Datamart vs Power BI Dataset

[nilimarodrigues]

Hello,

I am not sure if I my comparison is correct but I am trying to understand the use case for "Datamart" concept in power BI. 

We can create a power BI composite model by using different datasources, create new KPIs etc. and then publish that dataset onto workspace wherein that power BI dataset can act as a centralized dataset for many PBI reports. 

If we can do that using composite model in terms of power BI dataset, how is concept of "Datamart" different than that? What additional benefit are offered by datamart which are not available through power BI dataset? 

Thanks,

Nilima

[collinq]

Hey @nilimarodrigues ,

There are plenty of sites out there doing the "difference between datamart and dataflow" so I am not going to put a bunch of those links in here.  That said, to me, the big difference is the SQL part and then the ability to use the output from the datamart in more robust ways within Power BI.  I use Direct Query to the DataMart and am still able to do a large number of measures in the visual side but also many column modifications within Power Query that are not available to the DataFlow model.

I also believe (no inside knowledge) that the DataMart will continue to become more and more robust and have many new features added to it that will make it even easier to use going forward.

To clarify, if I understand part of your question, correctly....  is that you can create your dataset in Power BI Desktop.  You can probably do part of it (if not most of it) in a Dataflow as well.  However, my opinion is that the Datamart is the place to be (for the future in particular).

[nilimarodrigues]

Thank you @collinq for your response. Appreciate it. I think my question is mainly on Power BI dataset vs Datamart. Except for the SQL part, Power BI dataset already does provide all the capabilities that you can have with Datamart - joining multiple sources, creating measures etc and you can also use one dataset for several reports. And hence wondering, is Microsoft pushing us to use Datamart instead of power BI dataset or what exactly the game plan here? 

[collinq]

Hey @nilimarodrigues ,

You are right that the dataset in a file can be published and shared.  I believe that the thought behind datamarts is to build the basic dta model for folks and then let them build their own appropriate datasets from that point.  Whereas, a dataset is a preset data model that is "baked" already inside a Power BI file.

So, it is not really about "who can use it" as much as it is about "what variability  does the user have with it" perspective.