Dynamics Community Forum Thread Details

relate information data from third parties

Hello MR-28011816-0,

Good afternoon! You're asking about integrating data from third-party systems (like travel/expense platforms or purchase order systems) into Dynamics 365, specifically through the portal. This is a common requirement, and there are several ways to approach it.

Here's a breakdown of the possibilities:

1. Direct Integrations (If Available):

Check for Existing Connectors: First, see if any pre-built connectors exist for your specific third-party systems within the Power Platform (Power Automate, Power Apps). These connectors can simplify the integration process. Look for connectors in the Power Automate connector library.

API Access: If your third-party system has an API (Application Programming Interface), you can use it to directly integrate with Dynamics 365. This usually involves custom development (using JavaScript, C#, or other languages) or Power Automate flows to call the API and transfer data.

2. Data Integration Tools:

Azure Data Factory: For more complex data integration scenarios (especially with large volumes of data), Azure Data Factory is a powerful ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tool that can connect to various data sources and move data into Dataverse.

Other ETL Tools: Several other ETL tools are available (e.g., SSIS, Informatica) that can be used for data integration with Dynamics 365.

3. Portal Integrations:

IFrames: A simple approach is to embed the third-party system's interface within an iframe on a Dynamics 365 portal page. This allows users to view the data without leaving the portal, but it's not a true integration (data isn't stored in Dataverse).

Custom Portal Development: For more advanced portal integrations, you can develop custom portal pages that use the third-party system's API to retrieve and display data.

4. Customer Insights - Data (For Unified View):

This is a great option if you want to bring data from multiple sources together and create a unified view of your customers.

Data Ingestion: Customer Insights - Data can ingest data from various sources, including your third-party systems (via connectors, APIs, or other methods).

Data Unification and Enrichment: Customer Insights - Data can then unify and enrich this data, creating a 360-degree view of your customers.

Data Export/Integration with Dynamics 365: You can then export or integrate this unified data with Dynamics 365.

Displaying Information as Cards: You can display this information in Dynamics 365 as cards using Power Apps components. This provides a user-friendly way to view the consolidated data directly within Dynamics 365.

Which Approach is Best?

The best approach depends on several factors:

Data Volume and Complexity: For large volumes of data or complex transformations, Azure Data Factory or other ETL tools are recommended.

Technical Expertise: Direct API integrations and custom portal development require more technical skills.

Budget: Some solutions (like Azure Data Factory) have associated costs.

Real-time vs. Batch: Do you need real-time data integration, or is a periodic sync sufficient?

Unified View: If creating a unified customer profile is a priority, Customer Insights - Data is a powerful solution.

If my answer was helpful, please click Like, and if it solved your problem, please mark it as verified to help other community members find more. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me.

My response was crafted with AI assistance and tailored to provide detailed and actionable guidance for your Microsoft Dynamics 365 query.

Best Regards,

Daivat Vartak

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