Common Uses & Strengths
- SMB-focused ERP: strong financials combined with operational visibility
- Microsoft-native experience: seamless use inside Outlook, Excel, Teams, and Power BI
- Manufacturing and inventory support: BOMs, production orders, planning, and costing
- Project and job costing: ideal for services, construction, and hybrid businesses
- Extensible without heavy code: add functionality via extensions and low-code tools
- Natural upgrade path: common next step after QuickBooks, Xero, or legacy NAV
Key Considerations
- Scope boundaries: Business Central is powerful, but not a replacement for Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain at enterprise scale
- Customization discipline: excessive extensions without governance can complicate upgrades
- Partner selection: implementation quality varies significantly across partners
- Integration planning: ecommerce, WMS, payroll, and CRM integrations should be designed early
- Data and reporting model: Power BI strategy should be defined from day one
Common Needs & Challenges
- Outgrowing QuickBooks or legacy accounting systems
- Fragmented tools for accounting, inventory, projects, and operations
- Poor inventory accuracy and delayed financial close
- Manual processes and spreadsheet-heavy workflows
- Limited internal knowledge of how Business Central is configured
- Dependency on external partners for every small change
