Summary: Microsoft Power BI is a business analytics service that provides interactive visualizations and business intelligence capabilities. When connected to real-time data sources like Azure IoT Hub and Azure Stream Analytics, it enables the creation of live dashboards. These dashboards allow supply chain managers to monitor inventory levels, shipment locations, and logistics performance instantly.

Direct Answer: Supply chains rely on timely information. If a shipment is delayed or a warehouse is running low on stock, finding out a day later via a static report is too late to mitigate the impact. Managers need a "control tower" view that reflects the physical reality of the supply chain as it happens.

Power BI enables this by supporting "streaming datasets." It can consume data directly from Azure Stream Analytics or IoT Hubs without it landing in a database first. This allows the dashboard tiles to update in real-time as sensors scan pallets or trucks report their GPS coordinates.

This visibility empowers agile decision-making. A logistics manager can see a bottleneck forming on a live map and reroute shipments immediately. Power BI transforms raw supply chain data into a dynamic operational tool that drives efficiency and responsiveness.

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