Introduction Data retention policies dictate which data should be stored or archived, where it should be stored, and for how long. When the retention period for a data set expires, the data can either be deleted or moved to secondary or tertiary storage as historical data. This approach helps maintain cleaner primary storage and ensures the organization remains compliant with data management regulations. In this blog, we’ll be covering –  Pre-requisites Business Central environment References Data Retention Policy Clean up Data with Retention Policy – Microsoft Learn Details In Business Central, we can define Retention Policies based on two main parameters – The table which is to be monitored and the retention policy. Retention Policy Retention periods specify how long data is kept in tables under a retention policy. These periods determine how often data is deleted. Retention periods can be as long or as short as needed. Applying a retention policy –  Retention policies can be applied automatically or manually. For automatic application, enable the policy, which creates a job queue entry to apply it according to the defined retention period. By default, the job queue entry applies policies daily at 0200, but this timing can be adjusted (refer below screenshot), preferably to non-business hours. All retention policies use the same job queue entry. For manual application, use the “Apply Manually” action on the Retention Policies page and turn on the “Manual” toggle to prevent the job queue entry from applying the policy automatically. We can also exclude or include certain records based on filters. Deselect the “Apply to all records” this will show a new tab where we can define the record filters. Every such group can have it’s own retention period. By default, only a few selected tables are shown in the table selection on the Retention Policy page. If we want to include our custom table in this list, we’ll have to do a small customization. **You cannot add tables that belong to seperate modules, for example “Purchase Header” cannot be added in this list by you. Unless you work at Microsoft in which case you already knew this. ** So here I’ve created a small sample table. And I’ve created an Codeunit with Install subtype where I’m adding my custom table to the allowed tables list. After deploying I can now see my custom table in the list. Developers also have the option to set Mandatory or Default filters on the custom tables. Mandatory filters cannot be removed and Default filters can be removed. To create a mandatory/default filter –  Setting the “Mandatory” parameter to true, makes it Mandatory otherwise it’s a default filter. When I add the table ID on the “Retention Policy” I get the following entry created automatically. If I try to remove the filters, I get the error –  Conclusion Thus, we saw how we can leverage Retention Policies in Business Central to reduce capacity wastage without heavy customizations.

Introduction Open Data Protocol (oData) is a web protocol for querying and updating data. It simplifies the data exchange between clients and servers, allowing for easy integration with RESTful APIs. One important feature of oData is the use of ETags (Entity Tags), which are part of the HTTP protocol and help manage the state of resources. ETags serve as a version identifier for a resource. When a client retrieves a resource, the server sends an ETag in the response. The client can then use this ETag in subsequent requests to ensure that it is working with the most current version of that resource. What is oData.ETag? In Postman, oData.ETag refers specifically to the ETag values used in oData responses. These tags help maintain data integrity during updates. When a client attempts to update a resource, it can include the ETag in the request headers. If the ETag matches the current version on the server, the update proceeds. If not, the server rejects the request, preventing unintended data overwrites. Using oData.ETag in Postman Fetching an ETag: When you send a GET request to an oData endpoint, look for the ETag header in the response. For example:GET https://api.example.com/odata/productsThe response might look like this:HTTP/1.1 200 OKETag: “W/\”123456789\”” Updating a Resource with ETag: When you need to update the resource, include the ETag in the If-Match header of your PUT or PATCH request:PATCH https://api.example.com/odata/products(1)If-Match: “W/\”123456789\””Content-Type: application/json {    “name”: “Updated Product Name”} If the ETag matches, the update occurs; otherwise, you’ll receive a 412 Precondition Failed response. Related Features in Postman Conditional Requests: Beyond oData, ETags are useful in REST APIs for conditional requests. You can use If-None-Match to check if a resource has changed before downloading it again, saving bandwidth and time. CORS Preflight Requests: When working with cross-origin requests, browsers may perform preflight checks using OPTIONS requests. Understanding ETags can help in managing these requests effectively, ensuring your API can handle them smoothly. Caching Strategies: Implementing caching with ETags can enhance performance. Postman can simulate caching behavior, allowing you to test how your API behaves when dealing with cached responses. Error Handling: Testing how your API handles errors, such as a mismatched ETag, is crucial for robustness. Postman’s test scripts can validate error responses and ensure that your API behaves as expected. Conclusion Understanding oData.ETag in Postman is essential for developers working with RESTful APIs, especially in scenarios where data integrity is critical. By leveraging ETags, you can ensure safe and efficient data updates, manage caching, and improve your overall API interactions.

Introduction Integrating Stripe’s payment gateway with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can streamline the payment process for businesses, enabling seamless transactions, real-time invoicing, and efficient payment tracking. By doing this, businesses can automate the process of accepting online payments and manage financial data in a single platform. This blog will guide you through the steps involved in integrating Stripe with Business Central, as well as the benefits and essential considerations. Why Integrate Stripe with Business Central? Steps to Integrate Stripe with Business Central 1. Set up a Stripe Account To get started, you’ll first need a Stripe account if you don’t already have one: – Sign up for a Stripe account on Stripe’s website. – Complete the necessary account verification steps and configure your business information. 2. Create an extension for the business central Business Central allows the integration of third-party payment gateways through extensions. We will customize our business central to capture Payments, Refunds, and Disputes by using a Payment journal. 3. Configure setup in Business Central With the help of customization, we will create a stripe setup in Business Central where we can define balance accounts and other important values. 4. Link Stripe with Business Central via Azure app Will create azure app to capture all transaction with help of Stripe webhooks. When building Stripe integrations, you might want your applications to receive events as they occur in your Stripe accounts, so that your backend systems can execute actions accordingly. To enable webhook events, you need to register webhook endpoints. After you register them, Stripe can push real-time event data to your application’s webhook endpoint when events happen in your Stripe account. Stripe uses HTTPS to send webhook events to your app as a JSON payload that includes an Event object. Receiving webhook events is particularly useful for listening to asynchronous events such as when a customer’s bank confirms a payment, a customer disputes a charge, a recurring payment succeeds, or when collecting subscription payments. Benefits of Integration Conclusion Integrating Stripe with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central simplifies the payment collection process, streamlines accounting tasks, and improves overall business efficiency. By following the steps above, businesses can easily set up this integration and begin accepting payments through Stripe directly within Business Central. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com

Introduction In today’s fast-paced business environment, ensuring timely and accurate communication with your customers is critical. One of the most frequent interactions businesses have with customers is providing them with account statements. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central simplifies this process, allowing users to send Customer Statements directly via email, streamlining communication and helping businesses maintain positive relationships with their clients. Steps to achieve the goal: 1. Log into Business Central Start by logging into your Business Central account. Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access customer information and send reports. 2. Access the Customer List Once logged in: 3. Select the Document Layout before you send an email to customers. 4. Setup Email Account (Optional if already configured) 4. Open the Statement Report Within the Customer Card: 5. Set Up the Statement Parameters Before generating the customer statement: 6. Send the Statement via Email Once the statement is ready: 8. Review and Send Once you’ve reviewed everything: Conclusion Sending customer statements via email in Business Central is a straightforward process that enhances customer communication while saving time. With just a few clicks, you can generate, customize, and send statements to your clients, ensuring that they stay informed about their account status. This efficient process helps you maintain accurate financial records, avoid payment delays, and ultimately, improve your cash flow. By leveraging Business Central’s customer statement feature, you can optimize your accounting workflows and focus more on growing your business. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com

Introduction How effectively are you tracking your company’s environmental impact? As sustainability becomes a growing priority, businesses need the right tools to monitor and manage their emissions. Dynamics 365 Business Central offers powerful features like the Chart of Sustainability Accounts (CoSA) and the Sustainability Ledger to help organizations streamline their sustainability efforts. In this guide, we’ll take a deep dive into how you can leverage these tools to enhance your environmental performance. What is the Chart of Sustainability Accounts (CoSA)? The Chart of Sustainability Accounts (CoSA) in Dynamics 365 Business Central is a specialized framework designed to manage emissions data, similar to a traditional chart of accounts but tailored for sustainability metrics. Key Features: Question: Have you already identified the key areas of your business that contribute to emissions? Think about where CoSA can help you focus on reducing your environmental impact. Managing Sustainability Accounts – Adding and Modifying Accounts Tip: Be cautious when deleting accounts. If they have existing ledger entries, you’ll need to resolve those before deletion to maintain data integrity. Interactive Element: Understanding Account Categories – Purpose and Setup Pro Tip: If your organization needs specific calculations, you can create custom formulas. This ensures that emissions are tracked accurately, even for complex or unique activities. Calculation Foundations The system uses different methods to calculate emissions based on the emission type and category. Here are some examples: Interactive Question: Have you considered which scope of emissions contributes the most to your environmental footprint? Scope 1, 2, or 3? Account Subcategories – Purpose and Setup Did You Know?: You can also set up renewable energy-related subcategories. By marking the Renewable Energy field, you can easily track the impact of renewable energy use in your operations. Interactive Element: Have you considered using renewable energy in your business? Start tracking it separately in CoSA to measure its impact on your emissions. Sustainability Ledger Entries – Purpose and Management Correcting Errors Once data is posted, it cannot be deleted. To correct errors, simply post a reverse transaction with the same details but a negative amount. Interactive Tip: Worried about data entry mistakes? Start with a test entry in the ledger to familiarize yourself with the system before posting live data. Conclusion The Chart of Sustainability Accounts and Sustainability Ledger in Dynamics 365 Business Central are invaluable tools for businesses aiming to reduce their environmental impact. By properly configuring CoSA, setting up categories and subcategories, and using the sustainability ledger, you can gain deeper insights into your emissions and improve your sustainability practices. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com

Introduction Are you looking to enhance your business’s sustainability efforts? Dynamics 365 Business Central’s Sustainability Management feature helps businesses monitor, manage, and report their environmental impact, with a focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With this tool, you can track your emissions across various scopes to align with your company’s sustainability goals. But how can you ensure this tool is properly configured to maximize its benefits for your organization? Key Features and Capabilities 1. Emission Tracking Imagine being able to track emissions across multiple dimensions. Here’s how the tool categorizes them: Tip: Start by listing all the potential sources of emissions in your business. Can you think of ways to reduce emissions in Scope 1 or 2 right now? 2. Setup and Configuration Setting up this feature correctly is key to getting meaningful data. Pro Tip: If you’re unsure where to begin with emission factors, consider consulting with a sustainability expert to ensure you’re using accurate numbers. 3. Data Management Question: Which areas of your business could benefit most from detailed emission tracking—your supply chain, your operations, or perhaps both? 4. Reporting and Insights Call to Action: Ready to see how these reports can help streamline your sustainability goals? Schedule a demo today to explore the full reporting capabilities! Benefits Still wondering if this feature is right for your business? Here’s what you stand to gain: Example: One of our clients reduced their Scope 2 emissions by 15% after better understanding their energy consumption patterns using Business Central’s data management features. Step-by-Step Setup Guide To configure the Sustainability module in Dynamics 365 Business Central, follow these steps carefully. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with all the terms—we’ll guide you through each section: 1. General Fast-Tab Configuration Tip: Choosing the right level of precision can make a big difference in how your data is interpreted. 2. Calculations Fast-Tab Configuration Pro Tip: If your emissions are mostly related to transportation, focus on fine-tuning the distance and fuel data. 3. Reporting Fast-Tab Configuration (Note: This section is for future reporting capabilities) Did you know? Although this feature isn’t available in version 24.0, it will be in future updates. Stay ahead by configuring the settings now! Conclusion The Sustainability Management feature in Dynamics 365 Business Central provides critical tools for managing your environmental footprint. By configuring units of measure, decimal places, and reporting parameters, you can tailor the system to meet your business’s sustainability goals. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Introduction Effective project management is essential for business success, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides robust tools to improve project management practices. As a functional consultant, I’ve witnessed the transformative impact of Business Central on project oversight, workflow efficiency, and overall productivity. In this blog post, I will offer insights on how to effectively utilize Business Central for successful project management. An Overview of Project Management in Business Central D365 Business Central features a wide array of project management tools that assist businesses in overseeing projects from start to finish. These resources facilitate efficient planning, execution, and monitoring, ensuring that projects are delivered on schedule and within budget. Key Features and Functionalities Practical Applications Implementation and Configuration Benefits and ROI Adopting Business Central’s project management capabilities can lead to notable improvements in efficiency and project results. Clients frequently benefit from: Conclusion Leveraging D365 Business Central for project management offers numerous advantages, from improved visibility to enhanced financial control. By taking advantage of the platform’s powerful features, businesses can streamline project workflows, optimize resource allocation, and achieve superior project outcomes. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com

Introduction Tracking user logins in Business Central helps you understand how your system is used. The “Register Time” feature makes it easy to see when users log in and how long they stay. This guide will show you how to set it up and check user activity. Pre-requisites Business Central (On-prem/On-Cloud) Steps Step 1: Activate the Register Time Feature Step 2: Configure Individual User Settings Step 3: Check User Login Data By following these steps, you can easily monitor how often users log in and how long they stay connected to your system. Conclusion Tracking user logins and session times in Business Central helps you understand how your system is used. By setting up the Register Time feature and checking the User Time Registers page, you can easily monitor user activity and make informed decisions to improve system performance. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com

Introduction Namespaces help avoid name conflicts that can arise from combining libraries by grouping code into logical groupings and hierarchies. Namespaces give the code base structure, which facilitates navigation and comprehension, guarantee uniqueness in code names, and permit name reuse in many situations. Numerous computer languages employ namespaces, and Business Central provides them with AL from Business Central 2023 wave 2 (BC23). Table Customer All objects in the code file belong to the namespace that is declared at the beginning of an AL file. Pre-requisites Business Central onCloud References https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/developer/devenv-namespaces-overview Configuration They can be used to help avoid naming conflicts between different extensions, making it easier to maintain and understand extensions, including the relationship between different objects. Namespace syntax To declare a namespace in AL, you must use the namespace keyword followed by the name of the namespace. Some best practices for namespace keywords are: Example:  namespace DevOrg.Client.SpecificModule; You can use the same namespace declaration in other.al files to declare multiple objects in the same namespace. The same namespace is shared by all code files that employ the same namespace declaration. If you try to utilize an object after namespaces have been declared, an error will occur. Example: The error will be fixed after declaring a keyword with namespace name. Conclusion At first glance, namespaces appear superfluous and confusing, but as you use them, you’ll realize their true value and realize they’re not that complicated after all. Give them a try. These are all excellent practices that Microsoft supports as well. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com