Navigating through the intricacies of report migration is often one of the most challenging aspects of upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Cloud. As organizations transition from legacy systems to this robust cloud-based platform, accurately transferring critical data and reports becomes essential. In a recent episode of the popular Dynamics Corner Podcast, hosts Kris Ruyeras and Brad Prendergast sat down with the owners of Cosmos—Anthony Bonaduce, Chief Revenue Officer, and Brian Petersen, Chief Operating Officer—to explore innovative strategies for simplifying report migration in a Business Central upgrade. As the first and only cloud reporting and analytics platform built specifically for Business Central, Cosmos offers a fresh approach to streamlining the report migration process. From the latest advancements in reporting tools to practical tips for ensuring smooth data migration, this conversation highlights different methods to maintain data integrity, ensure full functional compatibility, and adapt to the new environment without disrupting ongoing business processes. Click here to watch the full podcast! The Challenges of Data Migration Migrating data to Business Central Cloud can be a complex and resource-intensive process. Several common challenges often arise when transitioning from legacy systems: Data Fragmentation: Legacy systems often store data across multiple platforms and silos, making it difficult to consolidate information for migration into a new system. Migration Complexity: Moving data requires significant technical expertise, time, and resources, particularly when dealing with multiple systems or older software. Cost and Effort: Traditional migration projects can be costly, often requiring extensive IT support, manual data transformation, and ongoing maintenance. Maintaining Data Integrity: Ensuring that data is accurate, clean, and usable in the new system is critical but challenging, especially when dealing with historical data or mismatched formats. Performance Concerns: Migrating large volumes of historical data can slow down the entire process, impacting the performance of both the legacy and new systems. Fortunately, with the right approach and Microsoft Dynamics reporting tools, many of these challenges can be simplified—or even eliminated. This is where Cosmos steps in, offering a streamlined, user-friendly reporting solution designed specifically to address these common pain points in report migration. 10 Ways to Approach Data Migration to Business Central Cloud During the Dynamics Corner Podcast, the Cosmos leadership team shares several key approaches to report migration in Business Central. These strategies provide actionable steps for overcoming common challenges and making the migration process smoother and more efficient. Here are 10 ways to approach report migration, as discussed in the podcast, along with timestamps for easy reference: 1. Accommodate Third-Party Data Sets – 7:46 Bringing in data from third-party systems, like payroll or legacy NAV data, is no longer a hurdle. Cosmos now enables businesses to consolidate this information, creating a unified view of all data within Business Central, making it easier to access, analyze, and make informed decisions. 2. Use the Cosmos Data Engine for No-Code ETL – 15:04 With Cosmos’ no-code ETL platform, data migration becomes a simple process. Users can easily pull data from Business Central or other systems, map tables and fields, and generate reports—all through a point-and-click interface, without needing coding expertise. 3. Migrate Legacy Data from On-Prem SQL Databases – 11:08 Cosmos makes transferring legacy data from on-premise SQL databases seamless. By shifting data to Azure SQL, Cosmos allows organizations to integrate their on-prem data securely without complex firewall configurations or manual interventions. 4. Use Excel for Smaller Data Transfers – 11:25 Smaller or static data sets can be quickly and efficiently migrated using Excel. Cosmos enables organizations to export data into Excel and nest it within their system, making this a low-effort option for less complex data migration needs. 5. Handle Transactional Data with Azure SQL – 13:17 For businesses needing to keep transactional data up to date, Cosmos provides seamless integration with Azure SQL. This allows regular updates and smooth reporting across both legacy and current systems, ensuring continuous access to critical data. 6. Simplify Historical Data Reporting – 18:07 Cosmos allows companies to keep historical data in Cosmos instead of moving everything into Business Central, avoiding large data transfer costs. This ensures that reporting on past transactions, such as year-over-year comparisons, remains seamless and cost-efficient. 7. Cut Costs and Effort in Migration – 19:45 Reducing the time and effort required for migration is a key focus for Cosmos. By simplifying data modeling and automating manual data transformation, Cosmos eliminates the need for extensive service engagements, cutting down on data transfer costs. 8. Be Selective with Legacy Data – 21:25 Businesses that don’t need full legacy data migration can selectively bring forward only the necessary data for reporting. Cosmos provides the flexibility to keep costs low while still allowing access to critical information from older systems. 9. Simplify Data Mapping and Cleansing – 16:11 Mapping and cleaning old data, such as mismatched GL account numbers, is a straightforward process with Cosmos. It ensures that historical data is properly aligned with Business Central’s new structures, guaranteeing smooth integration and reliable reporting. 10. Keep Migration Simple and User-Friendly – 23:56 Cosmos prioritizes ease of use, ensuring that businesses can set up and use the platform with minimal technical knowledge. Its user-friendly design allows companies to manage report migration quickly and efficiently, reducing the learning curve and minimizing downtime. The Benefits of Cosmos for Business Central Report Migration Cosmos offers several clear advantages for businesses migrating reports to Business Central Cloud, making the process more efficient, cost-effective, and scalable. Designed specifically for cloud-based environments, Cosmos reduces both the time and cost traditionally associated with data transfer projects. Its intuitive, codeless interface empowers users to handle data transfers without needing advanced technical skills. Combined with its future-ready engineering, Cosmos provides businesses with the tools to streamline migration, reduce costs, and ensure their reporting capabilities can grow alongside their evolving business needs. Here’s a look at the key benefits Cosmos offers for report migration: Quick User AdoptionCosmos stands out for its intuitive and user-friendly design, which is perfect for non-technical users. Its no-code interface enables business users to manage report migration without needing specialized IT skills, allowing for quicker adoption and seamless integration. This results in faster implementation with minimal downtime, ensuring teams can smoothly transition to Business Central Cloud. Cost EfficiencyCosmos offers significant cost savings by streamlining the migration process and reducing the need for manual data handling and specialized IT support. Its cloud-native architecture eliminates the need for expensive on-premises hardware, cutting both setup and ongoing maintenance costs, which leads to long-term savings. Future-Proof ReportingDesigned with scalability in mind, Cosmos ensures businesses can grow and adapt without needing costly overhauls. With AI integration and multi-data source connectivity, Cosmos enables companies to leverage advanced reporting and analytics as their needs evolve, keeping the platform aligned with future business requirements. Unify Your Data with Multi-Source Data Connectivity Read Now What’s Next for Reporting and Analytics in Business Central Cloud? Cosmos continues to evolve to meet the demands of modern businesses. During the podcast, Anthony and Brian hinted at exciting developments on the horizon for the platform. One key area of focus is expanding Cosmos’ reporting engine to accommodate more complex data sets and business needs. As businesses continue to rely on multiple systems for critical data, Cosmos is developing more advanced tools for integrating third-party and legacy data into Business Central Cloud. This will allow users to generate more comprehensive reports and streamline data consolidation. In terms of analytics, Cosmos is stepping into new territory with AI-powered features that will enhance how businesses interact with their data. As discussed at the 44:31 mark, upcoming capabilities will include predictive insights and automated data analysis, helping users identify trends and make data-driven decisions more easily. AI integration will also automate reporting tasks and surface key insights, improving decision-making processes across organizations. As Brian Petersen mentions at 45:29 in the podcast, Cosmos has already integrated AI into its reporting platform to assist users in building reports. Users can navigate complex reporting tasks more easily through AI-driven suggestions and step-by-step guidance. As AI evolves, Cosmos will continue expanding its capabilities, keeping the platform at the forefront of AI-enabled reporting and analytics in the Business Central Cloud. Cosmos: Staying Focused on the Future of Reporting For businesses moving to Business Central Cloud, prioritizing simplicity and efficiency in report migration is key. Whether you’re managing legacy data or looking to enhance your reporting with predictive insights, Cosmos offers the tools to streamline your reporting and reduce costs. By focusing on ease of use, Cosmos enables businesses to manage complex reporting tasks without requiring advanced technical skills, allowing them to consolidate historical and third-party data into a single, unified view. For more insights into how Cosmos is shaping the future of reporting and analytics in Business Central Cloud, check out the full episode of the Dynamics Corner Podcast. Listen to Anthony and Brian as they discuss the innovative strategies and cutting-edge features that are transforming report migration and data analytics. Don’t miss out on their expert advice for making your data migration as seamless and efficient as possible! Watch the Full Podcast Episode 340: In the Dynamics Corner Chair: A Journey into the Cosmos Ready To Start Your Cosmos Journey? Give us 30-minutes and we’ll give you the path to lightning-fast, self-service reporting for Business Central. Book a Demo Now Anthony Bonaduce Chief Revenue Officer About the Author Latest Posts Anthony Bonaduce brings nearly a decade of sales leadership expertise to the Microsoft Channel, where he has built lasting partnerships and driven significant growth for data analytics solutions. As co-founder of Cosmos Data Technologies, Anthony combines his passion for relationship building with deep industry knowledge gained through executive roles at Jet Reports (now insightsoftware) and Rand Group. Anthony’s business philosophy centers on exceptional customer service and transparent communication—principles he credits as the foundation of his success. His proudest achievement includes expanding Jet’s partner channel to unprecedented levels, earning him the trust of countless Microsoft partners and clients. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Marketing from the University of Oregon. When he’s not helping clients unlock their data potential, Anthony enjoys cheering on the Oregon Ducks, playing golf, and spending time with family and friends. How to Get Custom Business Central Inventory Reports in Minutes August 17, 2026 What is Cloud Reporting? Benefits, Tools, and How it Works August 7, 2026 Best Business Central Reporting Tools (2026): Compare Top 5 Excel-Based Options July 27, 2026 Cloud Reporting for Business Central: The Missing Step Between Spreadsheets and AI June 4, 2026 AI Won’t Help Your Ungoverned Data May 11, 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. 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