Business Central Excel Reporting Tools: 7 Compared for Finance Teams

Updated October 9, 2026 · Originally published August 3, 2026

The Excel reporting tools finance teams use with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central are Exsion365, Jet Reports, Velixo, Acterys, Solver, Binary Stream Multi-Entity Management and Power BI. Each connects Business Central data to Excel or Power BI in a different way, from live Excel add-in reporting and multi-company consolidation to budgeting, planning and dashboarding. This article compares what each tool does, who it suits, and what finance teams should weigh before choosing.

• Discover seven leading reporting tools for Dynamics 365 Business Central.
• Compare Excel-native reporting, consolidation, and analytics capabilities.
• Learn what features matter most for finance teams.
• Understand how connected reporting tools can reduce month-end close time.
• See why Excel-based reporting remains the preferred workflow for many finance professionals.

Why do reporting tools matter for Dynamics 365 Business Central?

Business Central stores the financial data organizations depend on, but many finance teams still spend hours exporting information into spreadsheets, reconciling multiple files, and manually updating reports. These repetitive tasks not only consume valuable time but also increase the risk of errors and version control issues. APQC survey research found FP&A staff spend on average 75 percent of their time gathering data and administering processes rather than analysing it.

A dedicated reporting solution bridges the gap between Business Central and Excel, allowing finance professionals to work with live ERP data inside the spreadsheet environment they already know. Rather than rebuilding reports every month, teams can refresh existing workbooks with current information and focus their efforts on analysis instead of data preparation. Reviews of field audits summarised in academic research found 94 percent of the spreadsheets examined contained errors, with an average cell error rate of 5.2 percent.

What Should Finance Teams Look for in Business Central Reporting Tools?

Not every reporting solution is designed for the same type of organization. Before selecting a tool, finance leaders should evaluate how well it supports their existing reporting processes and future growth. Business Central's built-in financial reporting lets users generate an Excel workbook template, adjust the layout, store it as an Excel layout in Business Central and set it as the report default.

Key considerations include:

• Native Excel integration
• Live Business Central data connections
• Multi-company consolidation
• Easy report creation and maintenance
• Self-service capabilities for finance users
• Fast implementation and minimal training

The best solution is one that fits naturally into your team's workflow without requiring extensive technical expertise or ongoing IT involvement. Business Central consolidation requires each subsidiary to be set up as a business unit, with the share of its balances to include specified per unit.

Seven Reporting Tools for Dynamics 365 Business Central

1. Exsion365

Exsion365 is designed specifically for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Microsoft Dynamics NAV users who want live ERP reporting directly inside Excel. Rather than exporting data, finance teams work with real-time Business Central information using an Excel add-in that refreshes reports with a single click.

The platform focuses on everyday financial reporting, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, cash flow reports, and management reporting. Organizations with multiple Business Central companies can consolidate data across entities, currencies, and environments within a single workbook while maintaining existing Business Central security permissions. Since the 2023 release wave 2, Business Central can consolidate financial data across companies held in different Business Central environments by adding each business unit's API endpoint on the Business Unit Card, removing the file transfer step.

Because the interface is built around Excel, most finance professionals require very little training before creating and modifying reports independently. Implementation is typically measured in days rather than months.

Exsion365 is best suited for organizations that want a straightforward reporting solution focused on Business Central rather than a broader enterprise analytics platform. Companies requiring advanced dashboard visualizations or a complete data warehouse strategy may choose to pair it with Power BI.

2. Jet Reports

Jet Reports has long been a familiar reporting solution for Microsoft Dynamics users. It connects Business Central to Excel while providing an extensive library of pre-built financial report templates that organizations can customize.

The platform also includes automated report scheduling and distribution through Reports Center, making recurring management reporting more efficient. Finance teams can drill into report values to investigate supporting transactions without manually searching Business Central.

Although Jet Reports supports multiple Microsoft Dynamics products, some organizations find licensing and onboarding more involved than simpler reporting solutions.

3. Velixo

Velixo combines Excel reporting with budgeting capabilities while incorporating AI-powered analysis features. The platform connects directly to Business Central through APIs and allows finance users to ask questions about financial data using natural language.

Another distinguishing capability is bidirectional data flow, allowing budget information created in Excel to be written back into Business Central. The solution also leverages Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Entra ID for security and user management.

While these advanced capabilities appeal to organizations with broader planning requirements, they may introduce additional complexity for teams focused primarily on financial reporting.

4. Acterys

Acterys approaches reporting from a Power BI perspective, extending Microsoft's analytics platform with planning, budgeting, and financial consolidation capabilities. Organizations already invested in Power BI often use Acterys to enhance existing dashboards while using Excel as an input tool for planning data.

The platform supports multiple data sources beyond Business Central and includes audit trail functionality for organizations with regulatory reporting requirements. However, because it relies heavily on Power BI, implementation and licensing can be more complex than Excel-first solutions.

5. Solver

Solver positions itself as an extended financial planning and analysis platform that connects Business Central with additional business systems. Data is consolidated into a cloud environment where finance teams design reports and budget models using an Excel add-in.

QuickStart templates help accelerate deployment, while scenario modeling supports forecasting and strategic planning. Organizations looking for planning, budgeting, and reporting within a single platform may find Solver appealing, although businesses seeking direct Business Central-to-Excel reporting may prefer a simpler architecture.

6. Binary Stream MEM

Binary Stream Multi-Entity Management (MEM) serves organizations operating multiple legal entities within Business Central. Rather than functioning primarily as an Excel reporting tool, it extends Business Central itself by automating intercompany transactions, centralizing financial processes, and simplifying consolidated reporting.

Its strengths lie in managing complex organizational structures, shared master data, and entity-level security. Organizations with only a single Business Central company are less likely to benefit from its specialized capabilities.

7. Power BI

Microsoft Power BI is widely recognized for interactive dashboards and business analytics. It connects to Business Central to create visual reports that executives and operational leaders can explore through filters, charts, and AI-assisted insights.

Although Power BI integrates well with Excel and Microsoft 365, it is designed primarily for dashboarding rather than producing traditional financial statements. Many organizations use Power BI alongside an Excel-based reporting solution, relying on dashboards for executive visibility while continuing to produce detailed financial reports in Excel. Excel layouts for Business Central reports are supported from the 2023 release wave 2 (version 23) onwards.

How do reporting tools improve month-end close in Business Central?

Month-end close often involves:

• Exporting trial balances
• Updating financial statements
• Performing variance analysis
• Responding to questions from leadership

A connected reporting tools solution changes that workflow by allowing finance teams to refresh reports using current Business Central data instead of rebuilding spreadsheets. The result is faster reporting, improved consistency, and more time spent analyzing business performance rather than collecting information. APQC's Open Standards benchmarking of around 2,300 organisations put the median cycle time from running the trial balance to completed consolidated financial statements at about 6.4 calendar days. Depending on an organisation's security configuration, users may have to right-click a pivot table in a Business Central Excel report and choose Refresh to update the data.

For organizations managing multiple Business Central companies, automated consolidation further reduces manual effort while improving confidence in financial results.

How do I choose the right Business Central reporting tool?

Every finance team has different priorities. Some organizations need sophisticated planning and forecasting, while others simply want reliable, real-time financial reporting inside Excel.

If your primary challenge is eliminating manual exports and streamlining Excel reporting, an Excel-native solution may provide the quickest return on investment. Businesses with broader analytics or enterprise planning requirements may benefit from platforms that combine reporting with dashboards, budgeting, or multi-source data consolidation.

The right choice depends on your reporting processes, the complexity of your organization, and how your finance team prefers to work. From 1 April 2025 Power BI Pro licences cost USD 14 per user per month and Premium Per User licences USD 24 per user per month, applied globally to new and existing commercial customers on renewal.

Take the Next Step

Selecting the right reporting tools can significantly improve how your finance team works with Dynamics 365 Business Central. By understanding the strengths of each option and matching them to your reporting requirements, you can reduce manual effort, improve reporting accuracy, and give decision-makers faster access to reliable financial information.

Would you like to know more about these reporting tools for Dynamics 365 Business Central? Contact our experts at Exsion365 for more information, to start a free trial, or to schedule a demo.

By Exsion365, exsion365.com

 

 

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