Integration Overview

BRC Core integrates deeply with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and connects to various external services to provide enhanced functionality. This section documents all integration points, configuration requirements, and best practices.

Business Central Platform Integrations

BRC Core enhances core Business Central functionality through seamless platform integrations:

Job Queue Integration

• Purpose: Background monitoring and automated task management
• Integration Points: Job Queue Entry table extensions and management
• Enhanced Features: User context control, error handling, retry logic

Currency Management Integration

• Purpose: Automated exchange rate updates
• Integration Points: Standard BC currency and exchange rate tables
• Enhanced Features: Multiple rate providers, automated scheduling, validation

User and Permission Integration

• Purpose: Feature management and access control
• Integration Points: User, User Group, and Permission Set management
• Enhanced Features: Conditional access, dynamic feature availability

Application Insights Integration

• Purpose: Telemetry and monitoring
• Integration Points: Built-in telemetry framework
• Configuration: Pre-configured with BrightCom Solutions instrumentation key

Documentation Sections

Integration Architecture

Event-Driven Architecture

BRC Core uses Business Central’s event-driven architecture for non-intrusive integrations:

Event Subscribers: Listen to standard BC events without modifying core objects Integration Events: Provide extension points for custom implementations
Publisher/Subscriber Pattern: Enables loose coupling with other extensions

Extension Design Patterns

Table Extensions: Enhance standard BC tables with additional fields Page Extensions: Add BRC Core functionality to existing BC pages
Codeunit Subscribers: React to business processes without core modifications

Data Flow and Processing

Background Processing Flow

graph TD
    A[Job Queue Entry] --> B[Background Monitor]
    B --> C{Job Status Check}
    C -->|Error| D[Error Handling]
    C -->|Success| E[Completion Processing]
    D --> F[Notification System]
    E --> G[Audit Logging]

Currency Rate Update Flow

graph TD
    A[Scheduled Job] --> B[Rate Service Selection]
    B --> C[External API Call]
    C --> D{Rate Retrieved}
    D -->|Success| E[Rate Validation]
    D -->|Failure| F[Error Handling]
    E --> G[BC Exchange Rate Update]
    F --> H[Retry Logic]

Integration Security

Authentication and Authorization

Internal Security:

• Business Central permission sets control access
• Feature management provides granular control
• User context maintained throughout processing

External Service Security:

• HTTPS-only connections to external services
• API key management for authenticated services
• Connection timeout and retry mechanisms

Data Protection

Data Classification:

• Appropriate data classification for all BRC Core fields
• GDPR compliance for customer data handling
• Audit trails for sensitive operations

Performance Considerations

Integration Performance

Optimization Strategies:

• Asynchronous processing for background tasks
• Caching mechanisms for frequently accessed data
• Batch processing for bulk operations

Resource Management:

• Connection pooling for external services
• Rate limiting to respect external service limits
• Memory-efficient data processing

Monitoring Integration Performance

Performance Metrics:

• Job queue execution times
• External service response times
• Background monitor processing efficiency
• User feature access response times

Error Handling and Resilience

Retry Mechanisms

Automatic Retry Logic:

• Configurable retry attempts for failed jobs
• Exponential backoff for external service calls
• Circuit breaker patterns for unreliable services

Fallback Procedures

Service Degradation Handling:

• Graceful degradation when external services fail
• Manual fallback procedures for critical operations
• Alternative service routing for redundancy

Integration Best Practices

Development Guidelines

Extension Development:

• Use integration events rather than direct modifications
• Follow Business Central development best practices
• Maintain compatibility across BC versions

Testing Strategies:

• Test integrations in isolated environments
• Validate external service connectivity
• Performance test under realistic loads

Deployment Considerations

Environment Management:

• Separate configuration for different environments
• Staged rollout procedures for integration changes
• Rollback procedures for failed integrations

Monitoring and Maintenance:

• Regular health checks for all integrations
• Proactive monitoring of external service availability
• Scheduled maintenance windows for integration updates

Troubleshooting Integrations

Common Integration Issues

Connectivity Problems:

• Network connectivity to external services
• Firewall and proxy configuration issues
• Service availability and maintenance windows

Permission and Authentication Issues:

• Business Central permission configuration
• External service authentication problems
• User context and security token issues

Performance Problems:

• Slow external service responses
• Resource constraints in Business Central
• Concurrent processing bottlenecks

Diagnostic Tools

Built-in Diagnostics:

• Background monitor action entries for error tracking
• Application Insights telemetry for performance analysis
• Admin toolbox utilities for system diagnostics

External Monitoring:

• External service status pages
• Network connectivity testing tools
• Performance monitoring dashboards

Integration Roadmap

Current Integration Capabilities

Established Integrations:

• Full Business Central platform integration
• Multiple currency rate provider connections
• Comprehensive job queue management
• User and permission system integration

Future Integration Opportunities

Potential Enhancements:

• Additional external service providers
• Enhanced telemetry and monitoring capabilities
• Improved automation and orchestration features
• Extended API capabilities for custom integrations

The integration architecture of BRC Core provides a solid foundation for both current functionality and future expansion, ensuring reliable and performant connections across your business technology ecosystem.