From Legacy to Innovation: Microsoft Dynamics NAV Upgrade

I am Sam Peterson (dynamicssquareau@gmail.com). I hold full responsibility for this content, which includes text, images, links, and files. The website administrator and team cannot be held accountable for this content. If there is anything you need to discuss, you can reach out to me via dynamicssquareau@gmail.com email.

Disclaimer: The domain owner, admin and website staff of New York City US, had no role in the preparation of this post. New York City US, does not accept liability for any loss or damages caused by the use of any links, images, texts, files, or products, nor do we endorse any content posted in this website.

Hey there, fellow business professionals! Are you struggling to manage your business processes with your legacy systems? If you are still analysing whether an upgrade is necessary, you are already behind your competitors.  

As the business landscape evolves, staying ahead of the curve is essential for survival and growth. Dynamics NAV has served you well, but now it is time to embrace the robust capabilities of innovative, cloud-based solutions to enhance your business functionalities. 

It is time to embrace a hassle-free Dynamics NAV upgrade plan to eliminate time-consuming workarounds and adopt streamlined processes and efficient workflows with Dynamics 365 Business Central. But before embarking on the journey to understand the NAV upgrade methodology, let us first gain a basic idea about Dynamics NAV and Business Central. 

What is Microsoft Dynamics NAV? 

Microsoft Dynamics NAV is a business solution designed as an enterprise resource planning (ERP) application to manage essential back-end operations for day-to-day business functioning. Formerly known as Navision, it supports small and mid-sized businesses and local subsidiaries of large international groups. 

This comprehensive solution encompasses various areas, including financial management, inventory, project & service management, human resources, manufacturing, and distribution. It even offers limited sales and marketing capabilities, although not a full CRM system.  

What is Dynamics 365 Business Central? 

Microsoft rebranded Dynamics NAV into Dynamics 365 Business Central in 2018. Business Central is a cloud-based and comprehensive business management solution that combines advanced technology, real-time analytics, automated processes, global mobility, user-friendly accessibility, and robust security measures to manage your business effectively. 

Business Central empowers you to achieve greater efficiency and improved performance by seamlessly integrating sales, services, finance, and operations. These interconnected functions enable smarter business decisions, faster adaptability, and enhanced results.  

Now that we have learned about Dynamics NAV and Dynamics 365 Business Central, let us discover why NAV upgrade for SMEs and SMBs is essential. 

What is the Need for NAV Upgrade? 

Microsoft has ceased mainstream support for Microsoft NAV, which implies that existing users will no longer receive product features or security updates from Microsoft. It could lead to additional expenses and hinder growth for businesses relying on NAV.  

With Dynamics NAV, businesses may miss out on the advantages of cloud-powered features such as centralised data, streamlined and automated workflows, real-time analytics, and team collaboration. If you encounter the following warning signs, then it is time to opt for an upgrade to power your business growth.  

Let us look at the major reasons why you need a NAV Upgrade: 

• The existing system faces challenges in meeting your expanding business requirements. 
• Productivity decreases, accompanied by increased manual workarounds and errors. 
• Experiencing inconsistencies in your financial data, inventory records or customer information. 
• The system cannot seamlessly integrate with other applications, resulting in data silos and inefficient workflows. 
• The business encounters challenges in fulfilling regulatory requirements and difficulties in generating compliance reports. 
• Customers experience delays, errors, and inconsistencies in interactions with your business. 

If the above reasons have convinced you to upgrade your NAV application, you must employ a strategic upgradation plan to ensure a seamless upgradation process. 

Let us dive deep to decode the upgradation plan. 

What is the NAV Upgrade Plan? 

The NAV upgrade methodology varies based on factors, such as your current Dynamics NAV version and the extent to which your current solution differs from the standard version. The NAV upgrade plan mainly includes converting the database and upgrading application code and data.  

Step 1 

• You can upgrade directly to the latest version of Business Central through the Application Code upgrade and Data upgrade from the following versions. 
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2015 
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016 
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2017 
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 
• Business Central October 2018 
• Suppose you are using the following NAV versions. In that case, you must first upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 and finally to the latest version of Business Central through the Application Code upgrade and Data upgrade. 
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 R2 
• If you upgrade from Microsoft Dynamics NAV 5.0 or Microsoft Dynamics NAV 4.0, the upgrade route includes going through Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013. However, if you upgrade from Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 SP1 or Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 R2, you can choose between upgrading through Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 or Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2015.  

Through Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 

• At first upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 

• Then, upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 
• Finally, upgrade to Business Central through Application Code upgrade and Data upgrade 

Through Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2015 

• At first upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2015 
• Then, upgrade to Business Central through Application Code upgrade and Data upgrade 

Step 2 

The second step for you is to transform all your customisations into apps and pre-tenant extensions. 

Step 3 

The final step is to leverage the cloud migration tool to transfer to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. 

Business Central Migration 

Businesses operating their workloads on-premises and aiming to transition to the cloud can seamlessly migrate to Business Central online. This migration offers users access to Machine Learning, Power BI, Power Automate and more, empowering them to leverage suggested actions and enhance operations.  

The steps for the migration process are as follows: 

Step 1 

The first step is ensuring your target environment has an active paid subscription. 

Step 2 

The second step is to identify the data to be migrated 

• If you are a Dynamics NAV user, first upgrade to Business Central On-premises and then migrate to Business Central online.  

• When migrating to Business Central online, assess the company’s requirements and decide on the number of migration runs required to transfer the necessary data. 

Step 3 

The third step is to utilise the Cloud Migration Setup assisted setup guide in Business Central online to facilitate the data migration process.  

Step 4 

The fourth step is to test the migration result. 

Step 5 

The fifth step is configuring users, permissions, and other settings in Business Central online. 

Step 6 

The final step is using Business Central online to streamline daily operations.  

What is the Dynamics NAV Upgrade Cost? 

Having a Microsoft support partner is essential to achieve a successful upgradation process. If you are considering upgrading your Dynamics NAV, contact the experts at Dynamics Square to discuss the available NAV upgrade packages and strategies.  

We at Dynamics Square excel in providing smooth and efficient transitions, ensuring a hassle-free upgrade experience. Our skilled team will review your specific requirements and challenges to offer the best NAV upgrade pricing option tailored to your needs.  

Conclusion 

We understand that change can be daunting; therefore, we are here to guide you through an exciting NAV upgrade plan that will take your business to new heights. At Dynamics Square, we craft our upgrade plan to ensure a seamless transition leaving behind the shackles of the past and embracing the boundless potential of the future.  

Read More: Dynamics NAV vs Business Central

Microsoft Dynamics Upgrade Support