How to Enable Analytics on Dynamics One Platform Using Synapse Link and Fabric Integration
You can use analytics and business intelligence on Dynamics One Platform by connecting Azure Synapse Link with Microsoft Fabric. If you switch from Export Data Lake to Synapse Link (Delta Lake), you get one place for analytics. This change gives you many good things:
Key Takeaways
Using Azure Synapse Link and Microsoft Fabric makes analytics easier. You get one place to work, so you do not need many services.
Make sure you have the right accounts and permissions before you start. This stops mistakes and helps your data move smoothly.
Pick the best way to export your data for what you need. In-place updates keep your data fresh. Append-only writes help you keep all records.
Check your data flow often to make sure it is correct and complete. This keeps your analytics and reports good.
Use OneLake to store all your data in one spot. This stops you from having extra copies and lets you find your data easily with different tools.
Prerequisites for Dynamics One Platform Analytics
You need to get ready before using analytics on Dynamics One Platform. You must set up the right accounts, permissions, versions, and licenses. This helps you move from Export Data Lake to Synapse Link and Microsoft Fabric.
Accounts and Permissions
You need certain roles and permissions to use analytics. The table below lists the main roles and what they do:
You also need to be a System Administrator in Dynamics 365. For Azure, you need Reader for Resource Group. You also need Owner or Role Based Access Control Administrator for Storage Account. You must be a Workspace administrator for Synapse Workspace.
Supported Versions
You must use a version of Dynamics One Platform that works with Synapse Link and Microsoft Fabric. The table below shows the versions and updates you need:
If your version is too old, you need to update it first.
Licensing
You need the right licenses to use analytics and data integration. Here is what you need:
Power BI Pro licenses let you publish and share in Microsoft Fabric.
People can view content in Fabric with Power BI Pro licenses.
If you use F64 capacity or more, people can view with Power BI Free licenses.
Tip: Check your license type before you start. This helps you avoid problems later.
Export Data Lake is not used anymore. You should use Synapse Link (Delta Lake) and Microsoft Fabric for better analytics and data integration.
Set Up Azure Synapse Link
You can get strong data integration and analytics on Dynamics One Platform by setting up Azure Synapse Link. This setup lets you move from exporting to a data lake to a new, simple system. You get data almost right away for reports and analytics. Follow these steps to turn on Azure Synapse Link and start using real-time analytics.
Enable Synapse Link
You must turn on Azure Synapse Link before using it for analytics. Here is what you need to do:
Log in to Power Apps and pick your environment.
On the left side, click Azure Synapse Link. If you do not see it, click …More and then Discover all. Look for Azure Synapse Link under Data Management.
On the top bar, click + New link.
Pick Connect to your Azure Synapse workspace.
Choose your Subscription, Resource group, Workspace name, and Storage account. Make sure you have everything needed. Click Next.
Pick the tables you want to export and click Save.
Tip: Check your permissions and workspace settings first. This helps you avoid mistakes during setup.
Azure Synapse Link connects your platform to Synapse. This makes data integration quick and simple. You can use this link to get almost real-time data from Dynamics One Platform.
Configure Data Export
After turning on Azure Synapse Link, you need to set up how your data moves from Dynamics One Platform to Synapse. There are two main ways to export data:
Pick the option that works best for your business. In-place updates help keep your data up to date. Append-only writes let you keep a record of changes for better analytics.
Azure Synapse Link uses Delta Lake format for exporting data. This format works with Apache Spark and gives you many good things:
Delta Lake format and Apache Spark work together to make data integration and analytics faster and more trustworthy. You get better speed and lower costs.
Note: Delta Lake format helps you store and manage data well. You can do advanced analytics and follow privacy rules.
Validate Data Flow
You need to make sure your data moves the right way from Dynamics One Platform to Synapse. You can check different data quality metrics to make sure your data is correct and complete:
Check these metrics often. This helps keep your data integration strong and your analytics correct.
Apache Spark is important in this process:
Apache Spark changes data from Dynamics One Platform into Delta Lake format.
This format is made for analytics and saves space.
Spark helps clean and improve data, making queries faster.
Regular maintenance keeps your data files small and ready for real-time analytics.
You can use Synapse to look at, change, and study your data. The link with Azure Synapse Link helps you get answers fast and supports almost real-time analytics.
Tip: Checking your data often helps you find problems early. You can fix them before they hurt your reports or dashboards.
You have now set up Azure Synapse Link for Dynamics One Platform. You can use Synapse for data integration, analytics, and reports. Microsoft gives you tools to manage and study your data quickly and safely.
Integrate with Microsoft Fabric
Connect Synapse Data
You can link your Synapse Link data to Microsoft Fabric by following some easy steps. First, make a workspace and give it Fabric capacity. Then, set up a Microsoft Fabric Warehouse. Get the Synapse-Compatible Connection String. Next, make a connection for your Fabric Warehouse. You need to create an Azure Data Lake Gen2 Storage Account and give it the right roles. Connect your storage account to Power BI and also to your Fabric workspace. This setup lets you move data from Dynamics One Platform into Fabric. You can use this data for analytics and data integration. You will get your data faster and can learn more from it.
Steps to connect Synapse data to Microsoft Fabric:
Make a workspace and give it Fabric capacity.
Set up a Microsoft Fabric Warehouse.
Get the Synapse-Compatible Connection String.
Make a connection for Microsoft Fabric Warehouse.
Create an Azure Data Lake Gen2 Storage Account.
Give the storage account the right roles.
Connect the storage account to Power BI.
Connect the storage account to Fabric workspace.
Tip: Give the right roles to your storage account. This keeps your data safe and easy to use.
Use OneLake
OneLake helps you keep all your data in Microsoft Fabric in one place. You do not have to copy data between services. OneLake uses shortcuts to point to data in other storage systems. This means you do not have extra copies of your data. Your data is ready to use right away in tools like Power BI and Synapse. You can load datasets for machine learning and use them in other apps fast. OneLake lets you look at data from different places all together.
You do not need to copy data to use it in different services.
Datasets are ready to use in many tools right away.
Less data copying makes managing data easier and faster.
Manage Security
You need to keep your data safe when using Microsoft Fabric. Use Azure Private Link for safe connections. Turn on TLS to protect data when it moves. Use Azure Storage Service Encryption to protect data when it is stored. Use Role-Based Access Control with Azure Active Directory. Use dynamic data masking to hide private data. Turn on logging to see who uses your data and what they do. Microsoft Fabric gives you strong security with always-on encryption and tools to protect your data. You can check and change your security settings to keep your data safe.
HIPAA Compliance: Follow rules to keep data safe and private.
Network Isolation: Use Virtual Networks and Private Endpoints to keep traffic safe.
Identity & Access Management: Use Azure RBAC and Managed Identities to control who can log in.
Encryption: Lock data when stored and when moving, and use Azure Key Vault for keys.
Data Protection Features: Use Row-Level Security and Column-Level Security to control who can see what.
Note: Update your data often to keep your reports up to date. Synapse Link updates about every 15 minutes. Fabric Link updates about every 60 minutes. Pick the best update time for your business.
Access Analytics and Business Intelligence
Query Data
You can get data from Dynamics One Platform in Microsoft Fabric in a few ways. First, open the Power Apps Maker Portal. Pin the Azure Synapse Link so you can find it fast. Pick the link made for Dataverse. Go to "Link to Microsoft Fabric" and pick your workspace. This lets you work with tables from Dataverse and Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations. You can also use Azure Synapse Link inside the Maker Portal. Pick the Microsoft Fabric link for your workspace. Then go to "Manage Tables" to choose and sort the data you want. These steps help you find the right data for your business intelligence work.
Tip: The Maker Portal helps you keep your data neat and ready to use.
Visualize with Power BI
After you connect your data, you can make reports and dashboards in Power BI. Power BI works with the OneLake Catalog, so you can share your reports in your Fabric workspace. Dataverse and Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations work together to make showing data easier. You can link Dataverse to Microsoft Fabric in the Maker Portal. Pick the right Dataverse and set up the connection to your Fabric workspace. Power BI gives you tools to show your data, so you can turn numbers into easy-to-understand pictures.
Make dashboards you can click and move things around on.
Share your reports with your team in Microsoft Fabric.
Use filters and pictures to show what matters most.
Advanced Analysis
Microsoft Fabric has strong analytics tools for deeper learning. You can change and improve data right away with real-time data transformation. OneLake architecture puts all your data in one place, so it is easier to handle and study. Direct Lake mode lets you ask questions and get answers fast, which helps finance and supply chain teams. Microsoft Copilot Studio uses AI to help you make smart guesses and improve your business intelligence.
Some common business intelligence uses are customer 360 views, guessing what will happen next, money health dashboards, and making your team work better. You can use notebooks and other tools to look at your data and make your own analytics projects.
Benefits and Cost Considerations
Key Advantages
When you use azure synapse and Microsoft Fabric together, you get many good things for analytics on Dynamics One Platform. These tools help you work with lots of data. They keep your data safe and make reports easier to make. You can put data from CRM, Finance and Operations, and Business Central all in one spot. This gives your business one main place for the truth.
You will see real changes. Data scientists and engineers can finish work 50% faster. Business analysts can get 15% more done. Many companies save up to $1.1 million by not using old tools.
Common Challenges
You might have some problems when you set up analytics with azure synapse and Microsoft Fabric. Sometimes, you get errors if you do not have the right permissions. Tables may not show up right away in Fabric Lakehouse. You need to turn on change tracking for the tables you want. If you have more than 2,000 tables with change tracking, you cannot use the Fabric link feature.
Tip: Check your permissions and table settings before you begin. This helps you stop common mistakes.
Measure Azure Costs
You can watch and control your costs when you use azure synapse and Microsoft Fabric. Azure Synapse lets you pay for what you use. Microsoft Fabric uses a plan based on how much you use, which helps you plan your money.
You can also use the Cost Analyzer to set limits and watch your spending. Set resources to run only during work hours. Use tags and dashboards to track costs by project or team. These steps help you keep your analytics projects cheap and working well.
You can use analytics and business intelligence on Dynamics One Platform by moving from export to data lake. You also connect Synapse Link with Microsoft Fabric. This way, you get all your analytics in one place. Your data journey becomes easier and faster.
Make ETL steps better and use parallel processing for speed.
Watch Azure costs with dashboards and daily reports.
Set clear goals and work with your team for smarter choices.
FAQ
How often does Synapse Link update my data?
Synapse Link updates your data every 15 minutes. You get new data for reports and dashboards. You can change how often it updates to fit your needs.
Do I need special licenses for Power BI in Microsoft Fabric?
You need Power BI Pro licenses to share and publish in Fabric. If you use F64 capacity or more, people with Power BI Free licenses can see content.
What data formats does Synapse Link use?
You get open formats that work with many analytics tools.
Can I control who sees my data in Fabric?
You set permissions using Azure Role-Based Access Control. You use row-level and column-level security to limit who can see data. Encryption and masking help keep your data safe.