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Business Central for SMBs.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is Microsoft's ERP system for small and midsize businesses. NAVAX has implemented it in Austria and Germany since 1998, back when it was called Navision.

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Two people talking at a table with a laptop in front of a glass front
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Microsoft Solutions PartnerISO 27001 zertifiziert (Information Security Management)
At a glance

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central?

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is Microsoft's ERP software for small and midsize businesses. It covers finance, purchasing, sales, inventory, manufacturing, projects and service in one system with one shared database. Business Central is the successor to Dynamics NAV, formerly Navision.

What
ERP software from Microsoft, in the cloud or on your own servers, with Copilot and direct integration with Outlook, Excel, Teams and Power BI.
Who it's for
SMBs and growing companies that want to replace standalone tools or move off Dynamics NAV.
Outcome
One system instead of many lists, current numbers without exporting to Excel, two major Microsoft updates a year included.
Why NAVAX
Navision partner since 1998, Microsoft partner since 2003, more than 600 business customers, 8 locations in Austria and Germany, ISO 27001 certified.
Getting started
Three paths to the cloud: Easy Starter, data migration or 1:1 migration.
Challenges

Typical situations and how Business Central helps.

Three typical situations and what changes with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

  1. The same data in three programs

    Today

    “We type the same data into three programs.” Accounting, purchasing, inventory and sales keep their own lists, and every transfer is a chance for typos.

  2. Navision is old, and support is running out

    Today

    Microsoft's extended support for Dynamics NAV 2017 ends in January 2027, and for NAV 2018 in January 2028. Older versions already receive no security updates today.

  3. Every report starts with an export

    Today

    “For every report, we first export everything to Excel.” By the time the numbers are merged, they are no longer current.

In practice

From Navision to Business Central.

In the webinar “Countdown Navision”, AV Stumpfl reports from its ongoing migration, available on demand (in German).

  1. Webinar with a customer
    AV Stumpfl
  2. Before

    At the time of the webinar, AV Stumpfl was in the middle of moving from Navision to Business Central.

  3. In the webinar

    The customer talks about the time involved, the hurdles and how the team embraced the change.

  4. What you take away

    In 60 minutes: what the end of support means for your NAV version and how the migration works.

Who it's for

Is Business Central a fit for you?

Being honest up front saves both sides time. If more of the right-hand column applies, we will tell you so in the initial call.

Tap the statements that apply to you.

A good fit if …

Another route is better if …

Your result
Nothing selected yet.

Select the statements above that apply to you. This is where you will see whether a conversation is worth it.

Services

Three paths to Business Central in the cloud.

Whether you are starting fresh or coming from Navision: the three paths differ in which data and customizations you bring along and how much you modernize your processes along the way.

  • Two people meeting at a round table with a laptop in a bright room

    Easy Starter: a clean fresh start

    You rebuild master data in Business Central and start without old transaction data. We reassess existing customizations, and only what you really need comes along. The path with the biggest modernization boost, for new implementations as well as for NAV customers who deliberately start over.

    • Master data: rebuilt
    • Transaction data: none
    • Customizations: reassessed
    More on Business Central implementation
    New implementationVery high modernization
  • Employee working at several screens, a colleague at her desk in the background

    Data migration: keep your history, renew your processes

    We take over master and transaction data from your current system and reassess customizations. You keep your history and still modernize a lot, because old custom solutions do not move over automatically.

    • Master data: migrated
    • Transaction data: migrated
    • Customizations: reassessed
    MigrationHigh modernization
  • Hands on a laptop keyboard, a glass of water next to it

    1:1 migration: everything comes along

    Master data, transaction data and customizations are migrated in full. Afterwards, your team works largely as before, and the degree of modernization is low. This path fits when continuity matters more than new processes.

    • Master data: migrated
    • Transaction data: migrated
    • Customizations: migrated
    MigrationLow modernization
  • Consultant sketching systems and their connections on a digital whiteboard, a colleague watching

    Before you decide

    Before you choose a path, it pays to look at what should come along. The migration is the best opportunity to simplify processes.

    All about migrating from Navision
    AnalysisRecommendation
  • Employee smiling at his desk in front of two screens

    In addition: extensions from NAVAX

    For recurring invoices, finance, performance monitoring and AI-assisted master data checks, NAVAX offers its own apps for Business Central.

    All NAVAX Apps
    AppsBusiness Central
Process

Four steps to Business Central.

From the first conversation to support after go-live.

  1. 1

    Initial call and analysis

    We clarify your processes, your system landscape and your goals. For existing NAV systems, we check data quality, the need for history and existing customizations.

    What you have afterwards

    A clear picture of your starting point and of the data that should come along.

  2. 2

    Concept based on “standard first”

    Together we choose the right path and define what standard Business Central covers and where an extension is really needed.

    What you have afterwards

    The chosen path, plus a timeline and budget.

  3. 3

    Setup, data migration and testing

    We set up the system, migrate the agreed data and test the processes together with your key users.

    What you have afterwards

    A configured system, tested with your own processes.

  4. 4

    Training, go-live and support

    Your team is trained, then Business Central goes live. After that, NAVAX Customer Service supports you.

    What you have afterwards

    Business Central in live operation and a fixed channel for questions afterwards.

NAVAX in numbers

We don’t just implement. We stay.

NAVAX builds its own software and has been running it for years. That is why we know what a system has to withstand in its tenth year.

30
Years in business
330
People
1,000+
Projects
8 locations in Austria and Germany
Microsoft Solutions PartnerISO 27001 certified (Information Security Management)
Microsoft Solutions Partner for Business Applications. ISO 27001 certified.
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

What people often ask before a first conversation. If your question is missing, ask us directly.

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central used for?

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is ERP software for small and midsize businesses that covers finance, purchasing, sales, inventory, manufacturing, projects and service in one system. It is the successor to Microsoft Dynamics NAV, formerly Navision.

What features does Business Central have?

Out of the box, Business Central covers financial accounting, purchasing, sales, inventory, projects and reporting; the Premium license adds manufacturing and service management. Copilot helps with bank reconciliation, item descriptions and data analysis, among other things. Industry requirements are covered by extensions, including some from NAVAX.

Are Dynamics 365 and Business Central the same?

No. Dynamics 365 is Microsoft's family of business applications, and Business Central is the ERP within it for small and midsize businesses. For large companies with international subsidiaries there is Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management, and for sales and marketing there are the Dynamics 365 CRM applications.

What is the difference between Dynamics NAV and Business Central?

Business Central is the direct successor to Dynamics NAV and builds on the same functional foundation. NAV 2018 was the last NAV version. Business Central runs in the browser and as an app, receives two major updates a year and comes with Copilot. Customizations are built as extensions instead of directly in the program code, which keeps later updates simpler.

Can I take my Navision customizations to Business Central?

Yes. With a 1:1 migration, we take over your customizations; with Easy Starter and data migration, we reassess them. NAVAX recommends questioning every customization critically: what today's standard covers does not need to come along. That keeps the system lean and later updates simple.

How much does Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central cost?

The cost has two parts: monthly licenses per user and the one-time effort for the implementation. How much you invest depends on the number of users, the license you choose and the project scope. You receive a concrete quote after the initial call.

Which license do I need: Essentials or Premium?

Essentials covers finance, purchasing, sales, inventory and projects; Premium also includes manufacturing and service management. People who only view data, approve or handle simple tasks in the ERP can work with the Team Members license. Which mix suits you is clarified in the initial call.

How long does a Business Central implementation take?

The duration depends mainly on which of the three paths you choose, how many customizations there are and which data is migrated. You receive a timeline with the concept, before implementation begins.

Does Business Central only run in the cloud?

No, Business Central is available as a cloud version and for running on your own servers. However, Microsoft develops the product cloud-first, and Copilot and many new features are only available online. The cloud version also removes the need for your own servers, backups and upgrade projects.

Can I use Business Central on my smartphone?

Yes, Microsoft offers apps for iOS, Android and Windows, and Business Central also runs in every common browser. That way you can, for example, approve documents or check stock levels on the go.

Where is the data stored?

Business Central online runs in Microsoft Azure data centers. If your environment is in an EU region, Microsoft stores and processes the data within the EU Data Boundary. NAVAX itself is ISO 27001 certified for information security.

Which companies is Business Central suited for?

Business Central suits small and midsize businesses in retail and distribution, manufacturing, services and construction that want to bring their processes together in one system. For very large groups or groups with many international subsidiaries, we check together whether Finance and Supply Chain Management is a better fit.

Is Business Central right for your company?

In the initial call, we clarify your starting point, the right license and the most sensible path: Easy Starter, data migration or 1:1 migration. Afterwards, you know which steps and which timeframe are realistic for you.

Further reading

You might also be interested in.

Related solutions and practical knowledge around Business Central.