Organisations still operating on older versions of Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Navision) might find themselves at a crossroads. As technology evolves, maintaining heavily customised legacy systems becomes increasingly challenging.
Migrating to Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft’s modern cloud-based ERP solution, can deliver significant advantages such as enhanced flexibility, better integration, and improved compliance.
However, the complexity and customisation levels in existing NAV implementations often deter organisations from making this crucial move.
In this guide, we provide a step-by-step approach to migrating from NAV to Business Central, specifically designed to address the challenges posed by heavily customised and complex NAV installations.
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Understanding the Migration Benefits
Before beginning the migration journey, it’s essential to understand the advantages clearly. Business Central offers extensive cloud benefits, including reduced infrastructure costs, automatic updates, and seamless integration with the entire Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
Additionally, modern tools like Microsoft Power BI and CoPilot enhance analytical capabilities and process automation, facilitating smarter decision-making and efficiency improvements.
Despite the complexity involved, the long-term gains often outweigh the initial challenges.
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Step 1: Initial Assessment and Planning
Begin the migration process by conducting a thorough assessment of your current NAV system.
Document every customisation, report, integration, and business process currently managed by NAV.
Engage with stakeholders across your business to ensure all unique requirements are captured.
This detailed mapping will be essential for identifying functionalities that Business Central can handle out-of-the-box and those needing redevelopment or redesign.
Step 2: Reviewing Customisations and Identifying Opportunities
Next, critically review your existing NAV customisations.
Many older customisations can be streamlined or eliminated entirely due to advancements and new functionalities native to Business Central.
Working closely with Business Central specialists during this phase helps identify opportunities for simplification and improved efficiency.
Carefully consider each customisation’s necessity and explore modern alternatives within Business Central that may offer enhanced performance.
Step 3: Choosing the Right Migration Path
When migrating from NAV to Business Central, organisations have multiple migration paths available, including direct migration, phased migration, or even hybrid approaches.
For heavily customised NAV systems, phased migrations are often most effective.
This method involves migrating core modules and functionalities incrementally, allowing businesses to manage change effectively, conduct comprehensive testing, and maintain operational stability during the transition.
Step 4: Data Preparation and Migration
The next critical step involves preparing your data for migration.
Heavily customised systems typically accumulate significant volumes of data, some of which may be obsolete or redundant.
Cleaning and organising data before migration helps ensure only relevant and accurate data moves to Business Central, improving overall system performance and user experience post-migration.
Tools such as RapidStart or custom scripts can assist in efficiently transferring data.
Step 5: Reimplementing Critical Customisations
For essential customisations that cannot be directly mapped to native Business Central functionality, careful redevelopment or reimplementation is required.
Utilising Microsoft’s modern development environment—AL extensions—allows customisations to be built efficiently and maintained separately from the core application.
This approach ensures easier future updates and system sustainability compared to traditional heavy customisations embedded deeply within NAV.
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Step 6: Comprehensive Testing and Validation
Testing is arguably the most crucial part of migration. Given the complexity and customisation involved, thorough testing should be conducted across all modules and functionalities.
Establishing a robust testing strategy, including unit testing, system integration testing, and user acceptance testing (UAT), ensures all processes operate smoothly.
Involve key users and process owners in testing to validate functionality comprehensively and gain user buy-in.
Step 7: User Training and Change Management
Migration success largely depends on user adoption.
Providing comprehensive training for all employees who will use Business Central ensures familiarity and reduces resistance to change.
Develop role-specific training materials, conduct workshops, and leverage internal champions to support ongoing learning and change management initiatives.
Clear communication throughout the project further enhances acceptance and smooths transition challenges.
Step 8: Go-Live and Post-Migration Support
Carefully plan the go-live event, typically scheduling it during periods of lower operational intensity to minimise disruption.
Establish clear rollback procedures and contingency plans to mitigate risks during initial use.
Following go-live, provide dedicated post-migration support to swiftly address any emerging issues. Ongoing monitoring and performance reviews will ensure system stability and identify areas for continuous improvement.
Continuous Optimisation Post-Migration
Migration doesn’t end at go-live. Regularly review system performance, monitor user feedback, and continuously explore new functionalities released by Microsoft.
Embrace the flexible nature of Business Central to adapt quickly to future business changes, leveraging its extensible framework to continuously enhance processes.
Dynamics NAV to Business Central Migration Approach
Below is an example of a structured approach to migrating from Microsoft Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central which you can use to plan your migration.
It covers essential tasks, assessments, and tracking points to guide your migration process effectively.
Step 1: Project Kick-Off
- Define migration objectives and project scope.
- Form migration team, assign roles and responsibilities.
- Schedule kick-off meeting.
Step 2: Assessment and Planning
- Document current NAV version, modules, and integrations.
- Record all customisations and their business functions.
- Identify processes impacted by migration.
- Outline expected benefits and migration success criteria.
Step 3: Customisation Review
- Evaluate each NAV customisation.
- Decide if customisation will be replaced, redeveloped, or removed.
- Document necessary functionality changes.
Step 4: Migration Strategy Selection
- Determine suitable migration method (direct, phased, hybrid).
- Identify migration phases and timelines.
- Develop detailed project timeline and key milestones.
Step 5: Data Management
- Identify data to migrate.
- Cleanse and archive unnecessary data.
- Plan data migration strategy and tools (RapidStart, custom scripts).
Step 6: Reimplementing Customisations
- Document required customisations in Business Central.
- Develop customisations using AL extensions.
- Test customisations for functionality and performance.
Step 7: Testing and Validation
- Prepare comprehensive testing plans (unit, system integration, UAT).
- Conduct tests and document outcomes.
- Address identified issues and retest as necessary.
Step 8: User Training and Adoption
- Identify training needs and user roles.
- Develop training materials and schedule training sessions.
- Implement user support mechanisms.
Step 9: Go-Live Preparation and Execution
- Define go-live strategy and rollback procedures.
- Schedule and communicate go-live date.
- Execute go-live activities and monitor closely.
Step 10: Post-Migration Review and Optimisation
- Conduct post-go-live evaluation.
- Document lessons learned and areas for improvement.
- Plan continuous optimisation and regular system reviews.
Tracking and Notes:
- Regularly update progress and note challenges or risks.
- Schedule regular migration team meetings for updates.
- Maintain clear documentation for accountability and traceability.
Conclusion
Migrating from NAV to Business Central is a significant undertaking, particularly for businesses with extensive customisations.
However, with careful planning, execution, and support, the transition can be smooth, bringing substantial benefits such as reduced costs, increased agility, and improved operational efficiency.
Next Steps:
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