Introduction
In many Business Central environments, reports are still the default answer to almost every data question.
Need a Top 10 list? Create a report.
Need balances by period? Run a report.
Need to look at inventory movements? Export a report to Excel.
With Analysis Mode, this approach no longer has to be the norm. Many of these questions can be answered directly on list pages, without running or building a report at all.
This article shows how to replace common reports with Analysis Mode, using concrete, step-by-step examples you can apply immediately.
A Simple Decision Rule
Before diving into examples, it helps to establish one clear rule.
If a report exists mainly to answer a question, rather than to produce a document, Analysis Mode is usually the better option.
Keep this rule in mind as you go through the examples below.
Example 1: Replacing a “Top 10 Customers by Balance” Report
The classic report approach
In many environments, this report is used to:
- See which customers have the highest balances
- Export the result to Excel
- Change filters or sort order manually
The report itself rarely stays unchanged.
How to do this with Analysis Mode
- Open Customer Ledger Entries
- Switch to Analysis Mode
- Group by Customer No.
- Add Remaining Amount with aggregation Sum
- Sort the result descending by Remaining Amount
- Sort the result so the highest values appear at the top
- Work with the top rows in the result set
- Save the analysis tab as Top Customers by Balance
Top customers by balance in Analysis Mode (Customer Ledger Entries grouped by Customer No. with Remaining Amount summed)
Why this replaces the report
Note on Top N
Analysis Mode does not provide a fixed “Top N” setting. Instead, you sort the data by the aggregated value and work with the top rows in the result set. If a strict Top 10 output is required for distribution or automation, a classic report is still the better choice.
- Filter by posting date, posting group, or dimension
- Drill into entries without rerunning anything
- Save and reuse the view
Example 2: Replacing a “Vendor Balance to Date” Report
The classic report approach
This type of report is typically run:
- At month-end
- Again the next week
- With slightly different date filters
How to do this with Analysis Mode
- Open Vendor Ledger Entries
- Switch to Analysis Mode
- Group by Vendor No.
- Add Remaining Amount with aggregation Sum
- Add Posting Date and use the date hierarchy
- Filter Posting Date to the desired period
- Save the analysis tab as Vendor Balance to Date
Vendor balance to date using Analysis Mode (Vendor Ledger Entries with date hierarchy)
Why this replaces the report
- Adjust the date without rerunning a report
- Compare periods by changing grouping
- Combine with additional filters on demand
Example 3: Inventory Movement Analysis Without a Report
The classic report approach
Inventory reports are often used to answer questions like:
- Which items moved last month?
- Which locations had the most movement?
- Which items are slow-moving?
These questions usually lead to Excel exports.
How to do this with Analysis Mode
- Open Item Ledger Entries
- Switch to Analysis Mode
- Group by Item No. and Location Code
- Add Quantity with aggregation Sum
- Add Posting Date and group by Month
- Pivot by Posting Date if needed
- Apply filters to identify slow or inactive items
Inventory movements by item and month (Item Ledger Entries grouped by Item and Posting Date)
Why this replaces the report
- Explore movements interactively
- Adjust grouping without redesigning anything
- Identify patterns that static reports often hide
When Reports Are Still the Right Tool
Analysis Mode is not a universal replacement.
Classic reports are still the better choice when:
- A fixed layout is required
- Output must be distributed externally
- Results need to be archived
- Calculations are complex or highly specific
- The output must look identical every time
Examples include statutory reports, invoices, and formal financial statements.
How This Changes Project and Workshop Dynamics
Replacing reports with Analysis Mode has practical consequences.
- Fewer custom reports to design and maintain
- Faster workshops, because you work with live data
- Users gain confidence by answering follow-up questions themselves
Instead of discussing report layouts, discussions focus on understanding the data.
How to Introduce This to Customers or Users
A practical approach that works well:
- Ask for an existing report they use frequently
- Rebuild it live using Analysis Mode
- Change grouping or filters together
- Save the analysis tab for reuse
Seeing a familiar report replaced in real time usually changes expectations immediately.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
When positioning Analysis Mode as a replacement, avoid:
- Presenting it as a full reporting solution
- Ignoring legal or audit requirements
- Replacing reports that are used mainly for distribution
- Overselling performance on very large datasets
Being clear about boundaries builds trust.
Final Thoughts
Analysis Mode changes the default response to a common situation.
Instead of asking, “Which report do we need?”, teams can ask, “What do we want to understand?”
Reports still matter, but they no longer have to be the first answer. For many day-to-day questions, Analysis Mode is faster, more flexible, and closer to the data.
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