Unlocking the Full Potential of Business Central with the Microsoft Power Platform
By integrating the capabilities of Microsoft’s Power Platform with Dynamics 365 Business Central, companies can streamline their operations, enhance staff productivity, and empower decision-makers with the data-driven insights they need.
What is the Microsoft Power Platform?
The Power Platform is a low-code/no-code suite of tools designed to connect, automate, and analyze data across the Microsoft ecosystem and beyond. It integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 apps (like Teams and Outlook), Dynamics 365 apps (like Business Central and Sales), and Azure services.
The suite includes:
- Power BI – For advanced data visualization and analytics
- Power Apps – To build custom business applications without coding
- Power Automate – For automating repetitive tasks and workflows
- Copilot Studio – An AI-driven assistant formerly known as Power Virtual Agents
- Power Pages – To build secure, data-connected websites quickly
Each of these tools works in tandem with Business Central, offering modern capabilities without the need for deep technical resources.
Power BI: Make decisions that matter
Power BI is perhaps the most recognizable component in the Power Platform. It enables organizations to analyze data from Business Central and other sources, turning raw numbers into actionable insights. Pre-built dashboards—such as financial, sales, and CRM views—are available from Microsoft and can be customized to reflect the metrics that matter most to your business.
For many companies, Power BI reduces or even eliminates the need for static reports or time-consuming data pulls. Dashboards and data visualizations help executives and department heads monitor performance trends, track KPIs, and pivot quickly based on what the data tells them.
Power Apps: Build what you need, without coding
Need a custom tool to streamline inventory checks, field inspections, or on-the-go sales order entry? Power Apps lets you build mobile- and web-friendly applications using a visual drag-and-drop interface, meaning users without technical backgrounds can create apps that solve real business challenges.
Power Apps allows companies to replace manual processes with custom digital solutions, quickly and affordably. A great example is building a mobile app that lets field representatives upload images, update work orders, and enter time. Other practical applications include gathering customer feedback and allowing customers to schedule appointments.
Power Automate: Eliminate repetitive tasks
Power Automate (formerly Microsoft Flow) is the automation engine of the Power Platform. It’s especially valuable when integrated with Business Central, helping companies automate repetitive manual tasks that are time-consuming and error-prone.
With just a few clicks, users can set up:
- Approval workflows – Automate document approvals without writing code
- Automated workflows – Trigger actions based on system updates, like notifying a manager when a customer is blocked
- Monitoring and alerts – Keep operations running smoothly with minimal oversight by monitoring system health and sending alerts to key personnel if any problems develop
Copilot Studio: AI that understands your business
As businesses explore the use of AI, Copilot Studio brings intelligent assistance directly into Microsoft Teams and Business Central. With natural language processing and access to your ERP data, Copilot can respond to queries like:
- “What is this customer’s current balance?”
- “What are our open orders for the week?”
- “Summarize this customer’s recent transactions.”
Users can interact with Copilot via Teams or through embedded cards in Business Central. For example, Copilot can display a summary of customer information directly on the Customer Card, such as outstanding invoices, total sales, and balance due.
Power Pages: Extend your reach with secure portals
Power Pages lets businesses create, host, and administer public- or partner-facing web portals connected to Business Central data that work across web browsers and devices. For instance, you can allow customers to view or edit their orders, track invoices, or update records, all without giving them access to your internal systems.
These web experiences are fully customizable, secure, and easy to build. Think of Power Pages as a way to engage stakeholders outside your organization without sacrificing data integrity or user experience.
Key benefits of the Power Platform for Business Central users
- Enhanced productivity: Automate approvals and repetitive tasks, freeing up time for strategic work.
- Cost savings: Reduce reliance on custom development with no-code tools and drag-and-drop solutions.
- Data-driven decisions: Use Power BI to turn business data into real-time insights.
- Improved customer experience: Use chatbots and customer portals to provide always-on, self-service support.
- Cross-platform collaboration: Seamlessly share data and actions between Outlook, Teams, Excel, and Business Central.
- Scalable AI adoption: Start small with Copilot and AI Builder and grow your AI maturity over time.
While many of these tools are available at no additional cost with your Business Central license, some advanced capabilities do require premium licensing. Organizations can start small, explore use cases, and then expand into paid tiers as the ROI becomes clear.
Let us help you get the most from Business Central and the Power Platform
For businesses using Business Central the Power Platform represents an opportunity to do more with less. Whether it’s eliminating data silos, reducing manual work, or creating intelligent, user-friendly experiences, this suite of tools is built to scale with your organization’s goals.
Now is the time to explore how Power Platform can transform the way you work.
Contact ArcherPoint by Cherry Bekaert to learn how the Power Platform can help your business grow.