From Report to Action: Write-back with Translytical Task Flows
Proposed session for SQLBits 2026TL; DR
Power BI is no longer read-only. Learn how to build interactive, translytical reports that write data back, run server-side logic, and recalculate results using Power Apps, Fabric UDFs, and new Power BI button actions.
Session Details
Power BI isn’t just for slicing and dicing anymore. With (new) integrations across Microsoft Fabric and Power Platform, you can now write data back, trigger custom logic with User Data Functions (UDF's), and build real-time, translytical apps - without ever leaving the report.
In this session, I’ll show you how to go beyond passive dashboards by combining:
* A Power App inside Power BI to write back to your database,
* UDF's in Fabric to run logic server-side, and
* The brand-new Power BI button action (using Translytical Task Flows) that triggers UDF's directly from your report.
We’ll build a simple end-to-end translytical solution: input, update, and recalculate - all from inside a Power BI report. Along the way, I’ll show real-world use cases where these features unlock new types of business apps.
This session is intermediate level: Power BI experience is expected. No prior experience with Power Apps or Fabric UDF's is required, we’ll build that up step by step.
In this session, I’ll show you how to go beyond passive dashboards by combining:
* A Power App inside Power BI to write back to your database,
* UDF's in Fabric to run logic server-side, and
* The brand-new Power BI button action (using Translytical Task Flows) that triggers UDF's directly from your report.
We’ll build a simple end-to-end translytical solution: input, update, and recalculate - all from inside a Power BI report. Along the way, I’ll show real-world use cases where these features unlock new types of business apps.
This session is intermediate level: Power BI experience is expected. No prior experience with Power Apps or Fabric UDF's is required, we’ll build that up step by step.
3 things you'll get out of this session
After this session, participants will be able to:
* Design a Power BI report that writes data back using an embedded Power App.
* Trigger server-side logic with Fabric UDFs directly from Power BI.
* Combine Power BI button actions and Translytical Task Flows into a clean end-to-end interactive pattern for real business scenarios.
Speakers
Nicky van Vroenhoven's other proposed sessions for 2026
A Deep Dive Into The Power BI Direct Lake - 2026
How to use GraphQL with Fabric SQL Database to Expose Data Externally - 2026
Optimizing Your Power BI Workflow with Project Files, Source Control, and TMDL - 2026
What are Power BI External Tools and How Can I Use Them? - 2026
Nicky van Vroenhoven's previous sessions
A Form, a Flow and a Power BI Streaming Dataset Walk Into a Bar
Learn how to integrate Microsoft Forms, Power Automate and Power BI into a live interactive data application!
Write-back with Power Apps in Power BI
Do you want to let the business easily add targets, comments and/or change data quality issues in your Power BI reports? Then you should incorporate write-back with Power Apps to your Power BI reports.
Power Platform Better Together: Create a Scoring App with a Live Dashboard
Use the Power Platform to create an interactive scoreboard