# Connecting Bimp to Power BI

URL: https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/bi/power-bi/
Updated: 2026-11-06

> Bimp connects to Power BI through Google BigQuery storage, with no Excel exports needed. First give support the analyst's Google email, then in Power BI Desktop choose the Google BigQuery connector, sign in with that account, select the tables in the "Navigator" and click "Load". For most tasks choose the Import mode.

## How Bimp works with Power BI

Power BI gets Bimp data from Google BigQuery storage through the standard "Google BigQuery" connector. Data is exported automatically, so a manual export to Excel is not needed, and reports are refreshed on the Power BI schedule. A typical use is analyzing margins and manager KPIs: a retail chain sees which manager brings the highest net profit, not just a large turnover achieved through discounts.

The tables and fields available for reports are described in the [BigQuery field reference](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/bi/bigquery-fields/).

## How to get access to the data

Bimp technical support opens access to the analyst's Google account.

1. Give support the Google email (@gmail.com or Google Workspace) of the specialist who will work in Power BI. For the company's first connection you will also need the company ID; see [BigQuery and Looker Studio: connection and first report](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/bi/bigquery-looker-studio/).
2. Wait for confirmation from support.

Data is filtered at the database level, so the analyst sees only your company's data.

## How to connect tables in Power BI Desktop

1. Open **Power BI Desktop** and click **Get Data → More...**.
2. In the search, enter "BigQuery", choose the **Google BigQuery** connector and click **Connect**.
3. Sign in with the same Google account that you gave to support.
4. In the "Navigator" window, find the Bimp project (support will tell you the exact name; in Looker Studio it is "Bimpsoft"), expand the "bimp_public" dataset and select the tables you need, for example "v_fact_sales", "v_fact_orders", "v_dim_monthly_stock_balances".
   [Скріншот: todo:Power BI Desktop Navigator window with the bimp_public dataset expanded and the tables v_fact_sales and v_dim_nomenclature selected]
5. Click **Load** and choose the connection mode.

## Which connection mode to choose: Import or DirectQuery

For most Power BI tasks, choose the Import mode. Power BI asks for the mode when loading data:

| Mode | When to choose | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Import | For most tasks | Data is copied into Power BI memory, dashboards work very fast |
| DirectQuery | When it is critical to see data to the second | Complex charts may load longer |

> [!TIP] Join tables through fields with the suffix `_guid`: for example, "item_guid" in "v_fact_sales" links to "v_dim_nomenclature". For business reports use "document_date" or "movement_date", not the technical "exported_at", "created_at", "updated_at".

## FAQ

**Which connection mode should I choose in Power BI: Import or DirectQuery?**

For most tasks, Import: data is loaded into Power BI memory and dashboards work fast. DirectQuery is needed only if it is critical to see data to the second, but complex charts will load longer.

**Can the analyst see other companies' data?**

No. Data is filtered at the database level, so the analyst sees only your company's data.

**Do I need to export Excel files for Power BI?**

No. Power BI reads data directly from Google BigQuery, where Bimp exports it automatically.