Different ways to upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

The moment Microsoft made it official that it intends to replace NAV with the Dynamics 365 Business Central as its next-generation ERP solution, that was plenty of silence at all levels. Not out of disappointment, but sheer curiosity whether Business Central will deliver along the same lines as NAV did or perhaps even go a step further.

First things first. Why did Microsoft even think of upgrading from NAV to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central? In Microsoft’s opinion, Business Central is better at streamlining processes, helping companies make smarter decisions, and accelerating overall growth.

Microsoft has pushed for a Dynamics NAV Upgrade to Business Central as it felt that the new Business Central helps increase financial visibility, in the sense that it helps accelerate financial close and chart performance in real-time and improves forecast accuracy in addition to helping maintain compliance and security.

A NAV Upgrade to Business Central, according to Microsoft, is also sensible because BC helps optimize the supply chain, meaning organizations get to maximize profitability and get an end-to-end view across operations, purchasing, inventory, manufacturing, and warehouse management. A third benefit highlighted by the software giant is a considerable boost in sales and improvement in customer service. Finally, the company also feels that Business Central will be helpful in delivering projects on time and within budget.

Microsoft has clarified that only a select few versions of NAV are eligible for an upgrade, meaning that NAV (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) Upgrade to Business Central is possible.

Now comes the main thing. What are the various ways of a Dynamics NAV Upgrade to Business Central? Before one gets to that, it is of paramount importance to know that Dynamics 365 Business Central is available on both cloud and on-premise. Given below are the many ways of a successful Dynamics NAV Upgrade to Business Central that will take your business to another level in all possibilities.

Upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics NAV

Option 1: Business Central On-Premises Perpetual

A starter pack with extended capabilities gives to any organization six (6) premium users whereas the full user non-extended pack gives to an organization two (2) premium users. Depending on one’s requirement, a pack must be chosen. For the uninitiated, when Business Central was released back in 2018, Microsoft made it very clear to existing NAV customers that for them to upgrade to Business Central on-premises, they must get two named Business Central users for every concurrent NAV user bought before October 1, 2018. NAV users who followed these guidelines issued by Microsoft a couple of years back must have been able to get a successful NAV Upgrade to BC done.

Steps to Take Before a Technical Upgrade to Business Central

The following steps a business must follow before a technical upgrade to Business Central:

1 : Upgrade Documentation Reviewing: The first step is to review the official documentation for the specific version a business is upgrading to. This is because the official documentation will provide detailed guidance and note any version-specific considerations.

2 : Data Backup: It is essential to ensure the business has a complete backup of the current system. The backup must include databases and customisations to protect against potential issues during the upgrade process.

3 : Verify Compatibility: The next step is to ensure that the customisations, extensions and third-party integrations are compatible with the new version. If not, then updating or replacing components as necessary is essential.

4 : Prepare Your Environment: The businesses must set up a test environment replicating the production environment. It helps to safely test the upgrade process without impacting the live system.

5 : Permission Set Upgradation: It’s important for the business to review and adjust permission sets to ensure users have appropriate access to the new version.

6: Databases Preparation: Prepare your database for the upgrade by cleaning up old data, optimising performance, and ensuring compatibility with the new database.

7 : Upgrade Process Testing: One of the important steps is to conduct a test upgrade in the business’s test environment to identify and resolve any potential issues before upgrading the production system.

8 : Training to the Teams: Training on the new features and changes in the upgrade version is important to ensure that the employees can quickly adapt and utilise the new capabilities.

9 : Plan for Downtime: The upgrade must be scheduled during low activity to minimise disruptions to business operations.

10 Upgrade Monitoring: It’s important to keep a close watch on the upgrade process so that the business can address any issues that arise to ensure a smooth transition.

What happens after completing the technical upgrade of NAV to Business Central?

The following changes occur after the technical upgrade of Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central. Automatic Updates: Business Central receives automatic updates from Microsoft twice a year which ensures the system is up-to-date with the latest features and capabilities. Customisation Conversation: NAV customisations are converted into modern apps and extensions to ensure compatibility with Business Central’s architecture. Cloud Migration: Data and applications are migrated to the cloud to leverage the robustness and scalability of Business Central. Improved Integration and Security: The integration capability, access to real-time data insights and security of the system increases with the upgrade.

Upgrading to the latest version of Business Central

If you want to improve your business’s operational efficiency, upgrading to the latest version of Business Central is a good option. The latest version comes with various new features and enhancements designed to improve user experience and streamline workflows.

The advanced automation tools, the latest technological advancements like AI, machine learning, etc., enhanced integration options and improved reporting capabilities empower businesses with more accurate and efficient processes. It even includes critical security updates and compliance features which can help you meet regulatory requirements and protect sensitive data seamlessly.

Moreover, there is better support and compatibility of the latest version of Business Central with other modern software solutions and services. With the current version of Business Central, businesses can maintain a competitive edge, drive innovation, and ensure they use the most effective tools.

Option 2: Business Central On-Premises Subscription

As soon as Business Central took over from NAV as the next-generation ERP as announced by Microsoft, the first step taken by the software giant was to give to NAV customers the option to buy Business Central licenses on a per-user month basis. The investment involved is less besides end-users getting more flexibility and scalability, in the sense that they can increase the number of licenses as their business begins to grow. Expenses can be further reduced by hosting some of the licenses on Microsoft Azure, whose hosting cost the end-user will have to incur. It must be known that this cost is far lesser than the cost generally incurred while running an on-premise server or having an outsourcing partner handle the entire thing.

Option 3: Business Central SaaS

Opting for Software as a Service (SaaS) is another way for end-users looking forward to a successful NAV (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) Upgrade to Business Central. This can be very advantageous for end-users as they get both licenses and hosting services included in a monthly subscription of SaaS deployments. This is a very viable option that a lot of NAV users have been seen going for though there is a limit on the number of customizations they would want to be done. They will have to additionally subscribe to Extensions 2.0 for solution enhancement.

Other Options

Business Ready Enhancement Plan (BREP)

The Business Ready Enhancement Plan is a tried and tested way of engineering a successful NAV (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) Upgrade to Business Central. The only thing you must be careful about is to be always up to date with your Business Ready Enhancement Plan payments as only that will make you eligible for all the relevant offers. If your BREP is not up to date, then do some simple math at your end by adding a 3 percent penalty to 16 percent of the original license price per annum to thus find out the BREP you owe and subsequently re-enrolling as a new customer.

Final Words

These are several ways to upgrade from NAV to Business Central that have been successfully tried by organizations so far. You can choose the one that suits you best and proceed with it to upgrade from NAV to Business central with the help of a renowned Implementation Partner capable of engineering a seamless transition.

FAQ

How do I update Dynamics 365 Business Central?

Dynamics 365 Business Central update involves various steps to ensure a seamless process. Businesses must regularly check for updates in the Business Central Admin Center since Microsoft releases major updates biannually and minor updates monthly.

It is essential to set a maintenance window for updates, typically outside normal business hours and schedule updates accordingly. Businesses can create preview environments to test new features and ensure compatibility with customisations before applying updates to production.

One important step is to track the system during the update and conduct a post-update review to ensure the functionalities are working correctly and address any issues promptly.

Is Business Central an ERP or CRM?

While Business Central is designed primarily as an ERP system, it also provides CRM functionalities, enabling businesses to seamlessly handle back-end operations and customer interactions. This dual capability distinguishes Business Central as a comprehensive business management solution, unifying various business functions on a single platform.