Entity Store vs. BYOD in Dynamics 365: Which Should You Use?
You should pick Entity Store if you want quick analytics and fast reporting. It works well with Power BI. Entity Store uses special data and indexes to make searches faster. If you need flexible reports or custom connections, BYOD is a good choice. BYOD lets you keep data entities in SQL format. But, handling big data with BYOD can cost more and slow things down. How much you need to grow and how fast things run are important when you choose.
Key Takeaways
Entity Store gives fast analytics in Dynamics 365. It works well with Power BI for quick dashboards and reports.
BYOD lets you send data to your own database. It helps you make flexible reports and mix data from many places. You can use tools like Excel and SSRS.
Use Entity Store if you need new data fast and simple reports in the app. Pick BYOD if you want custom reports, big data exports, or to join data from different systems.
Entity Store updates by itself and is easy to set up. BYOD needs you to export data by hand and take care of your own database security.
Think about your reporting needs now and later before you choose. Many companies start with Entity Store. They move to BYOD or data lakes for more advanced analytics.
Entity Store and BYOD Overview
Entity Store Basics
Entity Store is built into Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations. It keeps special data called aggregated data entities. The system updates Entity Store by itself. This means your reports use almost real-time data. You mostly use Entity Store for reports in Finance & Operations. It works really well with Power BI. This setup helps things run faster. It moves reporting away from the main database. You can look at old data in Entity Store to see trends and make guesses about the future.
Tip: Entity Store is great if you want fast dashboards and reports. It uses data from different places inside Dynamics 365.
BYOD Basics
BYOD stands for Bring Your Own Database. It lets you move data entities from Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations to another Azure SQL database or flat files. You decide when to update the data. This gives you a snapshot of the data at a certain time. BYOD can send all the data or just new changes. You can set up a schedule for exports using the batch framework. You use T-SQL to get the data. You can also change your data models and use tools like Power BI, Excel, or SQL Server Reporting Services. BYOD helps you make a single place for all your data. It also helps by moving storage away from the main system. You can connect to other data sources for bigger analytics.
Use Cases
Pick Entity Store if you want quick and trusted analytics for reports in Dynamics 365. It is best if you use Power BI and do not need to link to other systems. Pick BYOD if you want to mix data from Dynamics 365 with other sources. Use BYOD for custom reports or big BI projects. BYOD is also good if you want to change your data models or send data out for deep analysis.
Use Entity Store for:
Fast dashboards in Power BI
Almost real-time analytics
Reports in Dynamics 365
Use BYOD for:
Mixing data from many systems
Custom reports and deep analytics
Making one big data platform for enterprise BI
Comparison: Scalability, Performance, Reporting
Data Freshness
Data freshness means how new your report data is. Entity Store gives you almost real-time data. The system updates data often, so dashboards show the latest numbers. You can pick how often to refresh, from 10 minutes to 24 hours. This helps you get the right timing for your reports. BYOD works in another way. You set up exports to a different database. BYOD only shows data from the last export, so it is not always up to date. If you need the newest data, Entity Store is better.
Integration Options
You can connect both solutions in different ways:
BYOD lets you send data entities from Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations to Azure SQL. You set up a connection and choose which entities to send. You can use change tracking for small updates or do full exports. Export jobs help you plan and control updates.
Entity Store links straight to Power BI with OData. This lets you see data entities right away for analytics. You do not need to handle outside databases.
BYOD works with many reporting tools and other data sources. You can mix data from many places for bigger analytics.
Entity Store mainly connects with Power BI for analytics inside Dynamics 365.
Your choice changes how you get to your data. BYOD gives more ways to report and connect outside. Entity Store gives fast, direct access for reports inside the app.
Reporting Tools
Each solution works with different reporting tools. Entity Store is best with Power BI inside Dynamics 365. This gives you quick dashboards and reports in the system. BYOD works with more tools. You can use Power BI, Excel, SQL Server Reporting Services, and other BI tools. BYOD makes it simple to use old reporting tools. This helps your team try new reporting tools faster. For best speed, use Power BI with Entity Store for normal reports. Use BYOD if you want custom or outside reports.
Scalability
Scalability shows how well a solution grows. Entity Store is made for analytics and can handle many users at once. It uses special data models and indexes to keep things fast. BYOD depends on your Azure SQL database size. You can add more resources, but you must do this yourself. For huge data, Azure Data Lake may work better. Entity Store is best for fast analytics. BYOD is better for big, planned exports.
Limitations
Note: Entity Store is made for analytics and built-in reports. BYOD gives you more control over exports and connections, but you must handle more details.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
Decision Guide
Choosing the Right Solution
When you pick between Entity Store and BYOD, think about what reports you need. You should also think about how new your data must be. Think about how you want to connect your data. Ask yourself some questions to help you choose the best option.
Tip: First, think about how quickly you need your data. Also, think about which reporting tools you want to use.
Here is a simple decision tree to help you pick:
Do you need real-time or near real-time analytics inside Dynamics 365?
Yes: Use Entity Store. It updates fast and works best with Power BI dashboards.
No: Go to the next question.
Do you want to use external reporting tools like Excel or SQL Server Reporting Services?
Yes: Pick BYOD. It lets you send data to your own SQL database. You can use many reporting tools.
No: Go to the next question.
Do you need to combine data from Dynamics 365 with other systems for analytics?
Yes: BYOD is better. You can mix data from different places in your own database.
No: Entity Store will work for in-app analytics.
Is your organization planning for advanced analytics or AI in the future?
If yes, you might want to look at data lakes. Microsoft is moving toward data lakes. If you need something now, BYOD is good for batch exports and reports.
Note: Microsoft is focusing on data lakes for future analytics and AI. Data lakes need more setup and planning. Many groups still use BYOD for their current needs.
Common Scenarios
Look at these common examples to see which choice fits you best:
Scenario 1: Real-Time Dashboards
You want sales or inventory numbers to update quickly in Power BI inside Dynamics 365.
Best fit: Entity Store.
Scenario 2: Periodic Data Warehousing
You need to send data from Dynamics 365 to a data warehouse every night for monthly reports.
Best fit: BYOD.
Scenario 3: External Reporting
Your team uses Excel and SSRS for custom reports outside Dynamics 365.
Best fit: BYOD.
Scenario 4: Combining Data from Many Systems
You want to mix Dynamics 365 data with CRM or other business data for deep analytics.
Best fit: BYOD.
Scenario 5: Transactional Consistency
You need to keep business logic and security in sync with your analytics.
Best fit: Entity Store.
Many groups start with BYOD for quick reporting and data warehousing. As you need more, you may move to data lakes for advanced analytics and AI. Entity Store is still the best for fast, in-app analytics and dashboards.
Lesson Learned: Many IT architects say starting with Entity Store helps teams learn fast analytics. BYOD is good for bigger projects that need more options. Always pick what matches your reporting needs now and later.
You have to pick the best way for your reports. Look at the table to help you choose what works for your business:
Think about what you might need later. Many companies use Azure Data Lake now because it saves money and works well with the cloud. You can start with what fits you now and switch to data lakes when you need more analytics.
FAQ
What is the main difference between Entity Store and BYOD?
Entity Store gives you analytics almost right away in Dynamics 365. BYOD lets you send data to your own database for flexible reports. You pick one based on what reports you need.
What reporting tools can you use with each option?
Entity Store: Power BI (in-app)
BYOD: Power BI, Excel, SQL Server Reporting Services, and more
BYOD gives you more ways to make reports.
What should you consider when choosing between Entity Store and BYOD?
Think about how new you want your data to be. Also, think about which tools you like to use. If you need to mix data from other places, remember that too. Your business goals help you decide.
What are the best use cases for Entity Store?
You use Entity Store for quick dashboards and analytics that update fast. It is best for reports inside Dynamics 365. It works well when you do not need to mix data from other systems.
What are the best use cases for BYOD?
Custom reports outside Dynamics 365
Mixing data from different systems
Big exports for data warehousing
BYOD is good when you need more choices.