Dynamics NAV clients have many questions surrounding the future of Microsoft ERP and where Dynamics NAV fits into that picture. We’ve put together some FAQs to help organizations understand the context of Microsoft’s messaging and give them the information they need to make informed decisions about their long-term ERP solution.

Is Dynamics NAV going away?

No, Dynamics NAV is not going anywhere. Dynamics 365 Business Central is just the latest version of Dynamics NAV, rebranded to Business Central. Microsoft will continue to support the later versions of Dynamics NAV through at least January 2023.

The latest release, Dynamics NAV 2018 (11.00), has been updated monthly to include hotfixes and regulatory features. Starting with version 13.00, the system has been renamed to Dynamics 365 Business Central and will be referred to as such in all future releases.

What is the timeframe for end of support for Dynamics NAV?

With the last official release of Dynamics NAV, Dynamics NAV 2018 will be supported through January, 2023. While support will continue for at least the next few years, Dynamics NAV customers can expect limited support for current versions as resources and development moves to new releases of Dynamics 365 Business Central.

What Versions of Dynamics NAV are supported?

Currently, Microsoft supports Dynamics NAV 2016 and later. If you are on a previous version of Dynamics NAV like 2013 or 2015, you will need to upgrade before applying a year-end update or receiving security updates. Below are the dates for end of support of current versions.

Dynamics NAV 2016: 4/13/2021

Dynamics NAV 2017: 1/11/2022

Dynamics NAV 2018: 1/10/2023

What is Dynamics 365 Business Central?

Dynamics 365 Business Central is Microsoft’s premiere, mid-market, cloud-based ERP application built on the codebase of Dynamics NAV. From a functionality perspective, Business Central includes the same functionality as Dynamics NAV and builds upon it with substantial additional features and enhanced customization options for developers.

The Business Central interface has been completely reimagined to create a modern interface that Dynamics GP and Dynamics NAV users will find refreshing. Business Central includes single sign-on and integrates with Office 365 and other Dynamics 365 applications like Dynamics 365 Sales or Dynamics 365 Project Operations.

Why Did Microsoft choose Dynamics NAV over Dynamics GP to be the base of Business Central?

Microsoft has long pushed more and more of their business towards the cloud. Whichever mid-market ERP system they chose to move forward with, it needed to transition easily to the cloud. It turns out that the Dynamics NAV codebase was easier to transition than the Dynamics GP codebase, thus NAV was chosen to be the base of Business Central.

To get the full story on Microsoft’s path to Business Central from the beginning to the end, check out our blog series on the topic here.

Why is Microsoft Pushing Dynamics 365 Business Central?

Microsoft sees Dynamics 365 Business Central as the future of its mid-market ERP space. The reason Dynamics NAV is now receiving hotfixes and regulatory updates is because Microsoft has moved most development away from traditional NAV releases and into Business Central. Because Microsoft has been doing so much development on Business Central over the past several years, you will likely find it a lot more user friendly and feature rich than Dynamics NAV.

Are there licensing offers available if we do want to switch to Business Central?

Yes, Microsoft is offering special licensing for Business Central to attract Dynamics NAV customers to migrate from Dynamics NAV to Business Central. For on premise customers, Microsoft is offering 3 Business Central licenses for every Dynamics GP license upon upgrade.  Alternatively, you can get special pricing on the online version of Business Central.