Top 10 reasons to upgrade from Microsoft Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central

As businesses grow and technology advances, legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems like Microsoft Dynamics NAV become outdated. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC), the next-generation version of NAV, offers a cloud-based ERP solution designed for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Migrating from NAV to Business Central unlocks numerous advantages for an organization. In this blog, we will explore the top 10 reasons to upgrade from Dynamics NAV to Business Central.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV (formerly Navision) is an on-premises ERP system that many small and mid-sized businesses have used to manage finances, supply chain, and operations. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is the modern cloud-based successor to NAV, essentially an evolution of NAV delivered as a cloud service. Microsoft’s roadmap for NAV users leads users to upgrade directly to Business Central, a robust ERP that carries over the core features of NAV but is enhanced with modern technology.

Business Central is part of the Dynamics 365 family and is not just a rebranded Dynamics NAV, it has many improvements in usability, automation, and integration. If you are still running Dynamics NAV, moving to Business Central can unlock many benefits.

For more information comparing the two systems, read our blog exploring the key differences between Dynamics NAV vs Business Central.

Dynamics NAV has reached the end of mainstream support, which means it no longer gets feature updates or enhancements. While the last version of NAV will get critical security updates until 2028, Microsoft will stop all support after that. Running an unsupported ERP system exposes your business to risk, cybersecurity threats, compliance issues, and operational disruptions. Upgrading from NAV to Business Central ensures your ERP remains fully supported, secure, and compliant, reducing long-term business risks.

• Continued security updates and patches beyond 2028
• Minimized cybersecurity threats and compliance risks
• Improved stability with ongoing Microsoft support
• Protection against operational disruptions from outdated technology

One of the biggest benefits of upgrading to Business Central is its cloud flexibility. Unlike Dynamics NAV, which is installed on local servers, Business Central is a cloud-based solution. This means your team can access your business systems anytime, anywhere, whether they are in the office, working from home, or on the road, without the hassle and expense of Citrix or remote desktop access. A finance manager can review reports from a laptop at home, or a salesperson can check inventory from their mobile device while traveling.

Because Business Central doesn’t require on-premises servers to run, it also eliminates server maintenance headaches. Microsoft’s cloud platform has built-in scalability and reliability so the system can handle your growing business needs without you having to buy new hardware. Business Central offers scalability, flexibility, and accessibility from anywhere, enabling remote teams and real-time collaboration regardless of location. This anywhere access is especially valuable for remote work scenarios and geographically dispersed teams.

A major benefit of moving from Dynamics NAV to Business Central is access to modern artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities that simply didn’t exist in older systems like NAV. Business Central includes intelligent features like Copilot, an AI-powered digital assistant embedded in Dynamics 365. With Copilot, users can get AI-generated insights and suggestions while they work. For example, the AI can help you analyze sales trends and cash flow forecasts or draft a response to customer inquiries based on your business data.

• AI-driven sales analysis and cash-flow forecasting
• Automated responses to customer inquiries via Copilot
• Predictive analytics enabling proactive decision-making
• Improved competitive advantage through advanced insights

Dynamics 365 Business Central integrates with the Microsoft tools you already use every day, including Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Excel), Teams, SharePoint, and the Power Platform (Power BI, Power Automate). This deep integration means data flows smoothly between systems, reducing manual tasks, breaking down data silos, and enabling real-time collaboration across departments. Employees can share Business Central records in Teams chats, edit ERP data directly in Excel, or embed Power BI dashboards within Business Central. By upgrading to Business Central, you create a unified environment that boosts productivity, simplifies workflows, and enables seamless communication across the organization.

• Real-time collaboration through integration with Teams and SharePoint
• Reduced manual data entry and minimized data silos
• Easy data manipulation and reporting via Excel integration
• Embedded analytics through seamless Power BI integration
• Automated workflows connecting Business Central with Power Automate

Dynamics 365 Business Central has a modern and intuitive UI that simplifies tasks and boosts productivity, unlike NAV’s outdated and less intuitive design. Since Business Central is the cloud-based successor to NAV, existing NAV users experience easier migration and faster user adoption. Additionally, Business Central gets regular UI updates, so your team always benefits from the latest usability improvements. With interactive dashboards, customizable home pages, and the powerful “Tell Me” search, employees quickly master the system, spending less time navigating complexities and more on productive tasks.

• Faster onboarding due to an intuitive, modern UI
• Higher user satisfaction and increased adoption rates
• Simplified navigation and improved productivity
• Responsive design compatible across PCs, tablets, and smartphones
• Personalized dashboards and powerful built-in search capabilities

Upgrading from NAV to Business Central boosts your business’s security and compliance capabilities. Hosted on Microsoft’s Azure cloud, Business Central uses enterprise-level security features like data encryption, multi-factor authentication, network threat detection, and automated backups, all managed by Microsoft security experts. Additionally, Business Central has extensive compliance certifications (GDPR, ISO, SOC, and more) so you can easily meet your regulatory requirements. Plus, automatic security updates, robust disaster recovery, and guaranteed uptime through Microsoft’s SLAs mean your data is secure and always available.

• Enterprise-grade cloud security provided by Microsoft Azure
• Continuous, automatic security updates and patch management
• Comprehensive compliance certifications (GDPR, ISO, SOC)
• Enhanced disaster recovery and reliable uptime guarantees
• Reduced risk of breaches and improved protection of sensitive financial data

Scaling an on-premises ERP like Dynamics NAV is traditionally costly and complex, requiring significant investments in servers, hardware, and additional software licenses. And with Dynamics NAV discontinued and security updates ending entirely by 2028, the system can no longer scale with your business. Over time, maintenance will become more difficult and expensive. Dynamics 365 Business Central removes these limitations with a flexible cloud-based subscription model. You only pay for what you use, and you can adjust users and storage as needed. This built-in scalability eliminates big upfront costs and reduces IT maintenance costs.

• Flexible, subscription-based pricing (pay per user/month)
• Simple adjustments to users and capacity without new infrastructure
• Reduced upfront investment and predictable ongoing costs
• Automatic updates and reduced IT maintenance expenses
• Efficient scaling aligned with business demand

Business Central offers significantly enhanced automation tools compared to older versions of Dynamics NAV. While NAV supported limited automation, often requiring custom code or third-party add-ons, Business Central includes built-in workflow features and native integration with Microsoft Power Automate. This allows users to automate approvals, notifications, data updates, and cross-application tasks with minimal effort. Even non-technical users can design and manage workflows that reduce manual steps, enforce consistent processes, and improve overall efficiency. Tasks that once took hours in NAV, like posting batches or sending invoices, can now happen automatically, freeing up your team to focus on more strategic work.

• Built-in approval workflows and task automation
• Native integration with Power Automate for advanced scenarios
• Automation of manual tasks like batch posting and invoicing
• Reduced reliance on custom development or third-party tools
• Streamlined operations and improved process consistency
• Greater efficiency with fewer errors and less manual entry

Upgrading Dynamics NAV was traditionally a time-consuming and expensive project, often leaving businesses stuck on outdated versions. In contrast, Business Central uses a modern cloud delivery model with automatic updates, eliminating manual upgrades. Microsoft releases Business Central updates twice a year. These updates are applied with minimal disruption, so your system stays secure, current, and full of the latest features. This reduces technical requirements and IT workload and ensures your ERP evolves with your business without extra effort or cost.

• Automatic updates reduce IT effort and eliminate manual upgrades
• Access to the latest features and enhancements without added cost
• Improved security, performance, and compliance over time
• Always stay current with Microsoft’s evolving ERP platform

Business Central improves your reporting experience with built-in Power BI integration, so users can create interactive dashboards, view real-time KPIs, and drill down into details from their home page. Dozens of out-of-the-box reports are included, and data can be exported to Excel for further analysis with minimal manual entry required.

• Built-in integration with Microsoft Power BI for live dashboards
• Dozens of pre-configured reports and KPIs are available out of the box
• Drill-down capabilities for deeper insights into key metrics
• Centralized data access from multiple teams and locations
• Easy export to Excel for advanced, flexible analysis
• Real-time visibility into sales, inventory, cash flow, and more

At Rand Group, we understand migrating from Dynamics NAV to Business Central is a big decision that requires careful planning and execution. Our team of experts will guide you through every step of the migration process to ensure a seamless transition and maximize the benefits of your new ERP. As experts in both systems, we offer comprehensive migration services to help clients transition smoothly with minimal disruption to their business.

Our services include:

• Evaluation and requirements gathering: We work closely with your team to assess your business needs and evaluate whether Dynamics 365 Business Central is the right fit for your organization. Our comprehensive assessment ensures that your new system will align perfectly with your strategic goals.
• Customization and integration: Our experts customize the Business Central solution to align with your specific requirements and integrate it seamlessly with the rest of your technology stack.
• Data Migration: Our team assists in migrating your data from Dynamics NAV to Business Central, ensuring accuracy and minimal disruption to your operations. We use proven methodologies to ensure data integrity and continuity.
• Configuration and implementation: We configure and implement Business Central according to best practices, optimizing its functionality to meet your business objectives and drive efficiency. Our implementation process is designed to ensure that your new system is up and running smoothly and quickly.
• Post-go-live support: We provide ongoing support and training to help your team adapt to the new system and maximize its potential. Our support services ensure a smooth transition and continued success.

Upgrading from Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central positions your business for sustained growth and success. Embracing cloud-based capabilities, AI-driven insights, and modern integration ensures enhanced efficiency and productivity. By partnering with Rand Group, you gain expert guidance and seamless support throughout your migration journey.

Ready to take the next step? Contact us today to learn more about how Rand Group can help you upgrade from Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central and unlock the full potential of your ERP solution.