Send us a text

The discussion focused on the evolution of business intelligence (BI) and reporting within the Dynamics ecosystem. The guests included experienced professionals who have witnessed the progression from basic transaction-based reporting to advanced real-time analytics.

Initially, reporting in Dynamics used proprietary databases and was primarily for transactional data like purchase orders and sales orders. Over time, with the acquisition of Navision and other products by Microsoft, tools like SQL Server and SSRS were introduced, enhancing reporting capabilities significantly. The introduction of Power BI has further transformed the landscape, allowing for real-time data processing and advanced analytics.

The conversation highlighted how early tools like FRx revolutionized management reporting by enabling detailed financial reports directly from the general ledger (GL). The evolution continued with the integration of SQL Server, enabling more complex and insightful data analysis.

The participants agreed that while more data offers potential for greater insights, it must be organized and presented meaningfully to avoid overwhelming users. They emphasized the importance of effective data visualization in making informed business decisions.

Clients today are more aware of tools like Power BI and are looking for ways to leverage them for better insights. However, there remains a gap between understanding the tool's potential and effectively implementing it. The role of consultants is crucial in bridging this gap by helping clients transform raw data into useful reports.

For clients starting with BI and reporting, the advice included making key metrics easily accessible on devices like phones and smartwatches, integrating data from various systems, and ensuring clean, well-organized data. The discussion concluded with the importance of educating clients on using existing tools effectively to unlock their full potential.

You can download Power BI Desktop from here.

If you already use Power BI, or are considering it, we strongly recommend you join your local Power BI user group here.

To find out more about our services and the help we can offer, contact us at one of the websites below:
UK and Europe: https://www.clearlycloudy.co.uk/
North America: https://clearlysolutions.net/