What is the most efficient way to connect to Excel files for automatic updates?

Using a Folder connector and Combine Binaries is the most efficient method for connecting to Excel files for automatic updates because it enables seamless integration of multiple files located within a specific folder. When you connect to a folder, Power BI automatically lists all the Excel files within that directory, allowing for batch processing.

The Combine Binaries feature streamlines the process by allowing you to create a single dataset from multiple files with similar structures. This eliminates the need for manual merging or individual connections to each file, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Whenever new files are added to the folder or existing ones are updated or deleted, Power BI can refresh the dataset easily, maintaining the data integrity and currency.

In contrast, connecting to each file individually would require more manual effort and be less scalable as the number of files increases. Uploading files to SharePoint could facilitate access and sharing, but it doesn't automatically streamline updates in Power BI like the Folder connector does. Power Query can be useful for transformation tasks, but relying on it to manually merge files is inefficient compared to the automation offered by the Folder connector.