Microsoft Dynamics NAV Upgrade Checklist
Getting Started
There are so many things to consider when planning your Microsoft Dynamics NAV upgrade – and so many factors that will impact your list of things to consider. This blog will attempt to streamline what you should consider when planning your Dynamics NAV upgrade so you can get started.
- What do you hope to accomplish with an upgrade? This is the first question for obvious reasons: Why do you want to upgrade? There are many reasons to spend the time and money to move to the latest version. Common ones include:
- New functionality and reduced licensing costs
- Increased ability to automate processes such as EDI, 3PL use, and Bank Reconciliation
- ERP on-the-go with tablet client and mobile apps
- Move to the latest hardware and operating system
- Remove unused functionality and streamline operations
- Add functionality to improve business processes
- What version are you currently on? This has a big impact on the “jumps” required to move to the latest version. You can’t simply move from version 4 to NAV 2016 due to the architectural changes made along the way. Depending on your current version, several version jumps may be required as part of your upgrade. The good news is that, for NAV 2016 and beyond, it will be easier than ever to move to subsequent releases using Events and Subscriptions, making it affordable to stay on the current release.
- How many customizations (modified code) do you have? And do you want to get id of some of those customizations, or carry them forward? You may not know the answer to these questions, however, there are tools that can identify custom created and modified objects in your NAV code base. Once you know what you have, you can decide whether to keep them or get rid of them.
- How many ISV add-ons do you have? Are there some that are no longer needed? Or ones that better suit your company’s needs? These questions should definitely be considered when planning your upgrade. Don’t assume that you need an add-on just because you always have. The Microsoft network of ISV providers continues to grow. Plus, the add-ons you are using may have major improvements in their current version.
- How big is your database? This may have an impact on cost or it may only be a minor factor, but it’s good to know when developing your upgrade plan. Things to consider here include:
- Will you bring forward historical transactional data?
- Will bringing forward balances and open documents be sufficient?
- How many reports are you currently using? In most instances, companies have both modified out-of-the-box reports and created custom reports. Sometimes these reports were created for users that aren’t working for you anymore, or simply no longer serve a purpose. Transforming or recreating reports from older versions can have a big impact on the time and effort required to move to the latest version of Dynamics NAV. The first thing you need to do here is to truly understand who is using which reports and when they are being used. ArcherPoint has developed a tracking tool, called Report Logger, that can be installed NOW to get an idea of what reports are important to your organization. This tool is recommended to be installed at least 6 months before starting your NAV upgrade project.
In a blog coming soon, we’ll review considerations for choosing your Microsoft Dynamics NAV upgrade partner.
If you have questions about your Dynamics NAV Upgrade, contact ArcherPoint for answers!
See related blogs:
When is it Time to Upgrade Microsoft Dynamics NAV?
Upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016: Ways to Reduce the Cost
Upgrading from Dynamics NAV to Business Central: What Will Future Upgrades Look Like?