10 Things to Keep in Mind for Upgrading Dynamics NAV to Business Central in 2023

Are you still lingering on the outdated version of Dynamics NAV? Well, it’s time to make progress and upgrade Dynamics NAV to Business Central.

The need of the hour states that companies must upgrade to be consistent and competitive and embrace the change to be future-proof. But how?

Some companies only upgrade to a new ERP during its inception as it demands an excessive amount of time and money at first and then maintaining it adequately. However, there arrives a time when adopting the change becomes inevitable to stay competitive and move ahead with time.

Before the pandemic, in 2018, the Dynamic NAV was introduced as a part of Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 family. The 2018 version became outdated, and from the inception of 2023, the mainstream will not support Dynamics NAV.

So, as the need of the hour states, it is crucial to move to a solution that is supported by the Microsoft partner and can be categorized as the latest upgrade. It would help if you considered adopting the upgrade for transforming the services and products. It will enable the organization to reach enviable heights in terms of optimal efficiency.

Let us take an in-depth look at the technical upgrade Business Central.

The Need to Upgrade in 2023

Surprisingly, Business Central technology has rapidly expanded and transformed into an innovative ERP platform. It allows the users with easy and smooth accommodation.

It also offers automatic upgrades with customizations and add-ons as incredible features for meeting the demands of every business. Building on the legacy, dynamics 365 business central is the latest version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV. It has been upgraded from NAV to Business Central to increase the overall capacity in every mid-sized ERP system.

If you admire exponential growth, then dynamics NAV to Business Central upgrade can be the turning point for the business. Analyzing the critical differences between the two will draw the right picture. 

Key Distinctions Between Dynamics NAV and Business Central

Even though the base functionality for both is the same, there are majorly four differences between NAV and Business Central.

User Interface

The Business Central can be deployed as a cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) product compared to NAV, which must be installed on a virtual machine or server. The modern user interface is very intuitive. It uses AI to give insight into the data, allowing users to move quickly around the system. You can extract the details of your accounts, transactions, graphs, and reports with a click of a button.

Hosting of product

Business Central has been showcased as a SaaS product while NAV was deployed on-premise. It is managed and hosted by Microsoft, a web-based platform. The companies do not have to purchase SQL licenses or maintain the resources for managing the server environment.

Product upgrades

Even with the upgraded version of NAV, you’d get mainstream support. However, in the case of Business Central, you are entitled to receive all the latest security patches and features. With the on-premise NAV solutions, there will be a need to discuss the merits of deploying these updates with the NAV partner. This is because there can be clashes with your environment.

On the older solution, the update might result in operational issues with the third-party products or integrations working with the Microsoft NAV solution. You will get all the major updates every six months. These updates will adopt automatically with managing the schedule and make sure that your software is of the latest version. Thus, your business will access the latest technology only when it becomes available.

The Software Licensing

Business Central and NAV are licensed in different ways. NAV is licensed for users who are already using it. The types of users are windows group, device only, full, limited, or external. Business central licenses are named users based, and the types are premium, essential, external accountant, and team.

Business Central uses the monthly subscription charged per user and includes the enhancement plan’s features. In contrast, the NAV has an upfront license cost with an appropriate annual charge for enhancement.

Now that you have realized the significance of upgrading the Dynamics NAV to Business Central, the implementation must be fail-safe and free from all errors.

How are you going to do that? Well, there are certain things that you should know for upgrading Dynamics NAV to Business Central In 2023.

10 Things to Keep in Mind for Upgrading Dynamics NAV to Business Central in 2023

There are some most common things that you need to keep in your mind for upgrading to Business Central. These queries will provide you with the valuable information required to plan and execute the best upgrade scenario for the business.

Business central deployment is going to align with your business and make sure that you have continued growth and success.

1. Learn the benefits of upgrading

Dynamics Business Central is the latest Dedicated ERP solution from Microsoft, which has replaced Dynamics NAV. The company also offers bi-annual updates every six months instead of annual updates.

Dynamic Business Central is offering the latest features and technologies at a much faster rate when compared with the Microsoft Dynamics NAV. The new and better features will increase productivity and revenue. There are in-built such as power platform and Office 365 and Business Central is compliant with all its other applications like Word, Teams, Powerpoint, Excel, etc.

Source: Microsoft

2. Assemble upgrade team

Make sure you determine the upgrade team members as your first step. This is the group that is going to include the representation from every department that is working with the software, such as the developers, the technical resources, subject matter experts, and business analysts.

The appointment of an internal project manager is also crucial who will ensure to keep the project on track and complete the tasks. You must also consider adding corporate leadership to the team.

3. Figure out the date for the upgrade

One of the best practices that you can follow is to be affirmative and dedicated with your going-live date. This aspect is based on the initial project plan, and how many tasks need to be completed.

Take a one-week buffer from when you think you will be ready for any issues that may arise. The upgrade team comprises a variety of talent from various departments. It would help if you glanced at different schedules or prior commitments when considering the go-live date.

4. Consider viewing its risk profile

The most common misconception users have regarding the upgrade from Dynamic NAV to Business Central is the risk involved in the process. The notion is that upgrading from the Dynamics NAV to the Microsoft Dynamics Business Central is risky. But this is a complete misunderstanding and nothing else. With the Microsoft sure step methodology, the upgrade will process seamlessly. 

5. Know the capabilities of Business Central

As it is backed by Azure technology and Artificial Intelligence, Business Central can enable users with more informed decisions with real-time insights. Furthermore, Business Central is equipped with endless capabilities. These are –

• Eliminating language barriers.
• Manage your business from anywhere.
• See a more holistic view of the inventory.
• Tracking and improvising the company’s financial performance.
• A maximum number of customizations available.
• Streamline the warehouse operations.
• Manage a better record of sales or leads.
• The on-time delivery of the projects within the budget.
• Budget planning and smart financial forecasting.

6. You must set the budget

There are different kinds of costs levied at the time when you upgrade Dynamics NAV to Business Central. These costs are-

• The implementation costs
• Recurring license costs
• The cost of support packages.
• Miscellaneous costs

The upfront cost is the capital investment. This occurs in the implementation period and ensures the installation and smooth transitioning of the upgrade.

Then the license costs are recurring monthly or can be paid annually. This depends on the pricing options available at that time. The four license costs include essentials, premium, team, or external accountant.

The support packages provide several hours per month that can be used for training or inquiries if there are any bugs. Other costs include miscellaneous expenses such as third-party product license fees or maintenance fees.

7. Can you retain your customizations?

The businesses using ERP solutions are going to have their customizations. No one can carry them forward when they upgrade to Business Center. The team assisting you with the transitioning will assess the existing functionalities and provide you with a plan to upgrade the customizations to Business Central. Plus, upgrading Dynamics NAV to Business Central is easy, and all the customizations can be carried forward using Business Central.

8. How difficult is it to use?

As Business Central showcases a new user interface while upgrading from Dynamics NAV, this version is designed to provide valuable features and increase productivity. Some users may need training as they may feel overwhelmed by using the new interface.

9. Putting your faith in cloud-based technologies

Every organization is searching for a unique ERP solution facilitated by advanced security. It is safer to store the data on the cloud by implementing the latest technologies and adopting unique encryption methodologies.

Being in a development phase, it is very affordable to use the cloud service compared to maintaining the physical server. It is a more cost-efficient, secure, and scalable solution.

10. Working on integrations with Business Central

Business Central can easily integrate with the Microsoft Office applications and products such as PowerApps, Power BI, and more. Microsoft is constantly upgrading the features and ways the customizations are delivered. You can always review what functionality is going to arrive.

Is it Worth Transitioning to Business Central?

From a technical viewpoint, upgrading to the Business Central is imperative. Microsoft is investing time and resources in developing Business Central. There will be no future updates for NAV.

Thus, it is worth it that your organization will migrate to the latest solution to remain ahead of the curve and promote future growth. Upgrading with dynamics NAV to the Cloud-based Business Central will provide you with what it takes to operate efficiently and effectively.

When you upgrade dynamics NAV to Business Central with DynamicsSmartz, it will provide you with end-to-end business solutions.