How Power Query Fits into the Modern Data Stack

At Positive8, we help bridge the gap between business users and modern data platforms. One of the most underrated tools in that journey is Microsoft’s Power Query. 

If you still think of Excel as “just a spreadsheet tool,” it’s time to take a look at the art of the possible. 

Today, data is no longer confined to flat files and desktop folders. It lives in the cloud, in enterprise platforms, behind APIs, and across multiple systems, but many organisations still struggle to pull that data together in a way that’s fast, reliable, and easy to use. 

That’s where Power Query steps in. 

Why This Matters Now 

Today’s data environment isn’t limited to spreadsheets and on-prem databases. We’re dealing with: 

• Cloud platforms like Azure SQL, Snowflake, and Databricks 

• Business systems like Dynamics 365, Salesforce, and SAP 

• Online services and APIs including SharePoint, REST APIs, and JSON feeds 

• File-based data lakes in CSV, Parquet, Excel, XML, and beyond 

In short: data is everywhere. 

Power Query acts as the Swiss Army knife for pulling all these sources together, whether you're working in Excel, Power BI, or building Dataflows in the Power Platform. 

What Makes Power Query a Game-Changer 

Power Query is far more than just a data import tool. It plays a vital role in the modern data stack because it:

• Connects to virtually any data source, cloud, on-prem, structured or semi-structured 
• Lets users transform and clean data visually, without writing advanced code 
• Supports parameterised and dynamic queries, enabling automation and reuse 
• Allows logic to be shared across Excel, Power BI, and Power Platform, giving consistency and reducing rework 

This means that finance teams, analysts, and data professionals can collaborate using one common framework, even if they’re working on different tools. 

Designing Flexible, Scalable, and Secure Workflows 

Power Query isn’t just convenient, it’s a foundation for building enterprise-grade solutions that scale. 

Here’s how: 

1. Flexible: One Logic, Many Outputs

• Build your data transformation once 

• Load into Excel for tabular reporting 

• Load into Power BI for visual dashboards 

• Reuse the same M-code logic across both platforms 

This reduces duplication, aligns outputs, and saves time. 

2. Scalable: Handle Big Data Without Bottlenecks

• Push queries back to SQL and other sources for faster performance 

• Combine Power BI Dataflows with Excel Power Query for a layered architecture 

• Use parameter-driven queries to automate refreshes for multiple users or scenarios 

Whether you’re building a team-level report or a group-wide data model, Power Query can handle the load. 

3. Secure: Keep Data Where It Belongs

• Respect role-based access by connecting to secure, governed sources 

• Use OAuth and enterprise credentials for authentication 

• Implement row-level security in Power BI to ensure sensitive data is properly restricted 

Security doesn’t need to be compromised for the sake of accessibility – Power Query helps you achieve both. 

Summary: The Past Informs the Future 

From the early days of MS Query (a visual SQL builder loved by analysts and developers alike), to today’s Power Query, Microsoft has continually evolved how Excel and Power BI connect to data. 

Power Query now sits at the heart of the modern data stack – and when used well, it lays the foundation for business intelligence that is: 

Flexible for agile teams 

 Scalable for enterprise demands 

 Secure for compliance and governance 

At Positive8, we help teams design these types of workflows, ensuring your analysts, accountants, and decision-makers have the right data, in the right place, at the right time.