Here's what each step delivers and why structure beats shortcuts and rushing every single time.

Step 1. Discovery phase: see your system clearly before migrating to the cloud

Moving things “as is” without a proper understanding of what to move and whether to move at all is a losing game. That's why we avoid any assumptions and rely on proven facts based on a detailed pre-migration code review before we start a cloud migration. It takes us two days to automatically review your current solutions’ code with the Discovery X-ray tool. We identify customizations and legacy code that might complicate the cloud transition.

☑️ Business gain: you know exactly what you're dealing with before allocating resources when you start planning a cloud migration. You have clarity on what you need to take to the cloud, what to replace with extensions, and what to drop.

Step 2. Migration and Maintenance strategy: define your way to the cloud

Now that you clearly see what’s inside your current NAV or BC solution based on the Discovery X-ray results, you can build a migration roadmap that fits your business pace and budget. Not a template. Not a generic timeline pulled from another project. Your roadmap.

We define migration phases based on your goals, be it a complete reimplementation with new workflows, minimal disruption to operations, or faster time-to-cloud. We set clear milestones, identify potential risks, and agree upfront on what success looks like when you're done.

☑️ What you get: a transparent migration plan built around your actual constraints and goals. You know what's happening, when, and why - no surprises about scope or costs when you're halfway through.

Step 3. Data migration: move what matters, safely

ERP business logic doesn’t favor data migration as simply copying files from one location to another when dealing with Dynamics NAV and Business Central. That's why we move data in a flexible, tailored way, first considering each specific situation.

We often recommend a data-first approach as the best option. We move your business data early, then update business logic or develop custom functionality as needed. For large projects needing more than a single weekend to migrate, we use our unique tool, Data Shipping App, to ensure minimal disruption.

☑️The result: predictable cloud migration and no surprises later. Avoiding "as is" migrations means leaving outdated or irrelevant data behind instead of dragging it alongside critical information.

Step 4. Scoping: shape your future solution with real insight

With your data already in the Business Central cloud environment, we run workshops to define your business processes and workflows, answer open questions, and document how your solution actually operates.

We analyze, validate, and approve requirements. We identify functional gaps through Fit/Gap Analysis, so we know for sure what works, what doesn't, and what's missing in the new cloud environment.

The output translates into detailed documentation with specific suggestions and recommendations. This covers data model, integration flows, test strategy, project risks, estimated effort, timeline, and key milestones. You have everything you need to know before development starts.

☑️Why it matters: scope rooted in actual business processes, so later the development effort goes for sure where it matters most.

Step 5. Solution development: build functionality ready for cloud

Now we craft your tailored solution based on the principles of cloud-native development, as well as best practices for extensions and AL development. Our goal is to re-implement a maintainable and future-proof solution, not recreate your old system in a new environment.

If relevant, during this stage, we can enrich your solution with the digitalization advantages like Power Platform integration, process automation, or AI tools. Not as a last-minute addition after you’re in the cloud, but as part of the core solution. This optional sub-step is a chance to add intelligence early, when it's easier and more cost-effective to implement.

☑️Business advantage: cloud-ready solutions with early access to automation benefits, making your system easy to maintain today and tomorrow.

Step 6. Testing: ensure top-quality before the solution is live

We run manual and automated testing as part of the Quality Assurance phase. Our comprehensive approach helps ensure the reliability and performance of the newly developed cloud solution. We keep special focus on regression testing to verify that your Business Central cloud solution performs as it is supposed to after any changes are introduced. In brief, this step protects you from a nightmare scenario of going live with a system that can't handle critical operations.

☑️How you benefit: going live with minimized risk. Critical processes in Business Central like sales, invoicing, and payments run smoothly from day one. No scrambling, no delays, no emergency fixes.

Step 7. Go-Live: smooth transition with control

Your Business Central cloud is fully deployed, tested, and ready for daily operations.

We are ready for the release. We run a detailed post-migration checklist to make sure everything runs as it should. Data transfers are verified, including custom fields in modified tables. Files stored in the database are confirmed intact. All users have access and can confidently start exploring the new Business Central cloud version.

This step is where proper preparation makes the difference, as a well-executed go-live feels almost boring. Which, for a cloud migration, is a very good sign.

☑️What you get: predictable go-live without chaos, downtime, and surprises. Your team can focus on running the business instead of dealing with last-minute problems.

Step 8. Maintenance and Enhancement: ongoing care after cloud migration

So, this is it, you’re live, enjoying the advantages of the Business Central Cloud.

In reality, the post-go-live activities naturally transition into structured maintenance and improvement to maximize the Business Central cloud version. With Microsoft’s regular updates, your cloud ERP system needs ongoing attention to stay healthy. This is where many cloud migrations either struggle or succeed. And it depends on whether maintenance is systematic or ad hoc.

We run Business Central Cloud maintenance in two parallel flows: developing new features, fixing bugs, optimizing what customers currently have, and performing system health monitoring (tenant checks, performance monitoring, and telemetry tracking). We also run Microsoft update cycles across both flows – with preview analyses, compatibility checks, updates scheduling with our in-house Tenant Admin Tool, and thorough regression testing.

☑️Business gain: your Business Central Cloud is ready for sustainable growth in the future. With proactive maintenance, your solution delivers value instead of becoming a legacy burden you'll need to replace in five years.

Bottom line: why structure matters

Cloud migration isn't about rush. It's about making progress wisely. If you rush and skip steps to save budget, you'll end up fixing problems that could have been avoided from the very start.

With Stairway to Cloud, we help businesses do more than just move their ERP to the cloud. We help strengthen their cloud solution with automation, make it scalable and easy to maintain over time. Businesses can adapt their Business Central cloud solutions as Microsoft releases updates and as their own business evolves. With Stairway to Cloud, they turn migration from a necessary expense into a wise investment for sustainable growth.

The difference between a successful cloud migration and a challenging one usually boils down to one question: was it a clear strategy, or did you just keep your fingers crossed?

If you are not sure where your NAV or BC on-prem stands before migrating, try Discovery X-ray with us, with results in two days and no lock-ins. Get clarity on what to move, what to leave behind, and what it'll actually take to get to the cloud.