Imagine this: as a financial controller, you receive an urgent request from management about the margins of a specific project. The data lives in Business Central, but turning it into a usable report normally takes days. You need to wait until IT has time, someone needs to build a custom report, and by the time it’s ready, the information is already outdated.

A situation many controllers will recognize. Finance teams are constantly under pressure to deliver answers quickly. That’s why more and more controllers want to work directly with their data—without depending on others. In this blog, Elielma Silva, Senior Consultant Exsion Reporting at Exsion365, explains how controllers can evolve into true data experts and which tools can support that transformation.

Why controllers are becoming data experts

The role of the controller has changed significantly in recent years. You're no longer just responsible for monitoring the numbers—you’re also expected to provide insights that support strategic decision-making. This shift requires a proactive mindset and the right tools.

As a consultant, I often see controllers become frustrated with the lack of flexibility in their reporting processes. You don’t want to rely on IT for every report you need. You already have the financial expertise—what you often lack are the tools to turn that expertise into actionable, customized reports.

• The Challenges of Reporting in Business Central

Microsoft Dynamics Business Central is a powerful ERP system used by many companies. But when it comes to reporting, challenges often arise.

Business Central holds a wealth of financial data, but accessing and using that data efficiently isn’t always straightforward. Controllers often struggle with combining data from multiple tables, refreshing reports quickly, or modifying reports independently—without having to call in IT.

Common challenges include:

• Reformatting reports every time from scratch
• Relying on external consultants for complex reporting
• Struggling to respond quickly to urgent questions from management or auditors
• Finding it difficult—or even impossible—to combine multiple data sources

Excel: the controller’s trusted environment

Most controllers work in Excel every day and are comfortable using it. The real issue is the gap between Business Central and Excel.

As a controller, you’re already an Excel expert. You know how to use formulas and how to present data clearly. What you need is a bridge between your ERP system and Excel—so you can apply your Excel skills directly to your Business Central data.

That’s exactly what a tool like Exsion Reporting offers. By connecting Excel directly to Business Central, controllers can create powerful reports using their familiar Excel environment.

How to build your own powerful reports

With the right tools, you can take full control of your reporting process. Start small and build from there.

A great example comes from a construction company using Exsion for budget control. They deal with complex budgets that span multiple construction phases—from groundwork to completion. With traditional tools, it took them days to get a clear overview. Now, with one click, they refresh the report and immediately see how actual costs compare to budget.

The benefits of self-service reporting

Controllers who can build reports themselves quickly see the benefits:

1. Time savings: One client told me their controllers used to spend hours formatting reports exported from Business Central. Now, they build the report once and refresh it with a single click—no more repetitive formatting.
2. Flexibility: You're no longer dependent on others. If an auditor or executive asks for specific data, you can deliver it in minutes.
3. Deeper insights: As a controller, you understand the financial context and now you have direct access to the data—this lets you uncover patterns and inefficiencies that others might miss.
4. Cost efficiency: There’s no need for large BI implementations for relatively simple reports. Many companies use Exsion alongside Power BI—Power BI for standard dashboards, and Exsion for ad-hoc analysis and reporting.

Start Your Journey as a Data Expert Today

As a controller, you're at a crossroads. You can keep waiting for others to provide the data you need—or you can take control yourself. With tools that integrate seamlessly with both Business Central and Excel, you have everything you need to become a true data expert within your organization.

In my view, the choice is clear. Controllers who take this step not only save time, but also deliver sharper insights and contribute more strategically to the business.

Want to Learn More?

Curious how you can build powerful reports without relying on IT?
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