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Dynamics 365 Business Central – connect your business

Society is constantly evolving, and trends change at the drop of a hat - it's hard to keep up as a business. That's why it's time to step into the future of business management – optimize your workflow and empower your business with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Sunday, March 1, 2026
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Dynamics 365: A modular platform

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a trusted enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) platform that offers a set of interconnected Software-as-a-Service (Saas) applications targeted toward businesses.

Their applications integrate your data, processes, and business logic - helping transform and empower your employees, customers, and business activities.

In addition to integrating with existing Microsoft products (e.g., Microsoft 365), Dynamics 365 applications work together to create a flexible solution tailored to your business needs.

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Business Central in a nutshell

Business Central is an ERP solution in Dynamics 365 for small and mid-sized organizations. It connects sales, service, finance, and operations teams, helping them adapt quickly and streamline business processes. Business Central has a wide range of capabilities – among other things, it allows you to:  
 

Adapt as your business grows by adopting new business models quicker with better reliability and security.

Elevate business performance through improved forecasting, real-time reports, and performance metrics.

Improve customer service and sales by managing the entire sales process directly within familiar Microsoft tools such as Outlook and Teams.

Optimize inventory and supply chain management through reliable product delivery and visibility across the board.

Access productivity and business insights to make quicker, better decisions using Microsoft 365, Teams, and Power BI.

Reduce IT complexity thanks to automatic updates and Microsoft-managed infrastructure in the cloud.

Complete projects on time and ensure profitability with planning, tracking, billing, and real-time intelligence.

Store data in a centralized and secure environment with real-time updates and built-in compliance capabilities.

Direct integration with Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365, formerly known as Office 365, is an everyday office essential used by most businesses. As previously mentioned, it integrates seamlessly with Business Central – great news for you if you already use it!

This integration allows you to create sales orders, quotes, and invoices directly from within Outlook. You can also export and analyze data in Excel and collaborate on business processes in Microsoft Teams.

Business Central also integrates with Microsoft’s broader ecosystem, including Power BI, Power Automate, and Power Apps, helping businesses automate workflows and build custom experiences.

Available everywhere

Business Central is primarily delivered as a cloud-based SaaS solution hosted on Microsoft Azure, giving organizations automatic updates, built-in security, and access from anywhere. Business Central is also available for on-premises deployments for organizations with specific regulatory or infrastructure requirements. 

Users can access Business Central through a web browser or dedicated mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Boost your performance with automation

In addition to Business Central, you can customize your solution through extensions based on your needs – allowing developers to make changes to the software without changing the base code.

A popular business option is to buy custom apps and add-ons developed by a Business Central Partner or through Microsoft Marketplace. These add-ons extend the capabilities of your solution, such as automating tasks, streamlining processes, and boosting business performance.

Dynamics 365 Business Central licensing

If you're looking to implement Business Central, the most common licensing model today is the subscription-based SaaS licensing. Business Central offers two main license types, but pricing may vary by region and partner, and additional user types such as Team Member licenses are also available. 

Essentials

Includes core ERP functionality such as:

  • Financial management
  • Sales and purchasing
  • Inventory
  • Project management
  • Reporting and analytics
Premium

Includes everything in Essentials plus:

  • Service management
  • Manufacturing functionality

Dynamics NAV vs. Business Central

Microsoft Dynamics NAV (previously known as Navision) was a popular ERP solution that ran primarily on-premises. Dynamics 365 Business Central is the modern evolution of NAV, built with a cloud-first architecture and continuous updates delivered through Microsoft's SaaS platform.

Organizations running NAV can upgrade to Business Central to benefit from:

  • Cloud scalability
  • Continuous updates
  • Improved integrations
  • Access to the Business Central app ecosystem

Business Central retains the strong financial management capabilities NAV was known for while delivering a modern user experience and extensibility through extensions and APIs.

Streamline your Business Central with Continia

Automation plays a growing role in modern finance teams. By automating routine processes, businesses can reduce manual work, minimize errors, and free up time for strategic activities. Continia is one of the leading ISV partners developing solutions built directly inside Business Central. Check out our range of solutions that help finance teams work smarter and more efficiently.

Document Capture

Streamline your invoice processing with end-to-end AP automation. 

Finance

Optimize your core financial processes with 8 specialized modules.

Expense Management

Get a real-time overview of employee spending.

Document Output

Automate your document delivery and customize your emails.

Banking

Speed up reconciliation and secure your payment processes.

Automate your Business Central from day one

When implementing Dynamics 365 Business Central, it’s the perfect time to automate key financial processes.

Talk to your Dynamics partner about adding automation as part of your implementation.

Find a partner

Frequently asked questions

  • What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central?

    Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) platform designed for businesses. It offers a suite of interconnected Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications to transform and empower various aspects of your business.

  • What are the key benefits of using Dynamics 365 Business Central?

    Dynamics 365 Business Central offers several benefits, including the ability to adapt to business growth, improve customer service, access productivity and business insights, complete projects efficiently, enhance business performance, optimize inventory management, and keep costs low.

  • How does Dynamics 365 Business Central integrate with other Microsoft products?

    Dynamics 365 Business Central seamlessly integrates with existing Microsoft products, such as Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365). This integration allows for the creation of sales orders, quotes, and invoices directly from within applications like Outlook and Excel, improving both employee and customer experiences.

  • Can Dynamics 365 Business Central be customized to suit specific business needs?

    Yes, Dynamics 365 Business Central can be customized through extensions based on your specific requirements. Developers can make changes to the software without altering the base code, allowing for tailored solutions.

  • What are the pricing options for Dynamics 365 Business Central?

    Dynamics 365 Business Central offers two licensing options: subscription and perpetual. The perpetual option grants you a license indefinitely but requires an annual maintenance fee for updates. The subscription option includes two packages: Essentials and Premium, with varying costs per user per month, offering flexibility based on your needs.

  • How does Business Central differ from Microsoft Dynamics NAV?

    Microsoft Dynamics NAV, previously known as Navision, is implemented and used on-premises using local servers. In contrast, Dynamics 365 Business Central is hosted in the cloud, providing greater flexibility and reach. The upgrade from Dynamics NAV to Business Central was driven by the digital transformation embraced by small and medium-sized businesses.

  • Why should I consider automating my business with Dynamics 365 Business Central?

    Automation is crucial for staying competitive in the market. Dynamics 365 Business Central provides automation solutions that reduce manual tasks, minimize errors, and free up time for strategic thinking in your finance department. This can lead to increased job satisfaction and improved efficiency.

  • How can Continia Software help optimize Business Central processes?

    Continia Software is a trusted Microsoft partner, offering solutions built into Business Central that eliminate the need for your team to learn new software applications. Their solutions, such as Document Capture, Collection Management, Expense Management, Document Output, Payment Management, and OPplus, automate tasks, reduce paper usage, and enhance strategic thinking in your finance department.