Microsoft Dynamics NAV has long been a popular choice for small to mid-sized businesses looking for an on-premises enterprise resource planning (ERP) system with rich functionality. But, as of 2023, Microsoft has ended mainstream support for all Dynamics NAV versions. The product has evolved into Dynamics 365 Business Central – a similarly feature-rich but more robust and scalable ERP that supports cloud deployment. As a result, growing businesses are pursuing a Dynamics NAV upgrade to Business Central. This shift to the cloud-based Business Central will help SMBs reduce maintenance costs and leverage interoperability with the full Microsoft tech stack.
In this blog post, we explore the reasons for a Dynamics NAV upgrade to Dynamics 365 Business Central and the top benefits of migration.
what is Dynamics 365 Business Central?
In 2018, Microsoft launched Dynamics 365 Business Central – a cloud-based ERP that evolved from Dynamics NAV. The ERP software is designed to empower small to mid-sized companies by connecting operations across sales, accounting, inventory, manufacturing, and more.
Business Central can be deployed in the cloud or on-premises, and supports multiple languages, currencies, and tax regulations. With the launch of Business Central, NAV 2018 became the last version of the legacy software.
why move from Dynamics NAV to Business Central?
Since all versions of Dynamics NAV have lost mainstream support from Microsoft, they will no longer receive any feature enhancements or non-security updates. By 2028, the software will also be phased out of extended support. As Dynamics NAV becomes more outdated, users risk getting stuck with an aging software that’s hard to support. Users might also face regulatory compliance challenges as their Dynamics NAV system receives fewer updates in the extended support phase.
Further, more and more businesses are accelerating digital transformation by moving to the cloud. Microsoft is also focusing investments on its cloud business applications and rolling out more AI-powered experiences that are designed to enhance productivity and decision-making. Businesses running an old Dynamics NAV system will not be able to leverage integrations with these newer technologies. So, many Dynamics NAV users are now moving to Business Central.
Business Central is a more powerful and advanced version of Dynamics NAV, making it THE most obvious choice for NAV users looking to accelerate digital transformation, stay current with new technology, and remain competitive in today’s market.
benefits of Dynamics NAV upgrade to Business Central
Cloud-based ERP software
Dynamics NAV was primarily designed to be an on-premises ERP system, which means businesses have to maintain costly IT infrastructure and resources to keep their system running smoothly. Business Central, on the other hand, can be deployed both on-premises and in the cloud, allowing for greater flexibility.
By deploying Business Central in the cloud, companies can significantly reduce operating costs and leverage the advantages of an ERP system that is fast, scalable, and secure. Further, with cloud deployment, Business Central users can access the ERP anytime, anywhere.
Seamless interoperability with Microsoft solutions
Business Central can seamlessly integrate with other products in the Microsoft tech stack, including Microsoft 365, Outlook, Power BI, SharePoint and other Dynamics 365 solutions. This makes it easier for users to collaborate and interact with data in a centralized platform. Dynamics NAV, on the other hand, offers limited integration with other Microsoft solutions.
Rich ecosystem of apps and partners
Business Central is further enhanced by a rich ecosystem of apps and partners who are consistently innovating on the product. GraVoc, for instance, has developed multiple custom solutions that connect Business Central to popular third-party staffing software, such as Greenshades Payroll, Bullhorn One, and Bullhorn Back Office. This broad solution network and Business Central’s inherent scalability allow users to easily customize and extend the ERP to fit their needs.
Built-in dashboards and reports
Business Central comes with many built-in reports and dashboards, giving users visibility into real-time financial data and performance metrics. These features allow users to generate actionable insights and make smarter business decisions. In addition to embedded reports, users can also leverage the Business Central integration with Microsoft Power BI to supercharge the ERP solution’s business intelligence and reporting capabilities.
AI-powered automations & machine learning
Enhanced security and updates
need help upgrading your Dynamics NAV to D365 Business Central?
Our Microsoft Dynamics specialists are here to help you scope, plan, and deploy Business Central, regardless of how many companies, integrations, customizations, or ISV products you have in your Dynamics NAV environment.
Microsoft is also offering a new ‘Bridge to the Cloud 2’ promotional 40% discount for Dynamics NAV on-premises commercial customers during a 3-year term when migrating to a functionally similar Dynamics 365 product, such as Business Central. This further reduces your cost in moving to the cloud!
Contact us today to learn more and get started on your Dynamics NAV to D365 Business Central upgrade!
Related articles
For the Third Year in a Row, GraVoc to Attend Engage Boston as Silver Sponsor
For the third year in a row, GraVoc will attend Engage Boston as a silver sponsor, showcasing our pre-built tech solutions for Bullhorn ATS!
Employee Spotlight: Meet Tracy DeRosa, Practice Lead for Infrastructure & Cloud
In this employee spotlight, we’re featuring our Practice Lead for IT Infrastructure and Cloud and one of our oldest employees, Tracy DeRosa!
GraVoc to Attend DynamicsCon LIVE 2024 as Sponsor & Speaker
GraVoc is excited to be involved in DynamicsCon LIVE 2024, both as speaker and Patron Sponsor! Register with our custom code for 15% off.