Introduction to Microsoft Dynamics 365
Business Central
As the newest ERP offering for small and mid-sized businesses, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central combines wide array of functionalities and capabilities across operations, finance, project management and sales. With Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft has brought full NAV functionality to a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) environment, enabling organizations with very tight budget to leverage digital transformation. Apart from availability as “SaaS”, Dynamics 365 Business Central supports deployment across private cloud, on-premises and hybrid deployment options. With this flexibility, Business Central ensures organizations to use the deployment option as per their specific business needs. As D365 Business Central is built on functionality from Dynamics NAV, it can easily be customized with familiar Microsoft applications such as Office 365, Microsoft Power BI and PowerApps. The flexibility to customization also enables Business Central to adapt to continuously changing business needs.
Customization Capabilities of Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Business Central
Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Business Central is built-on common data model (CDM). CDM is
shared data language consists of standardized, extensible data schemas
published by Microsoft. Dynamics 365 Business Central “pool” or “centralizes”
data generated by disparate programs and applications such as Office 365,
third-party sources, etc to deliver a complete picture of business. CDM
eliminates the complexities that come while sharing data from disparate systems
as there is no standard condition to agree on, getting data from separate apps
to mesh or to get data from application that can easily be understood by other.
With CDM,
apps can be integrated and data can be shared without the need for extensive, custom
integration by creating a centralized point where systems can come together and
connect. Thus, CDM in Business Central bridges the gap between repositories of
information. With standard definitions, or “entities”, apps can recognize,
understand, and communicate the information held in the Common Data Model’s
“data lake”. CDM offers great flexibility to organizations that use or create custom
applications.
With CDM in
Dynamics 365 Business Central, business applications from Microsoft as well as third-party
apps and services can easily and seamlessly communicate with each other. Thus,
you can heavily exploit the customization and integration capabilities of
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central to meet the unique business needs.
Banking on these capabilities, Dynamics 365 Business Central also enables
organizations to upgrade from their entry-level accounting software or legacy
ERP system to comprehensive, robust, cloud-based solution to streamline their
processes, improve customer relations while enabling growth. Business Central
also eliminates the inefficiencies associated with data silos and disparate
systems by connecting different aspects of your business.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Deployment Options
Dynamics 365
Business Central is available as On-Premise and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).
On-Premises
– This is the most conventional and traditional way of deployment and perfectly
suited for organizations such as Financial Services, Banks, etc., that need to
follow stringent data privacy compliances or have core competencies across IT.
On-premise deployment requires servers and infrastructure alongside storage,
air-conditioning, power, maintenance and administration. All this needs to be
managed by your IT team. For this, you need “Perpetual License (a one-time
cost)”. This deployment option gives you more freedom and control but need high
level of IT expertise to keep the system well maintained and secure at all
times.
Cloud – With Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft offers you the flexibility to deploy it on the public cloud or on Microsoft Azure Web . In case of cloud deployment, you need to pay overhead expenses of an on-premises solution to your cloud provider. Your cloud provider will manage and maintain your software and data as well as bear the responsibility for updates or security. Another option is to use Microsoft Azure to deploy Business Central. The main benefit associated with this is that Microsoft will manage and maintain all things. Both perpetual and subscription Business Central licenses can be deployed in the cloud, enabling you to log in to your system from any device, anywhere in the world as long, as you have an internet connection. As technology is evolving at a rapid pace, cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure are worth seriously considering as they offer high scalability.
Software-as-a-service (SAAS) – In this deployment model, you need to pay
monthly fee per user while the back end Infrastructure will be managed by
Microsoft. This deployment option is very popular as you’re buying the license
and hosting with one monthly price. Buying Business Central as a SaaS solution
puts all your costs for hosting and licenses on one per user/month rate. SaaS
deployment option is perfect for organizations with low IT budget. You don’t
have to spend money in setting up servers, infrastructure, IT-teams etc.
However, Business Central as SaaS is less flexible and customizable than the
on-premise version.
Licensing Model – As far as the licensing is concerned,
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central comes as Full User Licensing Model
& Team Members Licensing.
Full User License – These user-licenses are perfect for
employees whose work requires complete functionality of the application. You can
buy “Full User License” for employees who work with sales, customer service,
finance, or supply chain management. Full users are licensed per named user
base through a Business Central subscription and may be either on the
Essentials or Premium version of Business Central.
Team Members – These licenses are perfect for users who may
need to consume data or reports from the business system, complete less
demanding tasks such as time or expense imports and HR updates. For users that do
not require full user functionality, these licenses can be purchased.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Editions
Microsoft
Dynamics 365 Business Central comes in two editions
-
- Dynamics 365 Business Central Essential
In
Essential, users get access to majority of Business Central’s features
including Financial Management, Customer Relational Management, Supply Chain
Management, Human Resources, & Project Management.
-
- Dynamics 365 Business Central Premium
In Premium,
you will get all the functionalities available in Essential as well as Service
Order Management & Manufacturing.
Users in Business central can also be
classified according to the type of license:
–
Essentials Functionality User–
This is the
first level of license and users with this license can use following functions.
1. Financial Management
2. Advance Financial
3. CRM (BC CRM)
4. Human Resource (BC HR)
5. Supply chain
6. Warehouse Management and Inventory
7. Project Management
8. Other services
Premium Functionality User–
In addition
to ‘Essential Functionality’ , this user can also use following modules.
1. Service order Management
2. Manufacturing
# Full Users – Indicates ‘Essential’ / Premium
User
# Team Member – Indicates Additional User
Pricing of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business
Central
As far as Dynamics
365 pricing is concerned, it is based on user licenses. This means that full
user license or team member license. Full
User License of Essential edition of Business Central costs $70 per named user per month in which
you will get functionality across finance, supply chain management, CRM, HR and
much more. Full User License of ‘Premium’
version of Business Central costs $100
per named user per month. In this, you will get all the functionality of
the Essentials version alongside two additional modules, Service Management and
Manufacturing/ Production.
How can we help you?
We are trusted Microsoft Dynamics 365 Partner Provider that can help you in licensing, implementation, customization, maintenance, & support. If you’re using legacy accounting software or disparate systems, then we can perform your digital transition by bringing you to the cloud with Business Central. We act as virtual extension to your business, helping you with IT services. Our technical team helps in streamlining your business processes to improve efficiency.
Disclaimer – Actual price may vary, depending
on customization, specific requirements, local taxes, etc
