Financial management
Bring general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, cash flow, fixed assets, and financial reporting together. Spend less time reconciling information and more time understanding the numbers.
Find your starting point
New to Business Central?
Exploring ERP for the first time or looking to replace ageing software? Discover how Business Central brings your core business processes together and what it could mean for your organisation.
Explore Business CentralAlready running Business Central?
If your solution isn't delivering what you expected, or the support behind it could be better, there's more you can do without starting again.
Why your partner mattersEverything you need to run a more connected business
Stop relying on disconnected systems, duplicate data, and spreadsheets to piece together what's happening across your organisation. Business Central connects the processes behind finance, sales, purchasing, inventory, and operations, giving your people a clearer picture of the business.
Sales and purchasing
Manage customer orders, supplier relationships, quotes, invoices, and purchasing processes with information that flows into finance and inventory without unnecessary re-entry.
Supply chain and inventory
Track stock, manage purchasing and replenishment, and improve visibility over products moving through your business, from supplier orders to customer fulfilment.
Manufacturing
Plan production, manage materials and capacity, track costs, and connect manufacturing activity with inventory and finance.
Project management
Plan projects, allocate resources, track time and costs, and manage project billing with a clearer view of performance and profitability.
Warehouse management
Manage receiving, put-away, picking, packing, and shipping processes with connected inventory information and warehouse workflows suited to your operation.
Reporting and analytics
Turn financial and operational information into useful insights with built-in reporting, analysis tools, and integration with Microsoft Power BI.
Copilot and AI
Reduce repetitive work, analyse information, and get assistance with everyday tasks using Copilot and AI capabilities built into Business Central.
Built for the way you'll work tomorrow
Technology should give your organisation room to change, not become another constraint as it grows. Business Central combines cloud flexibility, connected Microsoft applications, and ongoing innovation to help you build on the investment you make today.
Grow without outgrowing your ERP
Business Central gives you a foundation that can expand with your organisation. Add users, introduce new processes, connect additional applications, and extend functionality as your requirements evolve. Build around what you need now, with room for what comes next.
Your business doesn't stop at the office
As a cloud-based ERP, Business Central supports secure access from supported devices and locations, helping teams stay connected whether they're working from home, in the office, or across multiple sites. Everyone works from the same underlying business information, reducing reliance on separate files and disconnected systems.
Make the tools you already use work harder
Connect with Outlook, Excel, Teams, Power BI, Power Automate, and other Microsoft applications to bring everyday work closer to your business data. From sharing information to automating approvals and building better reporting, the wider Microsoft ecosystem creates opportunities to do more without constantly switching systems.
Built on Microsoft's cloud foundation
Business Central online runs on Microsoft's cloud infrastructure, with identity, permissions, security controls, and ongoing service updates. Professional Advantage helps you configure access, manage changes, understand your responsibilities, and establish the support arrangements that fit your business.
Business Central in three minutes
See how the pieces fit together
Finance, sales, purchasing, inventory, and operations all influence one another. Business Central brings those processes closer together, making it easier to understand what's happening and act on the information.
Take a quick look at how Business Central works, or arrange a demonstration focused on your organisation's needs.
Budgeting and planning, beyond spreadsheets
Turn business information into better plans
Business Central provides the financial and operational information you need to understand business performance. But when budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting become more complex, spreadsheets alone may no longer be enough.
Solver extends Business Central with advanced budgeting, forecasting, consolidation, and reporting capabilities, helping finance teams plan more collaboratively and connect their forecasts with actual business performance.
At home in your industry
Business Central understands your world
Every industry has its own processes, reporting needs, and operational challenges. We combine Business Central with industry knowledge, implementation experience, and specialist applications to help shape a solution around the way your organisation works.
Construction
Connect project budgets, purchasing, costs, billing, and financial reporting, with specialist solutions for more demanding construction requirements.
Manufacturing
Bring production planning, inventory, materials, costs, and financial management together, with manufacturing capabilities.
Warehouse and distribution
Improve visibility over purchasing, stock, order fulfilment, and warehouse activity, with options to extend mobile scanning and operational processes.
Not-for-profit
Support financial accountability, fund reporting, budgeting, and operational management, with additional applications available for specialist not-for-profit requirements.
Professional services
Bring projects, resources, time, billing, expenses, and financial reporting together to better understand delivery costs and profitability.
Licensed clubs
Manage financial reporting, purchasing, costs, and operational information, with specialist integrations available for the wider systems clubs rely on.
Why Professional Advantage?
The right ERP is only half the decision
Business Central is powerful software, but the value you get from it depends on how it's implemented, how well it fits your processes, and what happens after go-live.
At Professional Advantage, we start with your organisation, not a standard configuration. We take the time to understand how your people work, where existing processes create friction, and what the new system needs to achieve.
Our Australian team combines Business Central consulting, solution architecture, development, implementation, data migration, integration, training, and ongoing support. With offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, we bring national delivery capability together with local expertise.
And our involvement doesn't have to end once the system is live. Through our Client Care Program, support services, and Release Management, we help organisations stay current, resolve issues, and continue improving Business Central as their needs evolve.
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AI Business Solutions
Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Microsoft 365, including the Copilot and agent work built on top of them. Earned on delivered projects, certified people, and customer outcomes.
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Security
Identity, threat protection, data security, and compliance across the Microsoft cloud, assessed on real security work delivered for Australian organisations.
Experience the power of AI with Microsoft Copilot in Business Central
ERP systems are evolving, and AI is now an essential part of business productivity. Microsoft Copilot, integrated directly within Business Central, helps you automate tasks, uncover insights, and make faster decisions—saving you time and effort every day.
Automated Financial Processes – Generate reports, reconcile bank statements, and forecast cash flow effortlessly. AI-Powered Insights – Get predictive analytics on inventory needs, customer trends, and financial performance. Smart Email Integration – Draft quotes, invoices, and responses directly from Outlook with AI assistance. Task Automation – Reduce repetitive work, letting your team focus on high-value activities.
Enhance Business Central with Solver xFP&A for Advanced Reporting and Budgeting
While Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central includes out-of-the-box budgeting and financial reporting features, many growing organisations require more flexible financial reporting and planning capabilities. Solver extends Business Central with a complete xFP&A suite, delivering advanced budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and Power BI dashboard capabilities with seamless integration to Microsoft Dynamics 365 business applications.
Key benefits for Business Central users:
- Workflow-driven budgeting and forecasting to streamline the planning cycle.
- Flexible financial and operational reporting, beyond standard Business Central capabilities.
- Centralised data hub for consolidated, organisation-wide insights.
- Familiar Excel-like interface for designing reports and budget templates.
- Fast, seamless integration with Business Central for rapid time to value.
Planning your move to a modern ERP?
Moving away from ageing software or disconnected systems involves more than choosing a new product. Our guide helps you understand the considerations behind moving to cloud ERP, from planning and migration to adoption and future growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the top frequently asked questions about Business Central. View the full list here.
Dynamics 365 Business Central offers flexible pricing and licensing options to suit different business needs:
- Subscription model: Business Central uses a monthly subscription model, with pricing based on the number of users and functionality required.
- Dynamics 365 Business Central offers two billing options with different price points:
- Monthly billing: This option provides more flexibility but comes at a higher cost.
- Annual billing: By committing to an annual subscription, customers can save 20% (current as at July 2024) compared to the monthly billing option.
- License types:
- Essentials: Includes core financial management, sales, and customer service features.
- Premium: Adds advanced functionality for manufacturing and service management.
- Team Members: Provides limited access for light users who need basic functionality.
- Device: The Device license for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a specialised licensing option that allows multiple users to access Business Central functionality through a single licensed device. Here are the key features of the Device license:
- Shared access: Multiple users can use a single device covered by this license simultaneously.
- Specific use cases: It's designed for point-of-sale devices, shop floor devices, or warehouse devices.
- Limited functionality: The Device license provides a subset of Business Central capabilities, tailored to specific operational areas.
- Full user vs. Team Member licenses: Full user licenses (Essentials or Premium) grant complete access to all features, while Team Member licenses offer restricted capabilities for occasional users.
- Additional costs: Factors like implementation services, customisations, and additional storage may impact the total cost.
- Not for profit and educational pricing: Special pricing is available for qualifying nonprofit and educational institutions.
License descriptions accurate as at July 2024.
An Accountant license in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a free, specialised license type designed for external accountants who manage books and financial reporting for Business Central clients. Here are the key points about the Accountant license:
- Free of charge: Business Central includes three free External Accountant licenses with each subscription.
- Purpose: It allows external accountants to access their clients' Business Central data to perform accounting tasks and financial reporting.
Business Central integrates seamlessly with several Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) applications, enhancing productivity and streamlining workflows:
- Microsoft Excel:
- Export data from Business Central to Excel for analysis
- Edit data in Excel and update Business Central directly
- Use Excel for designing analytical report layouts
- Microsoft Outlook:
- Access customer and vendor information directly from emails
- Create and send Business Central documents (e.g., quotes, invoices) from Outlook
- View Business Central documents linked in emails and do approval of workflows
- Microsoft Teams:
- Share Business Central data and records within Teams conversations
- Access Business Central information without leaving Teams
- OneDrive for Business:
- Store and share Business Central files in the cloud
- Open Excel and Word files directly in their online versions
- Microsoft Word:
- Create document templates in Word for use in Business Central
- Merge Business Central data into Word documents
- Power BI:
- Create advanced reports and dashboards using Business Central data
- Embed Power BI reports directly in Business Central
- Power Automate:
- Create automated workflows between Business Central and other Microsoft 365 apps
These integrations allow users to work efficiently across multiple Microsoft applications while maintaining data consistency and leveraging the strengths of each platform. The seamless connectivity between Business Central and Microsoft 365 apps helps businesses streamline their operations and improve overall productivity.
In a Global Market Place, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central’s Multi-Currency functionality is a game changer. Multi-Currency Management: Business Central allows you to manage transactions in multiple currencies simultaneously. You can define currencies, set exchange rates, and perform currency conversions automatically.
- Automatic Exchange Rate Updates: It offers integration with financial data services that automatically update exchange rates, ensuring that your currency conversions are always based on the latest rates.
- Currency Revaluation: Business Central supports currency revaluation processes, which are essential for businesses with international operations to comply with accounting standards (like IFRS or GAAP). This feature helps adjust the value of foreign currency balances based on the latest exchange rates.
- Global Reporting: You can generate financial reports in the currency of your choice. This capability is crucial for businesses with international stakeholders or operations, as it allows for consistent and clear financial reporting across different regions.
- Streamlined Transactions: When entering transactions, Business Central automatically handles the currency conversion based on predefined rates or real-time rates, reducing manual effort and potential errors.
- Consolidation: For organisations with multiple subsidiaries or entities operating in different currencies, Business Central supports financial consolidation across currencies. This feature helps in creating consolidated financial statements that reflect the overall financial health of the entire organisation.
- Audit Trails and Compliance: It maintains audit trails of currency-related transactions, which is essential for compliance and transparency purposes. This capability ensures that all currency conversions and financial activities are traceable and auditable.
- User-Friendly Interface: The interface of Business Central is designed to be user-friendly, making it easier for finance teams to navigate and manage multi-currency operations without needing extensive IT support.
Overall, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides comprehensive tools to manage multi-currency operations efficiently, from transaction processing to financial reporting and compliance. This capability is particularly beneficial for businesses that operate globally or deal with international customers, suppliers, or subsidiaries.
Yes. Business Central allows for the personalisation of most pages in Business Central. You can add fields, remove fields, move sections.
To personalise screens in Dynamics 365 Business Central, follow these steps:
- Access personalisation mode: Click the gear icon in the top right corner and select "Personalise" from the dropdown menu.
- Modify elements: Once in personalisation mode, you'll see red icons next to various elements on the screen. These icons allow you to:
- Hide or show items by clicking the red icon and selecting "Hide" or "Show"
- Move items by clicking the red icon and dragging them to a new location
- Add new fields by using the "+ Field" option to access a list of available fields
- Freeze columns: In list views, you can freeze columns to keep them visible while scrolling. Click the red icon next to the column header and select "Set Freeze Pane".
- Rearrange columns: In list views, drag and drop columns to reorder them.
- Customise card pages: On card pages, you can rearrange fields within designated sections using drag-and-drop actions.
- Save changes: When finished, click "Done" to save your personalisations.
Remember that these personalisations are user-specific and won't affect other users' views. For system-wide changes, administrators can use the "Design" mode instead of ‘Personalise’ mode.
In Microsoft Business Central, users have a convenient feature for numeric fields such as cost or quantity. Instead of performing calculations separately, they can input mathematical formulas directly into these fields. The system automatically computes the result and displays the final value. For instance, if a user types "32+71" into a numeric field, Business Central will instantly calculate the sum and show "103" as the field's value. This functionality streamlines data entry and reduces the likelihood of calculation errors, enhancing overall efficiency in financial and inventory management tasks.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central stands out as an all-in-one ERP solution designed to support growing businesses. Unlike other platforms, Business Central includes functionality across Finance, Sales, Service Management, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain in a single license. It also integrates seamlessly with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem (Outlook, Excel, Teams) and the Power Platform (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate), providing unmatched flexibility and scalability.
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Ready to unlock the full potential of your organisation with the leading ERP solution trusted by Australian businesses?
Get started with a free 30 minute consultation to see how Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can improve your business processes, drive efficiency, and unlock growth opportunities. Our expert consultants are here to help you every step of the way.
Explore the Dynamics 365 family
Business Central is part of the wider Dynamics 365 family. Explore the other applications available for enterprise finance, sales, customer service, field operations, and commerce as your requirements evolve.
Microsoft Dynamics 365
See the complete Dynamics 365 family and understand which applications fit where.
Finance and Operations
Enterprise finance, supply chain, manufacturing, warehousing, and operations for complex organisations.
Sales
Manage relationships, opportunities, pipeline, and AI-assisted selling in one place.
Customer Service
Bring cases, conversations, knowledge, and customer history together for your service teams.
Field Service
Manage work orders, technicians, scheduling, assets, and service delivery.
Commerce
Connect stores, e-commerce, point of sale, inventory, and fulfilment across retail channels.
Interested in other solutions?
As a multi-skilled Microsoft Partner with expertise across Microsoft’s 3 clouds (Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and Azure), Professional Advantage can help you: