You know the scenario: management wants more insight into the numbers. Real-time dashboards. Predictive analytics. Business Intelligence, they call it. For enterprise-wide analytics and complex predictive models, platforms like Power BI are the gold standard. But did you know that for 80% of your daily reporting needs as a controller, there's a much simpler route? In this blog, Thomas Werkhoven, director of Exsion365, explains how with tools you already know - Excel and Business Central - you can build a powerful reporting environment that works perfectly alongside your strategic BI platforms.

The BI challenge: the right tool for the right job

During my years as a controller at Van Wijnen and BAM, I saw the value of large BI platforms. Power BI, Tableau, or QlikView are excellent for strategic dashboards. But controllers also need flexible, daily reports they can adjust themselves.

That's why many companies use both: BI tools for strategic overviews, and a pragmatic solution for operational work. It's about the right tool for the right job.

The real costs of BI

Enterprise BI platforms quickly cost €50,000+ per year in licenses, plus €150,000-€300,000 for implementation. Often justified for strategic analyses. But for daily reporting, it means dependency on consultants. Adding an extra field? Another invoice.

At Van Wijnen, we had an excellent BI implementation for strategic purposes. For my daily work – quick insights into 187 different companies – we needed something more flexible.

Exsion Reporting: BI for controllers, by controllers

When I discovered Exsion Reporting, everything fell into place. Excel as the interface, but with direct access to real-time data from Business Central. It fills the gap between strategic BI and operational reporting.

As a customer, I became so enthusiastic that I sat next to the developers with a stopwatch: "Can it be even faster?" That collaboration ultimately led to my role as director. The result? An Excel plugin that installs in 5 minutes and seamlessly integrates with your existing BI landscape.

The power of Exsion Reporting:

• Implementation in 5 minutes
• One-click refresh for real-time data
• Drill-down functionality from total to invoice
• Build reports yourself without IT
• Retain Excel flexibility

The best of both worlds in practice

At 4PS, the combination works perfectly. Arnold van der Werf: "Power BI for fixed dashboards, Exsion for everything that needs flexibility. Controllers can respond directly to questions without involving IT."

This is exactly how we position Exsion365: as a complement to your existing BI landscape, not a replacement. A construction sector client: "For management reporting we use Power BI. For daily operational reports, Exsion is indispensable. What took three days now takes minutes."

The 80/20 rule with Exsion Reporting

With Exsion Reporting, we fulfill 80% of your BI needs:

• Consolidation: All entities in your group in one report
• Comparisons: Actual versus budget or previous year, immediately available
• Ad-hoc analyses: That unexpected management question answered within an hour
• Project reports: From budget control to margin analysis

For complex predictive analytics and enterprise-wide KPIs, platforms like Power BI remain the right choice. Exsion focuses on what controllers work with daily.

Start today with a complete BI strategy

Business Intelligence isn't one-size-fits-all. With Exsion Reporting, you add a pragmatic layer to your BI landscape. Controllers build their own daily reports, while IT maintains control over strategic platforms.

For a fraction of the cost, you have a solution that works perfectly with your existing tools. You start with a few users and expand when needed. An ideal complement to your strategic BI dashboards.

Meet us at Directions in Poznan!

Are you a Business Central partner? We'd love to see you at Directions in Poznan (November 3-6). Stop by for a personal demonstration and discover why more than 1,000 Business Central users trust Exsion Reporting daily. Exclusive for Directions attendees:

• 60 days free access for your clients
• Personal consultant session
• Live demo: from complex to effective in 30 minutes

Schedule your meeting in Poznan or view the special offer

Want to see how Exsion Reporting can transform your reporting process now?

Contact us today for a free online demo. In 30 minutes, I'll show you how to go from complex to effective – and you can get started right away.