In this video, Manuel Quintana introduces the concept of Organizational Apps within Power BI, which allows users to more efficiently share and organize Power BI content across different groups. This new feature is currently in preview and offers additional customization and flexibility compared to the traditional workspace apps.
What Are Organizational Apps?
Organizational Apps in Power BI, or Org Apps, are a new way to share multiple Power BI objects (like reports, dashboards, and notebooks) within an organization. They offer several improvements over the classic workspace apps, including:
- The ability to integrate more diverse content such as Fabric notebooks and real-time dashboards.
- A more seamless, real-time linking process to live content instead of versioned snapshots.
Key Features of Organizational Apps
- Support for Various Artifacts: Organizational Apps can include Power BI reports, dashboards, pageioned reports, and Fabric notebooks. This is a step forward, as workspace apps previously only supported Power BI artifacts like reports and dashboards.
- Customization Options: Users can add custom branding, such as logos or themes, and even an overview page to make their apps more personalized and visually appealing.
- Real-Time Access: Unlike workspace apps, which save a version of the report or dashboard, Organizational Apps provide a direct link to live content. This means updates made to reports or dashboards are immediately reflected in the app without requiring any app updates.
Comparing Organizational Apps with Workspace Apps
While both workspace apps and Organizational Apps serve a similar purpose (sharing content with groups), there are key differences:
- Content Support:
- Workspace apps are limited to Power BI reports and dashboards.
- Organizational Apps extend this to include Fabric notebooks and real-time dashboards.
- Versioning and Updates:
- Workspace apps offer a versioned approach, where the objects within the app remain unchanged unless the app itself is updated.
- Organizational Apps link directly to live reports, meaning any changes made to the content are instantly reflected for users.
- Audience Management:
- Both app types allow for audience segmentation. However, Organizational Apps allow users to directly link to content without worrying about version control.
How to Enable and Use Organizational Apps
To use Organizational Apps, users need to enable this feature in the Power BI Admin Portal, as it’s currently in preview. Once enabled, the following steps outline how to create an Organizational App:
- Go to your Power BI workspace.
- Select New Item, then search for Org App.
- Add the relevant Power BI artifacts (such as reports, dashboards, or notebooks).
- Customize the app’s appearance with themes or images.
- Save and share the app with specific users or security groups.
Advantages of Organizational Apps
- Real-Time Updates: Organizational Apps always display the most current version of the content, eliminating the need for version updates.
- Enhanced Visibility: Once shared, Organizational Apps appear in the "Browse" and "Recents" sections of Power BI, making them easier to find.
- Easy Sharing: Users can share the app with others directly by adding them to the app’s access list, and this includes support for security groups.
Future of Organizational Apps
Currently in preview, Organizational Apps are expected to undergo further development, and future updates could bring more features, such as support for additional content types and broader audience management capabilities.
Conclusion
Power BI’s Organizational Apps provide a more dynamic and flexible way to share and manage Power BI content across an organization. While they are still in preview, the potential for greater customization, real-time updates, and the ability to work with diverse content types makes them an exciting development for Power BI users.
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