Retrieving data in Dynamics 365 F&O in Copilot Studio using Power Automate

In today’s AI-driven business landscape, organizations are looking to automate critical financial operations and streamline decision-making. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365 F&O) offers robust tools for managing complex business processes; however, accessing this data can often be slow and manual.

By integrating D365 F&O with Microsoft Copilot Studio, businesses can enable conversational agents that retrieve and interact with F&O data using natural language.

In this article, we will explore two integration approaches, via Power Automate flows and Dataverse tables, and how they support the automation of key financial and operational processes.

Working with Dynamics 365 F&O data entities

At the core of Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations are data entities that store critical business data, such as customers, vendors, and financial transactions. These entities are exposed through OData endpoints, providing standardized web access to data that external tools, such as Microsoft Copilot Studio, can consume.

Example:

• Entity Name: CustomersV3
• Endpoint: https:// [your-instance].operations.dynamics.com/data/

Customization options for data entities

While default entities cover many scenarios, organizations often need to tailor data structures to their unique business processes. Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations supports:

• Extending existing entities by adding custom fields to capture additional information relevant to financial operations or human resources.
• Developing custom entities using X++ development enables deeper customization for specialized business-critical agents.

These customization capabilities ensure that your AI agents can access and operate on the precise data needed to execute complex workflows.

Read more: The integration of Dynamics 365 F&O and Copilot Studio: Low-code for AI

Methods to retrieve and integrate Dynamics 365 F&O Data into Copilot Studio

There are two main approaches to bring Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations data into Microsoft Copilot Studio for agent development:

1. Power Automate flows

This method is ideal for creating flexible, logic-based workflows that can dynamically retrieve, transform, and process data. Power Automate features extensive connectors and a low-code environment, making it accessible to both developers and business users for automating business processes.

2. Dataverse tables

For organizations replicating D365 F&O data into Microsoft Dataverse, Copilot Studio can directly access this data, simplifying integration and enabling faster agent flows.

In Copilot Studio, agent triggering allows agents to be activated by user messages or specific events, enabling them to automate business processes and execute actions across various channels and applications.

Both methods support the creation of powerful AI agents that can execute financial processes, automate business workflows, and interact across multiple channels such as Microsoft Teams or voice agents.

Using Power Automate for retrieving and processing data in Dynamics 365 F&O: An implementation guide

For Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, the “Fin & Ops Apps (Dynamics 365)” connector provides direct access to entities and operations, enabling you to create intelligent agents that automate financial operations and other mission-critical business processes.

Choosing the right flow action

Power Automate offers several actions tailored for D365 F&O data management:

Action	Description
Get a Record	Retrieve one item from an entity
List Records	Fetch multiple rows from an entity
Create a Record	Add new data to an entity
Update a Record	Modify existing entries
Delete a Record	Remove data from the system
Execute Action	Trigger predefined operations

For retrieving bulk data with specific criteria, the List Records action is particularly powerful, allowing you to filter, sort, and limit results efficiently.

Key parameters in the ‘List Records’ action

When configuring the List Records action, consider these parameters to optimize data retrieval:

• Instance name: Specifies the D365 F&O environment hosting your data.
• Entity name: The target entity, such as CustomersV3 or custom entities.
• Filter query: Retrieves only records that match the specified criteria.
• Order by: Sorts results by specified fields.
• Top count: Limits the number of records returned.
• Select query: Selects specific fields to reduce payload.
• Cross company: Enables fetching data across multiple legal entities.

Data transformation in Power Automate

After pulling data from D365 F&O, you can shape and format it for Microsoft Copilot Studio using built-in actions:

• Parse JSON: Converts raw responses into structured data for easier handling.
• Select: Maps and extracts the necessary fields to create a clean output.
• Append to string: Formats responses into user-friendly messages.
• Send to Microsoft Copilot Studio: Passes processed data back to the conversational AI for agent responses.

These transformations empower your AI agents to understand and respond with precise and actionable business information.

Connecting the flow with Microsoft Copilot Studio

Once your Power Automate flow is ready, integrate it within a Topic in Microsoft Copilot Studio. This connection enables your AI agents to trigger the flow, retrieve data, and interact in real time with users.

For testing, use tools like the Test Sidecar or the D365 F&O Sidecar environment to simulate conversations and validate agent behavior before publishing.

After thorough testing, publish your changes to make intelligent agents available to end users, enabling them to execute business processes conversationally across multiple channels, including Microsoft Teams and voice agents.

Conclusion

Successfully integrating Microsoft Copilot Studio with Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations empowers organizations to automate business processes with intelligent, AI-driven agents. By connecting through Power Automate flows and Dataverse tables, businesses can eliminate manual effort, enhance operational visibility, and accelerate decision-making across finance, HR, and supply chain functions.

Exploring how Copilot Studio can transform your ERP automation strategy? We’ll help you assess integration needs, design scalable solutions, and ensure a smooth deployment. For tailored guidance, connect with us at marketing@confiz.com.