Visual Analytics for BC
Visual Analytics for BC — Documentation
Last updated: June 19, 2026
Overview
Visual Analytics for BC is a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central extension that brings interactive dashboards and KPI visualization directly inside your ERP. Build role-specific dashboards, monitor business performance in real time, and generate visual reports without leaving Business Central.
- Interactive dashboards with drag-and-drop layout
- Pre-built KPI widgets for common BC modules
- Real-time data refresh with configurable intervals
- Custom chart types: bar, line, pie, gauge, scorecard, table
- Role-based dashboard access control
- Interactive filtering and drill-down
- Export to PDF and Excel
- Native BC integration — no external connections required
Prerequisites
Before installing Visual Analytics for BC, ensure your environment meets the following requirements:
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2025 Wave 1 (v26.0) or later
- A valid Business Central license (Essentials or Premium)
- Microsoft 365 Admin Center access to manage AppSource app licenses
- System Administrator or Extension Manager role in Business Central
Installation
Visual Analytics for BC is installed through Microsoft AppSource. Follow these steps to install the extension in your Business Central environment:
- Go to Microsoft AppSource and search for 'Visual Analytics for BC'
- Click 'Get it now' and sign in with your Microsoft account
- Select the Business Central environment where you want to install the extension
- Accept the terms and confirm the installation
- The extension will be deployed to your Business Central environment automatically
- Once installed, access the extension from Business Central's main menu under the Analytics section
Initial Setup
After installation, complete the initial configuration before building your first dashboard.
- Analytics Setup: Navigate to Analytics → Setup → Analytics Setup. Configure default refresh interval and numbering series.
- User Roles: Review which Business Central role centers will display analytics widgets.
- Data Sources: The extension automatically connects to your Business Central data. No additional configuration is required for built-in BC modules.
- Permissions: Assign the DTK ANALYTICS permission set to users who should have access to the extension.
Creating and Managing Dashboards
Dashboards are the core organizing unit in Visual Analytics for BC. Each dashboard can contain multiple widgets arranged in a flexible grid layout.
- Create a new dashboard: Navigate to Analytics → Dashboards → New. Enter a name, description, and target audience (role or specific users).
- Add widgets: Click 'Add Widget' to open the widget library. Browse pre-built widgets or create a custom widget.
- Arrange layout: Drag and drop widgets to position them. Resize widgets by dragging their edges.
- Set visibility: Assign dashboards to specific BC roles or users. Mark as personal (only visible to you) or shared.
- Refresh settings: Configure the automatic data refresh interval (e.g., every 5 minutes).
- Duplicate: Use the dashboard actions menu to duplicate an existing dashboard as a starting point.
KPI Widgets
KPI widgets display individual key performance indicators as scorecards, gauges, or trend indicators. Pre-built widgets are available for common Business Central metrics.
- Finance widgets: Total revenue, gross margin, outstanding receivables, overdue payables, bank balance.
- Sales widgets: Sales this period vs. prior period, top customers, order fulfillment rate.
- Inventory widgets: Stock value, items below reorder point, inventory turnover, warehouse utilization.
- Custom KPI: Define your own KPI using Business Central FlowField values or filtered table counts.
- Threshold alerts: Set warning and critical thresholds for any KPI — the widget changes color when breached.
- Trend indicator: Each KPI widget can display a trend arrow showing direction vs. the previous period.
Interactive Filtering
Filters allow users to slice and explore dashboard data without leaving the dashboard view.
- Date range filter: Apply a global date filter to all compatible widgets simultaneously.
- Dimension filters: Filter by Business Central dimensions (e.g., Department, Project, Region) across all widgets.
- Widget-level filters: Apply filters to individual widgets independently for focused analysis.
- Cross-filtering: Click on a chart element to automatically filter all other widgets on the dashboard.
- Save filter presets: Save frequently used filter combinations as named presets for quick access.
Role-Based Access Control
Visual Analytics supports granular control over who can view and edit each dashboard.
- Owner: The dashboard creator has full edit rights and can manage sharing.
- Editor: Can modify the layout, add or remove widgets, and change settings.
- Viewer: Can view the dashboard and apply filters, but cannot modify the layout.
- Role assignment: Assign dashboards to specific BC profiles so they appear automatically for all users with that role.
- The DTK ANALYTICS permission set controls access to the Analytics module entirely.
Export to PDF and Excel
Export dashboards and individual charts for reporting, sharing, or offline analysis.
- Export dashboard to PDF: Click Actions → Export → PDF. The export captures the current state including applied filters.
- Export chart to Excel: Click the context menu on any chart widget and select 'Export to Excel'.
- Individual KPI widget data can be exported as a flat table for further analysis in Excel.
- PDF exports use a print-optimized layout. Large dashboards are automatically paginated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Visual Analytics for BC.
- Q: Does the extension slow down Business Central? A: Dashboard data is read asynchronously and cached within the session to minimize performance impact.
- Q: Can I embed dashboards in BC Role Centers? A: Yes. Visual Analytics widgets can be added to existing Business Central Role Centers via standard BC customization.
- Q: How many dashboards can I create? A: There is no hard limit. Performance depends on the complexity of your Business Central environment.
- Q: Can users without a license view dashboards? A: No. The extension license must be assigned to any user who accesses the dashboards.
- Q: Where can I get support? A: Contact us at info@dynasys.tech. We aim to respond within one business day.