Power BI integrations for the systems your business runs on
Power BI integrations are the connections that bring data from business systems, such as a CRM, an ERP or a database, into one reporting model. Some sources have a connector from Microsoft, while others need an API, an export or a staging database. The pages below explain the honest route for each system, so you know the effort before work begins.
- Connector or API route
- Refresh planned early
- Honest about limits
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How do Power BI integrations work?
Every report begins with a connection. Power Query reaches into a source, reads the tables and shapes them. After that, the data lands in a semantic model where measures live.
There are two main ways to hold the data. Import copies it into the model on a schedule, so reports respond quickly. DirectQuery leaves the data in the source and asks for it live instead. Each choice has trade-offs, and the right one depends on volume and freshness.
Sources inside a private network also need a gateway. It is a small service on a machine in your network that passes queries through safely. Therefore we plan the gateway early, because it often involves your IT team.
Browse every Power BI integration
ADP
Adobe Analytics
Airtable
Amazon Athena
Amazon Redshift
Amazon S3
Asana
Azure Analysis Services
Azure Blob Storage
Azure Cosmos DB
Azure Data Explorer
Azure Data Factory
Azure Data Lake
Azure DevOps
Azure SQL Database
Azure Synapse
Business Central
Databricks
Dataverse
Dynamics 365
Excel
Fabric Lakehouse
Facebook Ads
GitHub
Google Ads
Google Analytics
Google BigQuery
Google Sheets
HubSpot
IBM Db2
JSON
Jira
Mailchimp
MariaDB
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Forms
Microsoft Teams
MongoDB
MySQL
NetSuite
ODBC
OData
OneDrive
Oracle
PostgreSQL
Power Apps
Power Automate
Python
QuickBooks
REST API
SAP
SAP BW
SAP HANA
SQL Server
SQL Server Analysis Services
Sage Intacct
Salesforce
ServiceNow
SharePoint
Shopify
Smartsheet
Snowflake
Stripe
Teradata
Trello
WooCommerce
Workday
Xero
Zendesk
Zoho CRM
monday.com
Types of Power BI integrations we set up
Most source systems fall into one of six groups, and each group brings its own questions.
CRM systems
Accounts, deals and activities feed sales dashboards, so field mapping and custom objects need care.
ERP and finance
Ledgers, invoices and stock records drive finance reports, and they often hide logic inside the application.
Databases and warehouses
SQL sources connect directly, and query folding keeps refresh fast when the model is set up well.
Files and SharePoint
Excel workbooks and lists still hold key data, so we give them a stable folder and a fixed layout.
Marketing and web data
Web analytics and campaign tools show demand, but sampling and API limits can shape what is possible.
Microsoft 365 tools
Teams, Power Automate and other tools carry reports to people and trigger actions from the numbers.
Why do some data source connections fail?
A connection that works on day one can still break later. Usually the cause is simple. A password expires, a column gets a new name, or an API changes its limits. So a good setup expects change and reports it clearly.
Volume is the second cause. A query that reads every row each night grows slower each month. Incremental refresh solves this, because it loads only the new and changed rows. However, it needs a reliable date column in the source.
The third cause is ownership. When nobody owns the refresh, failures go unseen for days. We therefore name an owner on your side and set up failure alerts before handover.
What to check before you connect a source
These six questions save time, and we ask them on the first call.
- Does Microsoft list a connector for this system
- Is the data in the cloud or on a private network
- Who can grant a service account with read access
- How fresh must the numbers be each day
- How many rows does the largest table hold
- Which fields are sensitive and need access rules
How we build Power BI integrations
The work runs in four stages, and each one ends with your sign-off.
Confirm the route
First we check the Microsoft connector list and the vendor documentation, then we tell you plainly which route fits.
Arrange access
Next your IT team creates a read-only account, so the work happens inside your own tenant with least privilege.
Model the data
We shape the tables into a star schema and define each measure once, because reports depend on that base.
Set refresh and alerts
Finally we schedule refresh, test a failure and hand over notes, so your team can run it alone.
Questions about Power BI integrations
Which Power BI integrations have a native connector?
Microsoft publishes the current connector list in its Power Query documentation, and it changes over time. Therefore we check that list for every project instead of relying on memory. Each page in this section states whether a connector exists for that system. Where none exists, the page describes the alternative route honestly.
Can Power BI integrations combine several systems in one report?
Yes. Combining sources is one of the main strengths of the tool. For example, a model can join CRM deals to ERP invoices through a shared customer key. However, the keys must match, so we often build a small mapping table first. After that, one report can show the full picture.
Do Power BI integrations need a gateway?
Only when the source sits on a private network, such as a SQL Server in your own data center. Cloud sources usually connect without one. When a gateway is needed, we help your IT team install it on a machine that stays on. We also document which sources use it.
What if a system has no connector at all?
There is almost always a route. Many applications offer an API, an ODBC driver or a scheduled export. Otherwise a staging database can collect the data first. We explain the effort and the limits of each option before you commit, so the choice is yours and it is an informed one.
Is our data copied outside our tenant?
No. The work happens inside your own Microsoft tenant, and we use accounts that you create and control. Import mode does copy data into your semantic model, but that model also sits in your tenant. As a result, nothing leaves your environment, and you can remove our access at any time.
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