What’s New in Dynamics 365 Business Central Version 26? Power BI Reporting Just Got Smarter
Summary
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Version 26 deepens its Power BI integration with real-time data access, refreshed embedded controls, a redesigned FactBox pane, more out-of-the-box reports and cross-company reporting — all aimed at faster, smarter decision-making across finance and operations in 2025.
Source
Content Summary
Version 26 refreshes the embedded Power BI experience inside Business Central with new embedded controls and a UserControlHost page type that makes better use of screen space. The FactBox pane gets a modern curved-corner look and the Role Explorer/Report Explorer now show extended tooltips and let users open pages in separate windows for easier navigation.
Microsoft has added more standard Power BI reports for finance, sales, purchasing, inventory, manufacturing and projects, and introduced cross-company reporting so you can merge data from multiple Business Central companies for consolidated analytics. The release also clarifies differences between online and on-premises capabilities: some AppSource apps and management features are online-only, while core reporting and custom report creation remain possible on-premises with extra configuration.
Context and relevance
This update matters if your organisation uses Business Central as its ERP. It reduces friction to deliver timely, role-specific insights and aligns with the broader shift to embedded analytics and cloud-first BI (Microsoft Fabric). For teams in finance, supply chain and operations, these changes speed up access to live data and make simpler, standard reporting available out of the box.
Key Points
- Real-time access to Business Central data keeps Power BI dashboards up to date.
- Refreshed embedded Power BI controls and a UserControlHost page improve the in-app analytics experience.
- The FactBox pane redesign gives embedded reports a cleaner, more modern look.
- More out-of-the-box Power BI reports cover finance, sales, purchasing, inventory, manufacturing and projects.
- Cross-company reporting enables consolidated analytics across multiple Business Central companies.
- Role Explorer and Report Explorer enhancements (tooltips, separate windows) speed navigation and learning.
- Some advanced Power BI app management features remain exclusive to the online version; on-premises requires configuration.
- JourneyTeam and partners offer pre-built analytics and services for organisations that need scalable, AI-ready reporting beyond the standard reports.
Why should I read this?
Because if you use Business Central, this update actually saves you time. Less faff building basic dashboards, quicker cross-company views and a tidier embedded UI mean your teams get clearer, real-time visibility faster. If you’re responsible for reporting, finance or ops, skim the details — you’ll likely find quick wins or a push to consider a small analytics project to unlock immediate value.