The journey toward a data-driven culture isn’t just about gaining a competitive edge; it’s about transforming your internal operations from the ground up. Imagine equipping your leaders with the insights needed to make decisions swiftly and confidently, providing them with the agility to adapt at a moment’s notice. This is the power of being led by data. Organizations that embrace this approach don’t just stay in the race; they define it. They’re constantly innovating, bringing new solutions to the table, and redefining efficiency in their processes to slash costs without cutting corners. But the ripple effects go even further – by optimizing operations, these companies are creating workplaces where employees feel valued and engaged. This, in turn, boosts talent acquisition and retention, solidifying the company’s position as a leader not just in the market, but as an employer of choice. For those navigating the wealth of data within their Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central system, tapping into the value of that data through integration with Power BI is essential. This integration offers access to critical insights, accelerating your decision-making, operational efficiency, and strategic planning. If you’re struggling with or wondering how to connect or use Power BI with Business Central, this article is for you! We will dive into some of the obstacles you’re likely to face with optimized data and show you exactly how Cosmos eliminates the technical components derailing you from leveraging Power BI to its fullest capability. The Need for Optimized, Governed Data for Effective Power BI Use Speed and accuracy in decision-making are the lifelines of operational efficiency and bottom-line results. When this environment is fostered, every decision is an informed one, every innovation is a step forward, and every team member is empowered to contribute to the organization’s success. To tap into Power BI’s full potential with Business Central, users don’t just need access to the system data, they need that data optimized and governed. Power BI offers extensive capabilities in data visualization and business analytics but to leverage these effectively, the underlying data must be clean and organized, representing a single version of the truth. This ensures that when you pull these visualizations into dashboards and reports, they’re not only appealing but accurately represent the state of your business. The problem? This process traditionally requires complex SQL and DAX coding and development or leveraging high-cost and complex data warehouses – tasks and tools not typically within the expertise of the average Business Central user. Depending on the volume of your business data, the complexity of your systems, and the bandwidth of your IT department, high-value operational contributors are stuck waiting for scarce technical resources to create a dashboard, build a report, or modify a graph instead of making and sharing strategic decisions. Business Central Power BI Pitfalls: A Deep Dive into Everyday User Challenges Read Now How Cosmos Power BI Integration Overcomes Common Challenges Cosmos tackles the prevalent user enablement and data management challenges head-on by providing two-way Power BI integration to simplify the entire process. By connecting to the clean, governed, and controlled data in the Cosmos platform, you and your fellow Business Central users can now work with a one version of the truth dataset to use for analytics and decision-making directly in Power BI. So, how does it work? We created a custom API that enables Cosmos to supply data to Power BI and for Power BI to supply dashboards and reports that live inside Cosmos. This two-way seamless integration allows organizations to have a single place to go for financial and operational reports as well as visually stunning and accurate analytical dashboards. Specifically, here’s where Cosmos steps in: Simplified Data Handling Cosmos cleanses and organizes your data, seamlessly preparing it for Power BI. This means less time spent on data preparation and more on analysis. User Independence With Cosmos, creating and modifying Power BI dashboards doesn’t require SQL knowledge or extensive training, democratizing data across your organization. Cosmos empowers non-technical users to create powerful visualizations in Power BI without relying on data experts. Enhanced Sharing Capabilities Integrated directly within Cosmos, your Power BI reports and dashboards can be easily accessed and shared across teams without typical licensing restrictions. Centralized Reporting and Data Access With our two-way seamless integration, you access Power BI dashboards in Cosmos using the same Microsoft credentials as Power BI and Business Central. This allows Cosmos to inherit all of the existing security around your company’s Power BI workspace, including workspace access and dashboard access. “One of the biggest benefits of Cosmos is its direct connection to Business Central, which made our leadership very comfortable. Unlike Power BI, which often led to data inaccuracies due to its less structured nature, Cosmos provides a single source of truth. This consistency has significantly improved the accuracy and reliability of our financial data.” Suzanna Norman, Controller APEX Companies Read Now 5 Steps to Connect Power BI to Business Central with Cosmos Connecting Power BI to your Business Central data through Cosmos profoundly enhances your reporting capabilities, making it a straightforward task with these simple steps: Set Up Cosmos on Your System: Start by ensuring that Cosmos is properly set up with your Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central instance. Enable Cosmos Power BI Integration: Access the Power BI integration feature within your Cosmos application. This integration creates an OData layer and a custom API specifically designed for Power BI. Connect Power BI to Cosmos: Use the provided Cosmos API to connect Power BI directly to your Business Central data. This setup ensures that your Power BI dashboards utilize real-time, optimized data from Business Central. Create and Share Your Dashboards: With your data connected, start building your Power BI dashboards. You can now visualize complex datasets simply and share these insights with ease within Cosmos or across any Microsoft product linked to your ecosystem. Access and Analyze: Lastly, use the dynamic capabilities of your new dashboards to make informed, strategic decisions faster than ever before. To show you how unbelievably easy it is to use Power BI with our two-integration feature, here is an example of how to build a sales dashboard. You can also watch a short video of this process below! In Action: How to Build a Salesperson Performance Dashboard Use the drag-and-drop features in Power BI Desktop to organize the visuals you want. Add some slicers, filters, maps, and whatever else you need. It’s easy to do because you’re using Cosmos data inside of Power BI to create this dashboard! Build a sales performance dashboard in Power BI Desktop using Cosmos data. When you’ve finalized your Salesperson Performance Dashboard, press the ‘Publish’ button. From there, a window will appear, and you can select your workspace in Power BI where you want to publish it. In this example, we are saving it in the Sales Workspace for our organization’s Power BI. Publish your sales dashboard to your Sales Workspace in Power BI. Go to the Cosmos Portal and navigate to the Power BI section under Reporting. View your Power BI dashboards directly from the Cosmos Portal. When you select the Salesperson Performance Dashboard that you just published in Power BI, you’ll sign in with your Microsoft credentials to access the dashboard through your Cosmos account. You’ll find the data refreshed and updated and ready to filter, segment, and examine the information in any way necessary. Open and analyze your new Power BI Salesperson Performance Dashboard directly in Cosmos. Watch The Full Demo Here Quickly Connect to Power BI with Cosmos Business Central users ready to elevate their reporting and analytics capabilities will find that harnessing the capabilities of Power BI through Cosmos with governed, easily customizable datasets provides a direct and effective path toward becoming a more data-driven and enabled business. Want to see more Power BI and Cosmos in action? Get a quick 30-minute demo or schedule a dedicated session to explore how your Business Central data can quickly and easily integrate with Power BI. Book a Demo Today Brian Petersen Chief Operating Officer About the Author Latest Posts Brian Petersen brings over 15 years of leadership experience in the Microsoft Channel, where he has built a reputation for driving product innovation and delivering exceptional client results. As co-founder of Cosmos Data Technologies, Brian leverages his extensive background in product development and professional services to help organizations unlock the power of their data. Throughout his career, Brian has held key executive positions, including Vice President of Product and Services at Jet Reports (now insightsoftware) and Vice President at Rand Group, where he led high-performing teams specializing in reporting, analytics, and data management solutions. His entrepreneurial spirit shines through his successful product launches, including pioneering Jet Analytics in 2007. Colleagues and clients alike recognize Brian for his diverse business acumen and unwavering commitment to going above and beyond. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance, Computer Science, and History from Linfield University, reflecting his multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving. When he’s not revolutionizing data solutions, Brian enjoys camping, playing guitar, and spending quality time with his wife and children. 2025 in Review: The Impact of Cloud-Native Reporting Built for Business Central January 13, 2026 Understanding Analysis Mode in Microsoft Dynamics Business Central September 16, 2025 2024 in Review: The Power of Smarter Reporting with Cosmos January 22, 2025 How to Connect Power BI to Business Central for Easier and Faster Analytics November 21, 2024 Cosmos Adds Support for Multi-Source Data Connectivity, Unlocking New Analytics Potential for Business Central Cloud Customers August 29, 2024 Fact Checked & Editorial Guidelines Our Fact Checking Process We prioritize accuracy and integrity in our content. Here's how we maintain high standards: Expert Review: All articles are reviewed by subject matter experts. Source Validation: Information is backed by credible, up-to-date sources. Transparency: We clearly cite references and disclose potential conflicts. Your trust is important. Learn more about our Fact Checking process and editorial policy. Reviewed by: Subject Matter Experts Our Review Board Our content is carefully reviewed by experienced professionals to ensure accuracy and relevance. Qualified Experts: Each article is assessed by specialists with field-specific knowledge. Up-to-date Insights: We incorporate the latest research, trends, and standards. Commitment to Quality: Reviewers ensure clarity, correctness, and completeness. Look for the expert-reviewed label to read content you can trust.
