Pros & Cons of Dynamics 365 Business Central

Is Microsoft Dynamics Business Central Right for You? Read This First.

Choosing an ERP system is a high-stakes decision, and the pressure to get it right is real. Decision makers worry about downtime, unexpected costs, and the risk of selecting a solution that doesn’t fit. With so many options and conflicting advice, it’s easy to be overwhelmed.

The honest truth is that while modern ERP platforms are powerful, but they aren’t perfect. At JourneyTeam, we know Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, and we know it well. We also know that migrating to any new ERP requires careful evaluation. What matters most is having a clear understanding of the strengths and the areas that may demand extra attention.

Where Business Central Shines

Business Central stands out because it solves the everyday problems that slow small and mid-sized organizations down: visibility, consistency, and control across the entire business.

Unified Data Without Spreadsheet Chaos

For organizations that are tired of wrestling with disconnected systems and unreliable spreadsheets, Business Central is a fresh and welcome alternative. Instead of chasing down the “right version” of a report or stitching data together across multiple tools, BC provides a unified platform where financials, operations, sales, and inventory stay in sync.

Deep Integration Across the Microsoft Ecosystem

Because Business Central is part of the Microsoft ecosystem, organizations benefit from tools they already know and trust. Instead of juggling multiple vendors or forcing users to learn unfamiliar software, Business Central integrates seamlessly with Outlook, Teams, and Excel.

Always Up-To-Date: Automatic, Stress-Free Updates

Business Central removes the burden of traditional ERP upgrades. Legacy systems often require expensive consulting projects, lengthy downtime, or risky manual updates. In contrast, Business Central delivers automatic updates in the cloud, so you get the latest features without interruption.

Customizations that Don’t Break Upgrades

Business Central remains highly adaptable. Many organizations customize workflows, add automations, or integrate with other systems without creating the technical debt that often breaks upgrades in older ERPs. You can extend the system using Microsoft’s low-code Power Platform tools while still keeping future updates predictable.

Faster Implementation Means Faster Time to Value

You’ll get a faster, more manageable implementation journey with Business Central, compared to traditional enterprise ERPs. Larger systems often take many months and consume significant internal resources –  Business Central is designed for quick deployment.

Proof In the Numbers

We can talk about the benefits, but it the truth is in the data. Forrester conducted a Total Economic Impact study of organizations that migrated from on-premises ERP to Business Central. They aggregated the results to create a ‘composite’ company, an average example to help explain the outcomes. The composite company had: 150 employees, $15 million annual revenue, and 28 Dynamics Business Central users.

The results were eye-opening:

• Productivity improved by 12.5% for operations staff, 15% for sales staff, and 15.6% for finance staff.
• Third-party fees of more than $80,000 annually were eliminated.
• Costs of legacy ERP maintenance and support were reduced up to $53,000 annually.
• Sales pipeline generation profitability improved by $600K annually.

How to Ensure a Smooth Business Central Experience

Implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a major step forward for any organization. But like any ERP migration, there may be pitfalls if you haven’t planned appropriately.

Failure to Anticipate a Learning Curve

Business Central introduces new workflows, navigation patterns, and role-based dashboards that differ significantly from older systems like QuickBooks or GP. Users may find the interface restrictive because role centers and permissions limit what they see. Features like approvals, dimensions, and posting groups may require training.

JourneyTeam’s Advice: Invest in role-based training and structured adoption programs early. JourneyTeam’s Sherpa methodology emphasizes guided workshops, recorded sessions, and office hours to build confidence across all user roles. Without structured onboarding, employees tend to revert to manual workarounds, which undermines the benefits of the new system.

Over-Customization that Creates Technical Debt

Business Central’s flexibility is a strength, but excessive custom code can create issues. Poorly optimized custom tables or triggers can slow transaction processing, and custom workflows may conflict with integrating apps and add maintenance overhead. These issues typically arise when businesses try to replicate old processes instead of adapting to standard ERP functionality.

JourneyTeam’s Advice: Set clear guardrails for customization. Favor standard features and extensions over heavy code changes and be sure to document modifications. We recommend leveraging proven frameworks that prioritize essential functionality and uses modular add-ons for scalability.

Reporting Limitations Without Governance

Business Central’s reporting capabilities are powerful, but without clear governance they can lead to inconsistent data, duplicated KPIs, and heavy reliance on manual workarounds. Access issues can arise – they can be either too restrictive, which slows decision-making, or too open, which risks data exposure.

JourneyTeam’s Advice: Establish reporting governance from day one. Define KPIs, assign data owners, and integrate Power BI for advanced analytics. JourneyTeam’s best practice is to embed governance into the implementation process to ensure reports will be accurate, actionable, and compliant.

Costs that Escalate When a Roadmap Is Missing

Budget overruns often occur if project scope expands unexpectedly. Here’s what we’ve seen derail the budget:

• Adding modules during implementation.
• Issues and subsequent delays related to cleaning up, preparing, and migrating data.
• Integrating third-party systems (like CRM, payroll, or e-commerce) that require custom connectors.
• Choosing the wrong user license types.

JourneyTeam’s Advice: Create a transparent roadmap with phased milestones and contingency planning. Include licensing, data migration, and training costs upfront. We suggest regular budget reviews and proactive risk assessments to avoid overruns, especially during customization or integration phases.

Headaches When Data Is Migrated “As-Is”

Migrating legacy data without cleanup can lead to a myriad of issues that can contribute to escalating costs and delayed implementation times. Here’s a few others we commonly see:

• Slow performance and queries due to large tables with outdated SKUs, inactive vendors, and obsolete GL accounts.
• Posting failures due to missing mandatory fields in imported data.
• Search and reporting delays due to due to poorly structured imports that affect indexing.
• Reconciliation issues due to duplicate records and inconsistent data.

JourneyTeam’s Advice: Audit and optimize data before migration. Remove duplicates, standardize formats, and prioritize only valuable records. JourneyTeam’s migration playbook includes mapping, validation, and test runs to ensure a clean, efficient data transfer.

When Business Central Is the Right Choice

Business Central isn’t just another ERP, it’s a modern platform designed for small and mid-sized organizations that need better control, cleaner data, and simpler day-to-day operations.

• For CFOs
  It solves the struggle of reconciling scattered financial data and waiting on manual reports. With real-time visibility into cash position, profitability, inventory value, and sales activity, finance leaders finally get accurate numbers without the delays and workarounds that slow down month-end and budgeting cycles.
• For COOs
  It clears operational blind spots across the quote-to-cash process, with inventory, purchasing, production, sales, and service all operating on a single platform. COOs can respond quickly to demand changes or supply disruptions, eliminating surprises like stock issues, missed handoffs, and inconsistent data.
• For IT leaders
  It addresses the burden of maintaining fragmented systems, aging servers, and high-risk custom integrations with a secure Azure platform. It’s a modern, manageable tech stack that reduces support tickets, and strengthens security.

The Right Partner Matters More Than Platform

When you choose an ERP, the right partner can mean the difference between a smooth, successful transformation and a project that stalls or fails. JourneyTeam stands apart because we don’t just implement Microsoft solutions; we live them. Here’s how:

• Our exclusive Sherpa adoption model for Business Central guides organizations through every stage of implementation, from initial setup to post-go-live support. With structured workshops, role-based training, and ongoing mentorship, Sherpa minimizes risk and accelerates success.
• Whether you’re in manufacturing, distribution, financial services, or professional services, JourneyTeam brings deep knowledge and proven methodologies to address your unique challenges.
• We are 100% focused on Microsoft’s end-to-end solutions across Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Azure, and Microsoft 365. You get a unified, secure, and scalable ecosystem – without the headaches of juggling multiple vendors or apps.
• Our track record is backed by real-world Business Central case studies and client success stories, demonstrating how we deliver measurable results across industries.
• Microsoft and industry leaders recognize our credibility. JourneyTeam is a two-time Microsoft Partner of the Year award winner for Business Central, reflecting our commitment to excellence and customer success.

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