General Electronic Reporting (GER) in Dynamics 365

Introduction

General Electronic Reporting (GER) is a powerful, configurable framework in Dynamics 365 that enables organizations to create, manage, and maintain electronic reporting formats without requiring code changes. It supports compliance with local regulations, business‑specific reporting needs, and integration with external systems.

GER empowers functional users to design reporting formats using a model‑driven approach, ensuring flexibility and long‑term maintainability.

What Is General Electronic Reporting (GER)

GER is a configurable reporting engine that allows organizations to:

• Create electronic documents (XML, Excel, TXT, JSON, PDF)

• Map data from Dynamics 365 to reporting formats

• Comply with country‑specific regulatory requirements

• Support business‑specific reporting scenarios

It separates data models, model mappings, and formats, enabling reusable and scalable reporting structures.

Key Components of GER

1. Data Model

A business‑oriented representation of data (e.g., customer, vendor, tax).

2. Model Mapping

Defines how data from Dynamics 365 populates the data model.

3. Format

The output structure (XML, Excel, TXT, JSON, etc.).

4. Format Mapping

Links the data model to the final output format.

5. Repositories

Storage locations for configurations, such as:

• LCS (Lifecycle Services)

• File system

• Global repository

Why GER Matters

GER provides:

• No‑code configuration for reporting

• Faster adaptation to regulatory changes

• Reusable reporting components

• Support for multiple output formats

• Integration with business processes

It reduces dependency on developers and increases agility.

How GER Works

GER follows a layered, model‑driven approach:

1. A data model defines business concepts.

2. Model mapping extracts data from Dynamics 365.

3. A format defines the structure of the output.

4. Format mapping binds the model to the format.

5. The report is executed and exported.

This separation ensures that changes in one layer do not break others.

Supported Output Formats

• XML

• Excel

• CSV/TXT

• JSON

• PDF (via Office templates)

Step‑by‑Step Overview of GER Configuration

Step 1: Select or Create a Data Model

Define the business entities required.

Step 2: Map Data Sources

Bind Dynamics 365 tables, classes, or data entities.

Step 3: Create a Format

Design the output structure.

Step 4: Bind Format to Data Model

Map model elements to format elements.

Step 5: Test and Validate

Run the report and verify output.

Step 6: Publish or Share

Upload to LCS or share via repositories.

Common Use Cases

• Regulatory reporting (VAT, SAF‑T, Intrastat)

• Bank payment files

• Customer and vendor statements

• Exporting structured data to external systems

• Custom Excel‑based business reports

Conclusion

General Electronic Reporting (GER) is a cornerstone of Dynamics 365’s reporting and compliance framework. Its model‑driven, no‑code approach empowers organizations to adapt quickly to regulatory changes, build custom reporting formats, and streamline integrations.

By separating data models, mappings, and formats, GER ensures long‑term maintainability and flexibility.

GER Process Flowchart

graph TD
    A[Start] --> B[Define Data Model]
    B --> C[Map Data Sources]
    C --> D[Create Format]
    D --> E[Bind Format to Model]
    E --> F[Test and Validate]
    F --> G[Publish or Share]
    G --> H[End]