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Dynamics 365
Business Central
Upgrade & Migration
Move from Dynamics NAV, Dynamics GP or an older Business Central on-premises version to Business Central online, with your data, processes and customizations carried over.
What a Business Central Upgrade Covers
A Business Central upgrade moves you to a current, supported version of the software. It usually means migrating from Dynamics NAV, Dynamics GP or Business Central on-premises to Business Central online.
It is different from changing your license. Moving from Essentials to Premium is a license change that unlocks Manufacturing and Service Management. It does not need an upgrade project. See Business Central pricing & licensing.
Once you are on Business Central online, Microsoft keeps you current with automatic updates, so this is the last major upgrade you need to plan.
Upgrade Paths, Timelines & Cost Drivers
Most NAV versions are now out of Microsoft support (see NAV end-of-support dates). Depending on your NAV version, data either moves with Microsoft's cloud migration tools or is first upgraded to a supported Business Central on-premises version. Custom C/AL code is rewritten as AL extensions. See our NAV to Business Central page for details.
Microsoft is retiring Dynamics GP, and support ends December 31, 2029. Microsoft's cloud migration tool moves GP master data, open transactions and history into Business Central online. Your processes, reports and add-ons are then mapped to Business Central equivalents. See our GP to Business Central migration guide.
If you run Business Central on your own servers, you can move to Business Central online with the Cloud Migration Management page. Data is replicated to an online sandbox, tested, then switched over to production. Moving online removes server, SQL Server and upgrade projects from your budget.
A standard upgrade with few customizations usually takes 6–12 weeks: assessment, data migration to a sandbox, testing, training and go-live. Heavily customized NAV or GP systems with many integrations typically take 3–6 months, because custom code has to be rebuilt as extensions.
The main cost drivers are the amount of custom code to convert to AL extensions, the volume and quality of historical data, third-party add-ons that need online-compatible versions, integrations, custom reports, and user testing and training. A short assessment of your current system lets us give you a fixed-scope quote.
Business Central online is updated automatically, with two major releases a year (April and October) and monthly updates in between. You can test each update in a sandbox before it reaches production, so you avoid another large upgrade project.
Connect, Share, & Discuss
Tell us what you run today (NAV, GP or Business Central on-premises) and we will map your upgrade path, timeline and cost in a free assessment.
Business Central Upgrade FAQ's
Click through to our FAQ for the best answers!
Upgrading Business Central on-premises means going online or configuring your set-up on-cloud. Data can be migrated from the earlier versions of Business Central such as 14, 15, 16, and 17. Current users can also switch to cloud from version 19.
To upgrade Business Central on-premises, you are required to set up a connection between your Business Central on-premises wherein you can manage cloud migration by going through Cloud Migration Management Page.
The next step is to manage data migration by running the migration tool. This process goes can be performed in a single step but with limited options of migration troubleshooting. To run customized migration suited to your specific data transformation needs, experts at Dynamics Square can help.
You can run on-premises data migration in two steps:
Data Replication
This is the step that starts when you allow 'Set Up Cloud Migration'. Once the process reaches to end, you will have the backup or copy of the on-premises data through you can very whether the migration went successful or not.
Data Upgrade
This is the process that starts when you allow 'Run Data Upgrade Now' using the 'Cloud Migration Management Page' in your Business Central account.
After a successful migration, you are needed to test the performed data migration. To perform so, you need to run the data replication and then create a 'Sandbox' environment to ensure a safer data upgrade.
To run data migration, you are required to have hard-core technical expertise in Business Central Data Migration. At Dynamics Square, we can perform such data migration as customized as suited to your current as well as futuristic business needs while applying secure, and productive methodologies.
To upgrade Business Central on-premises, you are required to set up a connection between your Business Central on-premises wherein you can manage cloud migration by going through Cloud Migration Management Page.
The next step is to manage data migration by running the migration tool. This process goes can be performed in a single step but with limited options of migration troubleshooting. To run customized migration suited to your specific data transformation needs, experts at Dynamics Square can help.
You can run on-premises data migration in two steps:
Data Replication
This is the step that starts when you allow 'Set Up Cloud Migration'. Once the process reaches to end, you will have the backup or copy of the on-premises data through you can very whether the migration went successful or not.
Data Upgrade
This is the process that starts when you allow 'Run Data Upgrade Now' using the 'Cloud Migration Management Page' in your Business Central account.
After a successful migration, you are needed to test the performed data migration. To perform so, you need to run the data replication and then create a 'Sandbox' environment to ensure a safer data upgrade.
To run data migration, you are required to have hard-core technical expertise in Business Central Data Migration. At Dynamics Square, we can perform such data migration as customized as suited to your current as well as futuristic business needs while applying secure, and productive methodologies.
Microsoft ships two major Business Central releases a year, in April (release wave 1) and October (release wave 2), with monthly updates in between. Business Central online tenants are updated automatically. For the features in the current release, see What's new in Business Central on Microsoft Learn.
Yes, Dynamics 365 Business Central is a part of Dynamics 365. Formerly known as Dynamics NAV and prior to this- Navision. Business Central is a solely integrated business solution to manage and streamline your business processes. Dynamics 365 is a group of business applications and Business Central is a part of it.
Depending on your project complexity, upgrading costs may vary.Connect with us, we can review your system first and can share the best quote suited to your customized needs. Call us at +1 281 899 0865.