Debunking Myths Surrounding an Upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Debunking Myths Surrounding an Upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

In 2022, businesses are pursuing new revenue streams and launching multiple initiatives throughout the year, and having a granular understanding of new ERP software platforms can be a challenge for medium-sized companies. Furthermore, companies are sifting through misinformation or industry myths that have been perpetuated for years about ERP upgrade projects to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

These industry myths are spreading via ISV and ERP partners, and companies are acting on this incorrect information. The result is failed upgrades and costly re-implementations. The misinformation varies but include misunderstandings around ISV custom extensions, transitioning current C/AL features to Business Central’s AL base, and database size.

Myth: Failed Upgrades Turn Into Costly Re-implementations

The industry is full of horror stories about Dynamics NAV upgrades to Dynamics 365 Business Central that can turn into a costly re-implementation project due to various reasons. Below are the misconceptions or myths on why companies should not proceed with a Business Central Upgrade:

  • Your database is too big
  • You have too many customizations in Dynamics NAV
  • Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) have changed from C/AL to AL extensions and you can’t upgrade them

First, database size and the hours cleaning up data can be a complicated process, but a knowledgeable ERP partner will recognize this during a business analysis. For example, merging multiple databases is a large amount of data but is quite common with a successful upgrade to Dynamics 365 Business Central. Database complexity and scale will never prevent a Business Central upgrade.

Myth: Too Many Custom Extensions and C/AL Incompatibility

The main challenge with ERP is that, no matter how good it is, it cannot address 100 percent of your organization’s needs. For years companies have hired ISVs to create custom extensions. The challenge with a Business Central upgrade and for ERP partners is understanding the custom extension details in C/AL and working with an ISV. Finding details from ISVs on C/AL to AL customized extensions can be a challenge even for ERP partners.

In general, ISVs can lack knowledge on current Dynamics 365 Business Central upgrade processes. For example, ERP partners offer internal tools or solutions to help with this challenge.

For example, ArcherPoint created a tool to match table schema customizations in C/AL – NAV – and move this data into AL in Business Central. Even with C/AL schema that can’t be translated, ERP partners can still upgrade customers by re-implementing the ISV solution in Business Central, which fits into the parameters of any agile-run project.  

Bottom line, older and large Dynamics NAV installations are eligible for upgrades to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, and custom extensions aren’t a roadblock. Make sure to invest in the right partner that not only has the programming talent, but also consulting expertise in business and functional analysis, so you never fall into the “failed upgrade” category.

Looking for more information on Business Central Upgrades?  

ArcherPoint’s Saurav Dhyani, a NAV/BC and nine-time Microsoft MVP, will present on this topic at the upcoming Community Summit North America 2022 event. Dhyani will offer two presentations that address Business Central upgrades, “Upgrade Tricks and Treats: Learn to Make Upgrades Easier” and “Moving from C/AL to AL: The Benefits of Upgrading to Business Central.”

Free Checklist: Choosing an ERP Partner

Read how to choose the right ERP Partner by downloading our “Selecting an ERP Partner Checklist.” This guide provides 10 questions to help you understand what’s needed with your next ERP partner, such as expertise, credentials, certifications and more.

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