Introducing Jet Reports Online: A cloud-based reporting tool for Dynamics 365 Business Central

January 31, 2025, insightsoftware will be releasing Jet Reports Online, a cloud-based solution designed for businesses using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. This platform integrates seamlessly with Excel and provides real-time reporting capabilities, removing the need for on-premises infrastructure. In this blog, we’ll explore the key features of Jet Reports Online, how it compares to Jet Hub, and how existing users can get started.

Jet Reports is a reporting tool that integrates with Microsoft Dynamics products, including Dynamics 365 Business Central. It’s built with Microsoft Excel integration at its core, allowing users to create flexible reports and dashboards without requiring technical expertise. Jet Reports helps businesses streamline reporting by providing accurate, real-time data from their source systems. This improves decision-making, reduces errors, and saves time. Traditionally an on-premises solution, Jet Reports also offers hosting options through Jet Hub to enable web-based access and collaboration.

Building on the robust capabilities of Jet Reports, Jet Reports Online introduces a fully SaaS-based reporting solution. Designed specifically for Dynamics 365 Business Central users, this modern platform provides real-time reporting capabilities in a web portal. Jet Reports Online features a web-based Report Center, a secure portal for centralized report management, scheduling, and cross-functional collaboration. This allows users to manage, update, and distribute reports effortlessly from any device. Subscription-licensed users can upgrade to the latest version to gain access to these powerful cloud-based tools.

Key features of Jet Reports Online:

• Report Center: A centralized web portal for report management, scheduling, and secure cross-functional collaboration.
• Real-time data access: Access and update data instantly from any device to enhance productivity and streamline decision-making.
• Time and cost savings: Automate report refreshes and distribution to save time and reduce manual effort.
• Single source of truth: Leverage version control, quick search, and reliable data for confident decision-making.

Jet Reports Online redefines reporting by addressing traditional pain points such as manual report sharing, data silos, and limited collaboration—delivering a streamlined, cloud-first reporting experience.

The release of Jet Reports Online will occur in a phased launch, delivering new features in stages to ensure a smooth rollout and optimal user experience. Below is a breakdown of the key launch milestones:

The initial release will introduce foundational features to streamline reporting and collaboration:

• Reports Center: A centralized web portal for managing reports, tasks, and collaboration.
• Scheduling and task management: Create and manage tasks for report execution. Automate report execution and distribution for seamless workflows.
• Report export: Reports are exported to the desktop version of Excel.
• AI Report Assist: A powerful tool to accelerate report creation, available for free during this phase.

The second phase will expand functionality with advanced features and integrations:

• Office web add-in: Enable seamless integration between the Reports Center and Office tools.
• Drill-down functionality: Access granular data directly from reports for deeper insights.
• Function wizard for NL functions: Simplify report creation with guided NL function setup.
• Excel integration: Flexible support for both Excel desktop and Excel Online.
• AI Report Assist subscription: Transition to a paid subscription for continued access to the AI-powered reporting tool.

These phased updates will deliver a powerful, fully-featured SaaS reporting solution, ensuring businesses can adopt the new platform efficiently while benefiting from enhanced tools and functionality.

The AI Report Assist tool simplifies reporting by leveraging artificial intelligence to create custom reports effortlessly. Designed to save time and reduce effort, it enables users to focus on analyzing data rather than compiling it. During the initial three-month preview period, all users can explore its capabilities for free. Starting March 31, 2025, AI Report Assist will transition to a paid subscription, requiring a license to continue using its powerful features.

For businesses already utilizing Dynamics 365 Copilot, AI Report Assist complements your AI toolkit, combining Microsoft’s productivity features with Jet Reports’ specialized financial reporting capabilities to deliver a seamless, data-driven decision-making experience.

Key features of AI Report Assist:

• Effortless report creation: Simply input your report requirements into the AI chat box, and reports are instantly generated.
• Fast and automated: Custom reports are built in seconds, saving time and enhancing productivity.
• Uncover hidden insights: Identify trends, anomalies, and key data points to gain a deeper understanding of your financial health.
• Enhanced accuracy and consistency: Rely on AI to ensure correct data sources and calculations for reliable insights.

If you’re familiar with Jet Hub, you might wonder how Reports Center (the web-based portal for Jet Reports Online) compares. While Jet Hub is a self-hosted solution requiring server management, Reports Center is a true SaaS platform that provides a fully managed service, eliminating the need for on-premises infrastructure. Reports Center is a standalone software with robust future enhancements planned, making it the next-generation solution for reporting and collaboration.

Here’s a detailed comparison:

Reports Center stands out for its ease of use, scalability, and modern cloud capabilities, making it an excellent choice for Dynamics 365 Business Central cloud users who want to reduce the burden of server management while accessing advanced reporting features. While Jet Hub remains a reliable solution for on-premises needs, Reports Center is the future of Jet Reports in the SaaS era.

Accessing Jet Reports Online and the Reports Center is simple, especially for existing Jet Reports users. If you already have a Jet Reports subscription license, you’ll gain access to Jet Reports Online and the Reports Center by upgrading to Jet Reports 24.4, which will be available before January 31, 2025. Once upgraded, you’ll also receive access to the AI Report Assist feature for free during a three-month preview period starting on January 31, 2025. To run reports from the Reports Center, you will then need to purchase report credits.

For users with a perpetual license of Jet Reports, accessing Jet Reports Online is optional. To use Jet Reports Online and the Reports Center, you’ll need to convert your perpetual license to a subscription license and complete the setup process on the Jet Reports Platform. However, this conversion is not required if you do not wish to get access to Jet Reports Online—you can continue using your perpetual version of Jet Reports and Jet Hub without any changes.

While this conversion isn’t mandatory for perpetual licenses, a limited-time promotion is currently available, offering attractive terms for perpetual license holders who transition to a subscription-based agreement.

Jet Reports Online provides a flexible and efficient way to manage financial and operational reporting. With its cloud-based platform, businesses can automate reporting, improve collaboration, and access real-time data. Whether you’re a current user or new to Jet Reports, the shift to Jet Reports Online offers a streamlined approach to reporting. Contact Rand Group today to learn more about Jet Reports, get assistance with transitioning to a subscription, upgrading to version 24.4, or any other related support.