There are a number of possible ERP systems your business could choose, and many of them are modern and cloud-based. Besides the standard requirements of a modern, cloud-based system, though, what else should an organization look for in a cloud ERP, and which system is the best solution for your business? These are not easy questions to answer, and each business must weigh their needs against the costs of various solutions.

As you search, you’ll encounter Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, which is Microsoft’s premier mid-market business management solution and part of the Dynamics 365 suite of cloud-native solutions. Business Central is the next generation of Dynamics NAV (formerly Navision). Consider these seven reasons why Business Central is a strong choice for your next cloud ERP solution.

1. Maximum flexibility - with security - for any workplace

Hosting business applications on the cloud means you can work anytime, from anywhere. There’s no need to be in the office, which is ideal for the uncertain work situations many people must cope with since the pandemic began. And that need isn’t going away: over 70% of employees want flexible remote work options to stay, even once the pandemic subsides. The cloud allows for flexing from in-person, at-home, and hybrid working situations based on what is safe at the time, with no loss of capabilities or work time.

While flexibility for the “where” and “when” of work is a quality of all cloud-hosted applications, Microsoft sets itself apart with additional flexibility and security. How? Well, Business Central has a variety of modes that are accessible anywhere and, most important, doesn’t lose essential functionality or usability. It comes as a desktop application, a mobile app for phones and tablets (iOS and Android), and can be accessed via any HTML 5-based browser.

Microsoft’s Azure cloud that hosts Business Central is safe and secure and must adhere to tight security requirements to host for their customers. These requirements are costly and require regular updates and upkeep, so, naturally and understandably, some businesses fall behind on these security updates or choose to continue with their less-secure status quo. But on Microsoft’s Azure cloud, infrastructure and security is state-of-the-art. Data is encrypted via industry-standard protocols and threat protection services, constantly backed up to prevent losses, and stored redundantly in separate datacenters. Updates often include security patches for potential vulnerabilities. Microsoft offers the option to deploy Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) and multi-factor authentication for Dynamics 365 and Office 365 so only authorized users can get into your systems.

2. Integrations with other Microsoft business and productivity apps

Business Central is a powerful ERP solution on its own, but one of the exclusive benefits of utilizing Business Central cloud ERP is seamless integrations with its sibling business and productivity applications as part of the Microsoft ecosystem. The vibrant, evolving Microsoft ecosystem was designed to thrive together.

Some integrations are built in. Track Outlook emails to certain accounts or contacts, send quotes, orders, and invoices, etc. straight from BC. Export and import files from Word and Excel.

Some integrations can be established via configurable, pre-built connectors or custom-built. Store important files in SharePoint straight from Business Central. Seamlessly connect Dynamics 365 CRM features and functionalities, such as creating quotes and converting them to sales orders and invoices in both Business Central and Dynamics 365 Sales.

Finally, while other Microsoft applications are designed to work together with Business Central, it’s important to note that third-party apps—such as Salesforce, Continia, Amazon, and Shopify—are easy to connect to Business Central with use of pre-built connectors from the App Store or via custom-built integrations.

3. Automate business processes across apps and functions

Being part of the Microsoft ecosystem provides another robust integration to leverage: Power Automate. Power Automate (formerly Microsoft Flow) allows a business to build workflows to automate business processes across apps or web services that would otherwise be time-consuming and repetitive. Set into motion manually with the click of a button or automatically with a pre-set trigger, flows remove steps from your work processes and increase efficiency of those processes. Not a coder? That’s fine. No coding knowledge is needed to create these powerful, complex flows.

ERP is a ripe fruit for automating processes. What procedures do you end up repeating day after day? Set up workflows for within the ERP or across to other applications, such as Dynamics 365 Sales, Outlook, or even 3rd party applications. Free up your employees’ time and energy to spend on other tasks that drive your business forward.

4. No siloed communication or data across connected systems

The old problem of some data stored here, some stored there, and none of it being able to work together is no longer an issue with Business Central. When connected to other systems via integrations or the Microsoft Dataverse, systems can share data. With customized integrations, data updated in Business Central is up-to-date instantly in other systems, like Dynamics 365 Sales.

No more entering the same data into multiple systems, wasting time and energy while risking input error resulting in incorrect, lost, or contradictory data. Save your employee’s time from this menial work for other work that will bring your business further.

5. Cost-effective

As with other cloud-base services, cost is an exceptional benefit. With no steep cost of hardware, server, or other infrastructure, and no need to maintain and update it, it’s more affordable to any size business.

Compared to other ERP solutions, the cost of a Business Central license is competitive, with additional plans and add-ons available. In addition, Microsoft is offering a great promotional deal on licensing right now. Called the Bridge to the Cloud, this promotion offers qualified customers a whopping 60% off of their already affordable named user monthly licenses.

6. Tried and True

Business Central was released in 2018, but Microsoft didn’t begin from scratch to create Business Central—it’s the next generation of Dynamics NAV, and is therefore an ERP with decades of testing and improvements built into its design. Business Central brings the functionality, code, and development experience—AKA the bones—of NAV across to the cloud and the cutting edge of technology. It’s modern interface and upgrades notwithstanding, previous NAV users will recognize NAV’s influence in Business Central. In other words, it’s a reliable legacy, made modern.

7. Extreme customizability

As you’ve likely noticed, many of the above reasons to use Business Central discuss high quality customizability of the ERP—within the system itself and through integrating with other applications. And we think it’s important to drive home the reality of Business Central’s extreme customizability. While some ERPs are made for a specific industry, Business Central is made with many in mind and can be shifted and shaped to fit the needs of a range of industries. It includes many robust out-of-the-box features and can be customized—features or entities added or removed—to fit the unique business processes of any business in any industry. The United Interface (UI) allows for high customization to move, remove, or add views or functions depending on the job role and responsibility—an entire United Interface can be crafted to work specifically for an accountant, while another, perhaps more restricted UI can be created for a salesperson.

Even more personalization is possible within each individual employee’s Business Central experience, as many of the features and views are able to be shifted to an employee’s liking or to match the way their mind works.

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Though the cloud-based ERP market may feel saturated, when the granular details of each solution come to light, it’s easier to narrow the field. Business Central offers high customizability, modernization, flexibility, scalability, security, automation, and seamless integrations with other applications—both Microsoft applications and 3rd party—all built upon a proven, successful ERP solution. As a part of the expansive Microsoft ecosystem, Business Central can be leveraged as a powerful cloud ERP independently, but you will reap unique and calculable benefits from employing other components within the ecosystem Business Central is part of.