The Microsoft Dynamics NAV Architecture comprises three core components as well as various additional tools and components.
At Navision India, we leverage Microsoft Dynamics NAV’s robust three-tier architecture to deliver tangible business outcomes. Our real-world implementations help diverse businesses—manufacturing, retail, finance, and more—solve critical operational challenges through efficient system design and hands-on expertise.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Architecture: Three-Tier Architecture
This three-tire architecture was introduced with the Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009. With this architecture, the data and data manipulation layers are put on their own servers, the application logic is put on its own server, and the presentation and presentation logic are put on the client.
- The RoleTailored client is the client tier, which includes a Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client and a Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client.In addition to the RoleTailored client, Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016 also supports additional client types, including web service clients and a NAS services client for programmatic access.
- Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server is the middle or server tier, managing all business logic and communication.
- SQL Server, augmented by Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016 database components, is the data tier.
Dynamics Nav Three-Tier Architecture Overview (Problem to Solution Flow):
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Client Tier:
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Includes NAV Windows Client, Web Client, and mobile interfaces.
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Real-time example: One retail client required seamless order entry and inventory lookup from both desktop and mobile at all store locations. We implemented NAV’s client tier to ensure staff could reliably serve customers—regardless of device or location—eliminating manual order bottlenecks and improving speed at the point of sale.
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Server/Application Tier (NAV Server):
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Manages business logic, security, and process automation.
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Insight from practice: A manufacturing company faced delays due to manual approval flows for purchase orders. By customizing NAV Server workflows, we enabled automatic routing and notifications—cutting approval time from days to hours, reducing process errors, and building an auditable digital trail.
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Data Tier (SQL Server):
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Houses all business data—transactions, inventory, financials—across single or multitenant deployments.
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Use case: A fast-growing distributor struggled with fragmented inventory records across regions. By architecting a multitenant data tier in NAV, we centralized all records for real-time stock visibility, improved replenishment accuracy, and enabled error-free bulk uploads from remote branches.
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Navision India: Real-World Impact and Use Case
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Integration and Automation: Businesses using Dynamics NAV, integrated with their CRM and e-commerce systems by Navision India, experienced:
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Immediate data sync between sales and finance, removing duplicate entry and reducing invoicing lag.
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Automated stock availability updates for their web stores, preventing overselling and delighting customers.
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Real-time financial insights for decision-makers, with actionable dashboards powered by live operational data.
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Scalability and Flexibility:
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Retail and distribution organizations scaled from a single store to multiple locations without architectural overhauls—thanks to NAV’s robust tiered setup and best-practice implementation by Navision India.
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Ongoing support ensured each business could adapt rapidly to market changes, regulatory requirements, and internal growth.
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Dynamics NAV Integration: The Key to Seamless Business Automation
Beyond architectural design, Dynamics NAV Integration is essential for eliminating data silos and manual entry, providing end-to-end synchronization between ERP, CRM, e-commerce, and other enterprise systems.
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Integrated sales and finance modules mean invoices and payments are automatically reconciled, reducing errors and accelerating cash flow.
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Online web stores gain real-time inventory updates via integration, preventing overselling and enhancing customer trust.
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Managers access dashboards populated with live operational data, empowering faster, data-driven decisions.
Client Quote:
“Thanks to Navision India’s expertise, our Microsoft Dynamics NAV environment now gives us instant visibility into orders, finance, and inventory. This has improved customer satisfaction and helped us expand to new regions with confidence.”
Conclusion:
With Navision India, Microsoft Dynamics NAV’s three-tier architecture is not just technical jargon—it’s the engine behind real-world problem solving, operational excellence, and business growth.
If you deploy Microsoft Dynamics NAV in a multitenant deployment architecture, the data tier consists of an application database and one or more tenant databases.
You can have multiple instances of any of the core components in a production environment. The attached diagram shows a simple installation with two Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows clients and a Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client connecting to a single Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server computer, which in turn connects to a computer with SQL Server and the Microsoft Dynamics NAV database components.
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