Welcome back! In this post we will explore the new(-ish) Power BI Reports for Business Central!

The Evolution of Reporting in Business Central

Reporting, like everything else, is evolving—at a rapid pace. With the explosion of AI tools, this evolution is only accelerating. We’ve already seen this with AI-driven model creation (check out some AMAZING content from Brian Julius) and the growing role of automation in coding. The same holds true for Business Central Reporting.

While reporting in Business Central is nothing new, traditional methods such as RDLC reports, out-of-the-box reports, and Excel-based reporting still hold their ground in this rapidly advancing technical landscape. However, the demand for dynamic, integrative, and interactive reports is on the rise.

Power BI Reports for Business Central

In this post, I want to highlight the Power BI reports that Microsoft has developed and deployed for Business Central users. These reports have been generally available since November 14, 2024, as part of the Business Central 2024 Release Wave 2 (Version 25.1).

Requirements

• Power BI Pro License
• Business Central Version 25.1

Report Overview

Microsoft has released a substantial number of reports, covering key business areas:

• Finance: 14 reports
• Sales: 12 reports
• Purchasing: 13 reports
• Inventory: 7 reports
• Manufacturing: 11 reports
• Projects: 6 reports

One of the most impressive aspects of these reports is that they are fully developed, multi-page reports – not just single-page dashboards. A common misconception I’ve noticed is the interchangeable use of the term report when referring to an individual page within a report, which likely stems from a traditional reporting mindset. However, these are complete reports with multiple pages per category.

Apps vs. Reports: Understanding the Difference

Before diving into specific reports, let’s address a key distinction: Apps vs. Reports in Power BI Service.

In Power BI, reports can be deployed as Apps, which group multiple reports into a seamless user experience. For example, if a Sales Workspace contains two reports, instead of users managing multiple open tabs or switching between files, these reports can be bundled into an App for streamlined access.

Organizations can deploy Workspace Apps internally, or users can download pre-built Apps—such as Microsoft-created solutions—from Power BI Service. These pre-built Apps provide an out-of-the-box reporting solution, with easier data connectivity through parameter settings.

If you’re interested in learning more about Apps, here’s a useful Microsoft Learn Reference.

Breakdown of Finance & Sales Apps

Below, I’ll Walk through the installation process and share my thoughts on these Apps. But first, let’s explore what’s inside the Finance and Sales Apps. Microsoft Learn already provides detailed breakdowns of each App and the reports they include:

• Sales App Breakdown
• Finance App Breakdown

Finance App

The link above provides an excellent breakdown of each individual page within the report. However, I want to offer a quick disclaimer—some of these Apps may require additional setup beyond simply entering company and environment details. The Finance App is no exception, and you can find more details on that setup here.

While these reports are primarily tabular, I believe that’s entirely appropriate given the audience. Accountants and finance professionals often prefer structured, row-and-column-based data over highly visual dashboards. Tables provide clarity, precision, and the ability to analyze data efficiently (did someone say export to Excel?).

Sales App

The Sales App is a bit more straightforward to connect compared to the Finance App. It only requires basic setup – entering company and environment information – making it easier to get up and running without additional configuration steps.

Similar to the Finance App, the Sales App leans towards a tabular reporting format, which makes sense given the nature of sales data. I do really enjoy the more varied visuals here though.

How to Install

The installation process is fairly simple for these apps. Follow the steps below to get the app installed and connected to your Business Central Data.

If you are unsure of which company and environment you are to connect to follow these steps inside of Business Central, then copy and paste into “Company” and “Environment” during the Power BI setup.

A Note

If you happen to be on version 25.1 and do not see the Power BI Connector Set up in Business Central you may be missing an extension. Follow this post here for directions on how to resolve this (not common).

First Impressions: A Powerful Yet Structured Solution

Wow—aren’t these reports incredible? That was my immediate reaction as someone who works with Business Central and Power BI daily. In the past, I’ve built out-of-the-box, plug-and-play reporting solutions for Business Central. However, one thing has always been clear- data is complex. There will never be a true one-size-fits-all solution because every organization operates differently and processes data in unique ways. That means prebuilt solutions – including these Apps, won’t be applicable for everyone.

That being said, I don’t believe these reports are intended to work for every scenario, and that’s a good thing. The variety of reports available allows businesses to choose the Apps that best align with their needs rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.

Customization Limitations: A Developer’s Perspective

One of my biggest hesitations with these Apps is the lack of customization options. From a development standpoint, it’s frustrating not to have direct access to the underlying data models. While I trust that Microsoft rigorously tested the data architecture through various preview phases (private and public), I’d love to see more flexibility in extending and modifying these reports based on individual business processes.

Currently, front-end modifications (such as swapping visuals) are possible, but these changes are overwritten when Microsoft pushes App updates. Users can make copies of these reports to preserve their customizations, but doing so means losing access to future updates, which could include important data structure improvements and new visualizations.

Who Are These Reports Best For?

Despite the limitations, I think these reports are a fantastic starting point for:

• Organizations new to Power BI—providing a solid introduction before diving into custom report development.
• Business Central users who need quick insights—without the time and effort required to build reports from scratch.
• Teams looking to explore Power BI’s capabilities—seeing what’s possible before investing in more tailored solutions.

These reports won’t answer every reporting question, nor will they all be applicable, but they are intuitive, well-structured, and a great supplement to an organization’s existing Power BI reports. Whether used as a standalone tool or as a foundation for deeper reporting strategies, they provide real value.

Strengths of Business Central Power BI Reports

• Data Visualization – The integration with Power BI offers clear, interactive dashboards, making it easy to track performance and trends.
• Seamless Integration – Works smoothly within the Microsoft ecosystem, making it ideal for businesses already using Dynamics 365 Business Central and Power BI.
• Pre-built Reports – Saves time by providing ready-to-use reports, reducing the need for manual data entry and custom report building.

Areas for Improvement

• Learning Curve – Users unfamiliar with Power BI may need time to adjust and fully utilize its features. Some training or guided onboarding would be beneficial.
• Performance with Large Data Sets – Depending on dataset size and complexity, some reports may experience slowdowns in loading times.
• Limited Development Opportunities – Currently, Business Central Power BI reports offer limited flexibility for deep modifications. While visuals can be customized, direct changes to the data model aren’t possible. Additionally, updates from Microsoft may override changes in the managed App workspace. Users can make a copy of the App but risk missing future Microsoft updates, including key visualization and data structure improvements.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Business Central Power BI Reports?

I suspect that Microsoft will continue evolving these reports, eventually offering more customization flexibility and deeper integration options. As Power BI adoption grows, organizations will demand greater control over their reporting structures, and I anticipate future updates will address these limitations.

Overall Verdict

⭐ Great for Microsoft-centric businesses looking for an integrated analytics solution that connects easily to Business Central with little work. Great as an add on to an organization already using Power BI and Business Central. Also fantastic for those who are live on Business Central and curious about Power BI.

⚠️ Not ideal for Experienced Power BI Developers who want to create custom solutions in Power BI Connected to Business Central. WITH access to data model and business preferred visualizations. Also, may not be ideal for organizations who have complex business processes or a heavily customized Business Central environment.