If your business has already invested in Dynamics NAV for its ERP system requirements and requires an upgrade or change in the following year, the latest changes in the Microsoft ecosystem may leave you somewhat confused. Now that Dynamics 365 Business Central is rolling out, what about NAV?
According to Microsoft’s Roadmap for Dynamics NAV and Dynamics 365 Business Central, there will not be a NAV 2019 release. Dynamics NAV 2018 has been confirmed as the last version under the NAV umbrella; the popular ERP software will become part of the recently launched Dynamics 365 Business Central.
This change poses some interesting challenges. Although Business Central is built as a ‘cloud-first’ application to respond to the digital transformation needs of small and medium-sized enterprises, the good news is that it is not only ‘cloud-only’ or reserved for the cloud.
Business Central will also be available on-premises, meaning it can function on its server without cloud access. Therefore, if your organisation is running NAV 2018 internally, the next version – NAV 2019 – will be rebranded as Business Central on-premise.
Business Central targets potential new SMEs as well as existing Dynamics NAV 2018 customers who want a SaaS ERP solution in the cloud. The two applications share similar code, which makes it easier to transition from NAV 2018 to Business Central, and recommended if your organisation is pursuing a cloud strategy firsthand.
If you are not ready to upgrade to Business Central, your business can still benefit from NAV 2018, as the platform will continue to be developed and expanded to meet current business needs for existing NAV clients. New NAV licences will not be available to purchase in 2019.
If you have an older NAV version, it is highly recommended to upgrade to the latest NAV 2018 to be able to use the latest updates and new functionality and better prepare for cloud migration in the future. The deadline to upgrade or transition from NAV 2009-2017 to NAV 2018 is the 1st of April 2019.
As a Dynamics NAV user, you have two choices in the following year: cloud or on-premise application? Either way, the most recent Dynamics 365 Business Central all-in-one business management solution will cover your needs whether you want a SaaS ERP solution in the cloud or are happy with still running on-premises.
Did you know? Microsoft Dynamics NAV has gained over 160,000 customers, more than 2.7 million users and no less than 3500 certified partners across 185 countries worldwide since its acquisition (formerly Navision) in 2002.
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