The evolution of Business Central

Dynamics 365 Business Central is a comprehensive business management solution on the cloud for small and mid-sized organizations that helps automate and streamline business processes and manage your entire business. Microsoft launched this all-in-one-tool in 2018, but its story began 30 years earlier.

In 1987, an on premise ERP software called Navision Financials was released. Microsoft acquired the software in 2002 and rebranded it to Dynamics NAV three years later. Through its history, NAV has been released with many editions to make it both easy-to-use and customizable to adapt to an organization’s unique business needs. Microsoft then used NAV’s codebase as the foundation for a new cloud-based version of the ERP software, while keeping the same familiar functionality. In 2018, Business Central launched on the market as a fully cloud-based ERP for small to mid-sized businesses.

Microsoft’s goal with the transition to Business Central was to guide companies through their own digital transformations, retaining and growing a customer base now ready for the security and availability of cloud applications. What started as an on-premises application with NAV, now has several deployment options, all designed to work seamlessly with other Microsoft applications.

In simplest terms, Business Central is an evolved, modern version of the original NAV software. With Business Central, you’ll see automatic upgrades on a bi-annual release cadence. Any third-party add-ons or customizations made to your environment are now designed so they won’t interfere with this process. Compare this to upgrades for Dynamics NAV which could take months to complete depending upon the complexity of the environment.

Even though Business Central is cloud-based, customers can still choose to have an on premise version of the software and enjoy all the functionalities available in the system. On premise or cloud-based, all companies can utilize the subscription licensing model where you only pay for licenses on a monthly or yearly basis rather than paying a large upfront fee. With Business Central, Microsoft added the ability to create and automate workflows for improved efficiency.

Not long after Business Central hit the market, Microsoft announced Dynamics NAV 2018 was the last version of NAV and no new versions would be released. The over 160,000 companies using NAV had two options moving forward: keep using NAV without any new updates or upgrade to Business Central.

Existing NAV customers can continue using the software as long as they like. Microsoft is slowly phasing out support for the product, and, of course, is encouraging customers to move forward with Business Central. For those wanting to upgrade, but are concerned about a new platform or interface, it’s important to remember Business Central isn’t entirely new. The core functionality of Business Central provides the same features as Dynamics NAV, but has the additional benefits of a cloud solution such as easy access to data and application through a web browser or mobile app. For organizations choosing to make the transition to Business Central, the process is straightforward, and often comes with a nice discount.

The evolution from NAV to Business Central demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to developing and offering cloud-based solutions for small and mid-sized businesses. Two waves of new features are released each year to improve Business Central and help users and organizations alike realize its value. Additionally, pricing is per user to make it affordable for organizations of all sizes.

As a Microsoft Gold Partner, Rand Group can support you with all of your Business Central or Dynamics NAV needs. We offer 24/7 support plans with flexible hours that can be used for a variety of services, including technical, accounting, and business support. For more information about NAV support or the transition to Business Central, get in touch with one of our experts today.