Connect Exact Online to Power BI - Enterprise Data Analytics, Real-time Insights, Anywhere.

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Connect to live Exact Online data from Power BI Desktop, Server, & On-prem Gateway. Includes Direct Query support.
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Exact Online integration with cloud-based Power BI Service.

Why CData for Exact Online Power BI Connectivity

Break free from data loading limitations and on-premises restrictions of Exact Online reporting in Power BI. Easily connect Microsoft Power BI with live Exact Online data for up-to-date visual analysis and reporting.



High-performance Exact Online Connectivity

Large datasets often slow down reports and dashboards in Power BI due to its in-memory model. However, CData's Power BI Connector for Exact Online overcomes these challenges with advanced query optimization and Direct Query support. By leveraging Direct Query, you can avoid loading your entire Exact Online dataset into local memory and instead benefit from efficient server-side processing.

Power BI Pro imposes a 1GB dataset size limit, and even Premium workspaces have constraints on query performance. The CData Power BI Connector supports Direct Query, reducing the amount of data retrieved when analyzing Exact Online data. Instead of loading the entire Exact Online dataset, only the necessary subset of query results is returned for your reports, optimizing performance and efficiency.

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Exact Online data discovery

Comprehensive Exact Online data and metadata discovery

The Exact Online Connector provides full access to both data and metadata, enabling efficient automated data exploration and discovery. It features intelligent row scanning, type detection, relationship mapping, and support for unstructured data. These capabilities allow Power BI to recognize data fields without the need for casting or conversion, making it easier and faster for users to create meaningful reports.

Certain data sources, such as Exact Online and other NoSQL databases, lack native support for SQL-like queries, often requiring data transformation before use in Power BI. CData simplifies this process with a built-in SQL transformation layer that automatically translates SQL queries into real-time data source calls. This enables seamless Exact Online integration, making it as straightforward as connecting to a traditional relational database.


Live Exact Online reporting. No ETL Required

CData's live Power BI connectivity for Exact Online overcomes the challenges associated with traditional integration methods like ETL and local data replication. Unlike data replication, live querying enhances security and compliance by eliminating risks such as data staleness, inconsistency, and corruption. It also reduces exposure from overprivileged access and delayed revocation while minimizing the attack surface created by duplicate copies. Additionally, live connectivity simplifies regulatory compliance by ensuring better adherence to data residency, retention policies, and auditability requirements.

Exact Online Power BI Connector supports the use from Power BI Gateway. Power BI on-premises gateway allows publish and auto-refresh the data set in your Power BI Desktop to Power BI cloud and other Microsoft Power Platform services such as Power Apps and Power Automate.

Sometimes setting up Power BI Gateway is not an option. IT departments often resist installing the Power BI on-premises gateway due to security concerns over data access and credential storage. They may also be reluctant because of the added maintenance burden and potential network vulnerabilities.

CData Connect Cloud transforms Exact Online data connectivity by removing the need for a local gateway. This enables Power BI service users to refresh data seamlessly within Power BI, ensuring they always work with the latest Exact Online data. While it doesn't yet support Direct Query mode, CData Connect Cloud is the ideal choice for deploying auto-refreshing Power BI reports in the cloud.

Exact Online cloud-to-cloud integration

Connect Power BI to Exact Online

Watch the video overview for a first hand look at how easy it is to connect Power BI to live data from Exact Online with CData.

  • Leverage Direct Query capabilities to enhance analytics performance for large Exact Online data sets.
  • Extensive schema discovery capabilities for every data source. Explore tables, columns, keys, and other data constructs based on user identity.
  • Easily connect Power BI directly with complex data structures through flexible and extensible flattening.
  • Deploy Power BI reports that automatically refresh on-prem or to the cloud.
  • And more!

Frequent Exact Online Power BI Connectivity questions

Common questions about integrating Exact Online with Microsoft Power BI.

Exact Online doesn't natively integrate with Power BI, but CData Power BI Connectors for Exact Online enable seamless Exact Online analytics and reporting. Our connectors provide real-time, direct access to Exact Online data in Power BI, allowing you to build dynamic dashboards without complex ETL processes. With CData, you get secure, high-performance connectivity for better insights.

Moving data from Exact Online to Power BI doesn't have to be difficult. The Exact Online Power BI Connector enables real-time, direct Power BI Exact Online connectivity, eliminating complex ETL.

How It Works

  • Install the PowerBI Exact Online connector and open Power BI Desktop.
  • Connect via Get Data > More > CData Exact Online using your credentials to connect Exact Online and Power BI.
  • Access live data, run SQL queries, and build dynamic dashboards.
  • Publish reports to Power BI Service for seamless sharing.

That's all there is to it. With secure, high-performance Power BI Exact Online integration, CData simplifies Exact Online bi, analytics and reporting. For more information, read the Power BI Exact Online Connector getting started guide.

The CData Exact Online Connector offers key advantages for seamless Exact Online Power BI integration:

  • Exact Online Real-Time Analytics (DirectQuery): Live, direct query access to Exact Online data in Power BI eliminates extracts and refreshes. This is especially powerful for working with large Exact Online datasets, as it allows you to analyze massive amounts of data without the limitations of in-memory processing. DirectQuery ensures your reports always reflect the latest Exact Online information.
  • Performance & Scalability: Optimized queries ensure fast data retrieval and handle growing data volumes efficiently. Even with massive datasets, the CData connectors make Exact Online PowerBI integration fast and reliable.
  • Comprehensive Data Access: The Exact Online BI connector provides comprehensive access to Exact Online Data and Exact Online metadata, empowering you to understand the structure of your data and build more robust and accurate reports. This deep Exact Online metadata integration simplifies data discovery and ensures your Power BI reports accurately reflect the meaning and context of your Exact Online data.
  • Enterprise-Grade Security: The Exact Online PowerBI connector supports modern security standards and enterprise authentication methods, making it easier to comply with security policies.

Ultimately, the Exact Online to Power BI connector delivers fast, secure, and customizable access to Exact Online in Power BI for analytics and reporting.

Yes, all of our connectors support connecting Microsoft Power BI and Exact Online integration from Power BI Service by using the Microsoft Power BI Gateway. Instructions for installing and configuring the Power BI Gateway are available in the online Exact Online help file.

Alternatively, for customers unable to use the Microsoft Power BI Gateway should consider the CData Connect Cloud Power BI Client for real-time integration with Exact Online. With CData Connect Cloud, there is no need to install individual connectors in order to connect Power BI to Exact Online. Easily build visualizations in Power BI that are powered by live data, without installing any new software or 3rd party connectors.

Find out more about connecting Exact Online to Power BI Service.

All of the CData Power BI Connectors for PowerBI Exact Online integration are freely available for download online. A 30-day trial of the Exact Online Connector download can be found alongside other supported Exact Online integration technologies like ODBC, JDBC, ADO.NET, SQL Server SSIS, and more.



Ready to get started? Try CData for free today!

Do you want to learn more about how you can use CData to connect Microsoft Power BI with real-time data from anywhere? Contact us below, and let's talk.