The Ultimate Guide to Integrations in Microsoft Business Central in 2024

If a chef was asked to cook a 5-star meal with nothing but a butter knife, the meal would turn out a lot different than if the chef had access to all the tools she needed to succeed. An industrial oven, customized knife set, large mixer, state-of-the-art cookware, and an experienced team of staff would make a world of difference for that night’s dining experience, right? 

The same can be said in business settings. Running a business without the right tools, team members, and processes won’t achieve ideal results. For many business leaders, finding the right team is something they’ve been focusing on for years, but when it comes to SaaS solutions and business tools, the ever-changing landscape can be tough to keep up with. 

For decades, Microsoft has been designing and sharing business tools with the world. It revolutionized financial processing with Microsoft Excel, changed communications with Microsoft Word, and transformed data management with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. If Microsoft’s tools are foundational in your business, it’s time to find ways to make them even more powerful.

The right combination of Microsoft Dynamics integrations will take small-to-mid-size businesses from good to great. Bringing d365 Business Central into the fold is just the first step to achieving business success; every effective Dynamics 365 integration brings businesses closer and closer to their goals.

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central?

As a cloud-based ERP, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central brings the functionality of key business functions – finance, sales, service, manufacturing, and logistics – into one streamlined platform. Throwing out a landscape of disparate systems and disconnected functions, this ERP enables real-time insights and data-driven decision-making at all levels of the business.

Everyone – from accounting professionals to production supervisors – can benefit from the power of this tool. Its user interface is extremely easy to understand, its processing power ensures that no downtime or delays interrupt your operations, and its emphasis on data centralization enables a wide range of Dynamics 365 integrations. 

The Nitty Gritty of Business Central Integrations

How does a Microsoft Dynamics integration come to life? There are a number of possibilities. 

• Appsource Marketplace: This marketplace is filled with applications that already have an existing connection to Business Central. You’ll find Microsoft native tools like PowerBI, but you’ll also find third-party applications that have a long-standing relationship with Business Central. By selecting integrations from the marketplace, connections usually only require a few clicks.
• Middleware Connections: Certain tools like Zapier and Workato are third-party connection tools that were designed to make integrations easy. A bonus of using third-party connectors is that you’ll get additional support from their teams, too.
• Custom Connections: For more tech-savvy users, creating custom integrations through a rest API is a great option. This allows your team to tailor the integration to custom applications or your own software and ensure a smooth connection.

When properly set up, an ERP integration can streamline business processes, reduce data errors, ensure consistent information across multiple systems, and elevate your organization’s ability to conduct key business analysis. Microsoft’s Power Platform, third-party connectors, and custom APIs are all working toward the same goal: seamless business operations.

Business Impact of Integrating with Business Central

Having all the right business tools at your disposal is half the battle, the other half is making sure they work well together. Every Microsoft Dynamics integration will lead to better cohesiveness within your technology stack, bringing about a number of benefits to your business, your employees, and most importantly, your customers. 

Data Accuracy

Because most Business Central integrations have a two-way connection, data synchronization happens in real time. Forget the days where your ERP said one number and your CRM tool said another; without manual errors and system lag time, financial reports and other analytical outputs are sure to be accurate and reliable. 

Boosted Productivity

As mentioned, the right combination of business tools will make it easier for your employees to do their jobs. If they can spend less time chasing down system-based errors and more time on the most value-add activities, their productivity will go through the roof. 

Reliable Decision-Making

Business leaders use the data that is at their disposal to make decisions and move strategic initiatives forward. When that data is incorrect or old, it cripples their decision-making abilities. A key Business Central integration can rejuvenate leadership’s ability to do what’s best for the company because they have all necessary information at their fingertips.

Scalability

While your business grows, you’ll need a technology stack that can grow with it. Microsoft Dynamics 365 integrations can scale with any organization. Supporting additional business processes and internal systems, these tools don’t just support business growth – they drive it.

Cost Savings

When business operations are streamlined, team members or more productive, and decisions can be made faster, a significant cost savings will be experienced. Remember, in any industry, savings can come in the form of time and money – be sure to account for both when considering a Dynamics 365 integration.

Strategic Integrations with Business Central

Are you ready to take the next steps in elevating Business Central’s functionality and therefore, elevating your business? If so, start with these strategic Microsoft Dynamics integrations: 

Nanonets

The accounts payable function is ripe for automation, but on its own, Business Central’s ability to enable AP automation is limited. Once it’s integrated with Nanonets, and AI-driven OCR technology that is designed to support AP automation, a world of possibilities opens up.

Nanonets’ proprietary OCR technology makes it easy to collect key data from invoices, process that data within your business systems, and manage AP processes. Things like automated invoice approval, real-time AP reporting, and two-way matching will transform how your business manages its finances. If you want to dive deeper into AP automation with Microsoft Dynamics, check this out. 

Salesforce

Regardless of the industry you’re in, managing customer relationships is challenging. Salesforce is a world-renowned Customer Relationship Management platform that houses customer data, sales orders, and other metrics. With the Salesforce/Dynamics 365 integration, all the data within both systems can be collated, enabling decision-making that will result in happier customers and stronger sales outcomes.

ServiceNow

The ServiceNow integration with Business Central will change how your organization manages customer service-related tasks. With automated incident management and resolution tracking, this integration will boost efficiency and the quality of service provided to your customers. If a customer has an issue, time is of the essence when solving it, and the ServiceNow/D365 integration helps resolve issues quickly.

Power BI

A native Microsoft application, Power BI is a trailblazer when it comes to data visualization, dashboarding, and automated business reports. When Power BI can tap into the well-organized and accurate data within D365 Business Central, its financial reports and dashboards take on a new level of helpfulness. You’ll never be left wondering if a report is correct, if it’s missing information, or if it isn’t updated – this integration was built to squash those issues.

Workday

Workday’s integration with Business Central ensures seamless HR management and financial processing. With synchronized employee data, payroll information, and overall financial clarity, resource planning is easier than ever. When employees are added or removed in Workday, those changes are automatically accounted for within the Business Central ERP, too.

Technology is Non-Negotiable in Business – Are You Optimizing How It’s Used?

 We live in a world where businesses cannot stay competitive without technology. Not only will competitors outpace the organizations that aren’t prioritizing technology, but customers will start to notice disparities, too. A strong ERP lays the foundation for any organization’s technology strategy, but that’s just the starting point.

If you have already adopted Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, then make sure you’re going a few steps further to prioritize the Dynamics 365 integrations that make sense for your organization. If it’s not a revolutionary approach to AP automation with Nanonets or a better customer service experience with ServiceNow that you’re looking for, browse the Dynamics 365 Business Central Apps on AppSource, Microsoft’s marketplace for integrations.