Your Questions, Answered
Find everything you need to know about our Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (ERP) services in one place –
clear, insightful, and tailored to your business needs.
Microsoft Business Central (ERP) – FAQs
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is an all-in-one business management solution designed to simplify your operations.
Think of it as your company’s digital command center. It is a cloud-based business management solution that integrates all your core business functions – from financials and sales to inventory, purchasing, and even manufacturing – into a single, easy-to-use system.
What makes it particularly powerful is that it’s part of the Microsoft ecosystem, meaning it works seamlessly with tools you’re already using, like Outlook, Excel, and Teams.
Whether you’re overseeing finances or managing inventory, Business Central ensures you’re always in control, with real-time insights to drive smarter decisions.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central offers a wide range of features, including:
- Human Resources: Employee management, payroll, and benefits.
- Financials: Accounts receivable, accounts payable, general ledger, bank reconciliation, budgeting, and forecasting.
- Sales: Sales orders, customer relationship management (CRM), marketing, and e-commerce.
- Purchasing: Purchase orders, vendor management, and inventory control.
- Manufacturing: Production planning, scheduling, and quality control.
- Service: Service orders, project management, and field service.
Imagine having a system that eliminates manual processes, integrates your departments, and provides data insights at your fingertips.
Business Central helps improve operational efficiency, reduces errors, and empowers your team to focus on growth. It also provides flexibility and scalability, ensuring your business has the tools it needs as it evolves.
What makes it particularly powerful is that it’s part of the Microsoft ecosystem, meaning it works seamlessly with tools you’re already using, like Outlook, Excel, and Teams.
Whether you’re in manufacturing, retail, distribution, or professional services, Business Central adapts to your needs. It is designed with versatility in mind, meaning we can tailor it to meet the unique challenges of your industry.
Direction Software LLP has implemented Microsift Business Central (earlier NAV) for many industries including BFSI, Financial Services, Food, Health, Hospitality, Legal, Logistics, Mamufacturing, Media, Service, Trading and others and are one of the first Microsoft Dynamics partnes in India.
If you’re looking to move away from basic accounting software or disconnected business systems, Business Central is likely an excellent fit. It’s particularly valuable when your team needs to make quick, informed decisions but finds themselves struggling with scattered data or time-consuming manual processes.
The system grows with your business, and since it’s cloud-based, you can access it from anywhere – something that’s become increasingly important in today’s hybrid work environment.
Being part of the Microsoft ecosystem, it works seamlessly with tools you’re already using, like Outlook, Excel, and Teams.
Business Central offers unmatched flexibility in how it’s deployed. You can choose:
- Cloud: Ideal for businesses looking for cost efficiency and minimal IT overhead (as a Software as a Service – SaaS offering)
- On-Premises: For organizations that prefer to manage their systems internally
- Hybrid: A blend of both, perfect if you want to balance flexibility and control
We’ll help you decide what works best for your goals.
Contact Direction Software LLP for a free consultation to decide which suits your organization best.
Yes, Business Central was built with SMBs in mind. It’s scalable, meaning it can grow with you, and its modular design lets you start with what you need today and expand as your business evolves.
Business Central can significantly improve your efficiency and profitability. Here are a few key benefits:
- Increased Productivity: Automate repetitive tasks, reduce manual data entry, and free up your team to focus on more strategic initiatives.
- Improved Decision Making: Gain real-time insights into your business performance with dashboards and reports, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions.
- Better Customer Relationships: Improve customer service, streamline order fulfillment, and build stronger relationships with your customers.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Improve communication and collaboration across your entire organization, regardless of location.
- Scalability and Flexibility: Grow your business without outgrowing your ERP system. Business Central can easily adapt to your changing needs.
Absolutely. Business Central works seamlessly with other Microsoft applications like Power BI for advanced analytics, Teams for collaboration, and Office 365 for productivity. This ensures your team can work smarter, not harder, and that your systems all talk to each other effortlessly.
Implementation starts with understanding your business inside and out. From there, we configure the solution to meet your specific needs. We can also help you migrate your data, and train your team to use it.
Our goal is to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to your operations.
Our implementation process typically involves a series of steps, including:
- Discovery and Planning: We’ll work closely with you to understand your specific business needs and objectives.
- Data Migration: We’ll help you migrate your existing data into Business Central.
- Configuration and Customization: We’ll configure Business Central to meet your specific requirements and customize it to fit your unique workflows.
- User Training: We’ll provide comprehensive training to your team on how to use Business Central effectively.
- Go-Live Support: We’ll provide ongoing support to ensure a smooth transition to your new system.
Timelines will vary depending on the complexity of your requirements, but most implementations are completed within a few weeks to a few months.
We prioritize efficiency without compromising quality.
Your input is key to ensuring the system works for you. We’ll need information about your current processes, challenges, and goals, along with access to your existing data.
Typically, for larger customizations, we will need you to assign a core team to work with our team at Direction Software LLP and we will guide you every step of the way.
Absolutely. We understand that your data is the heart of your business, and we take great care to ensure it’s migrated accurately and securely to Business Central.
Yes, hands-on training tailored to your team’s roles and responsibilities can be offered as part of the implementation contract, so everyone feels confident and capable from day one.
We conduct thorough testing on our side and also require UAT (User Acceptance Testing) from customers on a pre-production environment before deploying on production.
We also provide user support during the initial phase and stay on standby to resolve any issues that may arise. Your success is our priority.
We follow a proven, phase-based approach that minimizes disruption to your business operations. We begin with a thorough assessment of your current processes and needs, design a solution that fits your specific requirements, and then implement it in planned stages.
Throughout the process, you’ll have a dedicated project manager who keeps everything on track and serves as your main point of contact, additionally, for most projects, we also insist on a Project Manager from the client’s side to ensure the process is smooth. We typically can get a basic system up and running in 8-12 weeks, though this timeline can vary based on your specific needs and customizations.
Contact Direction Software LLP today for a free consultation & quote.
Absolutely! We believe implementation is just the beginning of our partnership. We offer different support tiers to match your needs, from basic technical support to comprehensive managed services where we essentially act as your external IT department for Business Central.
Our support services can include regular system health checks, user training, technical support, and ongoing optimization recommendations.
Absolutely! Business Central offers a high degree of flexibility and can be customized to meet the unique needs of your industry and business processes.
We can help you extend the functionality of Business Central through customizations, integrations, and extensions.
From workflows and dashboards to reporting formats and integrations, Business Central can be tailored to suit your unique requirements.
Our team will work closely with you to make the system reflect how you do business.
Yes, we can design workflows and rules tailored to your processes, making your operations smoother and more efficient.
It’s simple – just reach out to us with your requirements. We will assess the feasibility, propose solutions, and implement the changes promptly.
We follow Microsoft’s best practices for customization, ensuring that your system remains compatible with future updates, so you don’t face disruptions down the road.
Yes, and this is one of its strongest features. Business Central has built-in integrations with the Microsoft 365 suite and can connect with many third-party applications through standard APIs. Whether you need to integrate with your CRM, e-commerce platform, or industry-specific software, we can help set up these connections.
We’ve successfully integrated Business Central with a wide range of systems and will evaluate your specific integration needs during the initial assessment phase.
Business Central leverages Microsoft’s enterprise-grade security infrastructure, which includes multi-factor authentication, data encryption both at rest and in transit, and regular security updates.
As your implementation partner, we add an extra layer of security best practices, including role-based access controls and also ensure your system complies with relevant industry regulations and data protection requirements.
Upgrading ensures you’re leveraging the latest features, security enhancements, and performance improvements.
Microsoft continuously innovates to provide tools that help businesses stay competitive, and upgrading keeps your system aligned with modern business needs and regulatory requirements.
If you’re using Dynamics NAV or an older version, upgrading to Business Central opens the door to cloud capabilities, improved user experiences, better integrations with Microsoft tools, and access to a host of advanced functionalities like AI-driven insights and mobile accessibility.
Also, as mainstream support for NAV has expired and maintaining older versions will become increasingly difficult.
We take a meticulous approach to preserve your data and ensure your customizations are either migrated seamlessly or re-implemented in a way that’s compatible with the new system.
Here is where Direction Software’s experience with many upgrades helps us to achieve greater success.
We aim to minimize downtime as much as possible. Depending on the complexity of your system, we can often perform upgrades during off-hours or weekends to avoid disrupting your operations.
As Business Central is cloud based, we also have the option to work on a parallel system and deploy only after UAT and Data update.
Of course! After assessing your current setup and specific requirements, we’ll provide a detailed cost estimate. Transparency is important to us, so there won’t be any surprises.
Our maintenance service is designed to keep your system running smoothly. This includes regular updates, performance monitoring, bug fixes, proactive issue resolution and minor CRs. We act as an extension of your team, ensuring Business Central always performs at its best.
Yes, we understand that business doesn’t stop, so we can provide round-the-clock support to address critical / show stopper issues and minimize downtime.
Critical issues are our top priority. Our team works to resolve them as quickly as possible, often within a few hours, depending on the nature of the problem.
At Direction Software LLP, our response times vary by issue severity and are typically as per the table below:
| URGENCY LEVEL | DESCRIPTION | INITIAL RESPONSE TIME | URGENCY LEVEL DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Show Stopper | Major application outage or bug causing the client not to be able to perform critical business processes resulting in significant business or user impact | Within 1 hour | Less than 3 hours |
| High | Significant application outage or bug causing the client not to be able to perform semi-critical business processes resulting in major business or user impact | Within 4 hours | Less than 12 hours |
| Normal | Application outage or bug that is a significant concern to the client but does not significantly interfere with the business process. | Within 6 hours | Less than 18 hours |
| Low | Application outage or bug that is a minor concern to the client and does not significantly interfere with the business process. | Within 8 hours | Less than 24 hours |
| Information Request | Request for information or documentational request. Issues that do not have a business impact. | Within 4 hours | Less than 24 hours |
These times are normally agreed upon and defined in the support agreement signed with the client.
By partnering with us, you gain access to:
- Deep expertise: Our team has extensive experience in implementing and customizing Business Central for businesses like yours.
- Proven methodologies: We follow Microsoft’s proven implementation methodologies to ensure a successful and timely project.
- Dedicated support: We’ll be there to support you every step of the way, from initial planning to ongoing maintenance.
- Access to the latest technology: As a Microsoft Partner, we have access to the latest tools and technologies to help you get the most out of your Business Central investment.
Absolutely. We can conduct performance reviews and identify areas for improvement, whether it’s optimizing workflows, speeding up processes, or addressing system bottlenecks.
Our pricing is flexible and depends on the level of support and services you require. We’ll work with you to create a plan that fits your budget and needs.
We offer a range of ongoing support and maintenance services, including:
- Help desk support: Quick and efficient assistance for any questions or issues you may encounter.
- Remote support: Our team can remotely access your system to diagnose and resolve issues quickly.
- Proactive maintenance: Regular system checks, updates, and security patches to ensure your system is always running smoothly.
- Training and support: Ongoing training and support to help your team maximize their use of Business Central.
Business Central offers two main options:
- Essentials License: Perfect for businesses focused on core functionalities like finance, project management, and supply chain.
- Premium License: Includes everything in Essentials, plus advanced features like manufacturing and service management.
We will help you choose the best option based on your business needs.
The cost varies depending on the number of users and the type of license you choose.
It’s billed on a subscription model, either monthly or annually, making it predictable and easy to budget for.
While the exact investment depends on your specific needs, we believe in transparent pricing.
The total cost typically includes the Business Central licensing (which is subscription-based), implementation services, any necessary customizations, and ongoing support.
We’ll provide a detailed breakdown during our initial consultation.
Yes, Business Central is designed to grow with you. You can add users or functionality as your business evolves, ensuring you only pay for what you need.
Of course! We will take the time to understand your goals, budget, and current operations to recommend the most cost-effective plan for you.
No hidden costs here. We believe in transparency and will provide a detailed breakdown of costs upfront, covering licensing, implementation, customizations, and support.
Most of our clients begin seeing tangible benefits within the first 3-6 months after implementation.
These benefits often include reduced manual data entry, faster month-end closings, improved inventory management, and better cash flow visibility.
We’ll work with you to establish specific KPIs and tracking mechanisms so you can measure the impact on your business operations.
We’ve learned that successful adoption comes down to three key elements: proper training, system usability, and visible benefits for users. We can customize the user interface to match your team’s workflows, making the transition as smooth as possible.
Additionally, we can offer a role-based training program, meaning each team member learns the features most relevant to their job.
Business Central integrates with a wide range of applications, from e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Magento to productivity tools and industry-specific software.
These integrations ensure your entire tech ecosystem works harmoniously.
Yes, Business Central can be configured to seamlessly integrate with your existing CRM or ERP systems, enabling smooth data flow and eliminating silos.
There’s a rich ecosystem of add-ons available in Microsoft AppSource, catering to everything from payroll management to advanced analytics.
We can help identify and implement the ones that add the most value to your business.
When configured correctly, integrations and add-ons shouldn’t slow down your system.
Our team will ensure that every extension is optimized to maintain peak performance.
Yes, we have extensive experience in integrating Business Central with leading e-commerce platforms and payment gateways, streamlining your online sales and payment processing.
Getting started is simple!
Reach out to us and we’ll discuss your specific business needs and help you determine if Business Central is the right solution for you and outline the next steps for implementation. We can also provide you with a personalized demo of the system
Contact Direction Software LLP for a free consultation.
You can book a consultation directly from our website, via email, or by giving us a call.
We’ll schedule a session at your convenience to discuss your business challenges and how Business Central can address them.
Absolutely. During our consultation, we’ll conduct a thorough assessment of your current processes and challenges to determine if Business Central is the right solution for you.
Our onboarding process is designed to ensure a seamless transition:
- We start with a discovery phase to understand your goals
- Next, we create a tailored plan for implementation or migration.
- We configure the system, train your team, and ensure everything is ready for go-live
- Post-implementation, we provide ongoing support to keep you on track
The best way to start is with a no-obligation consultation where we can understand your current challenges and objectives. We’ll demonstrate relevant features of Business Central and share case studies from similar businesses we’ve helped.
From there, we can provide a tailored proposal that outlines the recommended approach, timeline, and investment required.
We can typically schedule this initial consultation within a week.