Data talks. And if you listen, it will reveal some powerful secrets about your business operations. Many companies are turning to Microsoft’s Power BI, part of the Power Platform suite, for data-driven insights to transform data into actionable insights and facilitate informed decision-making.

Power BI’s standout features are its user-friendly interface, seamless integration with other Microsoft applications, and powerful Power BI data visualization capabilities, making it a prominent business intelligence platform.

Power BI: An Overview

In today’s data-driven world, it is essential to possess the appropriate instruments to analyze and visualize data. Power BI has become a premier solution for companies of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises.

Whether in retail, finance, healthcare, or any other industry, Microsoft’s Power BI, an interactive business intelligence and data visualization application, can help you generate visually appealing and informative reports and dashboards.

10 compelling reasons why Power BI is the premier data visualization tool

1. User-Friendliness

One of the most compelling factors for utilizing Power BI is its user-friendly interface. Power BI’s intuitive interface allows users with limited technical knowledge to create complex data visualizations. The platform’s ability to generate reports is accessible to non-technical personnel, which alleviates the workload of your IT department. The drag-and-drop functionality facilitates the process, and the platform offers many templates to develop reports rapidly.

2. Integration with the Microsoft Ecosystem

Power BI integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products, including SQL Server, Azure, and Excel. This integration improves the tool’s capabilities and ensures compatibility with the tools you may already use. It simplifies importing data from various sources and streamlines your workflow. Power BI guarantees a seamless and efficient data analysis process regardless of whether you utilize Azure services or Office 365.

3. Access to Real-Time Data

Real-time data access is indispensable in today’s fast-paced business environment. Power BI delivers real-time data access, enabling users to track their business metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) as they occur. This feature is especially beneficial for maintaining a competitive edge and making timely decisions.

4. Advanced Data Modeling

Power BI allows for the development of sophisticated data models that facilitate in-depth analysis. The tool supports diverse data sources and provides various comprehensive data transformation, cleansing, and integration features. The Power Query and DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) functionalities enable users to manipulate data and effortlessly generate intricate calculations.

5. Individualized Visualizations

Power BI supports custom visualizations and a diverse selection of built-in visualizations. Users can use the Power BI marketplace to acquire and integrate supplementary visualizations corresponding to their precise requirements. This adaptability enables you to customize your dashboards and reports to offer pertinent insights.

6. Dashboards and Interactive Reports

Power BI’s interactive capabilities are well-known. Users can explore data, apply filters, and engage with reports to uncover more profound insights. This interactivity facilitates the comprehension of trends, the identification of patterns, and the formulation of data-driven decisions. It is also possible to share Power BI dashboards with team members, which fosters informed decision-making and collaboration.

7. Performance and Scalability

The volume of data that requires analysis increases in tandem with your business’s expansion. Power BI intends to ensure optimal performance as data volumes increase by efficiently managing large datasets. Due to its scalability, the tool is appropriate for businesses of all sizes, making you feel secure and confident in its ability to grow with your company.

8. Compliance and Security

Data security is paramount for any organization. Power BI provides various security features to safeguard your data, such as data encryption, row-level security, and compliance with industry standards like GDPR. These features guarantee the security of your data and instill confidence in the tool’s reliability, making you feel reassured and confident in using Power BI.

9. Accessibility on Mobile Devices

In today’s mobile-centric world, it is essential to have access to data on the go. Power BI provides iOS and Android mobile applications, enabling users to access reports and dashboards from any device or location. This mobility guarantees that you can remain connected to your data and make informed decisions, irrespective of location.

10. Cost-Effective Solution

Power BI provides a cost-effective solution compared to other available data visualization products. Microsoft offers a range of pricing plans for Power BI, including a free edition, to accommodate businesses with varying budgets. Due to its value in terms of features and capabilities, Power BI is a beneficial investment for any organization.

Conclusion: Implementing Power BI to Achieve Business Success

In conclusion, Power BI is a versatile and robust tool that can revolutionize how businesses analyze and visualize data. It is the optimal choice for data visualization due to its simplicity, integration capabilities, real-time data access, advanced data modeling, custom visualizations, interactive reports, scalability, security, mobile accessibility, and cost-effectiveness.

Organizations can achieve significant business success by leveraging Power BI’s strengths to obtain deeper insights and make data-driven decisions. Power BI provides the necessary tools to maximize the potential of data, regardless of whether you are a modest business owner or a member of a large enterprise.

Therefore, if you have not already done so, it is imperative to investigate Power BI’s potential for your organization. By embracing the power of data visualization with Power BI, you can take your business intelligence to the next level.

Is It Time to Get Greater Data Insights with Power BI?

Liberty Grove can help you use all the Microsoft Power Platform suite tools to improve your organization’s productivity, efficiency, and profitability.

Contact Liberty Grove for a complimentary consultation on how its experts can help you use Power BI to understand your data and make informed business decisions.

Related Reading

Greater Data Insights? 6 Reasons to Implement Power BI

The Power Pair: Business Central and Power Platform

About the author

Liberty Grove Software is an established Microsoft Partner that focuses on providing customers with sales, service, and support for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central/NAV solutions and training and upgrades.

Over more than 25 years, Liberty Grove has assisted hundreds of customers with businesses ranging from small to mid-sized to Microsoft Partners in implementing, training, customization, and upgrading Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions.

The organization is one of only a few companies worldwide that Microsoft recognizes as qualified to provide Business Central/NAV Upgrade Service Centers.

As the pressure for manufacturers to be more competitive increases steadily, so does the need for more tools to drive efficiency. The race is on – and Microsoft is cheering you to the finish line with its “power pair,” Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform.

The dynamic duo is making waves with its integration capabilities, fueling efficiencies, customer satisfaction, and profitability in organizations of all sizes.

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central?

In short, it’s a cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution that simplifies the management of finances, operations, sales, and customer service. It works effortlessly with other Microsoft products like Office 365, Dynamics 365, Azure, and third-party applications to expand functionality, streamline efficiency, and manage numerous business operations.

What is the Microsoft Power Platform, and how do its essential components function together?

Microsoft’s Power Platform is intuitive and collaborative. It provides several low-code tools for swiftly automating processes, building apps, and developing valuable solutions for various uses. By merging inclusive and easily accessible technology for everyday business use, it enables its users to create new end-to-end business solutions that add value to stakeholders and accelerate business success.

Microsoft Power Platform: Streamlining Operations

So, how do you connect Microsoft Power Platform with Business Central?

Power Platform consists of four components that can be used separately or combined to create applications, workflows, dashboards, and chatbots:

1. Power Apps

2. Power Automate

3. Power BI

4. Power Virtual Agents

The combination of Microsoft Power Platform with Business Central, whether in a Software as a Service (SaaS) or on-premises environment, provides many options for optimizing business operations and gaining significant data insights. Integrating Power Platform and Business Central can transform your business operations. The possibilities are endless, and you can personalize the integration according to your requirements and goals.

Connecting the Dots: A Step-by-Step Guide for Integrating Power Platform with Business Central

Step 1: Enable the integration in Business Central (via Dataverse)

Before connecting to Business Central using the Power Platform, you must allow integration in Business Central. To accomplish this, take these steps:

• Log into your Business Central account as an administrator.
• Navigate to the Setup & Extensions page and select Assisted Setup.
• In the list of aided setup guidelines, locate and pick Set up a connection to Dataverse.

To enable integration, enter your Power Platform environment information and pick the entities you want to sync between Business Central and Dataverse.

After you allow the integration, a confirmation message will appear with a link to the Data Integration page, where you can check the synchronization status.

Step 2: Connect to Business Central using the Power Platform

After you’ve enabled the integration in Business Central, use the Dynamics 365 Business Central connector to connect to it from the Power Platform. This connector gives you access to your Business Central data and activities using Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents. To utilize this connector, take the following steps:

• Log in to your Power Platform account and choose which component to utilize (Power Apps, Power Automate, or Power Virtual Agents).
• In the component’s interface, check for the option to add a new connection or data source.
• Select Dynamics 365 Business Central from the list of available connectors.

In the connection settings, enter your Business Central account information and credentials. After connecting, you will see your Business Central data and activities in the component’s UI.

Step 3: Create and consume solutions on the Power Platform

You’re all set!

Now that you’ve linked to Business Central via Power Platform, you may utilize Power Platform to design and deploy solutions based on your Business Central data and activities.

So, What Can You Achieve After Integration?

Power Apps allows you to create custom apps that connect to your Business Central data and perform actions like tracking locations, sending ‘Work from Home’ notifications, placing warehouse items, capturing proof of delivery, creating sales orders, updating inventory, sending invoices, and more.

You can utilize the Dynamics 365 Business Central connector as a data source in your app, and its actions will allow you to interact with your Business Central data.

You can also utilize connectors like Office 365, Outlook, or SharePoint to link your app to other systems or services. Here are some examples of how you can increase your organizational efficiency:

• Power Apps, placed on a delivery driver’s portable device, are used to obtain the receiver’s signature or a photo at the delivery location using Microsoft Power Dashboard.
• Use Power Automate to create automated tasks and processes between Business Central and other systems or services. You can utilize the Dynamics 365 Business Central connector as a trigger or action in your flow; its actions will interact with your Business Central data. You can also use connectors like AI Builder, Adaptive Cards, Office 365, Outlook, or SharePoint to connect your flow to other systems or services.
• Use Power BI to visualize and analyze your Business Central data and share reports with stakeholders. You can include the Dynamics 365 Business Central connector as a data source in your report and use its queries to retrieve Business Central data.
• Create chatbots with Power Virtual Agents to connect with consumers and workers while providing information or assistance from Business Central, such as inventory inquiries, making contacts, and generating service or sales orders.

From improved efficiency to increased productivity: Real-World Applications of Power Platform with Business Central Integration

Integrating Microsoft Power Platform and Business Central has proven to be a game changer for businesses across multiple industries. By incorporating the characteristics of these two formidable platforms, companies of all sizes and types have seen significant gains in their operations, decision-making, and overall efficiency. Let’s look at how this integration can benefit businesses across the board.

Digitize and automate critical activities, such as:

• Inventory Management
• Order Tracking
• Improved client communication and collaboration through production planning

Power Automate, when linked with Business Central, makes it easier to request permissions for new documents or requests and automate communications and repetitive chores, including:

• Lead Nurturing
• Campaign Management
• Freeing up time for sales and marketing specialists

Automate service delivery methods, ensuring:

• Effective resource allocation
• Prompt project completion

Improve sales performance by:

• Analyzing the sales cycle duration
• Evaluating and identifying employee performance and opportunities to improve conversion rates

Improve customer service by examining the following:

• Customer satisfaction levels
• Case resolution times
• Service activities performed over a measurable length of time

The benefits of the combined platforms are realized across sectors and organizational levels, resulting in insights into customer behavior, sales performance, and campaign efficacy, which leads to focused tactics and more significant revenue.

Conclusion

Integrating Microsoft Power Platform with Business Central provides an excellent opportunity to maximize the value of your business operations and data insights.

You can smoothly link the “power pair” and use their combined capabilities. The opportunities for automating procedures, generating new applications, and gaining essential insights through analytics are unlimited. Embrace the power of integration to help your company survive and thrive in today’s digital landscape.

Microsoft Power Platform and Business Central integration has resulted in transformations in all types of enterprises. Companies in various industries, from small and medium-sized organizations to giant corporations, can use this connection to streamline operations, make data-driven choices, and provide excellent customer experiences, driving business success.

Deploying and optimizing these applications to their maximum potential may necessitate the assistance of professionals. Contact Liberty Grove for a complimentary consultation on how our experienced consultants can assist and provide the support you require to achieve a smooth integration and maximize the benefits for your company.

Related reading:

Leveraging AI in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

What is Microsoft AppSource, and Why Does It Matter?

About the author

Liberty Grove Software is an established Microsoft Partner that focuses on providing customers with sales, service, and support for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central/NAV solutions and training and upgrades.

Liberty Grove Software helps manufacturing firms compete by automating tedious operations with Microsoft technologies. Our extensive manufacturing knowledge has established us as the preferred Microsoft partner for assisting mid-sized manufacturers in increasing production.

Over more than 25 years, Liberty Grove has assisted hundreds of customers with businesses ranging from small to mid-sized to Microsoft Partners in implementing, training, customization, and upgrading Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions.

The organization is one of only a few companies worldwide that Microsoft recognizes as qualified to provide Business Central/NAV Upgrade Service Centers.

Consider Microsoft AppSource to be the ultimate app shop for Microsoft products. AppSource, according to Microsoft’s concept, is the central hub for purchasing any business app. It’s easy to use, and you can look for products by industry, functionality, or application.

Microsoft AppSource is an online store with thousands of business applications and services developed by industry leaders. It allows you to find, sample, buy, and deploy business software and services to help you operate your business.

And you can make all your purchases from the comfort of your office without needing to venture out to find your ideal solution. Imagine the time savings.

The Buying Status Quo is Changing

If you purchased a Microsoft business solution in the past, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, it was most likely through one of their salespeople or a partner. Business users are changing how they buy apps due to the market’s reaction to significant changes in how consumers purchase apps online through Google Play or Apple’s App Store.

According to a Forrester Consulting survey, 73% of company customers perceive the web as more convenient for shopping. According to the same study, in 2023, e-commerce was predicted to account for 17% of all business-to-business transactions.

Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, solutions created for Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365, Power BI, Power Apps, and consulting services from Microsoft partners are all available to users through Microsoft AppSource.

Microsoft AppSource solutions are accessible through Microsoft resellers participating in the Cloud Solution Provider program.

What’s Available on Microsoft AppSource?

Microsoft AppSource is a service that allows business users to discover and test software-as-a-service (SaaS) programs from Microsoft and its partners. Web Apps and apps built on top of Microsoft Dynamics, Office 365, and PowerApps such as Power BI are examples of Microsoft AppSource apps.

Microsoft AppSource, which debuted with the release of Microsoft Dynamics 365, now features over 7,000 apps from Microsoft and partners and is rapidly expanding.

With Microsoft AppSource, you can access the following:

Apps: solutions catered to various industries, categories, and company requirements.

Consulting Services: including prepackaged services for your Microsoft solutions, assessments, briefings, implementations, proofs of concept, and workshops.

Profiles of Microsoft partners: profiles of trusted Microsoft partners who can use Microsoft-based services to help your organization digitally change and achieve business goals faster.

How Does AppSource Work?

AppSource offers many apps to organizations as a free trial or test drive, allowing you to assess if the app adds new features to your existing business apps before purchasing. You can find solutions that complement your needs, from Dynamics to Power BI.

Other apps, such as a PayPal for Outlook add-in, are free. Some of the more industry-specific apps created on Dynamics 365 may require the assistance of a Microsoft partner to execute.

AppSource Consulting Services

In addition to apps, Microsoft AppSource features partner offerings for Dynamics 365, PowerApps, and Power BI consulting services.

For example, in the case of a one-day evaluation for firms considering upgrading to Dynamics 365 or a more in-depth one-week examination for other Microsoft ISV partners looking to connect their solution with Dynamics 365, the result would be the development of an app published on AppSource.

What’s in the Future for Microsoft AppSource?

Few apps are accessible today as transactional apps, such as those found in Google Play and Apple’s App Store, where you enter your payment information (credit card or otherwise) and “play as you go.” The traditional model, however, is likely to alter drastically soon.

Microsoft recently announced that AppSource will be part of a larger single Microsoft online marketplace that will simplify the process of customers and partners trying and procuring solutions through eCommerce, including the option to buy thousands of Microsoft partner apps from a Microsoft pricelist with a simplified single purchasing and billing process.

Meanwhile, have a look at what’s currently available on Microsoft AppSource.

Since the first launch of Microsoft AppSource, much has changed regarding what it implies for current Dynamics clients and those considering Dynamics 365 for the first time. So, what exactly is it, and how do you utilize it?

What distinguishes Microsoft AppSource from existing ISV, Third Party, and Add-on Solutions?

Microsoft AppSource is unique because you can instantly search for and load an app. It’s much like using an app store on a smartphone or tablet. You search for something you want to try, press a button, and it deploys to your application.

The old procedure of contacting an ISV, having your Partner merge the code, and managing deployments across numerous environments is becoming obsolete. AppSource app developers employ an extension approach that complies with standards that allow you to install or uninstall those apps at your leisure.

Because of the new deployment approach, AppSource is not backward compatible with previous Dynamics AX, NAV, and CRM versions.

Even if you use an older version of those programs, you may still benefit from AppSource today using Office, Power BI, or another application. Additionally, you can still browse AppSource for apps that may be useful as part of your upgrading plans.

Some Solution Apps use “Partner-led Trials,” in which you receive a cloud environment to test the product and are placed in touch with the Partner to demonstrate various functionalities. Supporting trial deployments on Azure is one of the Partner’s listing requirements.

What Has Changed?

At the initial introduction of AppSource, the discourse was on the Dynamics family of products (Dynamics 365, AX, CRM, NAV, etc.).

Since then, AppSource has taken on a considerably more significant role. Apps, Extensions, and Solution Apps for Office 365, Power BI, Dynamics 365, and Azure “Cloud Solutions” are now available.

Previously, Microsoft distributed these across marketplaces (Azure Marketplace, Pinpoint, etc.).

Based on the crystal ball, we anticipate more consolidation of diverse AppSource providers and additional built-in “get apps” choices within existing Microsoft programs.

Interested in Learning More About Microsoft AppSource?

Liberty Grove can help you use many tools and services to help you optimize productivity, efficiency, and profitability throughout your organization.

Contact Liberty Grove for a complimentary consultation on how Microsoft AppSource can provide you with additional tools to drive your company’s success.

About the author

Liberty Grove Software is an established Microsoft Partner that focuses on providing customers with sales, service, and support for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Dynamics NAV solutions and training and upgrades.

Over more than 25 years, Liberty Grove has assisted hundreds of customers with businesses ranging from small to mid-sized to Microsoft Partners in implementing, training, customization, and upgrading Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions.

The most thorough training and education event on Microsoft business applications for finance and accounting, IT, operations, and systems administrators is Community Summit 2023, from Dynamics Communities, which will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, October 15-18, 2023. 

And Community Summit 2023 it’s a hot ticket. Why?

Community Summit 2023 will feature 500+ sessions on AI, Dynamics, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and more.

The “for user, by user” event aims to shorten the time it takes to complete the equivalent of months of training. Users can navigate how-to and tutorial sessions that provide practical advice they can bring back and implement at their businesses.

Plus, if purchased before the 5-day event, every attendee’s registration fee will be at most $1,849 to access a variety of sessions. Comparatively, a single online training course from a company can cost more than $2,500; your Community Summit 2023 ROI is a no-brainer, say previous participants. 

11 compelling reasons to add Community Summit 2023 to this year’s budget

• 4,000+ attendees from business administration, IT, accounting, and finance roles across various sectors and businesses of all sizes
• 500+ expert-led education sessions organized by AI, Dynamics & Dynamics 365 ERPs, Power Platform, Data, Business Intelligence, Customer Service, Vertical Industry and more
• Tech-Medic Help Desks, where knowledgeable users work to address your unique difficulties or issues
• General sessions by Microsoft executives providing updates and business and ERP roadmap apps you regularly use
• 200+ partners and independent software vendors (ISVs) on the expo floor to close gaps in implementation, data management, cybersecurity, automation, reporting, and more
• Registration fee covers all meals and receptions
• A welcome celebration with live music, food, beverages, and special events on the expo floor
• NASCAR Hall of Fame reception with notable NASCAR attendees, food, beverages, and engaging racing experiences
• Opportunity to network with peers and exchange ideas and experiences –understanding other companies’ difficulties and how they overcame them is valuable information
• More than 30 hands-on academy training sessions that count toward continuing education requirements (additional cost)
• The Preconference AI Summit on October 16 will feature Microsoft executives, AI MVPs, and knowledgeable users (additional cost)

Community Summit 2023 Academy – an education bonus

As an add-on to your event registration (at an additional fee), the Community Summit 2023 Academy program can help you accomplish three key goals:

1. Deep dive into a particular Microsoft business application area for intensive training in the “master class” format
2. Establish a connection between you and a knowledgeable trainer in the field who will help you understand how to apply the training to your company
3. Earn CPE (Continuing Professional Education) credits to meet your continuing education requirements on time

Academy is a fantastic opportunity to employ tailored material and specialized classroom instruction to support learning, development, and growth for Dynamics users. 

Community Summit 2023 – a fountain of knowledge

There are numerous reasons why you might consider Community Summit 2023. Knowledge is a precious asset, so it’s an excellent opportunity to learn something new.

Conference attendees can absorb information in a manner that reading an article or participating in a conference call can’t match, whether that knowledge happens to be the newest games or a tutorial on the future of cloud computing.

And while there’s something for everyone in the learning opportunities, you won’t want to miss the chance to meet and collaborate with like-minded peers to share business experiences and solutions.

Haven’t registered yet? Secure your ticket.

Are you concerned about push-back from your manager? This will help justify your trip!

Learning sessions with Liberty Grove’s Andrew Good

Liberty Grove CEO Andrew Good will be featured as a panelist, co-presenter, and independent speaker in several sessions.

Andrew built his 22 years of Microsoft Dynamics 365 BC/NAV experience on personal experiences with various companies. His project experiences range from finance to manufacturing (automotive, food and beverage, and aerospace). The central themes of knowing costs and revenues are pervasive and have empowered clients to make good decisions about their operations.

Throughout his career, Andrew has helped customers get the most out of their BC/NAV systems through integrations, upgrades, and extensions that allow them to deal with their changing business environments. His expertise includes leveraging the available tools to deliver end-to-end solutions.

Andrew also speaks at many industry events.

You can learn more about the learning sessions with Andrew below:

Ask the Experts: Manufacturing

Tuesday, October 17 • 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM EST

Manufacturing is indeed a topic for the experts. Attend this session with queries or difficulties you may be experiencing with manufacturing. An expert panel will share advice and assist in this open discussion.

Panelists: Cliff McDaniel (Moderator), Ben Baxter, Steven Chinsky, Andrew Good, Dave Wiser

Manufacturing in Business Central for Newbies

Tuesday, October 17 • 2:45 PM – 4:00 PM EST

This session is appropriate for you if you are new to manufacturing or the Business Central production module. It will focus on a review of the fundamentals of setting up items, Bills of Materials (BOMs), routings, dealing with Production Orders, and posting inputs and outputs. You’ll receive advice on how to avoid manufacturing errors, particularly as some of them are difficult to fix. We’ll construct a fictitious potato chip factory to help with comprehension.

Presenters: Andrew Good, Steven Chinsky

Supply Chain Challenges Today

Wednesday, October 18 • 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST

Bring your supply chain problems and use the influence of your peers to gain new insights. You will have the chance to share your expertise and knowledge with others. In this roundtable discussion, you can benefit from one another’s experiences and discuss what has and hasn’t worked for you.

Speaker: Andrew Good

Ask the Experts: Inventory, Warehouse & Supply Chain

Thursday, October 19 • 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST

Amidst the ongoing geopolitical, economic, epidemic, and weather-related problems, supply chains remain a significant concern.

In this interactive discussion, a panel of supply chain professionals will explore how they are sustaining business operations, meeting urgent demands, and minimizing supplier problems during this disruptive time.

To provide first-hand insight into current strategies, best practices, and forward-looking approaches to navigating the current environment and the inevitable storms ahead, we’ll draw on various experiences across the supply chain, from inventory management to shipping, receiving, EDI, and warehousing.

Panelists: Kate Pinyan (Moderator), Steven Chinsky, Andrew Good, Chris Howes, Bryan Whitney

If you attend any of Andrew’s sessions, please seek him out and say, “Hello!” Got questions about your business for Andrew? Contact us to schedule your personal 1:1 session where you can ask Andrew about what’s on your mind. 

About the author

Liberty Grove Software is an established Microsoft Partner that focuses on providing customers with sales, service, and support for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central/NAV solutions and training and upgrades.

Over more than 25 years, Liberty Grove has assisted hundreds of customers with businesses ranging from small to mid-sized to Microsoft Partners in implementing, training, customization, and upgrading Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions.

The organization is one of only a few companies worldwide that Microsoft recognizes as qualified to provide Business Central/NAV Upgrade Service Centers.

Have you ever wished you had a crystal ball to help you gain critical data insights for your business? That crystal ball is here – in the form of Power BI. And, unlike most things that sound too good to be true, this powerful tool is the real deal.

But here’s the best part: your team doesn’t need to be technical geniuses to master it!

Power BI is a business analytics solution that, in the words of Microsoft, “lets you visualize your data, share insights across your organization, or embed them in your app or website.”

It’s a powerful combination of business intelligence (BI), reporting, and data visualization tools and services that can increase the effectiveness of people and teams.

In addition to connecting with other Microsoft products and services, Power BI sets itself apart with streamlined publication and distribution tools. But is it the best choice for your business?

How does Power BI help companies with data insights?

Every industry’s market (and each organization within it) is distinct, with unique issues and challenges. As a result, companies use a variety of selling and marketing strategies to offer a range of services and goods.

Systems in every industry produce a range of data in sizes ranging from terabytes to exabytes. Business intelligence (BI) is how organizations evaluate this data and deliver information that informs decisions. These business intelligence-based decisions are essential to the company’s performance.

BI is a rapidly expanding technology that now permeates every industry worldwide. The success of BI services in providing clients with a personalized experience is very high. Businesses are utilizing the potential of this technology by using a large variety of BI Services. Power BI is one such tool that facilitates making complex business decisions.

Why use Power BI?

Microsoft’s cloud-based business intelligence service, Power BI, is a product of the company’s extensive experience with relational databases, including Access, SQL Server, and others. An effective business intelligence platform enables organizations to thoroughly clean data before turning it into useful information. It extensively examines data and imparts insightful knowledge.

The Gartner Magic Quadrant for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms places Microsoft in the leaders’ quadrant, making it the dominant vendor in the market. Gartner considers Power BI a go-to platform based on its vision of completeness and capacity to implement BI solutions.

Here are the top 6 reasons why Power BI is best-in-class:

1. Usability

Power BI’s interface is straightforward and user-friendly. Utilizing Power BI doesn’t require any programming knowledge. It features built-in intelligence that guides your choice of attributes for your reports by recommending the most appropriate reporting component.

Example: When you choose sales and category after selecting the appropriate data source, it will automatically determine the proper column chart for you. Similarly, if you choose sales and location, the map chart will be recognized automatically.

It connects to the data source via a simple user interface (UI). When choosing a data source, you can select attributes for your reports by dragging and dropping them.

QA is one feature where you can type a question, and Power BI will respond with a value or graph depending on the inquiry, among other capabilities. For instance, asking, “What was this year’s revenue by month” will provide a diagram showing your revenue broken down by month.

2. Simple to Learn

Power BI is built on the foundation of Excel and creates reports similarly. It makes it easy to learn because Microsoft Excel is a commonly used and widely accepted piece of software.

The principles of Microsoft SQL Server and the Microsoft Access database are the sole foundation for data modeling. As a result, Power BI’s data modeling is straightforward for consumers and programmers to embrace.

The Power BI website provides many learning resources to help you understand its impact and flexibility.

3. Easy to Work With

Power BI offers tools that make it simple to collaborate. Users can work with colleagues in “app” workspaces to produce interactive reports and dashboards. Users can combine dashboards and reports with apps that the user can share with a broader audience. When you have a small audience, Power BI makes sharing dashboards or reports a breeze using the mobile app.

The report can be exported as a PowerPoint Presentation and printed by the user. They can even post reports and dashboards on open websites for viewing and interaction by anybody worldwide.

4. Value for Money

The user can create simple and complex reports and dashboards using the free Power BI desktop. Power BI’s pro licenses are reasonably priced (USD 10 per month). Power BI includes a premium version that enables you to tailor costing based on your audience usage if you have a larger audience.

5. Broad Data Source Coverage

Microsoft Excel, SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, IBM DB2, IBM Netezza, IBM Informix, PostgreSQL, Sybase, SAP Hana, Amazon Redshift, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Data Warehouse, Azure Analysis Services database, Azure Blob Storage, MailChimp, Facebook, GitHub, Salesforce, and many other data sources are just a few of the data sources for which Power BI has connectors.

6. Effective Visualization 

Thanks to Microsoft, the Power BI visualization is SDK (software development kit) available, along with a sizable library for unique visualization. This feature allows users to modify the UI to suit their needs.

A tool called Query Editor, which is incredibly powerful and flexible and has a ton of functionality, is provided by Data Shaping Power BI. The fact that it is self-documenting is the most significant feature. It also allows you to learn more about the DAX language.

Data Modeling

Any well-developed BI solution is robust. Based on knowledge of the SQL database and Cube technology, Power BI offers a variety of highly effective data modeling solutions.

Power BI’s rivals who provide comparable functionality include several others, including ZOHO Reports, IBM Watson Analytics, Sisense, and Google Analytics, to mention a few. However, the ease of use and quick response time of Microsoft Help made Power BI stand out in the industry.

Conclusion

Power BI and other business intelligence tools give you the tools you need for better strategic analysis of how to consolidate your data streams, improve accessibility, and gain more intelligent insights. They also enable you to analyze your data and keep your business operating efficiently.

It’s simple to understand why Power BI is popular among businesses seeking better insights, dynamic dashboards, and robust reporting. 

Time to consider Power BI?

Liberty Grove Software can help you use many tools and services to help you achieve a successful Power BI implementation that will enhance data insights throughout your organization.

Contact Liberty Grove Software for a complimentary consultation on how Power BI can give you the data insights you need to improve decision-making and compete at a higher level.

Related reading:

Everything You Need to Know about the Gifts of Microsoft Power BI – Liberty Grove Software

Liberty Grove Software is an established Microsoft Partner that focuses on providing customers with sales, service, and support for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central/NAV solutions and training and upgrades.

Over more than 25 years, Liberty Grove has assisted hundreds of customers with businesses ranging from small to mid-sized to Microsoft Partners in implementing, training, customization, and upgrading Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions.

The organization is one of only a few companies worldwide that Microsoft recognizes as qualified to provide Business Central/NAV Upgrade Service Centers.

DynamicsCon LIVE 2023 takes place May 22-25 at The Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 115 sessions are available over the three days, focusing on Dynamics GP, Power Platform, and the following Dynamics 365 products: Business Central, Customer Engagement, and Finance & Operations.

The host resort is just minutes from Old Town Scottsdale’s restaurants, shops, and art galleries, the world-class golf courses at McCormick Ranch, and the sights at Salt River Fields. The property features over 40 acres of gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts, and other onsite amenities.

Liberty Grove Software will be there, and we’re delighted to announce two speaker sessions from our executive team.

Here are the sessions the Liberty Grove Team will be teaching at DynamicsCon LIVE 2023 :

BC Manufacturing Setup A to Z

Andrew Good, CEO, Liberty Grove Software

BC has excellent functionality to help you run your manufacturing operations, but the choices you make or have made with your configuration can make or break it.

We’ll review the building blocks you can use to set up and run manufacturing. These include the Bill of Materials and Routings, which allow you to include required costs.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn what capacity means in BC 
• Learn how to set up in-house and subcontract production
• Learn what capacity means in BC 

Session Track: Business Central 

Session Type: Functional

Content Level: Beginner 

Setting Up Approval Workflows – BC Makes it Easy

Andrew Good, CEO, and Brad Hearn, Analyst, and Architect, Liberty Grove Software

This presentation will demonstrate how you can configure workflows in BC to approve master records, journals, sales, and purchase documents.

You will also learn how to define financial approval thresholds, multiple approvers, and different sets of approvers based on dimension values.                                                       

We’ll discuss the following:

• How to set up Workflow User Groups
• How to set up Workflows
• How to define multiple approvers
• How to define financial thresholds
• How to limit approvers to specific dimension values

Session Tracks: Business Central Power Platform

Session Type: Functional

Content Level: Intermediate

Business Central And Power BI, Best Buddies

Brad Hearn, Analyst and Architect, Liberty Grove Software

This presentation will show you how easy it is to access your Business Central data in Power BI to gain powerful insights into your operational data. And how easy it is to share these insights with your colleagues through the Power BI App in the cloud. We’ll cover advanced reporting techniques for understanding your Business Central data, how to publish your reports to the Power BI App, what Power BI App Workspaces are and how to use them to organize and share your reports, and how to use the Power BI App Data Hub and Gateways to manage your report data.                                            

Session Tracks: Business Central Power Platform

Session Type: Functional

Content Level: Beginner

Explore the full speaker lineup and plan your conference sessions to the max. And if you haven’t already, Register Today! – DynamicsCon LIVE.

Liberty Grove hopes to see you there!

About Liberty Grove Software

Liberty Grove Software is an established Microsoft Partner that focuses on providing customers with sales, service, and support for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central/NAV solutions and training and upgrades.

Over more than 25 years, Liberty Grove has assisted hundreds of customers with businesses ranging from small to mid-sized to Microsoft Partners in implementing, training, customization, and upgrading Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions.

The organization is one of only a few companies worldwide that Microsoft recognizes as qualified to provide Business Central/NAV Upgrade Service Centers.

Are you attending Directions North America April 16-19 at the Hyatt Regency in Florida?

Liberty Grove will be there with great topics to discuss – and we hope to see you there too!

Read on to know which sessions you want to mark in your calendar during Directions North America 2023!

Andrew Good, CEO of Liberty Grove, will discuss how manufacturers can do more with Dynamics.

Date: Monday, April 17

Topic: Let’s Talk Manufacturing and the Dataverse – Doing More with Dynamics

Room: Regency 8-9 – 2:15 – 3:00 p.m.

Description

Are you running BC (Business Central) Manufacturing and need to streamline your data collection from the floor? Let’s explore your options with Dataverse and Power Apps.

Learning Objectives

• Learn how consumption and output can be captured from the floor
• Learn how complementary activities can be tied into production reporting 

————–

Anantha Subramanya, Senior Business Analyst, Liberty Grove, will explain how Central Implementations provides unique value to clients.

Date: Tuesday, April 18

Topic: Jobs in BC to manage projects? – Yes, of course!

Room: Regency 3 – 3:15 – 4:00 p.m.

Description

In this presentation, Anantha will discuss Intercompany Transactions & Consolidation and show you how the Jobs tool in BC (Business Central) can be used to manage projects.

Anantha’s presentation will help you with the projects you perform for your clients or for internal projects. “Tasks” within a Job helps you to define budgets by task and record the actual time spent and the expenses incurred on the project.

The Work-In-Progress calculation for each job helps you to know where you stand on a financial basis – and what to tell the CF0.

Learning objectives:

• How to create Job Cards
• How to consolidate multiple companies
• How to define tasks for each job
• Recording time spent on the job
• Recording expenses incurred on the job through a journal or purchase documents
• Creating a Job Sales Invoice

————–

Anantha Subramanya, Senior Business Analyst at Liberty Grove, will discuss how to record intercompany transactions.

Date: Wednesday, April 19

Topic: Intercompany Transactions & Consolidation – How BC helps?

Regency 3 – 9:15 – 10:00 a.m.

Description

This presentation will show you how to record Intercompany transactions using different methods of file transfer and how to consolidate multiple companies with different currencies.

Learning objectives:

• How to record Intercompany transactions at both ends.

• How to consolidate multiple companies.

Who are the people behind the thinking at Liberty Grove?

Andrew Good, CEO, is an Engineer, project manager, analyst, manufacturing expert, and Microsoft Certified Trainer. Andrew does implementation, project management, business process design, application analysis, end-user training, and implementation project management training. In his commitment to training, Andrew was a successful candidate for the new Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Exam. Andrew continues the tradition of sharing with the Community by presenting at various events.

Anantha Subrananya, is an ERP implementation consultant, Senior Business Analyst, and Project Manager with over 10 years of experience with MS Dynamics NAV/Business Central. As a CPA, he comes with a solid financial and accounting background. His exposure to various business environments and finance functions coupled with NAV/Business

And for the fun times… whether it’s just you, or the whole family

While you’re at Directions North America 2023, check out the amenities and activities the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress offers. You have your theme parks covered with complimentary shuttle service to Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and an evening trip to Disney Springs.

Lagoon Pool – With an 800,000-gallon water pool and twelve waterfalls, this water park will not disappoint you and your family.

Private Cabanas – Reserve a poolside cabana to relax in privacy while soaking up the sun. You can reserve one here.

Spa and Salon – Pamper yourself from head to toe with a massage, facial, nail service, or any other relaxing spa service at the Marilyn Monroe Spa.

Outdoor Activities – Enjoy one of the hotel’s many outdoor activities, including water sports, golf, fishing at Lake Windsong, and more.

Dining – Whether you need something quick on the go or want to enjoy a nice meal, there is something for everyone. Check out the complete dining options the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress offers here.

And then, there are the memories… but those are yours!

See you soon in Orlando, Fl for the Directions North America conference.

About the author

Liberty Grove Software is an established Microsoft Partner that focuses on providing customers with sales, service, and support for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central/NAV solutions and training and upgrades.

Over more than 25 years, Liberty Grove has assisted hundreds of customers with businesses ranging from small to mid-sized to Microsoft Partners in implementing, training, customization, and upgrading Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions.

The organization is one of only a few companies worldwide that Microsoft recognizes as qualified to provide Business Central/NAV Upgrade Service Centers.

If you are a veteran Microsoft Dynamics user, you probably know about Community Summit. For those of you who are new to Microsoft Dynamics, suffice it to say that the annual Summit conference is the largest independent gathering of Dynamics users in the world!

This year, Summit will be held at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center from October 10 to 13^th in Orlando, Florida. The content will focus on people considering Dynamics, new to Dynamics, migrating to Dynamics, and optimizing their current Dynamics software system.

Liberty Grove Will Be at Community Summit. Will You Join Us?

In fact, we will be presenting three sessions with topics ranging from managing supply chain disruptions to onboarding employees.

Andrew Good, Liberty Grove CEO, will host all three sessions.

Here are the details:

Session 1:
Managing Supply Chain in Disruptive Times with Dynamics 365 Business Central

Date: Tuesday, October 11
Time: 11:00am to 12:00pm
Room: Destin 2 – Convention Center, Level 2
Synopsis: Leverage the tools at your disposal in Business Central to streamline operations, identify, and manage problems. Learn about several tools that you can use to identify supply chain problems early and keep them under control.

Session 2:
How to Onboard New Employees and Ensure Accuracy in NAV/BC
Date: Tuesday, October 11
Time: 2:30 to 3:00pm
Room: Gainesville 1 – Convention Center, Level 2
Synopsis: Let’s talk about what has worked for getting new people on board and effective with BC and NAV. This will have an operations focus.

Session 3:
Manufacturing – Managing Costing with Business Central
Date: Thursday, October 13
Time: 11:15am to 12:00pm
Room: Naples 2 – Convention Center, Level 2
Synopsis: Costing is key during the best of times. Let’s look at strategies to evaluate the impact of cost changes on your business. We know costs are changing, from materials and utilities to labor. Learn how to create a test company to work in and learn the elements of a good cost testing plan.

About Andrew Good

Andrew Good, our fearless leader, is Liberty Grove’s CEO.

He is a Software Engineer, project manager, analyst, manufacturing expert, and Lead NAV Microsoft Certified Trainer. Andrew works on implementations, project management, business process design, application analysis, end-user training, and implementation project management training. Andrew is part of the inaugural group of Dynamics Credentialed Professionals for Core Application Setup in Microsoft Dynamics NAV.

Let’s Say You Are Interested in the Topics We’re Presenting, but You Cannot Attend

We hope you will join us, but if you’re interested in one or more of our presentations but cannot attend, we would be happy to put you in touch with Andrew so you can chat. Just contact Liberty Grove Software. Call 630-858-7388 or email us at nav@libertygrovetech.com.

Recommended Blog to read:

The Top Key Benefits to Migrating Your ERP to the Cloud

When you integrate Power BI into your Microsoft Dynamics ERP system, it’s like receiving a series of gifts from Microsoft. And those gifts are all geared toward making your ERP more powerful, more intelligent, more proactive, and more inciteful. That’s why it’s called Power BI. It adds power and Business Intelligence to your solution.

is part of the Microsoft Power Platform. It is a business analytics service that provides interactive visualizations and business intelligence capabilities with an interface simple enough for end-users to create their own reports and dashboards.

Here are brief descriptions of 8 gifts that are showered upon you when you implement Power BI:

Power BI Desktop – The Windows-desktop-based application for PCs and desktops, primarily for designing and publishing reports to the Service.

Power BI Service – The SaaS-based (Software as a Service) online service. This was formerly known as Power BI for Office 365 and is now referred to as PowerBI.com or Power BI.

Power BI Mobile Apps – The Power BI Mobile apps are for Android and iOS devices and Windows phones and tablets.

Power BI Gateway – Gateways are used to sync external data in and out of Power BI and are required for automated refreshes. In Enterprise mode, they can also be used by Flows and PowerApps in Office 365.

Power BI Embedded – The Power BI REST API can be used to build dashboards and reports into the custom applications that serve Power BI users, as well as non-Power BI users.

Power BI Report Server – An On-Premises Power BI Reporting solution for companies that will not or cannot store data in the cloud-based Power BI Service.

Power BI Premium – Capacity-based offering that includes flexibility to publish reports broadly across an enterprise, without requiring recipients to be licensed individually. This provides greater scale and performance than shared capacity in the Power BI service.

Power BI Visuals Marketplace – A marketplace of custom visuals and R-powered visuals.

Although the listed above are only briefly described, it is still a lot to take in, no less understand. There’s a seasoned team of Microsoft professionals at who are at your service. We can answer all of your questions and take you on a deep dive into Power BI, the Microsoft Power Platform, and the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Power Extensions, including Power BI, the Power Apps, and Power Automate.

Take the next step…

Contact by calling 630-858-7388 or emailing nav@libertygrovetech.com. Related Post

ERP in the Cloud: A Bright Spot in the Pandemic

Every year, as the User Group Summit draws near, we hear the same refrain from our clients who are planning to attend: So many sessions, so little time! It’s true; there are so many sessions packed into just 3 days. To further complicate the matter, there are as many as 13 concurrent sessions in a given breakout time slot. But you can only attend one. We get it. It’s tough to make that choice.

To help you choose, I’ve poured through the session catalog to offer several recommendations. My name is Brad Hearn. In my role as Architect and Analyst at , I specialize in Analytics and Reporting for our Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Dynamics 365 Business Central clients, so those are the sessions that are near and dear to me. I think you’ll enjoy and get the most out of these:

My top 3 session picks in the BCUG/NAVUG Analytics & Reporting category

Summit Session ID: BIR65Title: Don’t Make Bad Data Look Good: Why Data Management Is the Most Important Part of Analytics

Presenting Partner: Jet Global

Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2019Time: 2:00-3:00 PMCPE Credit: 1Brief Description: Stunning dashboards, graphs, and charts are only as good as the data behind them. We’ll walk you through best practices and tools for effective data organization and governance processes so you can ensure that you’ll always away with helpful, accurate dashboards that will drive competitive, stellar results.

Summit Session ID: BIR62Title: NAV Dashboarding with Power BI & Query ObjectsPresenting Partner: Beck Consulting

Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2019Time: 4:30-5:30 PMCPE Credit: 1Brief Description: Making effective use of the newest dashboard and query tools requires an understanding of the options available when it comes to consolidating data from your NAV/BC system and other sources. We’ll demonstrate how to do this so you can build dashboards in Power BI and support analysis in Excel with Power Pivot.

Summit Session ID: BIR66Title: Strategies for Implementing Business intelligence with AI and MLPresenter: Michael Simms

Date: Friday, October 18, 2019Time: 8:30-9:30 AMCPE Credit: 1Brief Description: Business Intelligence has remarkable great potential but can be overwhelming. Is it right for you? This session will focus on your company’s readiness to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) into your portfolio. Topics will include: What and how to measure; Building trust and adoption rates for these initiatives.

________________________________________

Now you may be thinking: Those are great, Brad. But since you’re an expert in analytics and reporting, will you be presenting a session, too? Well, I’m so glad you asked! Because in fact I will be and I hope to meet you at my session.

My Summit Session

Summit Session ID: BIR57Title: Writing the Right Report: What’s the Right First Step?Presenter: Brad Hearn, Liberty Grove SoftwareDate: Thursday, October 17, 2019Time: 8:00-9:00 AMCPE Credit: 1Brief Description: There are innumerable ways to compose and deliver a report. But a report is useless unless it communicates the right information in the right way, which depends significantly on the report recipient. You have to understand who the user is and how they are going to use the information to provide the maximum benefit. This session will discuss how to deliver the right report in the right format to the right user at the right time.

Visit Liberty Grove Software at Summit

When I’m not presenting, I’ll be in the Expo Center at the Liberty Grove Software booth, 1416. I hope you’ll come by and visit me there. I know that many of you are looking for a smooth upgrade path to Business Central from NAV. I’d love to meet you so we can chat about your upgrade plans. I’ll also be more than happy to answer any questions you might have about your Microsoft Dynamics NAV/BC system.

Between now and then, you can always reach us by calling 630-858-7388 or by emailing us at summit@libertygrovetech.com