Introduction: Why Dashboard Performance Matters in Epicor ERP
Epicor Dashboards play a key role in driving operational visibility, real-time decision-making, and data alignment across departments. But poorly performing dashboards especially those powered by inefficient Business Activity Queries (BAQs) can slow productivity, frustrate users, and create risk due to delayed or inaccurate data.
At Epicforce Tech, we’ve seen firsthand how BAQ design directly impacts the speed, accuracy, and usability of Epicor Dashboards. That’s why this guide focuses exclusively on BAQ optimization tips that improve Epicor Dashboard performance without relying on heavy customizations or external tools.
What Causes Slow Performance in Epicor Dashboards?
Understanding the root causes of performance issues helps inform the right optimization strategy. Common culprits include:
Poorly written BAQs with excessive joins or nested queries
Use of calculated fields in large data sets
Unindexed or non-filtered table access
Lack of parameterization, leading to full-table scans
Dashboards that refresh too frequently or on load
Displaying too much data or non-essential fields
The good news is: with smart BAQ design and configuration, many of these problems can be resolved without touching core ERP logic.
Tip 1: Use Table Joins Strategically
BAQs that pull data from multiple tables are essential—but each join adds processing time, especially with large transactional datasets.
Optimization Tips:
Avoid unnecessary joins only link tables required for your display or calculations.
Use inner joins instead of left joins when null results are not needed.
Filter child tables before joining, especially on high-volume records like
PartTran,OrderDtl, orJobOper.
At Epicforce Tech, we often refactor BAQs to reduce the number of joins by 30–50% without losing business context.
Tip 2: Add Proper Criteria to Limit Result Sets
Epicor Dashboards should only return actionable data not your entire database.
What to do:
Use WHERE conditions to limit the dataset by date range, status, or user input.
Add Top 100 or Top 500 filters where applicable.
Use dashboard-level filters (publish and subscribe) instead of loading all records by default.
Well-scoped criteria not only improve load speed but also improve usability.
Tip 3: Replace Calculated Fields with Stored Values Where Possible
Calculated fields in BAQs (like date differences, custom formulas, or conditional logic) are expensive to compute during query execution.
How to optimize:
Use Epicor BPM or Function libraries to pre-calculate values and store them in the base table.
When performance is critical, consider using user-defined fields that get updated with BPM logic rather than calculated live.
This shift from calculated to stored logic drastically reduces query execution time.
Tip 4: Use Subqueries and CTEs with Caution
Subqueries and Common Table Expressions (CTEs) can clean up logic—but can also increase complexity and run time if not managed properly.
Best practice:
Use BAQ subqueries only when necessary for grouping, ranking, or transformations.
Avoid deeply nested subqueries inside calculated fields.
Always test subqueries on small datasets before scaling up.
Epicforce Tech often audits client BAQs to identify and flatten unnecessary nested logic for better dashboard performance.
Tip 5: Index the Right Fields at the Database Level
Even the best BAQ can suffer from performance lag if the underlying table fields aren’t indexed properly.
What to check:
Are your BAQs filtering on fields that are indexed (e.g., OrderNum, PartNum, TranDate)?
Are non-indexed joins slowing the result set?
Work with your Epicor DBA or system admin to review and optimize key field indexes—especially for dashboards used frequently by multiple users.
Tip 6: Use Parameters to Make BAQs Dynamic and Lightweight
Parameters reduce load by limiting the volume of data returned.
Implement this by:
Creating BAQ parameters such as
@StartDate,@CustomerID,@PlantBinding dashboard filters to those parameters
Avoiding default query execution until a parameter is selected
This “lazy load” approach makes dashboards faster and more user-friendly.
Tip 7: Limit Dashboard Grids to Only What Users Need
A common performance problem is overloading dashboards with unnecessary fields and data rows.
Streamline with:
Only including essential columns in your BAQ
Removing unused or rarely referenced fields
Breaking large dashboards into smaller, role-specific ones
The more focused your dashboard, the faster it loads—and the easier it is to use.
Tip 8: Use Analytics BAQs for Reporting, Not Real-Time Dashboards
BAQs built for reporting are often heavy and complex, designed for monthly or quarterly analysis. Avoid using these in real-time dashboards.
Solution:
Separate reporting BAQs (for printed or exported reports) from dashboard BAQs (for daily operational visibility).
Keep dashboards real-time and light—don’t try to replicate entire reports.
Epicforce Tech helps teams segment BAQs by use-case to avoid performance bottlenecks in live dashboards.
Tip 9: Test Performance in Epicor BAQ Designer
Before embedding your BAQ into a dashboard, test its performance using the BAQ Designer:
Measure average execution time
Check record count
Review query plan (if accessible)
Only deploy BAQs that consistently return data within acceptable thresholds (e.g., under 3 seconds for most operational dashboards).
Tip 10: Audit and Archive Old or Unused Dashboards
Outdated dashboards with inefficient BAQs may still be consuming system resources.
Maintenance checklist:
Run a dashboard usage audit
Archive or disable dashboards no longer in use
Optimize legacy BAQs or replace them with lighter alternatives
Regular dashboard reviews keep your ERP system agile and clean.
Summary Table: BAQ Optimization Tips for Epicor Dashboards
| Optimization Tip | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Reduce unnecessary table joins | Lower query complexity and load time |
| Add filters and criteria | Smaller, more relevant data sets |
| Avoid calculated fields in large BAQs | Faster execution and rendering |
| Use parameters for dynamic filtering | Lightweight queries on demand |
| Limit columns and rows in grids | Improved usability and speed |
| Index frequently used fields | Better database-level performance |
| Avoid using report-style BAQs in dashboards | Keeps dashboards agile and real-time |
| Test queries in BAQ Designer | Prevents rollout of slow queries |
| Audit old dashboards | Frees up system resources |
How Epicforce Tech Helps
Optimizing dashboard performance in Epicor requires more than just technical know-how—it demands a deep understanding of business logic, BAQ structure, and ERP workflow.
At Epicforce Tech, we provide:
BAQ optimization audits and performance tuning
Dashboard redesign focused on speed and role-based relevance
Best practice templates for scalable dashboard logic
Ongoing training to empower your internal ERP team
(888) 280-5585
info@epicforcetech.com
Explore Our Epicor® Dashboard Services
Final Thoughts
Epicor Dashboards are only as powerful as the data they rely on—and that data starts with BAQs. By applying the tips above, your team can build dashboards that are fast, accurate, and actionable.
Ready to make your dashboards run smarter, not slower?
