Power BI for insight
The company's data is worth its weight in gold – but only if presented correctly. With the integration between Power BI and Business Central, you as a financial employee get an intuitive and data-driven overview of the business's financial and operational performance.
The result? More accurate analysis, faster decisions and better bottom line: ”Before, you often had to use data experts to get the right data out of Business Central and have it visualized. Now Microsoft delivers it all and updates them continuously.” – Morten Seifert, Development Lead, KOLLAB
What is Power BI and why is it relevant to the finance department?
Power BI is Microsoft's Business Intelligence tool that turns complex datasets into visual and interactive reports. When connected directly to Business Central, a number of options open up:
- Automated reporting without manual Excel extraction
- Real-time updated dashboards with your most important KPIs
- Notifications when a measurement goes above/below a limit value
- Quick access to financial and operational data – in one place
So you don't just get access to data –, you get insight that can be used strategically: “For many companies, Power BI has been a bit too big a mouthful – something only large companies use. With Business Central, we get many reports, so it's easy to get started with Power BI.” – Morten Seifert, Development Lead, KOLLAB
Key figures driving decisions
The Power BI reports in Business Central cover a number of standardized KPIs. These key figures are continuously updated and presented in visual dashboards, making it easier to act quickly – and strategically.
Financial KPIs
- Net profit, gross profit, EBIT and EBITDA – classic indicators of economic health.
- Visualizing development over time so you can quickly spot trends or deviations.
Liquidity analyses
- Liquidity ratio, quick ratio and cash ratio – important measures for the company's ability to pay and risk profile.
Operating KPIs
- Inventory turnover rate and debtors' average payment days – give a clear picture of how efficiently the business is run.
Interactive dashboards: One-click insights
Visualization is the key to rapid understanding. This means you're always up-to-date and ready to respond – without waiting for reporting from multiple departments. With Power BI's user-friendly interface, you get:
- Custom Dashboards: Focus on the key figures that are most important to your role.
- Drill-down features: Go from helicopter perspective to detail level in seconds.
- Real-time data: Get rid of outdated reports – your decisions are based on the latest data.
That's how easy it is to get started in Business Central
Integration between Power BI and Business Central does not require long IT projects. It's efficient, flexible – and ready to use directly on your phone or tablet:
- Built-in Power BI reports already cover key business areas such as finance, sales, inventory, purchasing, production and cases.
- You can adapt the reports to your company's specific needs without coding.
- Data is accessed directly in Business Central or via the Power BI portal, depending on preference and workflow.
Business Benefits: More than just data
For you and the finance department, it's not just about having access to data. It is about:
- Create transparency across the organization
- Support long-term strategic decisions
- Improve risk management and planning
- Strengthen performance monitoring in real time
- You can identify trends early, spot deviations and act proactively