Power Automate with Business Central: Amp Up Your Business with Automated Solutions

Every business wants to run their organizations to the fullest potential. So, they streamline business operations by using solutions, like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC). However, prioritizing important things without automating them will lead businesses nowhere. Hence, Business goes for Power Automate with Business Central.

The duo work in tandem and automate the repetitive tasks, allowing better utilization of resources. Using Power Automate with Business Central can be a game-changer for your business, as it enhances productivity and unlocks new possibilities. Additionally, you can get the best out of BC and maximize your ROI with the help of this duo.

Power Automate and Business Central: A Perfect Match

Microsoft 365 Power Automate, previously Microsoft Flow, is a cloud-based service, that helps businesses to automate their workflows without extensive knowledge of coding. This helps to automate repetitive tasks, such as accounts payable, invoices processing, syncing customer information, and approval processes.

Dynamics 365 Business Central is a cloud-based Dynamics ERP solution that helps businesses streamline their various needs, such as tracking expenses, data-driven decisions, workflow, warehouse management, assembly management, and more.

Power Automate integration enables automated workflow to remove manual efforts and eliminate human errors. Integration can trigger alerts and notifications within Business Central.

For instance, a sales representative will notify you when a high-priority lead is assigned. This integration allows businesses to adapt and modify workflows as their business evolves.

According to a study by Markets and Markets, the global Business Process Automation Market is estimated to reach USD 19.6 billion by the end of 2026 from USD 9.8 billion in 2020 at a CAGR of 12.2%.

Moreover, businesses often use multiple applications to streamline their various business operations. Power Automate in Business Central enables seamless integration with various third-party apps.

Power Automate is also responsible for facilitating seamless data synchronization between Dynamics Business Central and other systems. You can seamlessly update inventory levels, update customer records, or share financial data.

What is a Business Central Connector?

Business Central should seamlessly talk with Microsoft Power Platform products to unlock the automation possibilities and streamline workflows. Microsoft Business Central connector facilitates communication between Business Central data and Microsoft 365 Power Automate automation capabilities.

Connector allows businesses to leverage Power Automate low-code capabilities to interact with Business Central data entities. Users can create a flow to retrieve, update, and manipulate data within Microsoft Dynamics Business Central.

Users can create workflows using Business Central Connector. Additionally, this connector can also initiate action through other connectors, such as sending email or starting a chat.

Business Central connector doesn't allow Power Automate to connect with Business Central (on-premises). For this, you need to install an on-premises data gateway. You will have two options: on-premises data gateway and on-premises data gateway (personal mode). Both are for different scenarios.

Now, you need to create a custom connector in Power Automate to connect with Business Central (on-premises). Choose to create a flow to establish a connection.

Key Features of Power Automate

Microsoft Power Automate is a low-code platform, which allows you to automate various tasks. Its features play a pivotal role in smoothing your business. Let’s see its features:

• It has pre-built flows & templates
• Allows end-to-end business process flows
• Comes with robust analytics and monitoring capabilities
• Offers data transformation capabilities
• Has an extensive library of connectors & integrations
• Enables approval management workflows

Unleash Automation Capabilities of Power Automate in Business Central

Think of a world where you can automate approvals and data can flow seamlessly between applications and access information at your fingertips. You can achieve this using Power Automate in Business Central. Here are a few ways you can leverage automation capabilities:

Automated Approval Workflows

You can streamline approval procedures, such as employee leave requests, purchase orders, and invoices. A user can set a trigger point for your workflows. For instance, you can set reorder alerts if your inventory reaches a specific level.

Microsoft Business Central connectors retrieve relevant data, such as vendor and order details, from BC and ensure access to Power Automate. Power Automate checks pre-defined criteria and routes the request to appropriate approves via notification.

Connectors also update the data based on approve status and send notifications to relevant parties. This ensures faster approvals, enhanced control, improved visibility, and reduced error.

Automated Data Synchronization

Power Automate facilitates seamless integration with third-party tools. It enables data synchronization between these two systems, whether one-directional or bi-directional. This ensures improved data consistency, enhanced data visibility, and increased accuracy.

Automated Notifications and Alerts

Every business wants its teams to be on the same page, in terms of things like inventory levels and access to deadlines. Power Automate automatically generates notifications to the designated personnel to solve their problems proactively, improve decision-making, reduce risks, and improve operational efficiency.

Also Read: Power Automate with Business Central

Automated Report Generation

Power Automate enables valuable insights to users without human intervention. You can set a schedule for report generation, such as weekly and monthly. To generate reports, connectors gather data and Power Automate automatically generates reports in the desired format. This can help you improve data accessibility, time management, and data-driven decision-making.

Custom Integrations

Power Automate allows you to go beyond its pre-built features and allow you to create custom workflows. Power Automate facilitates a drag-and-drop interface that simplifies custom integration. This can enhance collaboration, unmatched flexibility, and increase productivity

Benefits of Integrating Power Automate with Business Central

Connecting Power Automate and Business Central offers various benefits to businesses. One such benefit is reducing manual efforts and allowing integration with third-party applications. Let's see more benefits in detail:

Smooth Data Synchronization

Businesses should have access to up-to-date data, which is essential to make informed decisions. Microsoft Power Automate helps to synchronize data between D365 BC and other systems and applications.

For instance, if you make data changes in Business Central, such as inventory levels, customer records, or financial data, it will synchronize in real-time, ensuring improved decision-making.

Streamline Workflow

You can create a workflow using Power Automate according to your business needs. You can cater to your business needs, such as order processing, invoice processing, inventory tracking, automated data entry, and more. In simple words, Power Automate flows with Business Central to help your employees focus on value-added activities.

Triggers Notifications

Connecting Power Automate with D365 Business Central trigger alerts for specific triggers within Business Central in real-time. For instance, your inventory level reached one point, or you need to manage payable or receivable. Your team can leverage these alerts and respond to them to get the best results from these actions.

Simplify Approval Procedures

Dynamics 365 Business Central workflows follow a multiple-step approval process, which can slow down the decision-making process. Power Automate automates the approval process with the help of pre-defined rules and ensures that approvals adhere to organization policies.

Getting Started with Power Automate and Business Central Integration

A Business Central user has access to Power Automate and they don’t need to pay for this. This means you have access to Power Automate features, which you can find in the more option bar. However, users must agree to privacy notices before accessing these features.

Select the “Automate” option and then click on “Get Started with Power Automate” to agree on the terms. Agreeing with these terms takes you to the next steps with various options in the “Automation” option:

• Create approval flow
• Create automated flow
• Create action based on a flow
• Manage Flows

After this, set up flows and run them from Business Central. You can also view and edit existing flows in Power Automate according to your business requirements. Also, you can manage existing flows in Dynamics 365 Business Central and create new ones.

The Role of a Dynamics 365 Partner

Power Automate is crucial for automating various business operations. Businesses using D365 Business Central should go for Power Automate integration with Business. However, the integration process might become challenging for you.

You should choose Microsoft Dynamics partner for seamless integration. We are a renowned name in Dynamics 365 implementation with over 150 technical consultants.

Get in touch with Dynamics Square and automate your business operations!