Considering Business Central? Start With the Facts

It often begins with a simple spreadsheet. Then come the sales tools, an accounting system, and an inventory tracker. Each works well—until they start to clash. That’s when businesses realize they need something better, not just more features, but genuine connections between people, processes, and data.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central was built for that moment. It brings together finance, operations, sales, and service in one place, with the flexibility to grow and adapt as your business does.

This article is for anyone curious about Business Central. Whether you’re exploring options, thinking about upgrading from NAV, or just hearing about ERP systems for the first time, we’ve pulled together some common questions and clear, straightforward answers. With examples to help you decide if Business Central is the right fit for your team.

Q: What is Business Central?

A: Business Central is an easy-to-use ERP system that connects all parts of your business into one platform. Imagine your sales team needs to check if a product is in stock before sealing the deal on a big order. They can see real-time inventory levels without any hassle.

Meanwhile, the finance team can keep tabs on cash flow and incoming payments without chasing down spreadsheets. Production managers can plan based on real-time data instead of guessing at capacity and materials. When stock runs low, new purchases can be triggered automatically – all organized in one spot. This means you won’t waste time copying data between tools or fixing errors.

Since it integrates with Microsoft 365, you can work directly in Outlook to approve quotes or send invoices. Need a report? Open it in Excel with live data at your fingertips. Team updates? Easy to manage in Teams. And if you use other apps, like a CRM or logistics platform, you can connect those too.

By keeping everything in one place, you can cut down on delays, gain clearer insights, and make smarter decisions—all while letting your team focus on what really matters.

Q: How is Business Central different from Dynamics NAV?

A: Business Central represents the next evolution of Dynamics NAV. It retains the essential features that long-time users appreciate while offering a more modern and user-friendly experience, particularly in deployment and integration. The key difference is that Business Central is designed for the cloud. This shift means automatic updates, greater reliability, enhanced security, and a more seamless connection with other Microsoft tools like Outlook, Excel, and Teams. While you can still opt to run it on your own servers, the cloud version is ready to use right away.

At On Point, we have experience with every version, from the original Navision to Dynamics NAV and now Business Central. Whether you’re considering an upgrade or a move to the cloud, we’re here to help you plan a smooth transition and ensure your system evolves with your business.

Q: Do we have to use the cloud?

A: No, you don’t. Business Central is flexible. You can run it in the cloud, keep it on your own servers, or go with a hybrid setup. The right choice depends on your goals and infrastructure.

Q: How does it work with Microsoft 365?

A: Business Central is fully integrated with Microsoft 365, so your everyday tools work together seamlessly. You can create invoices or update customer records directly in Outlook, analyze numbers in Excel using live business data, and generate reports in Word without having to retype or reformat anything.

For example, when a sales rep gets an email with a purchase request, they can open the customer’s details, check inventory, and send a quote—all without leaving Outlook. Everything is pulled straight from Business Central, keeping the process quick and consistent.

Q: Can Business Central be extended?

Absolutely. Business Central connects with a wide range of extensions available on Microsoft AppSource, so you can adapt it to your industry, workflows, and the way your team operates.

At On Point, we’ve built powerful add-ons that make everyday tasks faster and more efficient—like tracking project hours through Tempo, working with PDF attachments directly in the system, signing documents digitally, or managing cash flow in multiple currencies.

Q: How often is the system updated?

A: The cloud version of Business Central is updated automatically twice a year, giving you access to the latest features and improvements with no extra effort. Any custom features you’ve had built are updated by your provider.

If you’re running Business Central on-premises, updates follow a schedule agreed with your implementation partner—so you stay in control of when and how changes are applied.

Q: What if we need help?

A: You’ve got backup. As a certified Microsoft partner, we handle the full rollout from setup and training to ongoing support. When questions come up (and they always do), you won’t be stuck googling answers or waiting days for a reply. You’ll talk to someone who knows your system and solves problems quickly.

That’s why most of our clients stay with us long after implementation. They know we’re just a call or message away, and that we speak in solutions, not ticket numbers. Of course, you’ll also have access to Microsoft’s documentation, user forums, and support tools. But most of our clients prefer calling us first.

Q: Is Business Central a good fit for our industry?

A: Very likely, yes. Business Central is built to adapt. It works across a wide range of industries—from retail and manufacturing to professional services and real estate. If your business has specific processes, we can tailor the system to match them. It’s flexible enough to support both highly structured operations and fast-moving teams.

It’s used by small businesses with big plans, midsize companies scaling up, and large enterprises managing complex operations. We’ve helped clients customize Business Central for everything from property management to software development and electronics manufacturing.

Q: Can we try Business Central for free?

A: Yes. Microsoft offers a free trial, so you can see how Business Central fits your business before making any decisions. If you need more time, the trial can be extended. And if you’d like help, we’ll get you started, set everything up, and make sure you’re comfortable using it.

Q: What’s next?

If you’re still reading, you’re probably not here by accident. You’re exploring whether it’s time to bring more structure, clarity, and connection to the way your business runs. We can help you figure that out.

We’ll review your current processes, identify where Business Central could make a difference, and outline what a smooth implementation could look like—step by step.

Book your consultation >