Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

The natural next step for SMBs already living in Microsoft 365.

Go-live time: 2-6 months
Best for: SMB already on Microsoft 365

Overview

Business Central is Microsoft's cloud ERP for small and mid-sized businesses, and its biggest advantage is how tightly it sits inside the Microsoft ecosystem: native Outlook, Excel, and Teams integration. It's the modern successor to Dynamics NAV and Dynamics GP, and is usually chosen by companies already standardised on Microsoft 365 who've outgrown QuickBooks, Xero, or Sage 50.

Best for: SMBs already on Microsoft 365 that are outgrowing entry-level accounting software.

Pros & cons

Pros

Deep native integration with Outlook, Excel, and Teams
Lower entry cost than NetSuite or SAP for SMBs
Familiar Microsoft interface reduces training time
Reasonable path to Premium tier for light manufacturing needs

Cons

Less depth than dedicated systems once a company scales past SMB
Manufacturing and supply chain capability is lighter than Epicor, SAP, or NetSuite even at Premium tier
Best value is tied to already being a Microsoft 365 shop

Modules

Finance & Accounting
Sales & CRM basics
Inventory
Procurement
Manufacturing (Premium tier)
Service Management (Premium tier)
Project Management

Implementation timeline

1
Typically 2-6 months depending on company size and customisation.

FAQ

How it stacks up against Light

Business Central is a solid, affordable choice if you're deep in the Microsoft ecosystem and staying SMB-scale. Once you add a second entity or currency and start needing real consolidation, Light is built for exactly that from the ground up.

Read the Light profile