Forum Discussion
reasons for not implementing report level KPIs inside database
- 1 year ago
Why KPIs are often built in Power BI, not in the database:
- Dynamic slicing: Power BI measures adapt to any filter or dimension; SQL needs fixed GROUP BY.
- Interactivity: KPIs respond to slicers, drill-throughs, bookmarks—SQL can’t.
- Performance: Power BI caches data; SQL recalculates every time.
- Time intelligence: DAX handles YTD, rolling averages, fiscal calendars better than SQL.
- Governance: Easier versioning and control in Power BI than altering DB logic.
In relational databases like SLQ server, measures do not exist and cannot be reused
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Francesco Bergamaschi
MBA, M.Eng, M.Econ, Professor of BI