Businesses today are data driven. From small to large business use data to decide on sales, hiring, setting goals, and all the other area which require them to use data. All the businesses need reports on their KPIs, but the level of reports varies vastly from company to company. It is a challenge for the business to understand the data and display the data in an easy to understand way and communicating it to relevant people in the business. Power BI takes the intimidation and hassle out of data analysis and visualization.
Power BI is a powerful analytical tool that allows the users to extract, split, combine, modify, filter, and display data in a manner that best suits the user’s needs. Power BI is cloud-based business analytics that enables:
- 360-degree view of the business
- Fast and easy access to the data
- Data discovery and exploration
- Insights from any device
- Collaboration across the organization
- Anyone to Visualise and Analyse Data
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a cloud-based or on-premise based ERP System. Getting Insight into the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central data is easy with Power BI. Power BI retrieves data from Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, allowing users to build dashboards and reports based on that data. Power BI Provides a flexible Alternative to reports build in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, enabling users to drill down and customize the visualization and even merge data from different companies in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central through Power BI Connectors. Some Power BI Reports can be embedded in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and viewed without leaving the System.
There are various features for working with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Power BI.
- Create modern reports and dashboards
- Enjoy the richness of Power BI features
- Merge Data from Different companies
- Combine Data from other Systems
- Visualize data from extended Partners
- Embed any reports from Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
- Access insight through Power BI only to stakeholders or other key people without giving access to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
The Out-of-the-box for Power BI and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is the connectors. The Main Connector is Business Central, and the other connector is Business Central on-premise. These connectors are included in the Power BI installation package and are hosted on the cloud. When Power BI is integrated with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, they provide reports that are deployed to Power BI on demand. These reports are sample reports and give the users a better understanding. Power BI provides users with Embedded experience allowing them to review the reports on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Power BI Provide apps that have complex report templates and are ready for users to use. These Apps are available for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central on cloud-only. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has 3 Power BI apps available to them on the AppSource. They were previously called Content Packs.
- Dynamics 365 Business Central – CRM
- Dynamics 365 Business Central – Finance
- Dynamics 365 Business Central – Sales
The above-mentioned apps are reports and dashboards for the users and are optional. These apps are not required when integrating Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Power BI. Users are allowed to build their report and opt for a Pro Licence option. Power BI Pro Version Provides advanced features and lets the user collaborate and share reports. With Power BI Pro, users can schedule reports, email a snapshot of dashboards or reports when the data set refreshes. Power BI Pro also allows users to work with more complex refresh scenarios.
Let’s understand the Work Flow Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Power BI?
Step 1: Get Power BI Licence and Workspace
Step 2: Get Started with Power BI in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Step 3: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Checks the license
Step 4: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central deploys default reports
Step 5: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central displays a report on the Role Centre
Step 6: Add a New Report
Step 7: Selecting a Power BI report
There are 2 main exciting features to work with
- Control for List
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central includes a FactBox control element on some key list pages that provide additional insight into the data in the list. As users move between rows in the list, the report is updated and filtered for the selected entry. Users can create custom reports to display in this control. However, there are a few rules to follow to ensure that reports work as expected. - Refreshing Data
As we have mentioned earlier Power BI Pro allows the users to Schedule reports. This feature also allows users to schedule Refreshing of reports and dashboard considering new data. This feature is extremely useful as the reports are not set to auto-refresh as and when new data is involved.
There are few things to remember when integrating Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Power BI
- Choose an Appropriate Power BI Licence
- Set up a smart refresh Strategy
- Pay Extra attention to Web Service
- When Working with on-premise
- External access to data/Webservice
- Set up firewall rules, open ports, etc
- For Embed- verify Azure App Registration
At Dhyey Consulting Services we have created a Centre of Excellence. We Act as an extended arm to Microsoft Partners and provide them with our Centre of Excellence-as-a-service. With deep industry experience and knowledge, we have the expertise required to advise our partners on the entire lifecycle of your business from implementation to support services to add-on development and integration. As A Centre of Excellence, we have a responsibility to understand and provide excellent services as per your need.
To Know More Email, us at Santosh@dhyey.com
