Presentation
Microsoft Business Central, which was formerly known as Dynamics NAV, is one of the products included in the Microsoft Dynamics 365 suite of business software. This is significant because it means that the ERP (enterprise resource planning) software naturally integrates with other Microsoft programs such as Office, SharePoint, and CRM. Consequently, the ERP can share the same database or features connectors to work with them. The software offers standard horizontal functionalities through modules called departments, such as sales and purchases, warehouse, manufacturing, and financial. These functions provide all the necessary tools to operate a business in a standard way.
However, some industries or businesses require additional functionalities known as vertical needs. Business Central allows for customization to fit the unique vertical needs and activities of a company. This flexibility sets it apart from other ERPs that demand companies adapt to their processes. Customizing other ERPs is often expensive and requires a complete change in business operations. Business Central's cost is reasonable and the change management process is streamlined. It can be used everywhere through its multiple clients, a web browser client, and a tablet or mobile client. It supports multicurrency and multilanguage, permitting businesses to work with any currency and raise documents in their clients' preferred language. It also supports multi-company, enabling users to operate in all their branches and consolidate in one location. The software features standard reporting and business intelligence, including many reports such as VAT declarations, inventory valuation, and sales analysis.
Business Central naturally works with Power BI, MS SQL reporting services, and service analysis. If there is a need for custom analysis, it is simple to export data into Excel. The Office functionalities are fully integrated and accessible from any location. If specific report needs develop, they can be created on demand.
Why implement Microsoft Dynamics Business Central?
- Streamlined Financial Management: Microsoft Business Central provides a comprehensive suite of financial management tools, including accounts payable and receivable, general ledger, cash management, and financial reporting. This allows businesses to manage their finances more efficiently and make better-informed decisions.
- Improved Sales and Customer Service: Business Central integrates with other Microsoft tools, like Dynamics CRM and Office 365, to provide a unified view of customer data. This helps businesses improve their sales processes and customer service.
- Enhanced Operations: Business Central provides tools for managing inventory, production, and supply chain processes. This can help businesses streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.
- Scalability: Business Central is designed to grow with your business. It can be customized to meet your specific needs and can handle a growing volume of transactions and users.
- Business Central exists in two licensing options:
- Dynamic 365 Business Central Essentials
- Dynamic 365 Business Central Premium (essential + services and manufacturing)
- there are two type of licence:
- Subscription:Monthly payment, Microsoft Cloud
- Perpetual:one payment for life,Business-ready enhancement plan (BREP) to be paid yearly
- Business Central is available in three installation options: cloud-based, on-premise, and hybrid.:
SaaS, which stands for Software as a Service, is an alternative term for hosting an application in the cloud, such as Microsoft Azure. SaaS pertains to how applications are delivered via the internet. Instead of purchasing software and having to install and manage it (which involves expenses for hardware, servers, and other equipment), users can access the software via the internet. This is done through a cloud services provider or host, with users typically paying a monthly fee as a subscription. The provider bears the costs of hardware, maintenance, and upgrades for the application, as well as the hardware, database, operating system, memory, and other components. SaaS applications employ a multi-tenancy architecture, where a single instance of the software serves multiple customers.
On-premises is the conventional method of obtaining and using ERP applications. In this approach, the customer buys the software and is responsible for its installation or may seek assistance from a partner. All costs associated with ownership, such as the software, hardware (such as servers), upgrades, and maintenance, are the customer's responsibility. Generally, the application manufacturer provides maintenance agreements to help offset the cost of updates.
Hybrid refers to a combination of SaaS and on-premises. In this scenario, the customer typically already possesses an on-premises version of the application software and does not wish to replace it, either due to budget constraints or other reasons. However, the customer desires the ability to access the software via the internet, so it is installed by a hosting provider with a web server front end. The software can be located on the customer's hardware, similar to an on-premises system, or hosted on a private or Microsoft-provided cloud. With this approach, the hosting provider assumes the responsibility for maintenance, updates, and so forth.
It is an ERP system, which implies that it can efficiently manage the entirety of your company's activities. All data is stored in a single database and is accessible in real-time to everyone.
Let's explore version options in more detail.
It is our responsibility to guide you towards the solution that fits your business and company.
Advantages of using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Cloud-Based.
- Accessible from Anywhere: One of the primary benefits of cloud-based software is that it is accessible from anywhere, at any time, as long as you have an internet connection. This means teams can work remotely and collaborate effectively.
- Scalable: Cloud-based software is highly scalable and can easily adapt to your business needs. This means you can add or remove users or features as required, and can quickly upgrade as your company grows.
- Automatic Updates: Cloud-based software providers regularly update their product, meaning you don't have to worry about software becoming out of date or obsolete. New features and system improvements are continuously rolled-out, ensuring companies are always utilizing the latest technology.
- Lower Initial Costs: Cloud-based software requires less initial investment than on-premise alternatives. This can be particularly beneficial for smaller businesses that do not have the capital to invest in complex, on-premise systems. The reduced costs allow more companies to access enterprise-level functionality for a fraction of the cost.
- Secure: Cloud providers implement a range of security measures that ensure software and data are protected from unauthorized access. Providers deploy different security protocols and tools to maintain data integrity, including firewalls, data encryption, and multi-factor authentication.
Disadvantages
- Requires a reliable Internet connection.
- Customer data and sensitive information cannot be stored in the cloud due to data regulations.
- Although cloud storage may seem more cost-effective, you will incur additional costs for additional storage.
Advantages of using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central On-Premise.
- Enhanced Security: The on-premise version provides more control over data security as it is installed on the company's servers. This ensures that data is protected with the organization's firewalls, data encryption, and other security measures.
- Flexibility: On-premise deployment gives businesses more control over the system's updates and modifications. This allows teams to customize the software to their specific needs and provides greater flexibility in the long run.
- No Internet Dependency: This version of the software runs on the company's servers, which means that the organization does not need to depend on the Internet. This can be beneficial for companies with limited or unreliable Internet connectivity.
- Cost-effective: One of the advantages of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central On-Premise is that it is a one-time payment license fee. This can be a cost-effective option for companies looking to lower their software costs in the long run.
- Compliance: The on-premise version of the software can be compliant with industry-specific requirements. This enhances the software's usability for companies that operate in regulated industries.
Disadvantages
- If you choose to host Dynamics 365 on your own servers, you will be responsible for its maintenance, resulting in a lack of access to data support.
- The software requires a significant upfront investment unless you choose a finance option.
- You may find yourself at a lower priority for new updates, if they are even made available to offline users.
- BREP (Business-ready enhancement plan) is an annual recurring expense that is added to the initial cost of the software.
There are several advantages to choosing a hybrid installation of Microsoft Business Central
- Flexibility: Hybrid installations provide businesses with more flexibility in terms of deployment options. Companies can choose to keep certain modules or sensitive data on-premises while taking advantage of cloud-based features for other parts of the system. This allows for a tailored approach to meet specific business needs.
- Integration with existing systems: Many businesses have existing on-premises systems or legacy applications that they want to integrate with Business Central. With a hybrid installation, companies can seamlessly connect their on-premises systems with the cloud-based Business Central solution, enabling smoother data transfer and process integration.
- Data control and security: By keeping sensitive data on-premises, businesses can have greater control over their data and maintain security measures specific to their needs. This is particularly important for industries with strict compliance requirements or regulations that govern the storage and access of sensitive information.
- Scalability: Hybrid installations offer scalability options to businesses. They can take advantage of the cloud's scalability features for high-demand workloads or seasonal fluctuations in data processing requirements. At the same time, they can keep critical or sensitive operations on-premises, ensuring they have complete control over resource allocation and performance.
- Cost optimization: A hybrid deployment allows businesses to optimize costs by choosing the most efficient approach for different components of their system. They can take advantage of the cost benefits of cloud computing for non-sensitive or non-critical modules, while reducing infrastructure costs for on-premises deployments.
Disadvantages
- If you choose to host Dynamics 365 on your own servers in the cloud, you will be responsible for its maintenance.
- The software requires a significant upfront investment.
- You may find yourself at a lower priority for new updates, if they are even made available to offline users.
- BREP is an annual recurring expense that is added to the initial cost of the software.
Important questions to consider before making up your mind.
Let us implement the solution that suits your needs.
- Project management should be conducted in accordance with the Microsoft Sure Step method and tailored to the size of your company.
- Change management: The introduction of a new daily tool requires preparation of the staff. It is an important change that should not decrease productivity but must occur smoothly.
- Implementation from scratch: Whether you have an existing information system or not.
- ERP migration from a previous version to the next: Depending on the differences between versions, it could either be an update or a re-implementation.
- Business Analysis: We can assist you in defining and mapping out your business plan.
- Functional consulting is available to set up the application for any module or department you intend to use.
- Technical consulting to develop, install and incorporate all necessary requirements and interfaces.
- Integration into your existing IT and business infrastructure.
- Implementation of business intelligence based on the ERP system.
- Support
- Maintenance and administration
- Improving Your Business: Working with you to enhance your business processes and rules, and implementing new functionalities to boost your business.
- Training
