PI Suite Data Provider - data transfer made easy

Convenient export functionality for fast data provision of information from Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
There is a lot of potential in corporate data. Those who make optimal use of the value of their ERP data can gain comprehensive new insights, make efficient decisions and secure important competitive advantages. Ideally, the corresponding information should always be evaluated using a suitable analysis tool, such as Qlik Sense or Power BI.
Before the data can be analyzed accordingly, it has to be transferred from the ERP software Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central to the analysis software.
But direct access to the database is no longer possible, especially when used as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). This is also not recommended in the On-Prem version, as the database structures are constantly changing, and stable loading processes cannot be guaranteed.
This is where the PI Suite Data Provider becomes relevant - a solution to meet the challenges of fast and efficient data export. It enables the convenient retrieval of data from the ERP system and offers high performance for all connected third-party systems. This module is particularly suitable when classic web services are not sufficient for data transfer.
Functionality of the PI Suite Data Provider
The PI Suite Data Provider allows to export the required information from the ERP system in table form on a time-controlled basis and at regular intervals (via a task queue). Data export is not only possible on a time-controlled basis, but also based on defined categories (e.g. topics such as “financial evaluations”). The task queues react to the defined category and export the corresponding tables based on this. This allows the loading processes to be controlled individually.
The data is transferred into Microsoft's cloud-based Azure Blob Storage and uploaded from there to the desired analysis platform. The exported tables and fields - including those from third-party modules - can then be selected and transferred without programming.
The PI Suite Data Provider uses Microsoft Azure Blob Storage for the temporary storage of data. This enables efficient management of large volumes of data and offers additional security functions. Sensitive information can be stored in different storage accounts and specific security guidelines can be defined. Data exchange with Azure Blob Storage is standard for common analysis platforms such as Qlik Sense and Power BI.
The latest version of the PI Suite Data Provider offers error notifications in the event of any queue failures (too much data, etc.). Alerts are sent immediately by e-mail to those responsible so that they can act quickly.
Dealing with different data types
A common challenge when exchanging data between different business applications is the different formatting of data types. Amount fields, date fields and option fields are particularly problematic. These are often interpreted differently, which can lead to errors. The PI Suite Data Provider offers the option of defining basic formatting for different data types to ensure correct transmission.
In addition, the PI Suite Data Provider makes it possible to transfer table and field names to third-party systems in the preferred language. This is particularly useful for business intelligence applications that work with the same names as in the ERP system. However, regular updates from Microsoft can lead to changes in the captions. The PI Suite Data Provider helps to organize these potential inconsistencies and keep the ETL process stable.
Simple installation and use
The PI Suite Data Provider is installed as an extension via the extension management in Dynamics 365 Business Central and is ready to use immediately. Detailed documentation and online support make it easy to set up and use.
YOUR BENEFITS:
- Time-controlled, individual data export: Export desired tables or individual fields according to your schedule.
- Data export via task queue can also be controlled based on defined categories or topics (e.g. financial analysis)
- High transfer speed and performance: Significantly faster than standard web services, without additional web services.
- Multi-client management: Configure data transfer from multiple clients.
- Targeted control of output formats
- Standardized data exchange formats: Supports formats such as JSON, XML and CSV.
- Transfer of calculated fields: SIFT fields such as debtor balance or item stock can be transferred
- Alerts: E-mail notifications in case of task queue failures
- Exact definition of field values/labels possible (manual or automatic)
- Client-specific tables and third-party module data: Flexible export also for specific requirements.
- Simple installation as an extension via the extension management