Getting data from Snowflake to Excel

[DatamirHub]

Hello I have multiple no technical users and am trying to find a way to setup a snowflake query for them and then let them refresh it whenever they want or on a schedule, but I couldn't find a good solution this what i found so far:

• ODBC (Not great for non technical users needs setup on each user desktop)
• Power Automate (Needs Power Automate Premium which we don't have)
• Third Party tools (Expensive pricing models)
• Through Power BI (We want to separate this process from power bi)

Any suggested solution please!

[jasonmiller11tt]

If the query is fixed, I'd hide the SQL from users and give them a simple way to refresh the results. Power Query in Excel is a good option if they're already using Excel. Otherwise, a small internal web app (e.g., Streamlit) with a "Refresh" button can provide a much cleaner experience without requiring users to configure ODBC or learn Snowflake. Knowing your users' preferred interface would help narrow down the best approach.

[Zanqueta · Accepted solution]

Hi @DatamirHub 

Best Option (Power BI Dataset + Excel)

The main idea is to clearly separate responsibilities:

• Where data is prepared and refreshed → Power BI
• Where users consume the data → Excel

How it works in practice

1. Connection to Snowflake
   You create a dataset in Power BI connected to Snowflake using the native connector or a gateway. The query or data model should ideally be based on curated views to ensure proper governance.
2. Publication in Power BI Service
   The dataset is published to a workspace in the cloud. At this stage, you configure scheduled refresh and, if required, apply security rules such as row-level security.

1. Excel connected to the dataset
   Users open Excel and connect via:
   Data → Get Data → From Power BI Dataset
   They then select the published dataset.
2. User experience
   Users continue working in Excel using pivot tables or tables. They simply click Refresh to get the latest data. No technical setup is required, and they do not need to write SQL or configure drivers.

Main advantages

• No technical setup required for end users
• Centralised refresh management
• Strong governance aligned with organisational KPIs and semantic models
• Scalable approach suitable for larger teams
• Centralised security management

Important consideration

Even if Power BI is not intended for reporting, it is being used here as a governed data engine. This significantly reduces maintenance effort and user support.

Conclusion

This approach solves the problem because it keeps Excel simple for users, avoids repeated technical configuration, and provides full control to the data team.

DISCLAIMER: While I wrote a draft of this answer, I used Copilot to create a longer, more detailed step-by-step description to make it easier to apply.