Dynamics 365 Business Central Implementation

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Implement Dynamics 365 Business Central with a trusted partner. Encore’s proven process, backed by expert guidance and long-term support, is based on our experience of over 2,300 implementations.

Dynamics 365 Business Central is designed to be configured and connected to fit your company. That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced partner who will assess your needs, select the best options for you, integrate the ERP with your related tools, and guide your teams through user adoption and training.

Our Proven Business Central Implementation Process

There are 5 steps in a quality Dynamics 365 Business Central implementation: Diagnostic, Analysis, Solution Modeling, Deployment, and Operation. Each step requires the Business Central Partner to guide and collaborate with the client.

1. Diagnostic

Initial discovery meetings to uncover your basic needs, identify inefficient processes, and determine necessary integrations. This step is crucial for risk mitigation and sets the foundation for the project.

2. Analysis

Review specific business processes to determine exact requirements. This collaborative effort ensures all relevant processes are documented in detail, resulting in a comprehensive action plan and timeline.

3. Solution Modeling

Iterative design and development. Includes technical setup, configuration, training, and testing. The iterating, testing, and feedback with your team are necessary for Business Central to fit your needs perfectly.

4. Deployment

Prepare to go live with the new ERP. This phase involves creating the production environment, load testing, and data migration. This step ensures a smooth transition, with your team ready to start using the new system effectively.

5. Operation

Transition to client ownership and ongoing support from Encore. We create the final documentation, conduct a project review, and address any ad hoc questions.

Learn How Our Process Works for You

It was an easy transition to Dynamics 365 Business Central because we methodically went through what was needed ahead of time with Encore’s guidance.

Eric Gier, Director of Finance, AltPep Corporation

How Encore Adapts a Business Central Implementation to You

Our repeatable, 5-step Business Central implementation process does not mean applying the same configuration to every client. Instead, it’s a structured framework for uncovering customer needs and adapting the technology to them.

Encore’s experience of over 2,300 Microsoft Dynamics implementations shows that there is no such thing as a static, completely out-of-the-box, “standard” implementation. Every ERP project differs on both a business and human level. Every company’s specific needs, stage of growth, pace of change, and circumstances differ, even within the same industry.

That’s why our process for Business Central implementations starts with our experts getting to know you, your way of working, and your strategic goals.

Request a Strategic Planning Session

Dynamics 365 Business Central Implementation Cost

Business Central implementations cost between $18,000 and $160,000+, and where you fit in that range depends on five main factors:

The scope of functionality you need in Business Central: starting from GL/AP/AR up through manufacturing.
Third-party integrations.
Special compliance needs.
“Soft” factors like your strategic goals for the implementation.
Whether your team or your implementation partner’s team does the difficult work of assessing your specific processes and pain points, and fitting the functionality of Business Central to your needs.

To quickly assess these factors for your company and get your own Business Central price estimate range, try our self-serve tool. Take 2 minutes to estimate your project with confidence.

For an overview of the basic Business Central implementation pricing tiers according to functional needs, see the table below.

Functional Areas

Basic Price Range

Simple

GL, AP, AR

$18k – $80k

Medium

Above, plus Sales and Purchase Order Processing

$22k – $100k

Advanced

Above, plus inventory and MRP

$25k – $130k

Complex

Above, plus manufacturing

$160k+

You can also contact us to get a more precise estimate from our experts, tailored to your unique needs.

Implementation is a one-time cost. To understand the total cost of ownership for Business Central, the two most important ongoing costs to consider are licensing and support.

Dynamics 365 Business Central License Pricing

Business Central licenses start from $80 USD ($108.50 CAD) per user per month for Essentials licenses, but there are two other license types to consider.

Dynamics 365 Business Central License

Functionality

Price Per User Per Month

Business Central Essentials Full User

Financial Management, Supply Chain Management, Human Resources Management, Project Management, Warehouse Management

$80 USD ($108.50 CAD)

Business Central Premium Full User

Includes Essentials capabilities, plus Service Order Management and Manufacturing

$110 USD ($149.20 CAD)

Business Central Team Member

Read data, Update existing data and entries, Approve or reject tasks in workflows assigned to a user, Create, edit, and delete sales or purchase quotes and personal information, Enter job time sheets, Use Power Apps or Power Automate

$8.00 USD ($10.90 CAD)

To learn more about the big picture of the different license options, explore these resources:

Or if you’re ready for answers and advice about the right licenses for your specific situation, contact us:

Get Licensing Answers

Dynamics 365 Business Central Support Pricing

Clients can access Unlimited Support from Encore’s team of in-house, Microsoft-certified Dynamics 365 Business Central experts at $75 per user per month.

Our support services address client concerns promptly and have earned a client satisfaction rate of 96%.

Read full details on Encore Care Support for Business Central users.

Encore Care Unlimited includes:

Break/fix support
User coaching and application guidance
New user setup and workstation installs
Monthly training credit
Access to client portal and knowledge base
And more

How We Handle Business Central Integrations for You

For many businesses, connecting their ERP data with other business systems is critical. We’ve helped clients integrate Dynamics 365 Business Central with a wide range of other software, including tools such as:

Power BI for enhanced reporting
Excel for bulk updates and imports
Dynamics 365 CRM for advanced sales and service needs
Shopify for inventory sync
Continia for document capture and expense management
ADP integration with general journals for payroll
And many, many more

As part of our needs assessment, we’ll review your whole technology ecosystem, identify functionality you can now do inside Business Central, and recommend any needed integrations.

The connectivity with Excel, Outlook, the Power Platform, and other Microsoft products is a major reason why companies choose Dynamics 365. That’s why the Encore team includes experts across the full Microsoft stack, so we can help you select and connect the right tools for you.

Furthermore, there are over 7,000 Microsoft-verified 3^rd party apps to fit specific business needs. We’ve been in the community more than 35 years, and we can help you choose the best options for you. Need to connect your systems? Start by talking with the experts.

Implement Business Central Right the First Time with Encore

Implementing Dynamics 365 Business Central is a major investment, and missteps are expensive. Encore brings together the right mix of technical expertise, real-world implementation experience, and human-centered support to help you launch successfully.

While some companies provide oversimplified Business Central implementations, we believe that each business’s needs are unique enough to require a more tailored approach. If your implementation partner does not offer consultation, training, and testing that involves your staff, you could wind up with an ERP implementation that is technically “complete,” but that your people won’t fully adopt.

At Encore, we’ll guide you through both the technical and the human challenges of implementing a new ERP. Together, we’ll get it right the first time.

Book a Consult

As part of implementing Business Central to fit your real needs, we’ll connect the ERP with your other Microsoft tools. For instance, we’ll enable your people to view and edit their ERP data through familiar apps like Outlook and Excel — easing user adoption and making work much more efficient.

Watch: Benefits of the Microsoft Ecosystem

Our Chief Revenue Officer, Aran Cameron, explains the importance of this approach to an ERP solution:

How Long Does Business Central Implementation Take?

Dynamics 365 Business Central implementations take 2 to 16 months to complete, depending on the complexity of your functional needs and important human factors like the availability and commitment of your team.

A Business Central implementation timeline includes configuration, any integrations, testing, and training. As with cost, the first factor in your timeline is your functional needs for the system, so it’s important to assess those early in developing your ERP implementation plan:

Functional Areas

Basic Timeline Range

Simple

GL, AP, AR

2 – 6 months

Medium

Above, plus Sales and Purchase Order Processing

3 – 8 months

Advanced

Above, plus inventory and MRP

4 – 12 months

Complex

Above, plus manufacturing

10 – 16 months

Factors That Affect How Long It Takes to Implement Business Central:

Companies using only GL/AP/AR functionality take less time to implement than those using manufacturing functionality, for instance.

Planning for this availability is a key step in a successful, on-schedule Business Central implementation.

In most cases, this needs to be done by your Business Central implementation partner, but some customers can handle it in-house.

Fully modernizing your work routines can provide much higher ROI, but requires further investment of time during the implementation.

Over the course of our 35+ years implementing solutions for our clients, we have seen many nuances and exceptions for each of these factors.

Build a Custom Timeline With Us

Case Study: How Encore Implemented Dynamics 365 Business Central for a 40-Year-Old Manufacturing Company

We helped Omega Industries, a leading supplier of mainline railroad crossings in the USA, move from their manual processes to a more efficient and transparent system in Dynamics 365 Business Central. Omega had been stuck for 5 years with a stalled implementation of a custom (non-Microsoft) manufacturing solution.

By starting with our discovery and analysis processes, Encore identified Omega’s strategic needs and recommended using a phased approach to transition Omega to Business Central. After their first 9 months with us, Omega is live on Business Central with GL/AP/AR functionality and looking forward to implementing further modules to cover their full business processes.

Read Full Case Study

"Encore helped us achieve in about nine months what we couldn't accomplish in five years. That's the big success story right there."

Maria Leonard, Corporate Controller, Omega Industries

The Phased Approach Option for Business Central Implementation

If you need to get onto Dynamics 365 Business Central quickly, but aren’t ready to do a full implementation encompassing all your business processes, Encore can help you with a phased approach.

We can implement the system in stages, getting you live with your most needed functionalities first and gradually adding more features over time. For example, Omega Industries began with core accounting modules before implementing inventory and manufacturing, allowing their team to start gaining ROI early.

Benefits of a Phased Approach

Two red arrows, one pointing left and one pointing right, with dashed and solid lines suggesting movement in opposite directions, on a light gray background.

Faster Go-Live
A phased approach allows your organization to go live on Business Central sooner.

A pink bar chart with three ascending bars and an upward-pointing arrow above them, representing growth or increasing progress, on a white background.

Minimized Disruption
Launching Business Central in phases reduces the amount of change your team needs to go through at one time. This can help with change management and training, as well as with reducing downtime.

A simple red globe icon with horizontal and vertical lines representing latitude and longitude, on a light gray background.

More Manageable Scope
Planning, budgeting, and project management for each phase will be simpler.

A simple red line drawing of a light bulb, with small lines around the top suggesting it is shining or illuminated, on a white background.

Adaptation and Learning
As your organization grows and gains experience with Dynamics 365 Business Central, you can make more informed decisions about subsequent phases.

Talk to Us About a Phased Rollout

Support for Business Central Users — Before and After Launch

Beyond implementation, what truly sets Encore apart is our systematic and proactive approach to providing support and training for our clients, ensuring you’re never left stranded.

Go-Live Support

During your go-live, our dedicated Dynamics 365 Business Central specialists will assist you as you begin working in the new system. They’ll resolve any unexpected problems and help your people transition to the new processes with confidence.

The implementation team will document the specifics of your system and share that info with our Encore Care support team, so they’ll be ready to assist you from day one.

Ongoing Support

For any ERP implementation to be successful, it’s essential to have a plan in place for support after go live. So once your system is live and stable, we transition you to the Encore Care support program.

You can submit support tickets and view both your past tickets and our knowledge-base articles through the Encore Care support portal. One of our in-house Dynamics 365 Business Central support specialists will be assigned to your ticket within the hour, and we boast a client satisfaction rate of 96%.

From Support to Success—Start Planning

Training

Your team will receive training from Encore as part of your implementation process. And after implementation, we’ll provide training for new users and other needs through Encore Care support. Encore training goes beyond “feature and function,” and is tailored to your users, their needs, and the business processes around the software.

Our team also creates tips-and-tricks blog articles and hosts live webinars to help keep you informed.

Watch: How We Support Clients Beyond Go-Live

In this short video, Scott Murn, our Client Support Services Practice Lead, discusses common challenges companies are facing today, and how Encore’s support services can help you:

The Encore Partnership Advantage: Experience + Collaboration

"Besides building the systems, we’ve built a trusted relationship with Encore across every part of our organization. From the beginning they’ve been the ones to help get things on track, give advice on what’s best for the solution, and really helped us in understanding what our end goal is."

Jaylyn Rowe, Director of Digital Transformation, UBCJA

Selecting the right technology partner is just as important as selecting the right ERP solution. Hear more from Aran Cameron, our Chief Revenue Officer, about what makes Encore stand out from other partners:

To truly see the benefits of implementing Dynamics 365 Business Central, it takes great communication and partnership between our team and yours.

As an experienced Business Central Partner, we believe that ERP projects are fundamentally people-driven change management projects. That’s why we involve your subject matter experts for each of the affected processes in the implementation. It’s essential to understand their pain points and gain their buy-in early, so the new implementation can achieve full user adoption.

Our project managers coordinate the efforts of both sides, setting clear expectations, keeping leaders up to date on implementation progress, handling change requests, and contingency planning.

Right from the start, you’ll appreciate consistent communication and our honest, straightforward approach. We’ll work closely with each other to solve your company’s challenges as partners.

Talk With Our Implementation Team

Business Central Implementation Insights and Resources

Migrate to Dynamics 365 Business Central with Encore

05:17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klA2r0NdpZE

Buyer's Guide: How To Buy a New ERP Solution

46:27

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg_dntnF2Lg

Dynamics 365 Business Central New User Training

59:26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0oDnwduzBs

Transforming a Manufacturer with Business Central

02:32

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMLErkKVrwk

More About Dynamics 365 Business Central

More About Encore and Our Services

Let’s Build Your Business Central Plan

We start by getting to know you and your business, and then we’ll help you develop an implementation plan that suits your strategy.

Reach out to consult with our experts today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dynamics 365 Business Central implementations typically take 2 to 16 months. Where you fall in that range depends on factors like needed functionality, how deeply you want to reimagine your processes, and the availability and commitment of your team. Learn more.

Implementation of Dynamics 365 Business Central costs between $18,000 and $160,000. Business Central Essentials licenses cost $80 USD ($108.50 CAD) per full user per month. Learn more.

To implement Dynamics 365 Business Central properly, there are 5 steps, each of which you need to take with a Business Central Partner: Diagnostic, Analysis, Solution Modeling, Deployment, and finally Operation. Learn more about our proven process.

Yes, Business Central can be implemented in phases, and this can help you go live faster, minimize disruption, and allow for a better feedback loop of learning and user adoption with your team. Read a case study.

Clients choose Encore for Business Central implementation for 4 main reasons:

Encore provides a steady hand through change, assisting your team through training and user adoption. After all, the success of a Business Central implementation depends as much on change management as it does on technology.
Encore will be straightforward and transparent with you in terms of budget, timeline, and all the other difficult conversations needed for a successful ERP implementation.
Encore brings expertise across the full Microsoft stack, so they can help you select and connect the best tools for a comprehensive solution
Encore acts as your partner for the long run, providing ongoing support and strategic guidance so you won’t be left stranded after implementation. In fact, Encore’s average client has been with us for over 13 years.

Book a Consult With Encore