Most optimal setup with pro license

[SAG28]

Hi,

Our setup today is that we built dataflows that loads tables from our ERP system.

Then we use PBI desktop to consume dataflows and publish to the PBI service.

We dont use incremental refresh with this setup because we only have pro license, so we use schedule refresh for dataflows and dataset. 

The question is if this setup is the most optimal??

Or would you guys just skip dataflows and built everything in PBI desktop, use incremental refresh from there and then publish to PBI service?

The size of the datasets is often around 70-120 MB.

Thought we could use premium per user license, where dataflows would be in a PPU workspace and dataset in a pro workspace, but unfortunately this isn't possible.

Hope all of this makes sense 😊

[v-lionel-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @SAG28 ,

Your two solutions:

Dataflow&Dataset: scheduled refresh

Dataset: incremental refresh

You can compare the advantages and disadvantages through the refresh time in "Refresh History" and adopt the shortest solution.

Best regards,
Lionel Chen

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[amitchandak]

@SAG28 , As per this document "Incremental refresh is now available for Power BI Pro, Premium, and shared subscriptions and datasets."

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/admin/service-premium-incremental-refresh

Please try to use incremental refresh

https://radacad.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-incremental-refresh-in-power-bi-load-changes-only
https://thinkaboutit.be/2020/02/how-do-i-implement-an-incremental-refresh-in-power-bi-free-or-pro/

[SAG28]

I am aware that incremental refresh is possible for both pro and premium. But you can't do incremental refresh for dataflow and dataset when using both.

I'm just interested in knowing if I should continue to use dataflows, after which my datasets refresh from these dataflows OR if I should only use datasets, so we do not have to update twice.

The users/viewers only have pro license, so premium is not an option.