How Business Central Enables Modern Work — and Why NAV Can’t

As of January 2023, Microsoft officially ended mainstream support for Dynamics NAV 2018—the final version of NAV ever released. While security updates may still be available, users will no longer receive new features or product enhancements. Microsoft encourages all Dynamics NAV users to transition to Dynamics 365 Business Central, the cloud-based evolution of NAV designed to support today’s modern business needs.

Business Central offers all the core functionality that made NAV a trusted ERP solution, such as Financials, Manufacturing, Distribution, and Project Management, but it also delivers significant advantages. While NAV remains a capable system, Business Central takes things further with support for both cloud and on-premises deployments, offering a more modern and customizable architecture and simplified upgrade process.

Its enhanced features support hybrid work, mobile access, real-time collaboration, and data-driven decision-making—all essential to staying competitive. But if you’re still running your business on legacy Microsoft Dynamics NAV, your ERP system may be holding you back from embracing this modern way of working.

Here’s why Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is built for modern work—and why NAV simply isn’t.

Cloud-first flexibility

Business Central is a true cloud-based ERP. That means your team can access it from anywhere—whether they’re working in the office, at home, or on the road. All you need is an internet connection.

NAV, on the other hand, is an on-premises solution by design. While remote access is possible, it typically requires costly infrastructure, VPNs, and IT support. That’s not ideal for the agility and speed that today’s businesses demand.

Seamless integration with Microsoft 365

Modern work thrives on collaboration. Business Central integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), making it easy to work with familiar tools like Outlook, Excel, and Teams.

• View customer data or create quotes directly from Outlook.

• Push live ERP data into Excel with no manual exports.

• Use Teams to collaborate on Business Central records in real time.

With NAV, integrations with Microsoft 365 are limited or require heavy customization, and often come with added costs and complexity.

Always up-to-date and secure

Business Central receives automatic updates from Microsoft, meaning you always have the latest features, security patches, and regulatory compliance capabilities. It has modern security and compliance features that deliver Entra ID integration, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and built-in GDPR compliance features.

Business Central allows administrators to define data retention policies that automatically manage and clean up historical data based on configurable rules—such as how long specific records should be retained. This represents a significant advancement over the limited purge functionality available in NAV, offering greater control, automation, and compliance with data management standards.

Built-in business intelligence and AI

Business Central deeply integrates with Power BI, giving you live dashboards and visual reports embedded directly into the ERP. You can track KPIs, visualize trends, and drill into data—all from within the system. It also leverages Copilot for Business Central for features like cash flow forecasting, late payment predictions, and intelligent recommendations.

NAV doesn’t offer these modern capabilities out of the box. Achieving similar results requires third-party tools or custom development, which drives up costs and complexity.

Scalable, mobile, and built for growth

As your business grows, Business Central grows with you. Its modular design, cloud infrastructure, and support for multi-company and multi-currency operations make it ideal for scaling.

NAV, while once a flexible mid-market solution, struggles to keep up with the pace and demands of modern digital transformation. Mobile support is clunky, and scaling up typically means more hardware, more licenses, and more IT headaches.

The Bottom Line

Business Central isn’t just a newer version of NAV—it’s a completely modern platform that empowers teams to work smarter, faster, and more collaboratively. If your business is serious about staying competitive in today’s digital economy, now’s the time to move beyond NAV.

Thinking about making the switch?

At Systema Solutions, we’ve helped countless businesses successfully migrate from NAV to Business Central with minimal disruption and maximum value. If you're ready to modernize your ERP and embrace the way work happens today, let’s talk or sign up for your complimentary Business Central Readiness Assessment.