Dynamics 365 Business Central Reviews & Pricing

Key Features

• Sales Order Management: Dynamics 365 Business Central’s sales order management module allows you to alter quantity available amounts based on posted invoices. You can also use the program to create prepayment invoices and to manage partial shipments. 
• Analysis Reports: The analysis reports tool is based on helping decisionmakers within your company gain meaningful insights that will positively influence daily decisions. With this customizable tool, you can use factors such as customers, items and vendors to view information such as inventory turnover and customer behavior. You can also use this tool to more accurately pinpoint problems across your business that are creating bottlenecks or inefficiencies. 
• General Ledger: Accounting and financial reporting tools are a commonly requested feature in ERP software. Dynamics 365 Business Central offers a general ledger in its base package that includes internal and external reporting tools, ability to export data in various formats, employee ledger entries, linking to external documents and reporting in your company’s preferred currency format. 
• Requisition Management: Dynamics 365 Business Central’s Requisition Worksheet allows you to optimize your inventory based on factors such as predicted demand and material availability. You can also set minimum and maximum quantity levels to determine a reordering point in your manufacturing center. 
• Multi-Site Functionality: With this software, you can track inventory levels across multiple distribution centers, warehouses, production plants, showrooms and more. You can also track inventory as it moves from different locations while accounting for its value during transit. 
• Contact Management: The contact management feature allows you to input and maintain a list of your business contacts and prospects. The tool lets you know when duplicate contact information is entered, enables you to issue quotes or sales documents, allows for the categorization of people associated with a specific contact and segments people based on profiling questions. 
• Optical Character Recognition (OCR): Dynamics 365 Business Central includes support for Kofax Invoice Capture Service (ICS) out of the box. This tool can take information from unstructured PDFs, extract it, and turn it into structured data. 
• Currency Exchange Rates: This system allows you to update currency exchange rates as they shift. This can be done either manually or automatically. Dynamics 365 Business Central supports Yahoo and European Central Bank (ECB) currency feeds out of the box, but you can add other currencies to the tool using the currency exchange rates setup. 

Approach to Common Challenges

• Data silos: Centralized database for real-time access to financial, sales, inventory, and customer data across departments.
• Manual processes: Automates workflows for financial management, supply chain operations, sales and marketing, and customer service.
• Lack of visibility: Comprehensive dashboards and reporting tools for insights into business performance and actionable decision-making.
• Integration challenges: Seamless integration with Microsoft 365, Power BI, and other popular business applications.
• Scalability concerns: Cloud-based architecture supports growth and expansion, with flexible pricing models to match business needs.
• Customization needs: Tools for tailoring the system to specific business processes and workflows without extensive coding.
• Mobile access: Native mobile apps for iOS and Android enable productivity on the go.

Cost Of Ownership

• Q: How much does Dynamics 365 Business Central cost per user?
  A: Dynamics 365 Business Central offers two primary pricing plans: Essentials at $70 per user/month and Premium at $100 per user/month. Pricing is based on named users, and each plan includes different features and capabilities.
• Q: Are there any additional costs beyond user licenses?
  A: Yes, additional costs may include:
  • Implementation and customization fees
  • Third-party app integrations
  • Data storage and usage costs
  • Ongoing support and maintenance
• Q: How can I estimate the total cost of ownership for my business?
  A: Microsoft offers a pricing calculator to help businesses estimate costs based on their specific needs. It's crucial to consider factors like number of users, required features, customization needs, and expected usage patterns.

Limitations

•  The interface is not intuitive and looks dated  
•  Overall performance is sluggish and experiences glitches 

Suite Support

FAQ

• Q: Can it handle complex industry-specific needs?
  A: While Business Central provides strong core functionality, its industry-specific capabilities are evolving. While suitable for many industries, complex needs in manufacturing, construction, or healthcare might require additional add-ons or integrations.
• Q: How easy is it to learn and use for non-technical users?
  A: Business Central boasts a user-friendly interface and guided navigation, making it relatively easy for non-technical users to learn basic tasks. However, some advanced features or customizations may require training or assistance from IT personnel.
• Q: Does it offer robust inventory management capabilities?
  A: Yes, Business Central provides real-time inventory tracking, forecasting, and multi-warehouse management. It helps optimize stock levels, minimize stockouts, and improve supply chain efficiency.
• Q: How well does it integrate with other Microsoft applications?
  A: Business Central seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365, Power BI, and other popular tools. This enables users to leverage existing workflows and data analysis capabilities, improving productivity and collaboration.
• Q: How scalable is it for medium-to-large businesses?
  A: Business Central's cloud-based architecture adapts to growth, supporting diverse user counts and data volumes. However, large enterprises with highly intricate operations might require additional configuration or consider alternative solutions.