Dynamics Decoded

When we talk about Dynamics 365 Business Central, we’re not just discussing an ERP system—we’re looking at a solution with a legacy spanning over 30 years. It all started with Navision, one of the most solid on-premises ERP solutions for small and midsize businesses (SMBs).

In 2002, Microsoft acquired Navision, and over the years, it went through multiple rebrands before finally becoming Dynamics 365 Business Central.

The Birth of Business Central & Microsoft’s Modern Lifecycle Policy

The first version of Dynamics 365 Business Central was released in 2018 as version 13.x, followed by 14.x, both supporting hybrid development for on-premises and SaaS. Then, around 2019, Microsoft introduced the Modern Lifecycle Policy, which standardized the update process:

✅ Two major releases per year – Wave 1 (April) and Wave 2 (October)
✅ Monthly minor updates – Focused on bug fixes and AppSource improvements

📌 Learn more about the lifecycle policy here

Key Initiatives Driving Business Central’s Growth

Microsoft has continuously evolved Business Central, launching initiatives that have accelerated its growth. Here are some of the most impactful:

1️⃣ The Universal Code Initiative

A move towards cloud-optimized development, ensuring that deployment codes work seamlessly across both on-premises and SaaS. The goal? Faster upgrades, a standardized cloud-first approach, and replacing outdated programs.

2️⃣ Open Source Contributions

One of the biggest advantages for Business Central has been the open-source community. Given the complexity and ever-evolving nature of ERP systems, open-source collaboration has played a crucial role in innovation. Developers, consultants, and business leaders worldwide have contributed ideas and improvements, making Business Central more agile.

🔗 Explore key open-source resources:

• Business Central Readiness & Open Source
• Microsoft Collaboration Resources
• GitHub AL Development Issues & Enhancements

3️⃣ Short YouTube Video Tutorials

In the past 2-3 years, the Business Central team has launched short, 10-15 minute videos covering new features with real-world examples. If you’re looking for quick insights, this is a great way to stay updated!

📺 Check out the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central YouTube Channel

What’s Next?

This was just a brief history of Business Central’s journey. Next week, I’ll dive deeper into the future roadmap and latest updates.

📢 Stay tuned, and thanks for reading! 🚀