The Syncro-Power BI integration provides advanced dashboards and analytics for a data-driven approach to managing your business. 

By connecting Syncro with Power BI, you can access pre-made templates with customizable charts and pages, providing valuable insights into various aspects of your operations such as monthly and daily stats, RMM alerts, tickets, technician efficiency, customer efficiency, invoices, leads, appointments, purchase orders, estimates, and recurring invoices.

You can read on, or watch this short video to learn more:

Requirements

If you're on Syncro's Team Plan, the Power BI Integration is included without any additional cost. 

However, to use Power BI with Syncro you'll need to either purchase a Power BI license through Microsoft, or have a Microsoft 365 License that includes Power BI. Additionally, your Power BI account must be able to install Template Apps not listed in the Microsoft Store.

Notes: 

• A Power BI Pro License, which is included in Microsoft 365 E5 licenses, is sufficient to use this integration. 
• A Power BI Premium License is not required. 
• Power BI licenses are neither included nor sold through Syncro.

Prerequisites

Be sure you have permission to install template apps into Power BI. In Power BI, click the gear icon in the top right and select Admin Portal under Governance and Insights. Then under Tenant Settings > Install Template Apps, check that the Enabled toggle is on and applies to the person who will perform the steps in this document. 

You must allow API requests for the integration to work. In your IP Allow List, either disable the “Enable for APIs” toggle entirely, or add the entirety of Azure's IP Ranges to your allowlist.

Before you start the integration process, it's also a good idea to set up the API Key you'll be asked for when you Install the Template App into the Power BI Online Dashboard. To do this, follow these steps:

1. In Syncro, navigate to Admin > API - API Tokens.
2. Click +New Token.
3. In the Power BI row, click Create Token.
4. If necessary, rename the token. (See the Required API Key Permissions.)
5. Click Create API Token.
6. Copy the token that's displayed for this process.
7. Click Done.

Required API Key Permissions

The required API key permissions for the Power BI token are as follows:

Start the Integration Process

Tip: You can also start the integration process by navigating to this link.

To set up the Syncro-Power BI Template App, follow these steps:

1. In Syncro, navigate to Admin > Integrations - App Center.
2. Start typing "Power BI" in the search bar, then click the App Card.
   Tip: Power BI is under the Business Automation category, which you can also select to locate it.
3. In the Power BI online dashboard that opens in your browser, log into your Power BI account.
4. Next, Install the Template App into the Power BI Online Dashboard. 

Install the Template App into the Power BI Online Dashboard

Note: Once the Template App is imported, you'll be able to access and interact with it directly within the Power BI online dashboard. However, opening the Template App in Power BI Desktop is not supported.

1. When asked whether you want to import the app, click Install.
2. In the Update App pop-up window, enter a name for the new workspace, then click Install. A message in the upper right will let you know when the new app is ready.
3. When available, click Go to App. You'll see the template app, which is currently populate with sample data.
4. To connect your Syncro account, click the “Connect Your Data” link.
5. In the “Connect to Syncro - MSP Metrics Dashboard” pop-up window that appears, enter your Subdomain (do not include the syncromsp.com part) and API Key you previously created, then click Next.
6. On the screen that displays, check that the Authentication Method is “Anonymous” and that the “Privacy Level Setting” is “Public.” Then click Sign In and Continue. 
7. Repeat Step 6 for each Connection (17 total).
   The Power BI dashboard will begin refreshing with your imported data. Depending on the amount, this could take up to a few hours to complete. You can close the tab and/or go do something else while you wait.
8. After the import finishes, refresh the browser page. Now you can use the left navigation options to view all sorts of data!

Version Control & Updates

When a new version of the Power BI Template App is published and promoted, you'll prompted to update to the new version. If you choose to update, you'll need to re-sync your data as if you're installing the app for the first time. If you don’t update to the newer version, the Template App will continue to function. However, updating to the latest version is recommended to access new features, bug fixes, and improvements.

Data Storage & Control

Data is stored within your own Microsoft Power BI account. This means you have complete control over your data. Syncro does not have access to nor control over the data stored in your Power BI account. You can manage your data privacy and security settings within your Power BI account.

Data Synchronization

The Power BI Template App retrieves its data from Syncro using the platform’s REST API. However, new data is only pulled once every 24 hours or when you manually trigger a refresh in Power BI. This means the data displayed on your Power BI dashboards may not reflect real-time changes in Syncro but will be updated at least once a day, or whenever you choose to manually refresh it.

Create Custom Charts with Database Exports

If you want to create your own custom charts, we recommend using the Database Exports integration as an alternative to this Power BI Template App. With the Database Exports integration, you can export the same data to a Database in Azure and then use that database within Power BI to design any custom charts you want.

Notes: 

• This process requires a considerable amount of work and a comprehensive understanding of Power BI. Therefore, this option is not recommended unless you have a solid understanding of Power BI and are comfortable with the complexities of creating custom charts and manipulating data.
• Microsoft offers free Power BI training courses that can help enhance your Power BI knowledge and skills. 

Troubleshooting

If, when attempting to install the Template App, you see this error: 

This app hasn’t been listed on AppSource. You don’t have permissions to install this app.

It means you need to enable the Template App setting labeled “Install Template Apps Not Listed on AppSource” within Power BI. 

For more information on enabling this setting, see Microsoft’s template article.

If you see this error in Power BI:

There was an error when processing the data in the dataset. 

This typically indicates that more API permissions are required for Power BI to function properly. Make sure that you have all the Required API Key Permissions enabled.