Many companies in the SME sector use different systems: ERP (Dynamics NAV, Navision, Business Central), CRM, Excel lists, cloud services or production systems. The challenge: integrating all these data sources into one Standardized database without having to set up a complex IT solution for every requirement.
This is exactly where Dataflow Gen2 in Microsoft Fabric to.
What is Dataflow Gen2?
Dataflow Gen2 is a further development of the well-known Power BI Dataflows - but integrated into the entire Fabric platform. With a graphical user interface data sources can be connected, transformed and cleansed - without the need for complex ETL tools.
The special feature:
Data is transferred directly to OneLake saved.
Transformations can reused become.
Data is immediately available to all fabric workloads (Lakehouse, Warehouse, Reports).
How does Dataflow Gen2 work?
Dataflow Gen2 is basically a Self-service ETL tool, which is completely Microsoft Fabric is integrated.
Extract: Data from various sources is connected.
Transform: Via a Graphical Power Query interface data can be cleansed, transformed and merged.
Load: Results are automatically saved in OneLake and are immediately available to all fabric workloads (Lakehouse, Warehouse, Power BI).
The highlight: Dataflows are defined once and can be executed again and again - manually or time-controlled.
Why is this exciting for NAV, Navision and Business Central?
The following problems often arise with ERP data in particular:
Different tables must be merged for reporting.
Excel exports must be cleaned up regularly.
Changes in the ERP mean that reports have to be adapted again and again.
With Dataflow Gen2, specialist departments can define their own rules:
Joining tables (e.g. sales orders with customer master data).
Transformation of fields (e.g. converting currencies or formatting date fields).
Data cleansing (e.g. remove duplicates).
This relieves the IT department and speeds up reporting.
Advantages at a glance
Self-serviceDepartments can create data flows themselves.
Central storageData is stored directly in OneLake.
Cost efficiencyNo need for expensive, separate ETL tools.
Flexibility: Easily expandable with new data sources.
With Dataflow Gen2, Microsoft Fabric becomes a real Self-service data platform.
For companies with Dynamics NAV, Navision or Business Central This means: less dependence on IT, faster reporting and a Central, clean database.
This makes Dataflow Gen2 the The key to efficient data integration in SMEs.
Do you have any questions or would you like to find out more about our methods? Get in touch with us - We show you how you can use your data for sustainable success.