@Gurps
When working with Power BI and integrating data from multiple sources, such as different companies in Business Central, the efficiency and performance of data loading depend on various factors, including the volume of data, the complexity of the data structure, and the specific reporting requirements. Let's explore both methods you mentioned to understand which might be more efficient for your scenario:
### 1. Separate Tables and Append
**Pros:**
- **Flexibility in Transformation:** Loading data into separate tables allows for more granular control over the data transformation and cleaning processes specific to each company before appending them.
- **Error Handling:** It's easier to identify and troubleshoot issues when data is loaded separately.
- **Incremental Refresh:** If the data volume is large, you can set up incremental refreshes more efficiently on individual tables based on their update frequency.
**Cons:**
- **Increased Complexity:** Managing multiple queries and append operations can increase the report's complexity.
- **Potential Performance Impact:** The append operation can be resource-intensive, especially with large datasets, potentially leading to longer refresh times.
### 2. Single Table through Navigation and Filters
**Pros:**
- **Simplified Model:** Bringing data directly into one table simplifies the data model and can make report development more straightforward.
- **Performance:** Potentially faster refresh times as it avoids the additional step of appending data, depending on the optimization of the query and the Business Central API's efficiency.
- **Ease of Maintenance:** Easier to maintain and update one query compared to managing separate queries and append operations.
**Cons:**
- **Less Flexibility in Data Transformation:** Applying transformations specific to each company's data might be more challenging when everything is loaded into a single table.
- **Dependence on Source API Capabilities:** The efficiency of this method heavily depends on the Business Central API's ability to handle complex queries and filters efficiently.
### Recommendation:
- **Assess Data Volume and Complexity:** If your data volume is significantly large and requires considerable transformations specific to each company, the separate tables method might provide better control and flexibility. However, consider the potential performance impact of append operations.
- **Evaluate Reporting Needs:** If your reporting needs are straightforward and the transformations required for each company's data are minimal, bringing data into one table through navigation and filters could be more efficient and simpler to maintain.
Given the specifics you mentioned, referring to the guide on [thinkaboutit.be](https://thinkaboutit.be/2019/06/how-do-i-create-a-multi-company-power-bi-report-with-the-business-ce...) for bringing data from both companies into one table suggests that it might offer a more streamlined approach, especially if the Business Central API efficiently supports the necessary operations.
Ultimately, the best approach depends on your specific data and reporting requirements. You might want to test both methods with a subset of your data to compare the performance and ease of development directly in your environment.
