December 18, 2023

Leverage AI and help your customers migrate to Dynamics 365 Business Central

By Sanju Nair

A businesswoman presenting on a large monitor in a conference room.

Partner Audience: #ServicesPartners #CSP
Relevant to: #BestPractice #LearnSolutionAreas, #AccelerateDeals, #BizApps


Microsoft is committed to supporting our partners and customers by providing tools and resources that will increase productivity and efficiencyand help transform your business. One of the avenues for our on-premises customers running on GP, SL, NAV, AX, or on-premises Business Central platforms is to migrate to the cloud with Business Central and unlock the prowess of AI with Dynamics 365 Copilot. 

Why should customers care?

While it’s clear that the power of AI and Copilot comes via the cloud, there are some risks and downsides to remaining on-premises. Customers need to be aware of and consider the risks as they look to improve productivity and efficiency. Some of the risks include: 

    • Security concerns. On-premises enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are more vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches than cloud-based systems. This is because on-premises systems are hosted on local servers, which are more susceptible to physical damage, theft, and hacking. 
    • Scalability issues. On-premises ERP systems are limited in terms of scalability. This means that businesses that rely on on-premises systems might find it difficult to expand their operations or add new features to their systems. 
    • Higher costs. On-premises ERP systems require businesses to invest in expensive hardware, software, and IT infrastructure. This can be a significant financial burden for businesses and will block capital that can be used for other business expansion needs. 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a comprehensive business management solution that helps small and medium-sized companies connect their finance, sales, service, and operations teams within a single easy-to-use application. With Dynamics 365 Business Central, customers can confidently move to the cloud and unlock the insights needed to adapt faster, work smarter, and perform better. Watch this video for an overview. 

What are the benefits of Dynamics 365 Business Central?

Dynamics 365 Business Central in the cloud provides a range of benefits, including: 

AI-powered experiences. Dynamics 365 Business Central in the cloud brings the power of AI to small and medium-sized businesses with features that help companies work smarter, adapt faster, and perform better. For example, Dynamics 365 Copilot introduces the next generation of AI-powered experiences to Microsoft Dynamics 365 business applications. Dynamics 365 Copilot provides AI assistance directly in the flow of work using natural language technology, automating repetitive tasks, and unlocking creativity. With Copilot in Business Central, product managers can save time and drive sales with engaging AI-generated product descriptions. Banish writer’s block with unique, compelling marketing text created in seconds using product attributes such as color, material, and size. Tailor the descriptions to your brand by choosing a tone of voice, as well as format and length. This is the AI power that an organization won’t have access to being on-premises. Watch this video to learn more. 

Cost savings. Dynamics 365 Business Central in the cloud can help slash operating costs for your business when it comes to labor, equipment, warehouse space, admin, deployment, and more. Plus, businesses that make the move to the cloud can expect to reduce their IT costs. 

Flexibility and scalability. Cloud solutions like Dynamics 365 make it easier to control where data is stored, who has access, and what resources a business is using at any given moment. Migration can reduce the risk of ransomware attacks and data breaches and provide greater data security for customers. Arguably the most tangible benefit of migrating to the cloud is the ability to access data and business tools from any device or location, and move seamlessly between laptops, tablets, smartphones, and desktops without losing critical data or hours of work. The cloud advantage is a must-have today considering the remote teamwork experiences and global partnerships. 

Move to the Cloud with AIM

We’re pleased to announce our FY24 Migration Program framework: AIM. With AIM, you can expedite your customer migration conversations by leveraging our investment offers, migration tools, and support for qualified customers. It’s easier than ever to help customers and partners migrate data from on-premises to Dynamic 365 Business Central and help boost business productivity and efficiency. 

Within the AIM program, we’ve created top-notch offers for customers that will help save costs in their cloud migration journey. There are also incentive levers that our partners and customers can leverage, along with a support ecosystem for qualified opportunities that will help with the actual migration. This support ecosystem is comprised of both internal Microsoft architects and our network of partners with Dynamics 365 Business Central migration expertise.  

Watch this Inspire session on demand to learn more. 

Get started today

Ready to get started using Dynamics 365 Business Central? Get an overview and a guided tour. 

To help your customers move to the cloud with confidence, go to the Dynamics 365 Partner Portal for resources and assets. 

Related posts

Catch up on what you missed at Microsoft Ignite 2023 | Microsoft 

Transform work with Copilot in Dynamics 365 Business Central – Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog 

Join the conversation

Want to explore this and other topics you care about with Microsoft and other US partners? Head over to the Microsoft Americas Partner Community on LinkedIn. 

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