Table of Contents
- Connect Business Central and Dynamics 365 CE to Unify Operations
- Transform Your Data with Power BI Reporting
- Boost Efficiency with Power Platform Automation
- The Cloud Advantage: Removing Roadblocks to Growth
- Next Steps
In this series of bi-monthly blogs, Western Computer shares our expertise with tips and tricks to help users work more efficiently in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Cloud. Based on our more than 30 years in business—with 1,250+ solution implementations, including more than 350 in the cloud—we share the expertise we have accumulated to enable users to work as proficiently as possible. You can also subscribe to these blogs in our LinkedIn newsletter.
As businesses scale, so do their challenges. Many companies face roadblocks like disconnected systems, manual data entry, and limited visibility across departments—all of which can slow growth and hinder decision-making. In this edition of our Business Central Tips and Tricks series, we’ll explore how you can overcome these hurdles by integrating Dynamics 365 Business Central with Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (CE) and Power BI to build a modern, connected, and cloud-based business platform.
One of the most powerful ways to extend the value of your ERP system is by integrating Business Central with Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement applications, such as Sales and Customer Service. This connection allows your teams to share data seamlessly between systems—customer records, quotes, sales orders, and invoices all flow automatically. The result is a unified platform where finance, sales, and service teams are aligned, working from the same real-time data.
This kind of integration eliminates the need for redundant data entry and manual updates. It also empowers customer-facing teams with accurate account history and order status, so they can deliver faster, more informed service. For organizations still using legacy or on-premise systems, this level of connectivity is often difficult or even impossible. Moving to Business Central in the cloud opens the door to integrations that scale with your business and reduce the risk of data errors and delays.
Business Central includes native integration with Power BI, Microsoft's leading business intelligence platform. Once connected, users can build dashboards that visualize performance across sales, inventory, finance, service, and more—directly from the ERP data you rely on every day.
This gives your teams the power to explore trends, monitor KPIs, and drill down into details without needing to request custom reports from IT. Whether you’re a sales manager tracking customer trends or a finance leader forecasting cash flow, Power BI makes your data actionable and easy to understand.
Companies running outdated ERP systems often lack this level of reporting and analytical flexibility. With a cloud-based ERP like Business Central, you get instant access to dynamic reporting tools that make business performance transparent and strategic decisions faster.
When Business Central is connected to Power Platform tools like Power Automate, it becomes even more powerful. You can create automated workflows between systems—such as generating a Teams notification when a quote is approved, creating follow-up tasks in Dynamics 365 CE when a new invoice is posted, or triggering marketing actions based on customer activity.
These automations save time, reduce the risk of manual errors, and free your staff to focus on higher-value work. For growing companies, automating repetitive processes is one of the most effective ways to increase productivity without adding headcount.
On-premise ERP systems often lack native automation capabilities or require expensive custom development. Cloud-based tools like Business Central and Power Platform put automation in the hands of your business users, enabling scalable growth and agility.
If you're still managing your business on a legacy or disconnected ERP, it's not just about missing out on modern features—you're also creating hidden costs. Manual workarounds, data silos, and outdated reporting all slow your ability to respond to customer needs, adapt to change, and scale your operations.
By migrating to Business Central in the Microsoft cloud, you gain access to enterprise-grade security, automatic updates, and seamless integration with Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Dynamics 365 applications. You also unlock AI-powered capabilities like Copilot for predictive insights, smarter automation, and faster decision-making.
The path to growth doesn't have to be blocked by outdated technology. Western Computer has helped hundreds of companies remove these roadblocks by modernizing their ERP systems and connecting their business data end to end. We're ready to help you do the same.
If you're considering integrating Business Central with Dynamics 365 CE or Power BI—or looking to modernize your ERP strategy—Western Computer can help you plan your next move. Reach out today to schedule a personalized consultation or visit our website to explore our cloud ERP, Power Platform, and business intelligence services.
