Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is the latest ERP solution from Microsoft. It is available in either an on-premises version (the next version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018) or a cloud version (multi-tenant).

Available only through Microsoft partner programs, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is designed to break down and simplify operational business processes, allowing quick decision-making and customer engagement in real time. Business Central meets every aspect of a business process from sales, IT, marketing and service to operations and finance.

Despite all these benefits, there are a good number of existing Microsoft Dynamics NAV customers who are a little bit confused and are asking what this change means for them.

Will my current solution become obsolete?

Do I need to upgrade to Business Central?

How much will the upgrade cost and do you think this is the right time for me to upgrade?

Skim through this article for an overview of your options and the things you need to consider before embarking on an upgrade.

Purchasing New Users of Dynamics NAV

One of the more frequent questions and feature to consider is if users can continue to use and purchase new users of Dynamics NAV? The answer is yes. The Dynamics 365 Business Central is simply the latest version of Dynamics NAV. So, customers with existing enhancement plan can continue to purchase extra users.

Business Central On-Premise Deployment

Dynamics 365 Business Central is available as an on-premises deployment with perpetual licenses and an annual enhancement plan. Also, one of the incentives Microsoft is giving their existing customers that move to the Dynamics 365 Business Central is by offering 2 named Business Central users for every 1 concurrent NAV user bought on or before 1st October 2018. What this means is that, with the minimum requirement of the Starter Pack, after the upgrade, you end up with 6 Essentials users.

Business Central Available as SAAS Solution

Customers are also able to deploy Business Central as a SaaS solution. SaaS deployments are provided with licenses and hosting included in one monthly subscription. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central SaaS has few limitations in terms of scope for customization; however, with Extensions 2.0 customers can easily enhance their solution.

Business Central On-Premise Subscription: Customers Can Host On Azure And Save

Another option to consider is that customers can purchase Business Central licenses on a per user/month basis. This does not only require a smaller initial investment, but it also allows more flexibility to increase license numbers.By hosting on Microsoft Azure, users have an opportunity to save as Microsoft is offering a substantial discount. When considering this option, also consider the Azure hosting itself; however, it usually cost cheaper than running a server on your own premises.

40% Discount on Licenses Until June 30th 2021

Microsoft is offering a 40% discount to existing Dynamics NAV on-premises customer (with active Enhancement Plan) who upgrade to Dynamics 365 Business Central (as of 1st April 2018), due to run until June 30th, 2021. As a customer considering an upgrade, the first thing you need to consider or find out is whether you are up to date with your Business Ready Enhancement Plan (BREP) payments, because only those that are will be eligible for ALL the above offers. Qixas Group can help you figure out what upgrade path is right for you. Contact us and we will get you started on a simple and cost-effective migration plan.