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Business Apps Dynamics NAV

Upgrading from Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central

We can help you find your direction, whether upgrading to Dynamics 365 Business Central or improving your current solution.

Masthead 4-May-28-2026-10-53-43-7589-AM

Do I have to upgrade to Business Central?

Upgrading your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system takes time, research and planning. The good news? You don't have to rush. Node4 will continue to support your Dynamics NAV solution, regardless of age or version.

However, Microsoft has announced the end of life for NAV, with key milestones leading to 30 April 2031. For NAV 2018 customers, extended support ends in January 2028, after which Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or fixes for any of their NAV products.

While we'll continue to support your system, running unsupported software can increase security, compliance and operational risks, while making it harder to take advantage of modern technologies, AI capabilities and cloud innovation, plus the current funding programs that are on offer.

Moving to Dynamics 365 Business Central gives you a secure, future-ready platform with continuous updates, built-in AI capabilities like Copilot, and the flexibility to scale as your business grows. The earlier you start planning, the more options you'll have for a smooth, controlled transition.

What are the benefits of upgrading to Dynamics 365 Business Central?

If you're still running Dynamics NAV, one of the biggest benefits of moving to Business Central is getting onto a supported, secure and compliant platform. With NAV now out of support, or approaching the end of extended support, upgrading helps reduce the risks associated with ageing technology.

Beyond support, Business Central gives you access to continuous innovation. From built-in Copilot AI capabilities to seamless integration with Microsoft 365, Power Platform and Azure, you'll benefit from new features and greater productivity without the disruption of traditional upgrades.

Perhaps the biggest advantage is Business Central's evergreen architecture. Instead of costly, time-consuming upgrade projects every few years, updates are delivered regularly and with minimal disruption. Combined with our Evergreen service, we'll manage your annual upgrades for you, helping you stay current, control costs and get the most from every new release.

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Unlock funding for your upgrade

Moving from Dynamics NAV to Business Central is an investment in your future, but you may not have to cover the full cost yourself. Microsoft regularly offers funding and incentive programmes to help businesses modernise, reduce upgrade costs and accelerate their move to the cloud.

Why check for funding?

  • Reduce the cost of your upgrade
  • Speed up your move to Business Central
  • Access support for cloud migration projects
  • Make your budget go further

Click below to find out what Microsoft are offering to support your upgrading journey.

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Contact us

for a free consultation around upgrading your solution

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Which upgrade best suits your business?

Every NAV customer is different, which is why there isn't a single upgrade route to Business Central. You can choose a Full Upgrade if you're happy with your current setup and want to modernise with minimal disruption. A Clean Start Upgrade gives you the chance to tidy up data, improve configurations, and streamline processes as part of the move. Or, if your business has evolved significantly over the years, a Re-Implementation lets you start fresh with a new Business Central solution designed around how your business operates today and where it's heading tomorrow.

Feature Full Upgrade Clean Start Upgrade Re-Implementation
Best for Businesses happy with their current setup that want to modernise quickly Businesses looking to tidy up data and improve configurations while upgrading Businesses needing significant process, configuration, or system changes
Data Keep all existing data as-is Opportunity to review, cleanse and rationalise data Full review of what data should move to the new system
Configurations & Setups Retain current setups and configurations Review and update selected configurations Redesign key configurations and business processes
Customisations Retain and migrate existing customisations where appropriate Review existing customisations and rebuild only those still needed Start with a standard Business Central platform and rebuild around current business requirements
Business Change Required Low. Minimal impact on users until testing and go-live Medium. Additional workshops and user involvement during the project High. Extensive discovery, workshops and process redesign
Project Complexity Low Moderate Highest
Future Optimisation Limited. Primarily a like-for-like upgrade Good opportunity to optimise processes and data Complete opportunity to transform the solution and processes
Typical Outcome Modern Business Central with minimal disruption Cleaner, more streamlined Business Central environment A redesigned Business Central solution built for future growth

How can you upgrade from
Dynamics NAV to Business Central?

There are three ways to upgrade from Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central: Full Upgrade, Clean Start Upgrade, or Re-Implementation.
Each route gets you to Business Central, but the right choice depends on your business goals and how much change you want to make.

Upgrade
your way

 

 

 

Full Upgrade

The quickest route to modern Business Central.

A Full Upgrade is ideal if you're happy with your current setup and want to move to the latest version of Business Central while keeping your data, configurations, and processes largely unchanged. Think of it as taking what you have today and bringing it up to date.

Best for businesses that:

  • Want to retain existing data and setups
  • Have relatively stable processes
  • Need a lower-disruption upgrade path
  • Want to get onto the latest version quickly
Clean Start Upgrade

Keep what's working. Leave behind what isn't.

A Clean Start Upgrade gives you the opportunity to review, rationalise, and cleanse your data while moving to a fresh Business Central environment. You'll retain the important parts of your system, but with the chance to improve configurations, remove unnecessary complexity, and create a stronger platform for future growth.

Best for businesses that:

  • Have years of legacy data to tidy up
  • Want to improve existing processes
  • Need some configuration changes
  • Are looking for a balance between upgrade and transformation
Re-Implementation

Rethink, redesign and build for the future.

If your current system no longer reflects how your business operates, a re-implementation may be the right choice. This approach starts with a fresh Business Central solution and allows you to redesign processes, review customisations, and implement new ways of working from the ground up.

Best for businesses that:

  • Have heavily customised systems
  • Need significant process or configuration changes
  • Want to take advantage of modern Business Central functionality
  • Are planning wider business transformation initiatives

If something isn’t feasible or right for our business, they’ll tell us, they’re transparent, honest, and trustworthy. Everything an IT partner should be.

Jason Cannon

Group Head of Information Systems at T H WHITE

Node4's upgrading tool

We talk a lot about how our customers can utilise AI, but it's a powerful tool for us too. At Node4, we've developed a dedicated AI solution to help accelerate your move to Dynamics 365 Business Central. Built using the expertise of our upgrade specialists and years of Dynamics upgrade experience, it removes much of the manual effort involved in moving from Dynamics NAV to Business Central.

The AI Assistant automates the migration of modifications by converting them into extensions that can be attached and detached from Business Central without affecting core code. For more complex modifications, the AI Assistant assesses the level of complexity and provides an overview, helping us work with you to determine the best approach for your new Business Central system.

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Stay current. Stay secure. Stay Evergreen

Keeping up with Business Central updates doesn’t have to mean disruptive upgrade projects every few years. Evergreen is our managed service designed to keep your solution current, secure and ready for whatever comes next. We take care of the planning, testing and upgrade process, helping you benefit from the latest Microsoft features and security updates without the usual stress or risk.

With Evergreen, updates are delivered on a schedule that works for your business, thoroughly tested before they go live and managed by our experienced upgrade specialists. The result? Less disruption, lower risk, improved security and the confidence that your Business Central solution is always up to date.

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Case Studies

Success stories

Taking on an upgrade project requires research and an understanding of what the project will look like. Upgrading projects completed by TNP's team of experts are the perfect place to start - take a look at our customer success stories below and see what an upgrading project could look like for you and your business.

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Pyramid Display Materials Ltd

Pyramid Display Materials modernised its operations by transitioning to Microsoft Business Central.

Palfinger UK

Revolutionising maintenance scheduling and engineer efficiency

Pearce Seeds

Future-Proofing Agriculture with Dynamics 365 Business Central Online

I rely on Node4 to keep us updated with new functionality and to tell us what’s possible. We work together as a team, and that’s critical for what comes next.

Vicky Austin

Systems Manager,
Pyramid Display Materials Ltd

Book a free upgrade consultation

The routes you can take to upgrade to Dynamics 365 Business Central very much depend on your starting point - We are readily available to offer advice and support your decision, whether that be improving your current Dynamics NAV solution or beginning the process of planning an upgrade.

Our upgrading team have specialist experience in every eventuality, no matter how complex and unusual your circumstances are. If you'd like to speak to an upgrading specialist just click the link below and we'll get in touch to arrange a date and time that works for you.

Request a consultation
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Speak to Our Solution Experts

If you’d like to know more, our team of experts will be happy to help with your queries.

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