Microsoft Dynamics NAV is now Business Central. With Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (D365 Business Central), you get the same standard functionality as you get with Dynamics NAV (Navision). With several deployment options ranging from private to public cloud, Dynamics 365 Business Central works seamlessly with other Microsoft applications like Dynamics 365 for Sales, Office 365 and Power BI. Now the question is if Dynamics 365 Business Central contains a lot of the standard functionality which we get from Dynamics NAV, then why upgrade.
Hosting Options: Business Central supports different deployment options such as on-premise hosting, Microsoft Azure Hosting & as a SaaS deployment option. Dynamics NAV offers the option to use the solution on a private data center or on your own server but not a true cloud.
Additional Features: Dynamics 365 Business Central comes with warehouse management functions and assembly order. Previously, to get these features Dynamics NAV customers had to purchase an Extended Pack. But now, these features come built-in with the basic edition of Dynamics 365 Business Central. Dynamics 365 Business Central enables tighter integration with other Microsoft apps to ensure business without data silos. With embedded Power BI, you get comprehensive view of your business in real time with actionable insights to make informed decisions. Dynamics 365 Business Central allows creation and automation of workflows, with Microsoft Flow, to improve efficiency. Dynamics 365 Business Central ensures seamless sharing with the Microsoft CRM platform, Dynamics 365 for Sales. Furthermore, Dynamics 365 Business Central is a flexible business platform that can be scaled to suit and meet your business needs in terms of size and complexity. You can install extensions developed by ISV (Independent software vendor) partners directly from Microsoft AppSource to expand application’s functionality.
Licensing Options: Business Central is available as a monthly subscription or perpetual based models.
Easy Upgrades: Dynamics NAV requires months for upgrading depending upon the complexity of the environment. However, Business Central upgrades automatically in the background 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 upgrading process. The benefit for business is a constant stream of security upgrades that will keep your data up-to-date on the latest walls to mitigate the risk of hacker encroachment.
Options for Dynamics Users
Business Central On-Premise Deployment: If you prefer to host your software at your location, Business Central On-Premise is a great option. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is essentially deployed on private servers (managed by your own IT team or IT provider), ensuring absolute control and management of the huge information stored on the internal databases. Furthermore, users are solely responsible for all upkeep and maintenance of the software.
Business Central on Microsoft Azure: Another great option for you is to purchase Business Central licenses on a per user/month basis and host those licenses on Microsoft Azure. With Azure, you get a bigger opportunity to save as the cost of the Azure hosting comes cheaper than running a server on your own premises or outsourcing to a local partner.
Dynamics 365 Business Central as SaaS: Business Central is available as a Service (SaaS) solution. This deployment model, which is in the cloud, is a monthly fee per user. The back end Infrastructure is managed by Microsoft and the software is accessed through a browser. Business Central is a true Cloud solution and with availability as SaaS, enables CIOs, IT managers, and business owners to leverage Digital Transformation within tight annual IT budgets.