In addition to creating a host of different applications and cloud offerings such as Office 365, Power BI, and Azure, Microsoft has released Dynamics 365 Business Central which enables small-to-midsize businesses (SMB) to get a better handle on their financials, jobs, service and supply chains as well as overall customer relationship management.

If you are currently utilizing Microsoft Dynamics SL, you may wonder whether the latest Dynamcis 365 Business Central offering is truly worth the transition of your business to this new cloud offering.

The only way to know, is by learning how they compare. Here are some of the features of Dynamics SL and Dynamics 365 Business Central so you can determine for yourself if the switch is worthwhile.

What are the main features of Dynamics SL?

Proven to be an enterprise resource planning software that has stood the test of time (released in 2006), Microsoft Dynamics SL is a highly functional and economical product that enables SMBs to more effectively handle and organize their financials, jobs, and supply chain operations. Especially favored by businesses in construction, professional services, engineering and government contracting, this ERP solution makes indispensable tasks like billing, receiving, materials and inventory management, cash forecasting and others less time consuming and hassle-free. Indeed, because the financial software is so comprehensive in its capabilities, it’s allowed SMBs to experience significant cost savings in business expenses, whether that’s by downsizing their accounting departments, increasing productivity or making complicated arithmetic and budgeting workflows far less taxing.

One of the best parts of this particular ERP solution is its ability to adapt and grow as your business changes. If you’re in a job-centric industry, you can perform many of the project-driven and data entry tasks you would with your desktop computer from your laptop or mobile device on-site. Additionally, since the user interface is a cleaner, more polished version of Microsoft Office, the learning curve is fairly minimal.

What is included with Microsoft Dynamics 365?

Generally speaking, when a new software program comes out, you expect it to be state of the art and do more than its predecessor. It’s safe to say that Dynamics 365 Business Central meets that high standard. Essentially, Dynamics 365 does everything that Dynamics SL does – only better and in a much more comprehensive fashion, including budgeting, cash management, accounts receivable, financial reporting, and project accounting. Indeed, as noted by Technology Evaluation Centers, Dynamics 365 offers “noticeably more” functions and features than its predecessor.

So much so, Dynamics 365 comes in two editions: Business Edition, which is geared mainly toward small and medium-sized businesses; and Enterprise Edition, for medium to large companies. The vastness of Dynamics 365 makes it slightly harder to navigate than its predecessor, but the workflows are user-friendly and intuitive.

Perhaps the where Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and SL differ is the Business Central is a native cloud-based solution. While Dynamics SL can be hosted in the cloud, Dynamics 365 Business Central is written to be multi-tenant and a trues cloud solution. Cloud access has almost become a requirement for companies to remain competitive. According to McAffee, more than 85% of businesses say their organization has grown more quickly thanks to cloud-based services. It’s no surprise that cloud spending is anticipated to reach close to $500 billion within three years, up from $229 billion in 2019, according to the International Data Corporation.

How much does Microsoft Dynamics 365 cost?

For all that you get with the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central bundle, this software is highly affordable and starts at only $70/user/month. For those customers that are current on their SL enahncement plan, they geta  discounted rate of $xx/user/month.

Ready to make the switch? We can help with that. To make the most of your CRM and ERP software and enhance productivity, contact The TM Group today.