We’re excited to share this guest post from our partner GraVoc, where David Laster explores essential considerations for implementing effective reporting solutions in Dynamics 365 Business Central. Having worked on many Dynamics 365 Business Central implementations, I can say that exploring and configuring reporting is one of the most important – and, honestly, one of my favorite – parts of the process. When I assist clients in planning and setting up their reporting in Business Central, I find it helpful to take a step back and think strategically about high-level goals. While it is important to consider new features or what might be lost when migrating from a legacy ERP, the most value comes from thinking about ways to optimize existing reporting processes for greater efficiency and deeper insights. Here are five key questions I recommend asking your internal teams and discussing with your ERP implementation partner before rolling out reporting in Dynamics 365 Business Central. These are helpful to consider whether you are mid-implementation or planning a move from a legacy system. 5 Key Questions to Ask Stakeholders Before Implementing Reporting in Dynamics 365 Business Central In what ways are your current reports insufficient? The worst outcome of investing the time and effort into rolling out new reporting tools is to end up with the same gaps in insights. Implementing a new ERP solution is the perfect opportunity to evaluate your current reporting and find room for improvements. This way, you avoid bringing in inefficient processes or outdated report templates and logic into your new system. Reviewing where your reporting currently stands will surface gaps in accuracy, detail, or insight that can guide the reporting design in Business Central. What reporting options come standard with the ERP, and how do they compare to third-party solutions? Business Central includes out-of-the-box financial reports. But many companies have specific reporting needs that require integrations with third-party tools. These external tools can expand on the functionality in Business Central and provide greater flexibility. For instance, we often recommend Cosmos’ cloud reporting solution to clients that are looking for advanced analytics in Business Central and more customizable report templates. By evaluating the out-of-the-box reporting features in Business Central against those from third-party solutions, you can find the right long-term fit for your business based on functionality, cost, and support. How much time does your team dedicate to generating and distributing financial reports to stakeholders? Creating and distributing financial reports can be tedious if your processes are mostly manual. By examining how your team builds reports – including the volume of data, the frequency and type of reports, and the distribution process – you can identify where automation or optimization would have the greatest impact. Business Central, and its growing ecosystem of integrations, can significantly cut down on manual reporting tasks to help your team save time and minimize the risk of errors. How secure are the reports and the financial information they contain? When setting up financial reporting in Business Central, security, privacy, risk management, and compliance protocols need to be top of mind given the sensitive nature of the data involved. As you review your current reporting, take the time to identify security gaps in how your data is shared or accessed. Business Central allows role-based security, permissions, and audit trails to mitigate risks. You can leverage these features to safeguard sensitive data while ensuring that stakeholders have visibility into necessary reports. Do you have an internal reporting specialist or is reporting outsourced? Reporting setup in Business Central often requires tailoring to your business’ unique chart of accounts, dimensions, and processes. If you have an internal specialist, they can adapt and refine reports as requirements evolve. But, if reporting is outsourced, you will want to ensure your ERP implementation partner documents customizations, trains your team, and sets clear support processes for ongoing changes. Unlock the full potential of your Dynamics 365 Business Central Reporting By asking these key questions before rolling out reporting in Dynamics 365 Business Central, you can ensure your reports are accurate, actionable, and designed to meet your business needs. As a Microsoft Solutions Partner with 30+ years of ERP implementation expertise, my team at GraVoc and I have helped businesses across industries streamline reporting and get meaningful, actionable insights. And don’t miss our upcoming webinar on October 16th, 2025 at 1:30 ET, where Cosmos will demo their powerful cloud-native reporting platform built exclusively for Business Central. See the tool in action; reserve your spot today! Steve Server About the Author Latest Posts Steve Server, the OnPremasarus, has been around longer than most of today’s IT teams. He started life with PC Plus, survived the rise of Navigator, lived through the Navision years, and even stuck it out when Microsoft rebranded to Dynamics NAV. But when the world moved to Business Central in the cloud, Steve dug in his heels and stayed on-prem—making him a true relic of the server room. These days, Steve admits he’s prehistoric. He may be dusty, slow, and clunky, but he’s here to remind you that modern businesses can’t afford to act like he does. Cosmos Launches Six Pre-Built Power BI Report Packs for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central August 25, 2026 Cosmos Advances Security and Trust with Completion of SOC 2 Type 1 Examination June 24, 2026 Directions North America 2026 Recap: Business Central Reporting at Maximum Velocity May 20, 2026 Zero Gravity. Maximum Velocity. Meet Cosmos at Directions North America 2026 April 21, 2026 Cosmos Launches Dedicated APAC Distributor to Expand Global Business Central Reporting Reach January 26, 2026 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. 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