Integration overview for Business Central

Article
04/09/2024

This article is intended to help architects and developers make sound design decisions when they implement integration scenarios to and from Business Central.

The article describes integration patterns, integration scenarios, and integration solutions. However, it doesn't include technical details about how to use or set up every integration pattern. It also doesn't include sample integration code.

Note

Some integrations require a separate subscription or license. Please consult the documentation for that subscription for requirements and details.

Integrations to/from Business Central are done with web services

Most integrations (except for a few built-in integrations) to and from Business Central are done using web services. Business Central supports three types of web services: REST API, SOAP, and OData.

The recommended way to use web services for Business Central is by using the REST API stack.

For more information, see Web services overview.

How to explore and develop against Business Central REST APIs

When you need to connect to Business Central from another application, you should use REST APIs, either the built-in APIs or custom APIs.

For more information on how to explore and develop against APIs, best practices, and which built-in APIs exist, see REST API overview.

Integrating to Office apps and Microsoft 365

Business Central supports multiple integrations to Microsoft 365. Enabling integrations to Microsoft 365 augments the functionality in Business Central with extra features. It also augments Microsoft 365 apps with new features so that users can stay in the flow of work and get access to the right data at the right time from the app they prefer working with. Along with built-in integration, Business Central offers more ways for you to integrate with Microsoft 365 apps using APIs.

Business Central integrates to the following Microsoft 365 products and services:

Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Graph
OneDrive for Business
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Word

For more information, see Integrating Business Central with Microsoft 365.

Integrating Business Central with Power Platform

Business Central supports multiple integrations to Power Platform. Enabling integrations to Power Platform augments the functionality in Business Central with more features.

Business Central integrates to the following Power Platform products and services:

Power Apps
Power Automate
Power BI
Power Pages

For more information, see Integrating Business Central with Power Platform.

Built-in: Integrating Business Central with Dataverse

Business Central has four built-in ways to integrate with Dataverse:

Data synchronization that replicates data between Business Central and Dataverse.
Data virtualization with virtual tables in Dataverse via Business Central API for (Create/Read/Update/Delete) operations.
Data change (CUD) events using webhooks.
Business events (preview).

For more information, see Integrating Business Central with Microsoft Dataverse.

Built-in: Integrating Business Central with Dynamics 365 Sales

You can integrate Business Central with Dynamics 365 Sales by first setting up integration to Dataverse and then doing more setup from the Business Central application. Integrating to Dynamics 365 Sales lets users view information from Business Central while they're working in Dynamics 365 Sales. For example, when preparing a sales quote it could be useful to know whether you have enough inventory to fulfill the order.

For more information, see Integrating Business Central with Dynamics 365 Sales.

Built-in: Integrating Business Central with Shopify

You can integrate Business Central with Shopify by installing and configuring the Shopify Connector app. By connecting your Shopify store (or stores) with Business Central, you can maximize your business productivity and manage and view insights from your business and your Shopify store as one unit.

For more information, see Get started with the Shopify connector.

Integrating to external systems from AL code: calling external services

You can integrate Business Central apps and extensions with external systems by using the HttpClient data type in AL code.

For more information, see Call external services with the HttpClient data type.

Integrating to external systems from AL code: Azure services

You can integrate Business Central apps and extensions with Azure services such as Azure Blob Storage, Azure Files, Azure Functions, or Azure Key Vault.

For more information, see Integrating Business Central with Azure services.

Integrating Business Central with infrastructure services

Business Central integrates to a few fundamental infrastructure services for operations such as authentication, authorization, auditing, telemetry, and printing.

Here are some supported integrations between Business Central and fundamental services:

Authentication and authorization: Microsoft Entra
Network security: Azure security service tags
Telemetry: Azure Application Insights
Local printers: Microsoft 365 Universal Print

For more information, see Integrating Business Central with infrastructure services.

Integrating AI by extending Copilot in Business Central

You can integrate Business Central apps and extensions with the Azure OpenAI Service to extend Copilot in Business Central with new generative AI capabilities.

Shows the tasks in the generative-AI development

For more information, see Integrating AI using Developer Tools for Copilot.