Question

Can I use Smart Narrative in Power BI for real-time data analysis?
I’m working with a dataset that refreshes frequently—either near real-time or live connection. I’d like the Smart Narrative visual to reflect the latest changes and summarize key insights accordingly. Is Smart Narrative suitable for real-time reporting scenarios, and are there limitations or best practices I should be aware of?

Answer 1

Yes, but there are some crucial things to keep in mind when using Power BI's Smart Narrative feature for near real-time data analysis. Suppose you are using DirectQuery mode, live connections, or regularly scheduled refreshes. In that case, Smart Narrative will automatically update whenever the underlying dataset refreshes, allowing it to reflect the most recent data and insights.

There are a few restrictions to be aware of, though:

Smart Narrative is totally dependent on the data model and visuals as they stand right now. The narrative will update when the report page refreshes if your dataset refreshes almost instantly, but it won't provide real-time updates like a live ticker; you may need to enable either manual page refresh or auto-refresh.

Because Smart Narrative recalculates dynamic text, performance may be slowed by extremely large datasets or frequent refreshes.