The path to implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some organizations move quickly through a structured, guided rollout that builds internal expertise as they go. Others take a fully managed, tailored approach to handle more complex processes and reduce internal lift.
The choice you make determines how your partner delivers the ERP system, how your team learns to work with it, and the features and functionality you get from it.
Both paths can deliver strong outcomes; the key is choosing the one that aligns with your timeline, resources, and operational complexity. Let’s break it down.
The Sherpa Path: Guided, Structured Implementation
Sherpa is a guided implementation model where your team configures Business Central alongside experienced JourneyTeam consultants, following a structured rollout. Instead of handing off the project, your team works through the system step by step, applying each component directly in your environment with our support along the way.
Sherpa is designed to move quickly without feeling rushed. Each phase focuses on a specific functional area, typically starting with core financials, and builds in a way that’s predictable and repeatable. Pre-configured best practices reduce upfront decision-making, so your team can focus on getting the system working, not starting from scratch.
What makes this approach different is your team’s level of involvement throughout the process. Rather than being trained after go-live, they’re gaining hands-on experience from the beginning. Weekly workshop sessions introduce new concepts and configurations, and your team applies them in real time, with access to JourneyTeam guidance when questions come up.
Because Sherpa is collaborative by design, it works best when the client team can consistently dedicate about 10–16 hours per week to workshops, follow-up tasks, and internal decision-making.
- Guided workshops led by Business Central experts
- Structured rollout focused on core functionality
- Pre-configured setup to accelerate deployment
- Built-in training through live sessions and recorded
The Sherpa structure changes what happens after go-live. Because your team has already worked through the configuration, they understand how the system is set up and how to maintain it. Instead of relying heavily on external support, they’re able to manage day-to-day operations with confidence.
Organizations typically choose Sherpa when speed and ownership matter. It works well for teams that want to get up and running quickly, keep the implementation scoped, and build internal capability as part of the process.
The 3 Keys:
- Faster time-to-value through a defined rollout timeline
- Strong internal ownership post-go-live
- Lower reliance on external consultants over time
This approach is especially effective for teams that want to move forward quickly without giving up control or confidence in how the system is set up.
Sherpa in the Real World: MaxxForce
MaxxForce needed to move off QuickBooks but didn’t have the budget or internal bandwidth for a traditional, fully managed ERP project. Instead they worked through a structured Sherpa rollout, building the system with JourneyTeam’s guidance at each step.
Over the course of a four-week implementation, they configured core financials, inventory, and intercompany processes while participating in weekly coaching sessions and using recorded trainings to stay on track. When questions came up, they had direct access to Business Central experts, but the execution stayed in their hands.
That combination of structure and support allowed the team to move quickly without sacrificing understanding. By the time they went live, they weren’t just using Business Central – they knew how it was configured, why it worked the way it did, and how to maintain it going forward.
For a lean organization like MaxxForce, the result was a faster deployment, stronger internal ownership, and a cost-effective transition to a system that could scale with the business.
The Traditional Path: Fully Managed, Tailored Implementation
A traditional Business Central implementation is a fully managed approach where a dedicated partner team leads the project from planning through deployment. Instead of working through a structured rollout internally, your organization relies on experienced consultants to design, configure, and deliver the system based on your specific requirements.
The traditional implementation model is built for flexibility, beginning with a deeper discovery process to understand how your business operates across finance, sales, operations, and any connected systems.
From there, the system is configured to reflect your workflows – not just standard processes. That often includes integrations, custom configurations, and adjustments as the project evolves.
Because the delivery team is handling the bulk of the execution, your internal team can stay focused on day-to-day operations. Input and validation are critical, but the responsibility for moving the project forward sits with the partner implementation team.
- Dedicated project team leading design, configuration, and delivery
- Tailored workflows based on your business processes
- Integration across systems, including CRM and other platforms
- Iterative approach that adapts as requirements become clearer
For organizations operating with more complexity, like multiple systems, unique workflows, or broader transformation goals, this approach provides the flexibility and support needed to get it right.
Traditional Implementation in the Real World: Smarter Furnishings
For JourneyTeam customer Smarter Furnishings, what began as a CRM implementation expanded into a broader transformation, incorporating Business Central to unify operations across the organization.
Rather than deploying a fixed model, the implementation evolved alongside the business. JourneyTeam worked closely with Smarter Furnishings to understand how quoting, forecasting, and fulfillment functioned, and configured the system to support those processes end-to-end. Regular check-ins, iterative adjustments, and hands-on collaboration ensured the system aligned with real-world usage, not just initial assumptions.
The Smarter Furnishings implementation prioritized flexibility, depth, and coordinated execution when the goal extended beyond a straightforward ERP deployment. The result was a connected operating model across teams, with improved data visibility, more consistent processes, and a stronger foundation for growth.
How to Choose: Guided Sherpa vs. Fully-Managed Implementation
Both approaches are proven but they’re built for different needs. The decision comes down to how your team prefers to work, how much complexity you’re managing, and how much ownership you want to take on during implementation.
Here’s how the two paths compare in practice:
| Sherpa (Guided, Structured Path) | Traditional (Fully Managed, Tailored Path) |
| Guided workshops with hands-on configuration | Dedicated team leads design, build, and delivery |
| Structured rollout using pre-configured best practices | Tailored configuration based on your processes |
| Internal team actively builds and learns the system | Internal team provides input while JourneyTeam executes |
| Fixed structure focused on core functionality | Flexible scope to support complex requirements |
| Faster path to go-live with defined milestones | Timeline adapts based on scope and complexity |
| Strong internal ownership post-go-live | Reduced internal lift during implementation |
| Requires 10–16 hours per week from your internal team to stay on pace and complete the rollout successfully | Typically requires about 6 hours per week from your team, with more of the execution handled by JourneyTeam |
The Right Choice Fits How You Operate
Both Sherpa and traditional implementations are proven approaches to deploying Business Central. The difference isn’t whether the system will work, it’s how your team gets there and what happens after go-live.
A Sherpa-guided, structured rollout gives your team the opportunity to build knowledge and take ownership from the start. A fully managed, tailored implementation provides the flexibility and support needed to handle more complex requirements with less internal involvement.
The right choice comes down to how your business operates, your team’s capacity, and the level of complexity you’re managing as well as the amount of time your team has to be involved. When those factors are in sync, Business Central delivers the outcomes it’s designed for.
If you’re evaluating your options, working with JourneyTeam can help you align the path to your scope, timeline, and internal capacity.
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FAQs
Sherpa is a guided implementation model for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central where your team works through a structured rollout with expert support. Instead of handing the full project to a partner, your team participates in workshops, configures the system in stages, and builds hands-on knowledge during the implementation process.
The main difference is how the work gets done. In Sherpa, your team is actively involved in configuring and learning the system through a structured, guided process. In a traditional implementation, the partner takes on more of the design, build, and delivery work, which is often a better fit when your processes, integrations, or requirements are more complex.
No. Sherpa is often a strong fit for small and midsize organizations, but the better question is whether your team wants a faster, more structured implementation with active internal participation. If your scope is focused and your team is ready to engage in the process, Sherpa can work well regardless of company size.
Sherpa implementations are designed to move quickly, often in a matter of weeks for a focused rollout. For broader context, Business Central implementations more generally can range from about 3 to 9 months depending on scope, data complexity, integrations, and customization needs. A guided Sherpa approach is typically faster because it follows a defined structure centered on core functionality.
A traditional implementation usually makes more sense when the business has more operational complexity to account for. That may include multiple entities, unique workflows, significant integrations, advanced reporting needs, or a broader transformation effort that requires deeper discovery and a more tailored system design.
Yes, but Sherpa is typically centered on core functionality and proven best practices first. Companies can often extend the solution with add-on sessions, apps, or follow-on work as needed. If the implementation depends heavily on custom workflows, complex integrations, or significant tailoring from the start, a traditional implementation may be the better fit.
In most cases, Sherpa costs less because it uses a defined rollout model, focuses on core capabilities, and keeps the project more tightly scoped. Traditional implementations generally cost more because they require deeper discovery, more tailored configuration, and often more time to address integrations, customization, and evolving requirements. The right comparison is not just total cost, but the cost relative to the complexity your business actually needs to support.
Yes. Post-go-live support is an important part of successful Business Central implementations. That typically includes answering questions, resolving issues, helping users stabilize new processes, and supporting additional improvements once the system is live
