Extract, Analyze, and Visualize Data in Power BI & Business Central (Power BI Showcase)

In this 60-minute session, Crestwood Associates CMO Stephanie McColly and Microsoft Solutions Architect Jason McColly walk through a practical framework for extracting, analyzing, and visualizing data in Business Central. Learn how to prioritize high-impact KPIs, structure reporting by user role, and decide when to use native BC tools versus Power BI. The session includes a live demo of both platforms and introduces a free trial balance extension developed by Crestwood’s team.

Watch to gain clarity on reporting strategy and leave with tools you can apply immediately.
Resources & Free Extension


Chapters
0:00 – Introduction and Agenda
1:30 – Common Reporting Challenges
4:20 – Core KPIs and Leading Indicators (Examples in Sales, Finance, Ops)
9:15 – The 10-Minute Dashboard Concept
12:05 – Reporting Hierarchy Pyramid (From Transactions to Executive Insights)
16:30 – BC Native vs Power BI Decision Framework
22:10 – Live Demo: Accessing Reports in Business Central
24:30 – Excel-Based Reports and Filtering
27:40 – Copilot Analysis Mode in BC
32:00 – Customizing Financial Reports (Income Statement, Trial Balance)
37:20 – Free Trial Balance Extension Demo
42:00 – Connecting Power BI to Business Central
47:00 – Power BI Apps: Finance, Sales, Manufacturing
52:00 – Analysis by Dimensions
56:00 – Q&A: Permissions, Fiscal vs Calendar Year, Custom Dashboards
1:00:00 – Summary, Takeaways, and Resources

Key Topics Covered

Identify 6–8 core KPIs and pair them with leading indicators
Structure data flow from operational to strategic levels
When to use BC native reports (compliance, speed, simplicity)
When to use Power BI (cross-system analysis, interactivity, mobile access)
Use Copilot to build pivot tables with natural language
Free trial balance extension with improved layout and dimensional support

#BusinessCentral #PowerBI #Dynamics365 #ERP #DataAnalytics #MicrosoftPartner
Presented by Crestwood Associates – 27-year Microsoft Gold Partner