How CFOs and CTOs in Australia Can Leverage Dynamics 365 Business Central Updates for 2026 ERP Planning

According to IDC Australia Digital Transformation Survey, 2024, “72% of CFOs in Australia plan to increase ERP investments in 2026 to support digital transformation and data-driven decision-making.”

The ERP landscape is evolving rapidly, and for Australian organizations, planning for 2026 means aligning strategy, technology, and finance in a more integrated way than ever before. CFOs and CTOs now must codrive ERP planning with a strong eye on agility, automation, and data-driven decision making.

In this blog, we explore how to build a sound 2026 ERP plan in Australia, outline the Business Central roadmap, highlight Dynamics 365 updates relevant to finance and operations, and lay out budgeting strategies tailored for the Australian market.

A brief overview for ERP Planning in 2026: Why Now?

External pressures and digital acceleration

Global economic volatility, supply chain uncertainty, inflationary pressures, and regulatory complexity are forcing companies to rethink their digital backbone. As CFOs focus tightly on cost control and resilience, CTOs are under pressure to modernize systems to support agility and scalability.

A recent article notes that cloud ERP vendors are increasingly adopting AI, automation, and proactive support models as default, pushing CFOs to demand smarter ERP systems that deliver continuous innovation.

Legacy system risk and the window for change

Delaying ERP modernization often leads to hidden costs: maintenance overheads, security vulnerabilities, limited innovation, and suboptimal decision support. The smarter shift is to proactively plan your 2026 roadmap now giving you time to execute strategically rather than react under pressure.

Drivers of the Australian market

The Australia cloud ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) market is witnessing steady growth driven by factors such as the increasing demand for digital transformation, the need for scalable and flexible business solutions, and the adoption of cloud-based technologies. Cloud ERP solutions help organizations streamline and automate core business processes, including finance, human resources, supply chain management, and customer relationship management, by providing access to real-time data and insights from anywhere, anytime.

CFOs and CTOs must co-drive ERP planning with a strong eye on agility, automation, and data-driven decision making.

Growth Drivers for Australia Cloud ERP Market

• Surge in Digital Transformation Across Industries
• Rising Demand for Operational Agility and Scalability
• Cost Savings from Reduced On-Premise Infrastructure
• Advancements in AI, Analytics, and Automation

Business Central Roadmap & Dynamics 365 Updates

Microsoft’s Release Planning Cadence

Microsoft publishes wave releases for Dynamics 365, including Business Central, with feature rollouts, regulatory updates, and cumulative patches.

For example, the 2025 Release Wave 2 spans October 2025 to March 2026 and will be foundational for 2026 planning.

Key Enhancements for Finance & Operations

• Copilot / AI Automation: Journal suggestions, anomaly detection, forecasting
• Extended Planning: Unified financial, operational, and HR analytics
• User Governance: Role-based access, audit tools, intercompany review
• Localization: AU-specific tax, payroll, and regulatory patches
• Modular Extensibility: Cleaner upgrades, reduced technical debt

Implications for Australia

• Regulatory updates for GST, payroll, Superannuation
• Integration with local ecosystems
• Partner ecosystem readiness

TechTarget survey: 85% of Australian CFOs consider ERP regulatory compliance updates a top priority for 2026 budgeting.

ERP Budgeting Strategies for Australian CFOs

How CFOs & CTOs Can Partner Effectively During 2026 ERP Planning

CFOs and CTOs play pivotal roles in shaping successful ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) transformations. As 2026 approaches, their collaboration becomes even more critical to ensure systems are future-ready, secure, and aligned with business goals. Here's how they can partner effectively:

Strategic Alignment: Shared Vision & Goals

• Define common objectives: CFOs focus on financial efficiency, while CTOs prioritize technological scalability. Aligning on outcomes like ROI, automation, and data integrity ensures unified direction.
• Joint ownership of ERP roadmap: Co-develop the ERP strategy, balancing cost control with innovation. This fosters accountability and reduces silos.

Data-Driven Decision Making

• Unified data architecture: CTOs can design systems that centralize data, while CFOs ensure it supports financial reporting and compliance.
• Real-time analytics: ERP platforms like Dynamics 365 empower both roles with dashboards that track KPIs, cash flow, and operational metrics.

Risk Management & Governance

• Security & controls: CTOs handle cybersecurity and system integrity; CFOs oversee financial controls and audit trails. Together, they build robust governance frameworks.
• Regulatory compliance: Collaboration ensures ERP systems meet evolving standards.

Innovation & Scalability

• Cloud-first mindset: CTOs advocate for scalable cloud ERP solutions; CFOs assess cost-benefit and long-term value.
• Automation & AI: Jointly explore AI-driven forecasting, robotic process automation (RPA), and machine learning to streamline operations.

Change Management & Culture

• Executive sponsorship: CFOs and CTOs must visibly champion the ERP initiative to drive adoption across departments.
• Cross-functional training: Encourage finance and tech teams to understand each other’s workflows, fostering empathy and collaboration.

Conclusion

As 2026 approaches, Australian organizations have an opportunity and a necessity to reimagine their ERP strategies.

By leveraging Microsoft’s evolving Business Central roadmap and Dynamics 365 updates, CFOs and CTOs can co-craft a roadmap that is flexible, high impact, and resilient to change.

Pairing disciplined budgeting strategies with phased implementation and close cross-functional partnership creates a powerful foundation for delivering sustained business value.

At Dynamics Square: We’ve helped businesses across industries get more out of their Dynamics 365 Business Central implementations—faster, cleaner, and smarter.

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Start your 2026 ERP journey with confidence!