Data migration from NAV or BC On-Premises to Cloud Business Central
Sticking to old ways is comforting. Using an outdated yet seemingly stable NAV feels natural. Changes, and a cloud migration to Business Central, in particular, seem expensive.
At the same time, Microsoft is setting NAV 2016 and BC25 to expire. The end-of-support deadlines make an upgrade a natural next step before this comfort zone disappears.
Here is a closer look at why cloud migration makes sense and how to pick a secure migration path.
Why upgrade from NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Microsoft built NAV for an on-premises, server-based infrastructure.
Dynamics 365 BC, on the other hand, is built for cloud-first operations.
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Microsoft’s focus has entirely shifted to the cloud version of BC. It regularly gets new features, while no new functionality is developed for NAV. Microsoft also actively invests in AI for Business Central.
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Using BC cloud means getting rid of local servers. No more manual updates and maintenance, no hardware when a business needs to expand.
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Business Central natively integrates with Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Power BI, and Teams. NAV cannot do these things out of the box.
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Modern BC architecture makes the integration with third-party tools and extensions like Jira Connector for BC easy to naturally link Business Central with project management processes without major tweaks.
Is it the right time to upgrade your NAV to Business Central?
Certain versions of NAV and BC are already nearing the end of support. January 2028 makes the final deadline for NAV 2018. For versions up to NAV 2018, support is already ending.
Running an ERP that is no longer supported is risky. First of all, this means the system accumulates compliance and security risks. Staying on-premises also means relying on physical servers, which age while costs for infrastructure maintenance spiral up.
If an organization is already planning any system change, like adding new modules and integrations to the ERP or team growth, an upgrade to BC in the window that is still available is less expensive than doing it later, when something breaks.
Why upgrading from NAV to BC is a progressive step towards your business growth?
Benefits from moving to the cloud turn the upgrade into a prudent investment, not a financial burden. What is more, professional BC cloud maintenance helps a BC solution to naturally grow, keeping the post-migration environment stable and healthy.
The same data across the organization.
All the employees use unified data. As a result, decision-making improves, and so does order management.
Staying current all the time.
Cloud version stays up to date with major updates from Microsoft, landing twice a year. No more manual upgrade cycles for the ERP to evolve.
Aging versions are more expensive.
Compared to maintaining an outdated NAV, in 3-5 years after migration organizations see that maintaining an evergreen cloud version is more cost-effective.
Growing is easier.
Adding more users and modules with Microsoft’s subscriptions is easier than buying new physical hardware.
How you can do more with a Microsoft Business Central upgrade
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Process orders faster through intuitive UI. Compared to NAV's rigid interface, BC’s role-specific navigation is designed for real user workflows.
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Use the potential of Microsoft’s rich set of tools: full native integration with Outlook, Teams, and Excel, and more.
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Use the system from any place and any device (web, mobile) with remote access and regardless of VPN.
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Get real-time business reporting and visualized data with built-in Power BI dashboards, without linking separate data sources.
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Add ready-made extensions on top of the current Dynamics 365 Business Central straight from AppSource.
Dynamics NAV to Business Central upgrade process
We use an 8-step process to move businesses to the cloud: from code analysis to post-migration navigation.
We start with Discovery X-ray. The pre-migration review checks the customer’s current NAV or BC on-prem version’s code for customizations to decide what functionality needs to move to the cloud, which can be replaced with extensions, and which the customer can get rid of.
We set the cloud migration and maintenance strategy according to customers’ needs.
We migrate data in a way that best suits each specific upgrade project. Four approaches are available for the most flexible move.
We scope the migration project based on workshops and functional fits/gaps.
As part of the solution development phase, we can reimplement the required features or develop extensions instead of customizations.
We run manual and automated testing for the new cloud environment.
The new cloud ERP goes live, completely ready for everyday use.
After the upgrade, we maintain the new solution and help add even more possibilities on top with AI, automation, additional development, and more.
Why Choose Global Mediator?
- Extensive experience with BC and deep NAV heritage: we have worked with Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Business Central for over 14 years now.
- Everything in one place: BC development, data migration, and maintenance after going live handled by one team, without handoffs.
- Fixed-priced projects mean no budget surprises.
- Direct communication with software engineers doing the work, without middlemen.
Data migration strategy for Dynamics NAV/Business Central - why it matters?
Data migration is critical for multiple processes that enhance data management across systems:
◻️ legacy system migration
◻️ integrating data from older apps into modern systems
◻️ performing major software upgrades
◻️ adopting new cloud or on-premises platforms
In Dynamics NAV and BC, data migration is rarely as simple as copy-pasting items from one location to another. The underlying business logic and various validations usually prevent this approach.
Trying to migrate data "as is", without filtering it beforehand, may move outdated or irrelevant data alongside critical information. As a result, businesses using the newest versions of Business Central cloud or on-prem may struggle with data integrity, security, and performance issues.
Efficient and well-planned data migration, on the other hand, is crucial for effective data management in Business Central and good data strategy.
To meet concrete project requirements and specific business needs, we offer a flexible approach to data migration, combining recommended Microsoft guides and tools, boosted by custom processes when relevant.
Data migration from NAV/Business Central: benefits of moving with us
Minimal or no disruption of business processes, as the migration processes are mainly run on the weekend, outside business hours.
Data Shipping App, a unique data migration tool that boosts data migration from on-prem to cloud for large databases, when go-live can't be done over a single weekend.
Tailored approach to specific migration cases and customer needs.
Flexible planning and implementation of data migration.
Data security. The way we handle data is through VPN-enabled virtual machines with two-factor authentication in a secure environment.
Vast experience in data migrations and Business Central cloud solutions.
A team of outside-the-box thinkers to suggest alternative solutions when they fit best.
Direct, no-middlemen communication with our professionals for a faster project delivery.
Pick your unique approach to data migration services for NAV/Business Central
For the most comprehensive approach, we conduct data migration as a standalone package (for either moving to the cloud or on-prem migrations) and as a key component of Stairway to Cloud, our complete cloud migration package.
To migrate on-premises data to Business Central online in a predictable manner, we suggest starting with Discovery X-ray
as the first step. This NAV/BC pre-migration review reveals modifications in the current NAV/BC solution to later plan a predictable and surprise-free migration to Business Central cloud.
We plan and conduct data migration based on our NAV/BC customizations review, and 4 major approaches for secure data migration.
For any of the approaches, we can apply a “no as is” migration by filtering legacy data and moving only relevant tables and fields to the cloud.
Data only
Our approach involves only transferring the business data that the customer requires, without affecting system modifications or code.
Best fit: simple system upgrades with minimal custom processes.
Data first
The first step is to transfer business data. Once it’s in the cloud, we later update business logic or develop custom functionality, if needed. The customers’ business processes are up and running as we use our tool, built for this type of migration – Data Shipping app - to make the transition even faster and smoother.
Best fit: systems with significant customizations or major logic updates.
Code only
We move functionality, customized features, or extensions to the cloud without moving business data. Instead, we help prepare and implement new, fresh data sets.
Best fit: scenarios where only functionality needs to be migrated to the cloud.
Code first
After the code is migrated, we move standard and custom data, including custom fields or pages. We also adapt the underlying code or customizations for a smooth performance from the very start.
Best fit: in particular, large and complex projects where both the data and application logic need restructuring or updating in parallel.
Data migration as part of a Business Central cloud migration strategy
Data migration backs cloud migration in many scenarios:
Moving from legacy to cloud
When moving legacy applications that use large datasets, it is crucial to migrate data to BC online to ensure the app functions effectively in the cloud.
Improving data management
Cloud solutions improve collaboration and enhance data management with centralized access to data across business departments.
Adding scalability
Migrating business data to the cloud is a must to benefit from its scalability by managing large or changing business workflows effectively.
Optimizing operational costs
Maintaining cloud solutions is more cost-friendly than maintaining and upgrading the solutions' infrastructure in the on-prem versions.
Global Mediator defines and tailors data migration for Dynamics NAV/BC depending on specific customer and project needs, or regulatory requirements.
Thus, we can accommodate any of the 4 approaches within our cloud migration suite.
However, data migration is not always obligatory and depends on the specific requirements and strategies of cloud migration.
Data migration as a standalone package
For businesses that need data migration services outside the cloud migration, Global Mediator conducts data migration as a standalone package.
The package covers, among other things:
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modernizing legacy systems without migrating to the cloud
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moving data from one physical location to another (on-prem to on-prem migration)
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running major software upgrades (e.g., moving to a more recent version of an ERP) that may require data migration
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consolidating data from multiple systems and databases into a unified source
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changing database platforms when moving from one database management system to another
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migrating applications from one environment or platform to another for better compatibility, performance, and cutting costs