Individual Installation and Centralized Deployment Guide
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central includes powerful Excel integration that enables users to edit data directly from Excel and publish changes back to Business Central. This functionality is powered by the Microsoft Dynamics Office Add-in, which supports the Edit in Excel feature.
This guide explains what the Excel add-in does, how it works, and how administrators can deploy it either individually or through centralized deployment.
What Is the Business Central Excel Add-in?
The Excel add-in allows users to export list data from Business Central to Excel, modify it using familiar spreadsheet tools, and publish updates back into the system.
Using the Edit in Excel action on supported pages, users can:
- Export customer, vendor, item, or other list data
- Perform bulk edits
- Use Excel formulas and formatting tools
- Analyze data offline
- Publish updates directly back to Business Central
The add-in connects Excel securely to Business Central using web services and respects all user permissions defined in the ERP system.
Deployment Options
There are two supported deployment methods:
- Individual acquisition (user-installed)
- Centralized deployment (admin-managed via Microsoft 365)
Choosing the right method depends on your organization’s IT governance policies and scale.
Option 1: Individual Installation (User-Based Deployment)
This method allows users to install the add-in themselves from the Office Store.
How It Works
- A user opens a list page in Business Central (for example, Customers or Items).
- The user selects Edit in Excel.
- Excel opens and prompts the user to trust and install the add-in.
- The Microsoft Dynamics Office Add-in is installed from Microsoft AppSource.
- The user signs in with their Business Central credentials.
- The Excel file connects to Business Central data.
Once installed, users can continue to use the add-in for future exports.
When to Use Individual Installation
This approach works well when:
- The organization is small
- Office Store access is enabled
- IT prefers minimal involvement
- Users can manage their own installations
Considerations
- Users must have permission to access the Office Store.
- Installation must be completed individually.
- Governance and version control are limited compared to centralized deployment.
Option 2: Centralized Deployment (Recommended for Organizations)
Centralized deployment allows administrators to deploy the Excel add-in to selected users or the entire organization through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
This approach ensures consistency, control, and compliance with corporate IT policies.
Prerequisites
Before deploying centrally:
- The organization must support centralized deployment in Microsoft 365.
- Admin permissions are required.
- Business Central must be properly configured.
- Office Store access may be restricted if centralized deployment is used.
Centralized Deployment Process
Step 1: Start Setup in Business Central
In Business Central:
- Search for Excel Add-in Centralized Deployment.
- Open the assisted setup guide.
- Follow the instructions to begin configuration.
This prepares Business Central for centralized add-in management.
Step 2: Deploy via Microsoft 365 Admin Center
- Sign in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
- Navigate to Integrated Apps.
- Select Get apps.
- Search for Microsoft Dynamics Office Add-in.
- Choose Get it now.
- Select who should receive the add-in:
- Entire organization
- Specific security groups
- Individual users
Complete the deployment process.
Step 3: Finalize in Business Central
After deployment is configured in Microsoft 365:
- Return to Business Central.
- Enable the centralized deployment setting.
- Confirm the configuration.
Deployment propagation may take up to 24 hours to fully apply across all users.
Switching Between Deployment Methods
Organizations should carefully consider their deployment method before implementation.
Excel workbooks created using one deployment method are linked to a specific add-in ID. If you switch between individual installation and centralized deployment:
- Previously created Excel files may lose connection.
- Synchronization errors may occur.
- New workbooks may need to be generated.
For this reason, it is recommended to define the long-term deployment strategy early.
On-Premises Considerations
If you are using Business Central on-premises:
- The Excel add-in must be configured manually.
- OData services must be enabled.
- Web services must be published.
- SSL certificates must be correctly installed.
- The Edit in Excel action will not appear if configuration is incomplete.
On-premises environments require additional technical setup compared to SaaS environments.
Security and Permissions
The Excel add-in fully respects Business Central security rules:
- Users can only export data they have permission to view.
- They can only modify records they are authorized to change.
- Role-based access control remains enforced.
- All updates are validated upon publishing.
This ensures that Excel integration does not bypass ERP governance or data protection policies.
Benefits of Centralized Deployment
Centralized deployment is generally recommended for medium and large organizations because it provides:
- Standardized configuration
- Administrative control
- Compliance with IT governance
- Reduced user setup errors
- No dependency on Office Store access
It is particularly beneficial when managing large user bases or highly regulated environments.
Common Scenarios Where the Excel Add-in Adds Value
The Excel add-in is particularly valuable for:
- Finance teams performing bulk updates
- Procurement adjusting pricing data
- Sales operations managing customer data
- Inventory teams updating item parameters
- Master data administrators maintaining structured records
In high-volume data environments, the time savings can be significant.
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