"Show me the conversion by managers for the quarter broken down by lead sources and advertising expenses" — such a request from a manager stumps you if you only use standard Bitrix24 reports. Manually exporting data to Excel, merging tables, and building pivot tables wastes hours every week. We offer to automate this process using the BI-connector: data from the portal flows into Looker Studio or Power BI, where you build any dashboards with automatic updates. This saves up to 3 hours per week — over a year that's more than 150 hours, which, at an average analyst's rate of $30/hour, amounts to over $4,500 in savings. For a Russian company at $18–26/hour, that's over $2.7k–3.9k.
Why standard analytics falls short
Standard Bitrix24 reports cover basic metrics: number of deals, amount, funnel conversion. But as soon as you need a breakdown by sources linked to ad expenses or a six-month trend, you resort to manual data extraction in Excel. This takes hours and introduces errors: forgot to update the export, miscalculated the average check, mixed up stages. The BI-connector solves this: it provides direct access to portal data via optimized datasets. Connect Looker Studio or Power BI, select fields, and build a dashboard in a couple of hours. Data updates automatically on a schedule — no human intervention needed.
What is the BI-connector?
BI-connector is a built-in feature of Bitrix24 (Professional and Enterprise plans) that provides a URL for connecting a BI system to portal data. Bitrix24 acts as the data source; the BI system visualizes. Setup requires no programming skills, but correct dataset selection and refresh schedule are crucial. Official documentation is at helpdesk.bitrix24.ru.
Supported BI platforms:
- Google Looker Studio (formerly Data Studio) — free, browser-based, suitable for most tasks
- Microsoft Power BI — enterprise tool, integration via Power BI Desktop
- Yandex DataLens — alternative for the Russian market
The BI-connector does not export raw database data. It provides datasets — data mixes optimized for analytics.
Available datasets and BI-connector vs manual export
The datasets cover main B24 modules. Below is a comparison showing the BI-connector is 5x faster than manual methods.
Datasets
| Dataset | Contents |
|---|---|
| CRM: Deals | Deals with fields, stages, amounts, dates, responsible persons |
| CRM: Leads | Leads with sources, statuses, conversion |
| CRM: Activities | Calls, emails, meetings, chats |
| Tasks | Tasks with projects, assignees, deadlines, statuses |
| Open Lines | Conversations, response time, ratings, operators |
| Telephony | Calls, duration, direction, recording |
Manual export vs BI-connector
| Criteria | BI-connector | Manual export to Excel |
|---|---|---|
| Report update time | Automatic on schedule | Each time from scratch (hours) |
| Data freshness | Within update interval | Only at moment of export |
| Staff effort | None | Regular manual work |
| Customization | Any dashboards in Looker Studio / Power BI | Limited pivot tables |
With the BI-connector, a manager saves up to 3 hours weekly. Over 50 projects, our clients have cut reporting time by 80%.
How to connect to Looker Studio and Power BI
Looker Studio
- In B24: CRM → Analytics → BI Constructor → BI Connector. Create an access key. The system generates a connector URL.
- In Google Looker Studio: Create → Data Source → Partner Connectors → Bitrix24. Paste the key.
- Select a dataset (e.g., "Deals"). Looker Studio loads the field schema.
- Create a report based on the data source. Add charts, tables, filters.
The access key expires. When it does, reports stop updating. Generate a new key and update the connection in Looker Studio.
Power BI
- In B24, get the BI-connector key (same as for Looker Studio).
- In Power BI Desktop: Get Data → OData or use the dedicated Bitrix24 connector.
- Enter the connector URL and authorization key.
- Load required tables, set up relationships between them.
- Build a report, publish to Power BI Service for browser access.
Power BI allows combining B24 data with other sources like 1C or Google Analytics in a single dashboard.
Update schedule
BI-connector data updates are not real-time. The interval depends on plan and settings:
- Google Looker Studio — updates on report open or on schedule (every 12/6/1 hour depending on settings).
- Power BI Service — scheduled refresh up to 8 times per day (Pro) or 48 times (Premium).
For operational dashboards, set refresh to minimum; for strategic reports, once per day suffices.
Common setup mistakes and what we include
- Expired access key: key has limited validity. If reports stop updating, replace it.
- Wrong dataset: ensure the chosen dataset contains required metrics.
- Overloaded report: too many charts slow loading. Optimal is 5–7 visualizations per dashboard.
- Insufficient rights: user needs access to CRM analytics section.
Our services
- Activating the BI-connector and generating access keys
- Connecting Looker Studio or Power BI to Bitrix24 data
- Selecting and configuring datasets: CRM, tasks, telephony, Open Lines
- Building custom dashboards for your business needs
- Setting up data refresh schedules
- Managing report access: links, rights, embedding
- Training staff
- Technical support for 2 weeks after delivery
Why trust us?
Our team has 5+ years of Bitrix24 experience and over 50 successful BI-connector projects. We hold certifications in Bitrix24 and Power BI. We guarantee correct refresh setup and error-free data transfer. Contact us for a free consultation. To order turnkey setup, just write — you'll get a finished dashboard with a refresh plan. See your reports update automatically.
Timeline and cost
Setup takes 3 to 7 business days depending on complexity. Cost is calculated individually and includes report creation and training. Let's discuss your project on a free meeting — contact us to schedule.