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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.
Saturday, October 15, 2022
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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.

 

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.
  • Improve customer service and sales by managing the entire sales process from within Microsoft Outlook.
  • Access productivity and business insights to make quicker, better decisions, e.g., with Microsoft 365 and Teams.
  • Complete projects on time and ensure profitability with planning, tracking, billing, and real-time intelligence.
  • Elevate business performance through improved forecasting, real-time reports, and performance metrics.
  • Optimize inventory and supply chain management through reliable product delivery and visibility across the board.
  • Keep costs low due to low investment and zero upgrade or maintenance costs compared to other on-premises options.
  • Store data in a primary, secure location and keep updated in real-time with the latest information.

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Available everywhere

Not only is Business Central available on the cloud, but it is also available for on-premises and hybrid deployments. Connect to Business Central using the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app or mobile and tablet apps (available for iOS and Android).

 

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 seamless integration allows you to create sales orders, quotes, and invoices directly from within your Outlook. You can link your business data with Outlook and Excel to improve employee and customer experiences. Business Central also integrates with Microsoft's other applications, such as the Power Platforms.  

Boost your performance with add-ons

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 AppSource. These add-ons extend the capabilities of your solution, such as automating tasks, streamlining processes, and boosting business performance.

Continia is a trusted Microsoft ISV partner. Check out our range of built-in solutions that save you both time and money. 

View our solutions

The difference between NAV and Business Central

Microsoft Dynamics NAV (previously known as Navision) is implemented and used on-premises using local servers. On the other hand, Dynamics 365 Business Central is hosted in the cloud.

You still, however, have the choice of buying an on-premises or hybrid product. Having phased out Dynamics NAV, Microsoft introduced Business Central as a newer version - offering the same functionality in a more user-friendly system.

The upgrade from Dynamics NAV to Business Central is due to the digital transformation that small and medium-sized businesses embraced in recent years. Based on NAV, Business Central was rewritten for the cloud, allowing for broader reach and more flexibility.

Dynamics 365 Business Central licensing

If you’re in the market to purchase a brand-new license, you’ll be glad to know that Business Central has two licensing options: subscription and perpetual.

 

Perpetual

The perpetual licensing option means that the license is yours – forever. However, to keep this license up to date with the latest versions, you must pay an annual maintenance fee. You also have access to a set number of users; however, you can add more users at extra cost. 

 

Subscription

Business Central offers two packages to its customers: Essentials and Premium. They share standard features; however, Premium has an extra level of functionality for service and manufacturing management. The Essentials package costs $70 per user/month, while Premium costs $100 per user/month, making the subscription package more flexible.

Automate your Business Central

Automation is the future of finance – failing to implement automation can cause you to lose your competitive edge in the market. Continia Software is a leading provider of solutions for Business Central. We create solutions built into Business Central, meaning that you and your team don't have to learn new software applications. The solutions we currently offer are:

  • Document Capture
  • Collection Management
  • Expense Management
  • Document Output
  • Payment Management
  • OPplus

Continia solutions automate monotonous tasks, reduce paper and errors, and create space for insightful and strategic thinking in your finance department – increasing overall job satisfaction. We suggest you head over to our solutions page to find out more about how we can help you optimize Business Central processes in your financial department.

Read more on our solutions

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.