Reports in Business Central ERP That Set You Apart From the Competition

Introduction

Are You Quick Enough with Your Decision-Making? 73% of Businesses Say No.

In today’s data-driven landscape, a whopping 73% of businesses confess they find it tough to make quick, informed decisions because their reporting tools are outdated or just not cutting it. Are you in the same boat? If yes, it might be time to rethink your strategy for gaining business insights.

Meet Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central—a real game-changer for companies looking to turn their data into actionable insights. While many ERP systems come with basic reporting options, Business Central shines with its customizable reports that offer real-time data, greater flexibility, and predictive insights.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at five standout reports in Business Central that not only provide essential insights but also empower your business to make quicker, smarter decisions. These reports are crafted to keep you ahead of the competition and help you hit your business targets—without the hassle of complicated customizations.

Let’s jump in and see how these powerful reports can revolutionize your operations!

1. Dimension-Based Reporting: Custom Insights Without the Complexity

Business Central makes that easy with dimension-based reporting. It allows you to slice and dice data across custom dimensions such as department, product line, project, or location. You don’t have to adjust your chart of accounts for every new need—you just define dimensions and filter reports accordingly.

Imagine the insights: Want to know how profitable a particular product line is in a specific region? Or how a department is performing across multiple locations? With dimension-based reporting, you can quickly analyse performance across all these areas.

• Why it’s a game-changer: Most ERPs require complicated customizations for this level of flexibility. Business Central simplifies it, making it accessible even for smaller businesses.
• How it helps: Gain granular insights and align operations with strategy without heavy IT involvement.

2. Account Schedules: Build Custom Financial Reports Without External Tools

If financial reporting feels rigid or limited with your current system, then you’ll love Business Central’s Account Schedules.

Picture this: You’re able to customize income statements, balance sheets, or cash flow reports to match your exact business needs. Whether you want to compare actuals vs. budgets by department or break down profitability by project, Account Schedules gives you the flexibility to design these reports yourself.

• What’s the difference?: Other ERP systems might require expensive consultants or additional tools for this level of customization. Business Central lets you do it in-house, with no extra cost.
• Why it’s valuable: You can instantly generate reports that provide actionable insights tailored to your business, instead of relying on rigid, generic templates.

3. Seamless Integration with Power BI: Turn Data Into Visual Dashboards

Are you tired of static reports that don’t tell the full story?

Business Central’s seamless integration with Power BI allows you to transform raw data into rich, visual dashboards that offer deeper insights. You can create interactive, real-time dashboards that not only display your data but also allow you to drill down for detailed analysis.

• How it works: Push reports from Business Central directly into Power BI and watch your data come alive. You can monitor KPIs in real time and even set up alerts for important changes.
• What sets it apart: While some ERPs offer BI integrations, few are as seamless as Business Central’s Power BI integration. Since both tools are part of the Microsoft ecosystem, they work together effortlessly, meaning no need for third-party connectors or complex setups.

4. Embedded Excel Integration: Collaborate and Update in Real-Time

Do you find yourself constantly exporting data to Excel, only to struggle with re-importing it back into your system? Business Central solves that with its embedded Excel integration.

Imagine this scenario: You export your financial data to Excel, update it with your team, and then push the updated data back into Business Central—with no data loss or formatting issues. The integration keeps all your financial and operational reports intact, so collaboration is seamless.

• Why it matters: In most ERPs, you can export to Excel, but re-importing the data is a hassle and prone to errors. Business Central’s two-way Excel integration ensures that data flows smoothly between platforms.
• How it helps: Streamline financial forecasting, budgeting, and reporting without relying on manual data entry or complex re-import processes.

5. Cash Flow Forecasting with AI: Predict the Future of Your Finances

How accurate are your cash flow forecasts?

With Business Central, you get AI-driven cash flow forecasting that goes beyond simple historical analysis. The system uses machine learning to predict future cash flows based on past data, outstanding receivables, and planned expenses, giving you a clearer picture of your financial future.

• What’s special about it?: Unlike traditional cash flow reports, Business Central uses predictive analytics to forecast trends, helping you make smarter decisions about investments, spending, and liquidity.
• The benefit: Businesses can plan ahead with confidence, knowing that their financial predictions are backed by AI and machine learning.

Ready to See These Reports in Action?

These reports are just the beginning. With Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, you have a powerful tool that helps you make smarter, quicker decisions and stay ahead of the competition.

Interested in learning how Business Central can transform your reporting? Reach out to us today for a personalized demo or consultation at transform@cloudfronts.com, and let’s explore how we can tailor these reports to fit your business’s unique needs.