The DATABASICS Time & Expense Reporting system integrates to Dynamics 365 Business Central (D365 BC) to support time and expense accounting.
Each D365 BC entry module specific outbound specification from DATABASICS is outlined in separate sub-sections, as follows:
General Ledger - labor and expense accounting details
Accounts Payable - reimbursable expense accounting, vendor payables
Project Journal
D365 BC Plugins and Extensions
There are industry specific Plugin and Extension for D365 BC. Using plugins and extensions may add value for integration purposes and DATABASICS works with all of them allowing enhanced functionality in support of our customers' requirements.
The integrations will be similar to what is outlined here, but with adjustments made to facilitate for the customer’s and the specific plugin’s or extension’s requirements, including enhanced process functionality and custom fields / dimensions.
Inbound Data to DATABASICS
In a bi-directional integration Demographic (Organization) and Project (WBS) data typically originates in D365 BC and is imported to DATABASICS to support valid data in the outbound flows.
Organization Structure
In a D365 BC integration the DATABASICS Organization structure is mapped to the demographic dimensions utilized by the customer, typically consisting of one or more of the following:
Company
Location
Resource Group
Vendors - supporting reimbursement through Accounts Payable if included
Cost Rates - supporting project cost accounting solution if included
Employee
The Employee typically has one or more of the following properties:
Employee ID
Vendor ID
Employee First and Last Name
Home Company
Employee Type - supporting entry validation (e.g. OT) if included
Email address
Manager ID - supporting approval requirements if included
Hire Date
Termination Date
Work Breakdown Structure
In a D365 BC integration the DATABASICS Work Break Down Structure is mapped to the activity dimensions utilized by the customer typically consists of one or more of the following:
Customer
Job / Project
Task
Global / Custom Dimensions
Bill Rate - supporting billing if included
The dimensions utilized, in turn may have attributes and properties supporting customer’s specific requirements that can also form part of the DATABASICS data set, including:
Project / Task Type
Owning Company
Resource Assignment
Manager ID - supporting approval requirements if included
Start Date
End Date
Inbound Integration methods
Data flow inbound to DATABASICS is managed using the DATABASICS Import / Export utility.
In a D365 BC integration data can be read directly from from exposed ODATA pages and fields as defined by the customer, or the customer can provide flat files with data, according to agreed specifications.
The loads will validate to make sure all the required fields are provided in order for the employee to be active in DATABASICS.
ODATA Pull
We can use the DATABASICS import / export utility to read data directly from exposed ODATA pages and field as identified by the customer. Using the direct pull solution provides the organization and project data, and refreshes the data in DATABASICS for new records and existing records without the need for an intermediary step.
An agreed specification will outline what data to import from where, mapping the D365 BC data to DATABASICS.
Example employee profile specification, with exposed fields on link: https://api.businesscentral.dynamics.com/<version_and_URLid>/ODataV4/Company('<Company_ID>')/Resource_Card
D365 BC Field | DATABASICS Data field |
|
No. | EMPLY_ID | Primary key |
Name | N_FIRST | First Name |
Name | N_LAST | Last Name |
Resource Group | DEPT_CODE | Home Cost Center |
EMAIL1 | Used for login and notifications | |
Employment Date | START_DATE | Used for access control, as well as tenure based logic for leave management if applicable |
Termination Date | END_DATE | Used for access control, as well as foundation for final balance reporting for leave management if applicable |
Data Push to DATABASICS
Flat files can be imported into DATABASICS from a dedicated SFTP site: more information here
Files must be provided according to agreed specifications, loads can be scheduled according to requirement (e.g. weekly, daily, hourly), or manually triggered on an as needed basis.