Exsion Business Reporting Microsoft Dynamics NAV/Business Central

Gaining insight

Exsion Reporting makes it possible for each controller to create reports based on data present in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (formerly Dynamics NAV). This not only applies to controllers, but also to logistic and/or commercial departments.

Features

The possibility to transfer all data in your database to Excel, is one of the functionalities we are proud of. The strength of Exsion Reporting is that you can get started yourself, with easily identifiable descriptions of data.

Simple Reporting in Excel

Exsion Reporting allows any controller to create reports.

Combine all of Your Data

We are proud that you can transfer all data in your database to Excel.

Refresh Reports Infinitely

You can refresh your reports time and again, thus ensuring they will contain the latest data.

Fast Data Refresh

We have built Exsion Reporting in such a way, that you can effortlessly gain better insight into your company.

Create Reports After a Short Training

A one-day training will suffice for creating most reports. This also applies to advanced users.

Security Through Authorisation

Data cannot be viewed by people for whom it is not intended.

Testimonials

Using Exsion to create reports is a no-brainer

We have been using Exsion for more than 10 years. I think the software is very user-friendly. Using Exsion to create reports and compile NAV downloads is a no-brainer – just do it!

Cogentix Medical

Reports can easily be changed

Exsion is very simple and user-friendly – you can easily change reports. Exsion seamlessly integrates with NAV, you can retrieve all data present in the system. The retrieve function is very easy and it just works. Afterwards, you can get started with Excel formulas. Exsion really is very well-built.

Gebroeders Blokland

More Reviews

Read more reviews and testimonials

Exsion Business Reporting Microsoft Dynamics NAV/Business Central
provides solutions to your problems

Below, you can read about issues that controllers encounter and solutions that Exsion provides.

Your Problem

I Cannot Access data in Dynamics Business Central (BC)

You have properly set up Business Central and everything works, and your colleagues have entered data. Now you would like to create an overview.

No Expensive Consultant

You can call a consultant, or get started with PowerBI. However, the first scenario is expensive and the second complicated.

Exsion's Solution

Downloads Allow You to Select Data

The strength of Exsion Reporting is, that you only need to know which data you want to combine in your report. Click these data in Exsion, and, without having to worry about anything, a query is submitted to the database. Data are transferred to Excel, thus allowing you to also edit them, if so desired.

Your Problem

I Cannot Select Any Data

When you want to thoroughly analyse your business or create a simple list, you prefer to combine all data in the way you like. Business Central provides ample filtering functionality, however, combining data on different screens is tricky, which also applies to other tools available on the market.

Exsion's Solution

With Exsion, You Can Easily Transfer Selected Data to Excel

The strength of Exsion Reporting is, that it allows you to actually combine data you have selected. We call that creating a download. The benefit of a download is that it is not an export. An export must be regenerated every time and does not allow selection of data.

Downloads Can Be Used and Modified Endlessly

Once a download has been created, you can use it endlessly and modify it or place specific filters, if so desired.

Your Problem

I Have to Use Cut and Paste to Get Everything Right

Excel exports can be made within Business Central, but then you will have to use cut and paste to get the data set you desire. You will have to do this every time, which is work that will not make you happy. You will have to do a lot of things, which is very time-consuming, as well as prone to errors. In addition, you will have to store each version separately and comparing data from a given time period is extremely complex.

Exsion's solution

After Creating a Download, You Only Have to Click the Refresh Button

With Exsion Reporting, there is no need to use cut and paste. A download definition generates a report ready for use, including all future use. Clicking the Refresh button will update your report without having to use cut and paste, ensuring information that is up-to-date and does not contain any errors.

No More Separate Versions in Excel

Data are directly retrieved from the database, so you can use Excel for which it should be used: Calculation, and your database to store data. Your work will become complicated when you use Excel to manage datasets. Unfortunately, many users still do so.

Your Problem

I Can Only Access the General Ledger Table

There are software tools available on the market that will also provide you with access to tables in Business Central, however, with the restriction of only displaying a limited set of tables (view), or requiring a great deal of expertise to unlock tables.

Can I Simply Use PowerBI?

Yes. The strength of PowerBI is, that it allows you to create beautiful dynamic dashboards, however, the drawback is that you need a great deal of expertise to create a dataset. In addition, dashboard maintenance is complex.

Exsion's Solution

With Exsion, You Can Select and Download All Data

The strength of Exsion Reporting is that you can work with data descriptions that are recognisable to you. Data you see on your screen can be selected, you do not need to know the technical names. In addition, you can maintain reports yourself after a day of training.

Your Problem

I Need to Hire Expensive Consultants to Change a Report

BC and other tools allow you to create overviews. Modifying them, however, is extremely difficult. First of all, you will have to change the dataset, which requires knowledge of how BC’s complex database is built. Second, you will have to become familiar with the functionality of the tool in question, if you, for example, want to change the visualisation of a report. If that is not your daily work, it often is not worth the effort.

Exsion's Solution

With Exsion, You Can Create Reports After a One-Day Training

Meanwhile, we have sold Exsion to nearly 1,000 clients, who all have attended a one-day training and can use Exsion.

What Should I Be Able to Do, in Order to Learn Exsion Reporting?

You must be proficient in Excel, although we will show you several smart tricks during the course. In addition, you should have experience in working with BC.

Your Problem

Data Generation Takes a Very Long Time

Many of the tools available on the market are slow, due to the technology behind them. Data are often provided to users through connections and services.

Which Connections Are Used?

ODBC connections or web services, both can be slow.

Exsion's Solution

Exsion Provides Quick Answers

We have built Exsion to be fast in almost all cases. Almost, because every technology has its limitations. Our clients are satisfied with Exsion’s overall performance.

Which Techniques Are Used to Get Exsion Reporting Working Fast?

If we can access the database directly (usually in hosting and on-premise scenarios), database queries are submitted directly, instead of through a connection. Which is why Exsion is super-fast.

Your Problem

When Asking for Help, I Never Get an Answer, Or Too Late

Everyone is familiar with the nuisance of having to contact a helpdesk. You are put through, will have to wait and your problem is always unique, thus making it impossible to solve quickly.

Exsion's Solution

You Can Call Our Helpdesk and Get an Answer Immediately

When you have a subscription, you can call our helpdesk to get an answer. Almost 90% of all issues reported we can solve directly.

Your Problem

I Cannot Access Data Created by Extensions

You use the latest versions of BC, as well as customisations made with extensions. You cannot access data with your current tool.

Exsion's Solution

Exsion Can Also Read and Retrieve These Data

Exsion Reporting can also access data generated by extensions.

Your Problem

Software Installation Is Complex, Time-Consuming and Error-Prone

Some packages require a very time-consuming process to get them running on a server or tenant, due to the fact that they consist of many components that work together.

Exsion's Solution

Exsion Is an App Source Extension, You Only Need an Excel Add-In, Which Can Be Installed Easily

Installation of Exsion is a standard procedure, which we have carried out nearly 1,000 times and will not take more than a morning or afternoon. In addition, you can easily install Exsion if you use BC through Microsoft’s cloud. You will have to send us an e-mail (to office@hbsoftware.nl), to receive the Excel add-in and license.

Features and Benefits of Exsion Business Reporting Microsoft Dynamics NAV/Business Central

Easily Create Reports in Excel

Exsion Reporting allows any controller to create reports based on data present within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (previously known as Dynamics NAV). This applies to controllers as well as logistics or commercial departments. However, we often see that a controller is the first person to start using Exsion, followed by the rest of the company.

Profit and Loss Account

With Exsion, you can easily create the monthly report detailing turnover, costs and profits. Even more important, updating it is easy as well. Once the report is made, at the end of the month you only have to change the time period and click REFRESH.

Age Analysis

Another example is an overview of debtors who have paid or not yet paid. A suchlike overview can be created in BC as well, be it with the drawback that implementing changes is more difficult.

Overview of Sales Options

For an easy overview of sales options occurring with leads, a sales manager can retrieve a list from BC and use it as a basis for his/her forecast.

Project Overview

As a construction company, you want stay abreast of progress of projects. Are you still realising margins as planned, or perhaps running behind? Volker Wessels, one of the largest construction companies in the Netherlands, uses Exsion to create its project overviews.

Overview of Turnover Rates and Margins

As a trading company, you want to know to the minutest detail which products have the highest turnover rate and/or margins. Once you create this overview in Exsion, you can retrieve an up-to-date-version at any given moment and immediately make decisions concerning purchases or sales, as well as adapt your strategy, when needed.

Reports Spanning Across Multiple Companies

If your database contains multiple companies (some clients have 200), you can create reports about individual companies or reports spanning across multiple companies.

Combining All Your Data Present Within Dynamics 365 Business Central

One of the functionalities we take pride in, is the possibility to transfer all data present within your database to Excel. This also applies to any customisations and sector solutions provided by your partner(s), as well as data generated by extensions in versions 14 and higher of BC.

Database Structure of Your Data

Exsion also has a database structure button. When you click on it, Exsion generates a map of your database, so you know exactly which table contains certain data and which tables you can link (join).

How to Select Desired Data

We have created a Wizard for this purpose, a screen that shows the BC/NAV tables on the left. When you click on a table, the data stored within it are shown, which you can subsequently click to add them to the collection of data you want to incorporate in your report. It is that simple, which you will learn in just one day.

Exsion Also Supports Functions

The Exsion versions we developed for the on-premise variant of BC/NAV also support functions. Functions allow you to perform calculations with data present within BC/NAV, prior to transferring them to Excel, which is very useful. A frequently-used function is the general ledger balance. With functions, you can also group data by periods, for example per week or month, making it unnecessary to first transfer all data to Excel and group them there.

Zooming In

When using a function, you can click its result(s) in Excel and then view, for example, the entries that a given balance was based on.

Once Made, Reports Can Be Refreshed Infinitely

Have you ever slogged away at a BC or NAV export, using cutting or a sort function to select a subset? The next time you want the report, you will have to do the above again, since you want a report containing the latest data. With Exsion Reporting, this tedious work belongs to the past. Once you have created your data selection (what we call a download definition), you can refresh it time and again, thus ensuring your report will contain the latest data.

Refresh Your Data with a Single Button Click

We have built Exsion Reporting in such a way, that you can effortlessly gain better insight into your company. To make the right decisions, you need accurate reports that can be retrieved at any given moment. The Refresh button takes care of this. Once you have created a download definition, you only have to click Refresh to view the latest data.

Exsion Reporting Is Fast

It goes without saying, that once you click the Refresh button, you do not want to wait a long time. We do everything in our power to ensure that Exsion works fast. Of course, every technology has its limitations, but our clients are very satisfied with Exsion’s overall performance. Ergo, you will not be confronted with annoyances and have quick access to your data.

Create Reports After a One-Day Training Course

People often think that creating reports is very difficult. The basis, however, is quite simple, but you can make things as complicated as you like, due to also having all Excel functionality at your disposal.

You can use slicers to add a time dimension to your report, create pivot tables to generate beautiful overviews and much more, but let’s drop that for now. Exsion’s basic functionality is fairly straightforward, a one-day training will suffice for creating most reports.

Would you like to expand your Exsion skills? We provide a training for advanced users, very useful if you want to create complex reports or optimise them.

Automatic Forwarding of Reports

You can use the Windows task planner, or Exsion’s. We also collaborate with RBE, a company that creates task planners. Based on, for example, (a) change(s) in the database, a report can be forwarded to selected staff, without requiring any human interaction.

Exsion Adopts BC/NAV Authorisations

Not everyone should be allowed access to all data. Exsion Reporting takes this into account by adopting BC/NAV authorisations, thus ensuring that certain data cannot be viewed by people it is not intended for.

Would you like to know more about Exsion Business Reporting Microsoft Dynamics NAV/Business Central?

Are you interested in Exsion Business Reporting Microsoft Dynamics NAV/Business Central? We will happily demonstrate it to you. In our free, no-obligation demo, the Exsion team will introduce the operation behind the blazingly fast combination of all administrational disciplines.

Exsion NAV Demo

You will see example reports, just like the ones you and your staff use, and will discover how Exsion Business Reporting Microsoft Dynamics NAV/Business Central can provide so much flexibility in reporting at such low costs.

Does Exsion NAV work for us?

Would you like to consult one of our experts whether Exsion Business Reporting Microsoft Dynamics NAV/Business Central matches your specific situation or needs? We will happily contribute ideas and explore the possibilities.