Connecting Exact Online with Power BI: A Complete Integration Guide

Step 2: Custom Visualizations

Create visual representations:

• Bar charts for revenue comparison
• Line graphs for trends
• KPI cards for key metrics
• Custom filters for user interaction

Phase 6: Testing and Validation (30 minutes)

Step 1: Data Accuracy Check

1. Compare figures with Exact Online
2. Verify calculations
3. Check data freshness

Step 2: Performance Testing

1. Test dashboard load times
2. Check filter responsiveness
3. Verify auto-refresh functionality

Phase 7: Deployment and Sharing (30 minutes)

Step 1: Publish Dashboard

1. Save your work
2. Publish to Power BI Service
3. Set up refresh schedule

Step 2: Share Access

1. Set up user permissions
2. Share with team members
3. Create workspace if needed

Next Steps After Integration:
1. Train your team on using the dashboards
2. Set up regular review meetings
3. Plan for future enhancements
4. Establish a feedback loop
5. Schedule periodic maintenance

Remember: The key to successful integration is starting simple and building up based on actual needs and feedback. Don’t try to implement everything at once – focus on getting the basics right first.

Popular SQL queries for Exact Online

• Total Sales by Division – Get the total sales amount for each division.
• Transaction Lines by GL Classification – Get the transaction lines grouped by GL classification.
• Purchase Entry Details – Get the details of all purchase entries.

Best Practices & Tips

Performance Optimization

1. Data Refresh Strategy

• Schedule off-peak updates
• Use incremental refresh
• Implement row-level security

2. Report Design

• Use bookmarks for navigation
• Implement consistent formatting
• Create mobile-friendly views

Security Considerations

1. Access Control

• Row-level security
• Object-level permissions
• Audit logging

2. Data Protection

• Encryption in transit
• Secure authentication
• Regular security reviews

Common Challenges & Solutions

1. API Rate Limits

Challenge: Exact Online has strict API limits (5000 calls per day per company), which can interrupt your data synchronization.

Solutions:

• Schedule syncs during off-peak hours (midnight to 6 AM)
• Prioritize important tables for more frequent updates
• Use Peliqan’s smart sync features to optimize API usage
• Enable incremental updates to sync only changed data

Pro Tip: Start with less frequent syncs for historical data and increase frequency for recent transactions.

2. Data Consistency Issues

Challenge: Reports in Power BI sometimes show different numbers compared to Exact Online due to timing differences and calculations.

Solutions:

• Set up regular data validation checks
• Use Peliqan’s built-in reconciliation tools
• Keep clear documentation of all data transformations
• Implement automated error notifications
• Maintain consistency in financial calculations

Pro Tip: Create a simple daily reconciliation routine to catch any discrepancies early.

3. Performance Issues

Challenge: Dashboards load slowly, especially when dealing with large amounts of data or complex calculations.

Solutions:

• Break down large reports into smaller, focused dashboards
• Use Power BI’s incremental refresh feature
• Implement smart data caching strategies
• Optimize your data model structure
• Remove unnecessary columns and calculations

Pro Tip: Start with essential metrics and add complexity gradually as needed.

4. Multi-Division Management

Challenge: Managing data from multiple Exact Online divisions while keeping everything organized and secure.

Solutions:

• Set up clear division separation in your reports
• Implement proper access controls for each division
• Use consistent naming conventions
• Create division-specific dashboards when needed
• Maintain a clear division identifier system

Pro Tip: Create a master template for division-specific reports to ensure consistency.

5. User Adoption

Challenge: Getting team members to effectively use the new integrated system.

Solutions:

• Provide basic training sessions
• Create user guides with common tasks
• Start with simple, essential reports
• Gather and implement user feedback
• Designate power users in each department

Pro Tip: Create quick reference guides for the most common tasks users need to perform.

6. Security and Compliance

Challenge: Maintaining data security while providing necessary access to team members.

Solutions:

• Implement proper user authentication
• Set up role-based access control
• Regular security audits
• Keep audit logs of data access
• Ensure compliance with data protection regulations

Pro Tip: Review security settings quarterly and after any major organizational changes.

Remember that Peliqan’s support team is available to help you address these challenges and implement the right solutions for your specific needs.

The integration of Exact Online with Power BI represents a strategic transformation in how businesses leverage their financial data. With Peliqan’s streamlined approach, you can connect Exact Online to Power BI in under 3 hours and start visualizing your financial data immediately. 

This powerful integration enables organizations to automate their data synchronization and report generation while eliminating manual data entry and reducing errors. With real-time financial insights readily available, businesses can make better-informed decisions and scale their intelligence capabilities as they grow, all while maintaining robust security for sensitive financial data.

Start your integration journey today with Peliqan, and transform your financial data into interactive Power BI dashboards that drive strategic business advantages. With a structured implementation process and ongoing support, your path to data-driven decision-making begins with just a few hours of setup.