Dynamics 365 Business Central FAQs
For those frequently asked questions about Dynamics 365 Business Central, TNP present our FAQs - designed to give you the answers you need on topics from the Microsoft cloud to upgrading and more!
What is Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Dynamics 365 Business Central is an all-in-one business management solution that is easy to use and adapt to your organisation's needs - its purpose is to help you get an end-to-end view of your business.
It is what is commonly referred to as an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution and is designed to cover all your business processes from finance to purchasing, warehouse management to general reporting.
Read more about Business Central
How is Dynamics 365 Business Central related to Dynamics NAV?
Dynamics 365 Business Central is just the new name for Dynamics NAV. The update of the Dynamics NAV brand has changed the name and also the technology beneath it, with C/AL code being fully replaced by AL as of Business Central version 15. We've also said goodbye to the Windows client altogether, as the modern clients (web, tablet, mobile and Outlook) take precedence.
The look and feel of the product are different: modern and clean with key information highlighted for each user at the top of the role centre. As has always been the case with this product, the core functionality remains the same and is only being improved upon as time goes on.
I have Dynamics NAV - how do I upgrade to Dynamics 365 Business Central?
All companies question when to upgrade their ERP solution. Dynamics NAV is no different. Upgrading Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central is something neither Microsoft nor TNP will ever force you to do - TNP will always support your solution, no matter the age.
If you are interested in learning more about upgrading to Dynamics 365 Business Central, visit our upgrading webpage for more on:
- The different upgrading routes
- Reasons to/or not to upgrade
- When to upgrade
- Upgrading terminology
- TNP's free upgrading consultation
What industries can Dynamics 365 Business Central support?
Dynamics 365 Business Central is adaptable and flexible. As such, it works for any industry - from retailers to restaurateurs, food producers to financial services. Industry-specific add-ons, available from Microsoft's AppSource or directly from Partners like us, mean that there will be a solution for your organisation's needs.
Can I make changes to the way Dynamics 365 Business Central works?
Yes - Business Central can be modified by 'extensions'. Extensions are little bits of code that hook into the core solution code in order to change the way that it works. They allow developers to make changes to your solution, even if it is hosted in a public environment, without affecting all the other systems which are hosted in that same environment.
If you look at the competitor ERP market, like SAP or Sage, there is nothing else remotely like this. With extensions, Microsoft have provided the ultimate 'Software as a Service Platform' (SaaS) which you can tailor and modify to suit your business.
Can I purchase add-ons for Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Yes! Microsoft have developed an online marketplace called 'AppSource' where you can buy tried and tested add-on extensions to work seamlessly with your Dynamics 365 Business Central solution.
In addition to AppSource, you will also find a suite of extensions which have been developed by TNP to take the hassle out of your everyday tasks; from reporting to productivity and customisation, these add-ons will give you extended versatility of your system and make life so much easier!
Read more about Business Central Add-Ons
How much does Dynamics 365 Business Central cost?
You can purchase Business Central on two levels: Essentials and Premium - Premium simply gives an additional layer of functionality for manufacturing and service order management.
- Dynamics 365 Business Central Essentials is charged from £52.80 per user per month
- Dynamics 365 Business Central Premium is charged from £75.40 per user per month
How is Dynamics 365 Business Central charged?
Dynamics 365 Business Central is charged on a subscription per user per month basis. Dynamics 365 Business Central user subscriptions classify users into two types, 'full users' and 'additional users'.
Full users
These users are those whose work requires use of the feature rich business applications functionality. Examples of full users are sales people, customer service representatives, finance employees, controllers and supply chain managers. These users have also been referred to in the past as 'Pro' users or 'Power' users.
Team member users
These users often represent a significant percentage of users in an organisation and may consume data or reports from line of business systems, complete light tasks like time or expense entry and HR record updates or be heavier users of the system, but not require full user capabilities.
How do I get Dynamics 365 Business Central set up?
Microsoft don't offer consultancy - instead they use a diverse range of partners, like TNP, who can help you set up your Dynamics 365 Business Central system. These partners can give you as much or as little support with the setup of your solution, depending on the complexity of your requirements and the degree of system modification you need.
We have a unique method of implementation called 'The Day in the Life', where we spend time getting to know your business and your processes, making sure any new project is in the best place for success.
Contact us for more information
How do I get ongoing support for Dynamics 365 Business Central?
As with initial setup, your support for Dynamics 365 Business Central will be through Microsoft's partner network, of which TNP are a Gold Partner and the largest provider of Dynamics NAV and Business Central in the UK and Ireland with over 60 support staff on hand to help with any query. With over 4,000 years of combined experience, TNP are made up of skilled staff equipped to tackle every eventuality.
In addition to day to day support, TNP's world-class support for Dynamics 365 Business Central include burst training sessions, free minor modifications and can also include extended out-of-hours assistance, if required.
Looking for a support partner? Contact us!
What is the Microsoft cloud?
Microsoft's cloud (aka Microsoft Azure) is a set of cloud services which allow you to build, manage and deploy applications (like Dynamics 365 Business Central) on a global network using familiar tools.
Microsoft's cloud gives you the peace of mind that your applications are being hosted in an environment which is under comprehensive compliance standards (including GDPR) and protected by Microsoft's unparalleled security and privacy standards. The Microsoft cloud can be used to deliver Business Central both as Software as a Service (SaaS) or through a Managed or private cloud set up (PaaS), according to your needs.
Read more on cloud computing
Can I host Dynamics 365 Business Central on my own cloud?
Yes, absolutely. You can host Dynamics 365 Business Central on your own servers, in your own private Cloud (e.g. Azure), in a private cloud which is provided by a Microsoft Partner such as TNP (also in Azure), or in Microsoft's public cloud version of Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Dynamics 365 Business Central is designed to work hand-in-hand with the applications in the rest of the Microsoft cloud. It is part of the next generation of business applications which are built to connect people, products and data through seamless integration, breaking down silos between departments and giving a 360-degree view of your customers and operations.
How does Power BI fit with Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Power BI is an out-of-the-box data visualisation tool - which means loads of great looking graphics and dashboards representing your data. With Power BI you will get access to a range of standard reporting templates and the ability to connect directly Dynamics 365 Business Central to create your own reports and dashboards.
Read more about Power BI
How does Office 365 work with Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Now familiar to most businesses, Office 365 helps organisations with the smooth running of their day-to-day tasks with tools to help with collaboration, security, analytics and mobile access, no matter where you are or what device you are using.
Dynamics 365 Business Central integrates with Office 365 seamlessly, unifying your business like never before!
What's happening to Dynamics CRM in the new world?
Business Central has built in CRM, enabling your sales team to be managed and your service team to deal with cases. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales and Dynamics 365 Marketing are seamlessly integrated into Business Central, enabling you to experience the full, rich functionality of these systems whilst maintaining one system for your information.
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