22-25 April 2026 
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SQLBits 2026
How to create truly user-friendly self-service Power BI semantic model
Many organizations allow for self-service users to build their own reports based on a centrally maintained semantic model. Now we need to care about usability of the model because it is a user-facing end product, not your hidden backend any-more.
More and more organizations embrace the need to democratize data and allow for self-service users to build their own reports based on a centrally maintained semantic model.
But what happens if you just drop for them a model created by just following modelling best practices? Yes, users will ignore it and return to SAP BW, direct export to excel, shaky Power Queries or whatever they were using last hundred of years.
Suddenly, we also need to care about usability because now semantic model is a user-facing end product, not your hidden backend any-more.
How to create easy navigation, DAX measures intuitive to find and use, and where it is better to break best-practices for the sake of the user?
This session is based on real life lessons and mistakes of developing a self-service semantic model for business users. You will see plenty of UX best practices in play!
But what happens if you just drop for them a model created by just following modelling best practices? Yes, users will ignore it and return to SAP BW, direct export to excel, shaky Power Queries or whatever they were using last hundred of years.
Suddenly, we also need to care about usability because now semantic model is a user-facing end product, not your hidden backend any-more.
How to create easy navigation, DAX measures intuitive to find and use, and where it is better to break best-practices for the sake of the user?
This session is based on real life lessons and mistakes of developing a self-service semantic model for business users. You will see plenty of UX best practices in play!