Data refresh considerations ensure dashboards show accurate and timely information while maintaining performance.
Key points include:
- Refresh frequency:
- Real-time: streaming or direct query for immediate updates
- Scheduled: hourly, daily, or weekly depending on business needs
- Data source type:
- DirectQuery or live connections support up-to-date data but may slow performance
- Imported datasets are faster but need scheduled refreshes
- Volume and complexity:
- Large datasets or complex calculations may require incremental refresh
- Reduces load and improves refresh speed
- Dependencies and reliability:
- Ensure upstream data sources are stable
- Handle missing or delayed data gracefully
- User expectations:
- Align refresh schedule with dashboard purpose (operational vs strategic)
In one project, we used incremental daily refresh for sales data and real-time streaming for operational monitoring.
Proper refresh planning ensures trustworthy, timely, and efficient dashboards.