What Is Epicor BAQ (Business Activity Query)?
Also known as: BAQ, Epicor Business Activity Query, Epicor Dashboard BAQ
Definition
An Epicor BAQ (Business Activity Query) is a saved query built in Epicor's Query Builder over ERP tables. It feeds dashboards, SSRS and Crystal reports, BPM logic and the REST API (as BAQ services), and can be updatable in some cases.
Epicor BAQ (Business Activity Query) Explained
A BAQ is defined in Business Activity Query Designer in Epicor 10 and Kinetic. Developers choose tables (such as JobHead, JobOper, OrderHed, Part, PartWhse), join them, apply criteria and calculated fields, and set display fields. The result is saved under an ID and can be run in Dashboards, exported, or called from outside.
BAQs underpin much of Epicor reporting. Kinetic exposes them through the REST API as BaqSvc endpoints with OData parameters, which makes them a convenient read path for integrations and AI assistants. Updatable BAQs let a dashboard edit data through business objects, for example updating a ship-by date on order releases.
Performance depends on joins and filters. Queries without selective criteria on large tables such as LaborDtl or PartTran can become slow and block users on shared servers. Security is controlled by BAQ permissions and company, and BAQs can also be exported and imported between environments with the Epicor Data Management Tool.
Why It Matters
- BAQs are the standard way to extract Epicor data without direct database access, so they are central to integration design.
- Business users commonly build them, creating undocumented logic and performance risk.
- Updatable BAQs can write data, so permission and audit design matter.
- Reusing governed BAQs gives AI tools a safe, role-aware read layer compared with raw SQL.
In Practice
A planner needs open job operations past due. A BAQ joins JobHead and JobOper where JobClosed is false and JobComplete is false, with a calculated field for days late against the operation due date. The same BAQ is exposed through REST for a daily Teams alert and used in a dashboard grid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a BAQ in Epicor?
It is a stored query that selects, joins and filters Epicor tables, used as the data source for dashboards, reports, and API calls.
Can I call a BAQ from outside Epicor?
Yes. In Kinetic and Epicor 10 with REST enabled, BAQs are available as BaqSvc endpoints, subject to the caller's security and API key.
Why is my BAQ slow?
Usually missing selective criteria, joins across large transaction tables, or calculated fields evaluated per row. Filter early and review the generated SQL.
Related Terms
REST API
A REST API is a web interface that exposes application data as addressable resources over HTTP, using standard verbs such as GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE, stateless requests, and conventional status codes, typically exchanging JSON.
Work Order
A work order is the ERP document that authorizes production of a defined quantity of an item by a due date. It snapshots the bill of materials and routing, drives material issues and labor reporting, and collects actual cost for the job.
Routing
A routing is the ERP record that defines the ordered sequence of operations required to manufacture an item, specifying for each step the work center or machine, setup time, run time per unit, move and queue time, and any outside processing.
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is integrated business software that runs finance, manufacturing, supply chain, sales, and HR processes on a single shared database, so a transaction entered once updates every dependent function in real time.
Data Mapping
Data mapping is the process of defining how each field in a source system corresponds to a field in a target system, including the transformation rules, value translations, default values, and conditional logic needed to move data correctly between them.
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Working with Epicor BAQ (Business Activity Query) in a live environment? Our engineers do this every day - and our AI agents automate most of it.
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Epicor BAQ Query Template Generator
Fill in company, days back and status filters to get a starter SQL for an open jobs BAQ, plus a design checklist for the Query Builder.
New to Epicor ERP? Start with the Epicor ERP guide and toolkit, or plan with Training Path Builder, ERP Certification Study Planner, Upgrade Path Planner.
Keep exploring
Free tools
- Epicor BAQ Query Template GeneratorFill in company, days back and status filters to get a starter SQL for an open jobs BAQ, plus a design checklist for the Query Builder.
- Epicor BAQ OData REST URL BuilderBuilds Epicor REST v2 OData URLs and curl commands for BAQs and business object services, with API key header and filters.
- Epicor BAQ Performance Tuning ChecklistWork through a practical list of checks when a BAQ, dashboard or BPM lookup runs slowly in Epicor Kinetic.
ERP fixes and how-tos
- How to Create a BAQ in Epicor KineticCreate a BAQ in Epicor Kinetic Query Builder: pick tables, set joins, display fields, criteria, calculated fields, test, and use it in dashboards and reports.
- How to Create a BAQ in Epicor: Build, Run, Search, Export to Excel and PublishStep-by-step: create a BAQ in Epicor Query Builder, add tables and criteria, run and search it, export to Excel, and publish it as a dashboard.
- Fixing a Slow Epicor BAQ (Business Activity Query)A slow Business Activity Query in Epicor is almost always an execution plan problem, not an Epicor problem. Here is how to find the real cause and fix it without rewriting the BAQ from scratch.
AI on your ERP
- AI for Epicor Kinetic Job Shops: Quote History, Job Variance and Schedule RiskPrivate AI for Epicor Kinetic job shops: quote-to-job history, JobHead and JobOper variance, subcontract delays and schedule risk, via REST and BAQs.
- Private AI for Epicor Kinetic Cloud, Outside the Multi-Tenant BoundaryRun a private LLM on Epicor Kinetic private cloud or Kinetic Cloud data via BAQs, REST v2 and Data Fabric, keeping sensitive manufacturing data off shared AI.
Integrations
- How to connect Power BI to Epicor KineticConnect Power BI to Epicor Kinetic using BAQ OData feeds, a data warehouse or a SQL replica, with an on-prem gateway, key dashboards and natural-language Q&A.
- How to add Slack to Epicor KineticConnect Slack to Epicor Kinetic with a Slack app, slash commands, interactive approvals and BPM-driven alerts, using the Kinetic REST API and BAQs.