Dynamics Connect Blog

At Dynamics Connect, we understand the importance of having a clear and comprehensive view of your business data, especially when utilising the robust capabilities of Microsoft Business Central. A key tool in achieving this is Power BI, a data visualisation system from Microsoft. Power BI is a collection of software services, apps, and connectors that work together to turn your data into visual and interactive insights.

Power BI consists of several key elements. Power BI Desktop is a Windows desktop application used for creating reports. The Power BI service is an online Software as a Service (SaaS) platform where reports can be published and shared. Finally, Power BI Mobile apps are available for Windows, iOS, and Android devices, allowing users to view and interact with insights on the go. The primary benefit of Power BI lies in its ability to easily connect to your data, visualise and discover what's important, and share those insights with anyone or everyone you want. This empowers businesses to make critical decisions through real-time data and easily share reports across the organisation.

Power BI and Business Central Working Together

Power BI integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Business Central, allowing for the construction of complex dashboards and reports based on your business data. This integration provides a flexible alternative to the reports built directly within Business Central, enabling users to drill down into data, customise visualisations, and even merge data from different companies within Business Central.

There are several ways in which Power BI and Business Central work together:

You can build reports and dashboards inside Power BI that showcase Business Central data by utilising Power BI Desktop and then publishing these reports through the Power BI service or sharing them with colleagues.

You have the ability to review Business Central data from within Power BI in the form of reports. Notably, Business Central online includes many pre-defined Power BI reports.

You can also review Power BI reports inside your Business Central client. Power BI reports that display Business Central data can be embedded directly into parts of Business Central pages. Users can also adjust these parts to display any report that they have access to.

This integration provides a much more comprehensive and powerful reporting system compared to the built-in reporting functionalities of Business Central. Tasks that were once complex and required the involvement of multiple staff members can now be simplified, including the ability to integrate data from various companies into a single report.

Power BI Reports Within Business Central

Business Central provides the capability to view Power BI reports directly within its interface. Many pages in Business Central include a dedicated Power BI reports part where these visualisations can be displayed. This includes typical pages like the role centre and extends to list pages such as the 'Items' page. Business Central seamlessly integrates with the Power BI service to enable this functionality.

The Power BI reports that you see in Business Central are stored within your Power BI service account. As a user, you have the flexibility to switch the report displayed in the Power BI part to any other Power BI report that you have access to within your Power BI service.

Business Central online comes already configured for this Power BI integration. However, upon your initial sign-in to Business Central, and before you've connected to your Power BI service, these Power BI report parts will appear empty. To begin viewing reports, you will need to connect your Business Central to your Power BI account, a process you typically only need to complete once. This initial setup often involves selecting a "Get Started with Power BI" link within the empty report part.

Why Integrate Power BI with Business Central?

Integrating Power BI with Business Central is crucial for data-driven decision making and staying ahead of competitors. Here are several reasons to consider this integration:

Consolidating data - Power BI allows you to collate data from various systems and databases into a single platform. This enables you to build real-time reports, whether financial, sales, or inventory-related, providing an overall view of your business performance.

Customisation - Power BI offers extensive customisation options, allowing you to create reports and dashboards tailored to your specific business needs. You can tailor visuals, add filters, and build drill-down experiences to answer specific questions and identify trends.

Real-time data visuals - As a leading business intelligence tool, Power BI enables the creation of visually appealing reports and dashboards. When integrated with Business Central, you can view real-time data from your ERP system transformed into meaningful visuals, facilitating regular monitoring of KPIs and data-backed decisions.

Predictive analytics - Power BI's advanced analytical capabilities allow you to predict future trends and identify potential opportunities or risks. By combining predictive analytics models with Business Central data, you can make informed decisions to foster business growth.

Considering Power BI with Business Central

Utilising Power BI with Business Central offers a significant upgrade to your business intelligence capabilities. It enables your business to make critical decisions through real-time data and provides the ability to share any report to anyone in the business with a simple click. The seamless integration between Power BI and Business Central allows for the construction of sophisticated dashboards and reports based on your business data, simplifying complex tasks and offering a comprehensive view of your operations.

FAQ on Power BI and Business Central

Here are some frequently asked questions about using Power BI with Business Central.

Is Power BI included in Business Central? Business Central includes multiple Power BI features, and some pre-defined Power BI reports are available in Business Central online. However, to fully utilise Power BI's capabilities, a separate Power BI license is typically required.

What is Power BI? Power BI is a collection of software services, apps, and connectors from Microsoft that work together to turn your unrelated sources of data into coherent, visual and interactive insights. It allows you to connect to data sources, visualise important information, and share it with others.

What are the initial steps to use Power BI with Business Central? Before using Power BI with Business Central, you generally need to sign up for the Power BI service using your work email address. In Business Central, you will typically need to connect to your Power BI account through an assisted setup process.

By integrating Power BI with Microsoft Business Central, your organisation can unlock the full potential of its data, leading to more informed decisions and a stronger competitive edge. Contact Dynamics Connect today to learn how we can help you harness the power of this integration.