Methods to Bring External Data into Dynamics 365 Customer Insights
A company is planning to use Dynamics 365 Customer Insights to enrich customer profiles with external demographic data. Which TWO of the following are valid methods to bring in external data? (Choose two.)
Quick Answer
The answer is to use Power Query to connect to a third-party demographic API and to leverage OData connectors for external data ingestion. These two methods are correct because Dynamics 365 Customer Insights relies on Power Query as its primary data integration engine, allowing you to connect to hundreds of external sources, including APIs that serve demographic enrichment data. Additionally, OData, a standardized RESTful protocol, enables seamless, real-time pulls from external partner data providers, making it a natural fit for bringing in structured third-party datasets. On the MB-910 exam, this question tests your understanding of Customer Insights’ data ingestion capabilities versus its native data storage features; a common trap is confusing manual CSV uploads or direct database writes as valid methods, which are not supported for ongoing enrichment. Remember the memory tip: “Query and OData, not manual data”—Power Query handles the connection, and OData handles the protocol, so look for these two when the goal is external enrichment.
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume Excel Online or LinkedIn Sales Navigator are valid data sources for Customer Insights enrichment, but they are not supported for direct demographic data ingestion in this context.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use an OData connector to pull data from a partner data provider
Dynamics 365 Customer Insights supports OData connectors, which can pull data from external partner data providers. OData is a standardized RESTful protocol that allows seamless integration of external datasets, such as demographic enrichment sources, into Customer Insights profiles.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Use an OData connector to pull data from a partner data provider
Why this is correct
OData connectors are supported for importing data.
- ✗
Connect to Azure Data Lake only via Dataflows
Why it's wrong here
Customer Insights can connect to Azure Data Lake directly without Dataflows.
- ✓
Use Power Query to connect to a third-party demographic API
Why this is correct
Power Query can connect to various APIs to bring in external data.
- ✗
Import from Excel Online using a direct connection
Why it's wrong here
Excel Online is not a direct source; data must be imported via Power Query or other means.
- ✗
Synchronize data from LinkedIn Sales Navigator
Why it's wrong here
LinkedIn Sales Navigator integration is for sales prospecting, not data enrichment.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 941 original MB-910 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on MB-910
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is using Dynamics 365 Customer Insights and wants to enrich customer profiles with external data. Which TWO methods can they use?
hard- A.Use Power Automate to pull data from LinkedIn
- B.Connect to Facebook to import profile data
- ✓ C.Use the built-in enrichment from Microsoft (e.g., demographic data)
- ✓ D.Upload a custom data source with additional attributes
- E.Export profiles to Excel and manually update
Why C: Dynamics 365 Customer Insights includes built-in enrichment services that automatically append demographic, geographic, and firmographic data from Microsoft's own data providers (e.g., Microsoft Graph, Experian) to customer profiles. This is a native, no-code feature within the enrichment wizard that requires no external connectors or manual data handling.
Variation 2. A company wants to use Customer Insights to enrich customer profiles with external demographic data. Which feature should they use to bring in this external data?
easy- ✓ A.Data sources
- B.Relationships
- C.Measures
- D.Predictions
Why A: To enrich customer profiles with external demographic data in Dynamics 365 Customer Insights, you use the 'Data sources' feature. This allows you to connect to and ingest data from external systems, such as third-party demographic providers, by configuring a new data source (e.g., via Power Query connectors). The ingested data is then unified into the customer profile, enabling enrichment without needing custom code.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This MB-910 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the MB-910 exam.