Integrate Power BI with Microsoft Dynamics 365

For the course of this blog, I’m expecting that the reader has some basic knowledge of Dynamics CRM, while if you don’t know Power BI, then not a big deal. I would like to explain on high-level about Power BI, but primary focus of this blog is, how to use Power BI with Dynamics 365 Online. In later blog, I would like to cover how to user Power Bi with Dynamics 365 On-premises IFD?

What is Power BI?

According to Power BI Wikipedia, Power BI is a business analytics service provided by Microsoft. It provides interactive visualizations with self-service business intelligence capabilities, where end users can create reports and dashboards by themselves, without having to depend on any information technology staff or database administrator.

I know at this point, you are feeling lost that how is it different from Microsoft BI Stack such as SSRS, SSAS or SSIS? So, simple answer: Power BI is a HTML 5, app enabled and cloud based SaaS, so no need of powerful infrastructure, only compatible web browser and valid work email address.

Setup Power BI:

• Sign up free for Power BI with your work email address (keep remember your personal email address won’t work such as Hotmail, yahoo, Gmail or etc.). In case, if you don’t have work email address, then create a new Dynamics CRM Online trial and use the newly created *@*.onmicrosoft.com

• Once, you complete the sign-up, you are on the Power BI Landing page.

• Now, we have two broad options available:
  • Content Pack Library.
  • Import or Connect to Data.

• Let suppose, if we are planning to use Power BI in our Dynamics 365 Online, then choose ‘Content Pack Library’ – ‘Services’ and click on ‘Get’ button.

• A new pop-up window appears. Search ‘Dynamics CRM’ keyword and available list get shrink as per based on the search criteria. Under ‘Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Sales Manager’ and click on ‘Get it now’.

• A new pop-up will appear; it will ask two parameters:
  • Dynamics CRM Online 2016 Service:
    • In our case, it is https://karachi786.crm4.dynamics.com
  • Fiscal Year End Month Number:
    • In our case, I entered 12.

• Click on ‘Next’ button. Now, pop-up refresh and ask for ‘Authentication Method’
  • Authentication Method: OAuth2

• Once, you click on the ‘Sign in’ button, a new pop-up window will appear which ask for User credentials.
• After that, it will take some time to process and prepare the new dashboard on the Power BI. Now, your screen more or less look like below:

• I know, its WOW experience.J

Incorporate Power BI in Dynamics 365 Online:

• Let’s, bring Power BI in the Dynamics CRM Online.

• Login into your Dynamics CRM Organization, which was used in the earlier step.

• Go to Settings – Administration – System Settings – Reporting tab
  • Allow Power BI Visualization embedding: YES

• Now, go to Sales – Dashboard – Click on ‘New’ button and following options are available:
  • Dynamics 365 Dashboard
  • Power BI Dashboard

• Select ‘Power BI Dashboard’ and a new pop-up appear, choose ‘Dynamics CRM Online Sales Manager’ and click on ‘Save’ button.

• Viola! Power BI Dashboard is available in Dynamics CRM Online.