Why upgrade to Business Central 14 specifically?

Version 14 (April 2019) is the last release that supports hybrid mode and the Business Central Windows client. From version 15 on it is AL only, with no Object Designer and no hybrid development.

What is a phased upgrade to Business Central?

Moving to BC14 first, then converting code from C/AL to AL at your own pace rather than all at cutover. It spreads the risk and cost of conversion instead of concentrating it in one event.

What blocks a direct jump to the newest Business Central version?

Most often third-party add-ons that have not been rewritten yet. If a critical ISV solution is not available for your target version, that alone decides the upgrade path.

Did the licensing model change between NAV and Business Central?

Yes. Version 12 (April 2018) introduced the named-user licensing model, so an upgrade is a licensing decision as much as a technical one.

Upgrading Dynamics NAV to Business Central

Many existing Microsoft Dynamics NAV users have been trying to figure out if, when and how to upgrade to the most recent version of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. They are concerned about the impact on their existing modifications and time consuming and costly customizations. But with the recent survey conducted by PwC, that shows about 86 percent of CEOs are considering moving their digital assets to the cloud as a top priority and the announcements by Microsoft of an available pathway to migrate to the cloud, many users are asking if the transition to Business Central is worth it.

With the experience we have gathered from using both Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC), we highly recommend that it is in the best interest of Dynamics NAV users to upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 14 now.

Understanding the Versions

For better understanding, let's look at the versions from Dynamics NAV to Business Central

NAV 2018 – Version 11, the first version where you could run in hybrid mode; A mixture of both C/AL and AL development environments

BC Version 12 – released in April 2018 (first version with the new named users licensing model)

BC Version 13 – released in October 2018

BC Version 14 – released in April 2019, this is the last version that supports the hybrid mode and last version that has the BC Windows client

BC Version 15 – released in October 2019, no more BC Windows client or Object Designer or hybrid mode. Only the AL development environment is available. BC Version 16 – released in April 2020.

Where the Business Central upgrade path forks

Business Central 14 is the last release that keeps hybrid C/AL/AL development, the Windows client, and Object Designer. From version 15 on, it is AL only.

View data

Release	Version	Shipped	What changed
NAV 2018	v11	Dec 2017	First version able to run C/AL and AL side by side
BC 12	v12	Apr 2018	Introduces the named-user licensing model
BC 13	v13	Oct 2018	—
BC 14	v14	Apr 2019	Last version with hybrid mode, the Windows client, and Object Designer
BC 15	v15	Oct 2019	AL only — no Windows client, no Object Designer, no hybrid mode
BC 16	v16	Apr 2020	AL only

Source: Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Business Central release history. Version capabilities as described in this article.

A race against time

This might sound like a piece of breaking news to many, but October 2021 will be the last month BC version 14 license will be available for renewal or new purchase. Therefore. all users who try to upgrade to BC14 in November 2021, will be forced to go for BC15 or higher. Why is this concerning? Upgrades can sometimes be a daunting process and upgrading to the most recent version always comes with some considerations. Moving all Dynamics NAV data to BC15 all at one time can be overwhelming as BC15 no longer has a Windows client or Object Designer or hybrid mode (which are available in BC14). The big win, if you do decide to go with BC14, it will give you the flexibility to move your code from C/AL to AL at whatever pace you want for the next three years before the software is no longer supported by Microsoft.

The benefits of moving to BC14

Here are a few other reasons why upgrading to BC14 might not be such a bad thing:

Some of your third-party add-ons might not be written in BC15 yet, so if you want to upgrade, you may have to go with a lesser version. This is still very true and is a show stopper to BC15, at least.
There are still quite a few bugs in BC15 that are being fixed all the time. But it is a very new version, so there are a lot of issues as there are with any new version.
If you are a developer for a customer, then it allows you to learn AL in a much less stressful environment, so you are not 100% thrown into AL.
Finally you might not yet be comfortable with the web client. It will take users a bit of time and training to become proficient in it.

Let's break it down for you

Now is the best time to make to make an upgrade decision and execute your transition as you have enough time to evaluate your options. To help you make that decision, we have crafted a webinar that goes through how to get you from where you are now in your Dynamics journey to where you want to be. In the webinar we will talk about

The different Dynamics NAV versions and how it compare to Business Central
Deployment options and the pros and cons of each
How to figure out if a re-implementation is the best bet for you business
How the phased upgrade approach to Business Central 14 works and how it can save you the risk, time and money in the long run
The development and upgrade tools that can help you with a speedy upgrade

You can watch the on-demand webinar here. If you have any questions about Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamic 365 Business Central, or upgrading your current version, please contact us.