

• Reduces errors - Transformations are applied consistently

• Scales effortlessly – Reports update instantly without rebuilding them from scratch

Example Use Case

Let’s say you receive weekly sales data in multiple CSV files. Instead of manually cleaning and merging them, Power Query automates the entire process, allowing your reports to update in seconds.

2. Power Pivot

Power Pivot lets you analyze millions of rows of data without slowing Excel down.

It also allows for advanced calculations that go beyond what standard Pivot Tables can do.

How Does It Work?

Power Pivot creates a data model, where instead of using raw spreadsheet cells, data is stored in structured tables that can be related to one another. It enables complex calculations using DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) while keeping performance high.

Why It’s Important

• Handles large datasets without crashing Excel

• Enables complex aggregations like year-over-year comparisons

• Removes the need for manual calculations since data updates dynamically

Example Use Case

Say you work with a massive global sales dataset. A standard Pivot Table would struggle, but Power Pivot allows you to do things like analyze trends, calculate margins, and create dynamic reports much more easily.

3. DAX (Data Analysis Expressions)

DAX is Excel’s formula language for Power Pivot and Power BI.

Essentially, it allows you to create calculations that go beyond basic Excel formulas.

How Does It Work?

DAX allows you to define measures (dynamic calculations) and calculated columns within Power Pivot. These formulas are applied at the dataset level instead of individual spreadsheet cells, making them reusable and dynamic.

Why It’s Important

• Creates reusable calculations that update dynamically

• Expands Excel’s analytical capabilities beyond standard formulas

• It’s essential for Power BI, reducing the learning curve for that tool

Example Use Case

Say you need to track sales growth over the past five years. Instead of manually adjusting formulas every month, a DAX function like TOTALYTD() would dynamically update, giving you real-time insights.

4. Data Modeling

Data modeling allows you to structure relationships between multiple tables without relying on VLOOKUPs, XLOOKUPs, or INDEX-MATCH functions. This makes working with multiple datasets much more efficient.

How Does It Work?

Instead of merging data into one large table, data modeling allows you to connect tables using relationships, similar to how relational databases work. This makes your data cleaner and your formulas more efficient.

Why It’s Important

• Reduces file size and improves performance

• Creates a flexible data structure that updates more easily

• Eliminates formula errors caused by long chains of lookups

Example Use Case

Instead of merging customer, order, and product data into one messy table, you can build a relational model that connects them dynamically, keeping your report efficient and scalable.

5. Dashboarding & Design

Dashboards are how you take your data and use visuals to make it look nice. By using charts, slicers, and PivotTables, you can present data in a more insightful and interactive way.

How Does It Work?

Dashboards are how you create interactive reports. Users can filter and explore data without modifying the raw spreadsheet. A nice touch to add to (almost) any spreadsheet.

Why It’s Important

• Makes data easier to interpret – stakeholders can instantly see key trends

• Improves presentation quality – polished dashboards make reports more professional

• Reduces the need for manual reports – interactive dashboards provide quicker insights

Example Use Case

Instead of sending static spreadsheets, you create a real-time KPI dashboard where users can filter data by region, product, or time period with just a few clicks.

6. Dynamic Arrays

Dynamic Arrays allow formulas to spill automatically into multiple cells, reducing manual effort and making formula management more efficient.

How Does It Work?

With Dynamic Arrays, formulas like FILTER(), SORT(), and UNIQUE() return multiple values that automatically spill into adjacent cells. This means no more dragging formulas across rows. Excel just updates everything dynamically.

Why It’s Important

• Updates dynamically as data changes

• Eliminates the need for dragging formulas down manually

• Simplifies complex formulas, making spreadsheets easier to manage

Example Use Case

Say you need to extract a unique list of customers who placed orders in the last 30 days. Instead of using multiple formulas, a single FILTER() function updates the list dynamically as new data comes in. Pretty nice.

Wrapping Up

If you want to move beyond basic Excel skills, these six tools will completely change the way you work with data.

They’ll help you automate tasks, analyze large datasets, and build interactive reports with ease, saving you time and making you a more efficient Excel user.

Excel’s real power isn’t in individual functions but in how you leverage its advanced features to streamline your workflow. Master these six areas, and you’ll be well ahead of most Excel users.