Dynamics 365 Business Central is truly the ERP that never sleeps, and 2024 was another big year of updates and improvements for the ever-developing platform.
With Business Central 26 set to launch in April 2025 as part of the Dynamics 365 2025 Release Wave 1, the enhancements are still coming thick and fast. So, what can we expect to see from Business Central this coming year? Let’s examine some of the trends informing its development and some of the best new features on the horizon. Plus, read insights from Andrew Wingate, Microsoft MVP and Business Central Practice Director at the Microsoft Partner, Venture.
Further Copilot integration
Since Copilot was made available to Business Central users in 2024, the handy digital assistant has been helping get things done using a conversational chat interface and the power of Microsoft’s AI technology.
From content suggestions for marketing campaigns and suggesting line items from product catalogues, to automating workflows and analyzing bank statements, there are already plenty of tasks that Copilot has taken on for Business Central users, and that’s only set to continue.
Its capabilities have been expanded with every release since, and we can expect to see even more additions to Copilot’s list of useful functionality in the upcoming update. Showcasing Microsoft’s strong commitment to investing in artificial intelligence, the company has already released a laundry list of AI-powered enhancements to Business Central, bringing more AI functionality to multiple areas of the platform.
New financial features include automated subscription billing, regulatory requirements checking, and enhancements to the handling of e-documents. There’ll be updates to supply chain functionality too, helping users streamline manufacturing, quality management, and subcontracting processes.
Business Central users will also be able to task the platform’s autonomous AI agents with more of their workload using generative AI. The sales order agent is being rolled out to more countries in this new release, allowing more users to automate sales order-taking by allowing agents to read requests in customer emails, identify customers, draft quotes, and convert quotes into sales orders. A bookkeeper agent will also be introduced.
Enhancements to existing generative AI processes are expected to land too, with improved e-invoice matching, and the ability to auto-fill fields, summarize records, and use ISV documentation as a knowledge source all promised for Business Central 26.
“I’m always pleased to see the ongoing investment in Business Central, and 2025 looks set to continue this momentum with a heavy focus on AI-driven enhancements. Copilot’s rapidly expanding capabilities promise to streamline everyday tasks and elevate productivity. The new agentic capabilities truly hold the potential to reshape the ERP landscape as these autonomous agents evolve.”
Andrew Wingate
Microsoft MVP and Business Central Practice Director, Venture
End of support for Microsoft Dynamics GP
Late last year, Microsoft announced that product support for Dynamics GP would finish in 2029. With the end near for Dynamics GP users, we’re likely to see many customers begin their transition to what is now Microsoft’s flagship ERP for small-to-medium organizations: Business Central.
Migrating to a new platform is rarely easy, but Microsoft has plenty of resources and support on offer for those who are moving away from Dynamics GP. Plus, customers will soon reap the benefits of a smarter, AI-enriched system. This influx of new users to Business Central, and the end of ongoing support for Dynamics GP, will no doubt allow Microsoft to focus more of its time and effort on making Business Central the best ERP it can be—which is good news for everyone.
For those making the switch to the cloud and implementing Business Central, the challenge lies not only in transitioning to a new platform but also in reskilling its users.
Although Dynamics GP and Business Central are in the same product stable, the platforms are unmistakably different, with each requiring a unique set of skills and expertise to fully take advantage of. Luckily, the Business Central Talent Initiative offers a program specifically for those transitioning from Dynamics GP to Business Central.
Created in collaboration with Microsoft, CrossSKILL, part of the Business Central Talent Initiative, helps organizations upskill existing employees already working with Dynamics GP. Participants in the program are given hands-on, practical training on using Business Central, and are supported through the certification process, equipping them with the expertise and experience they need to utilize Business Central to the fullest.
Enhanced analysis and deeper insights
As AI becomes more deeply embedded into Business Central, we’ll be seeing more in-depth analytics functionality with smarter ways to gain insights from data at our fingertips.
Microsoft has already revealed some of the AI-fueled reporting updates we’ll be seeing when Business Central 26 hits general release. This includes improved reporting for manufacturing, smarter financial reporting, and updates to Enhanced Report Explorer that will make it easier for users to find what they need and decipher their data.
Maybe most excitingly, users will be able to create custom queries to help them find specific data more quickly. This will significantly improve report generation, make data exploration simpler, and enable users to instantly tap into information that will help guide decision-making.
The platform will also be more closely linked with Power BI, with cross-company reports that allow data consolidation from multiple entities for a more global business view, more reporting options, and new embedded UI coming into play. Andrew adds, “It’s clear Microsoft is responding to the needs of SMBs by emphasising deeper analytics and robust reporting, to offer the data-driven insights that organisations increasingly require to stay competitive.”
More ESG features
As the corporate world becomes more ecologically and socially conscious and consumers continue to favor ethical businesses, organizations of all shapes and sizes are increasingly looking to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations to guide the development of their operations.
Customers and stakeholders want to see businesses implementing and maintaining sustainable practices, and Microsoft is working on new functionality to help companies track and manage their impact on the wider world.
Following the introduction of sustainability reports to Business Central in 2024, we can expect to see further development to meet growing user demands around ESG. This is especially good news for businesses operating in the European Union, which are now subject to Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) reporting regulations.
To make things easier for Business Central users, Microsoft will be tagging in Copilot to help users manage ESG-related processes and reporting.
AI-powered features are being brought in to tackle CSRD reporting, as well as emissions capturing and water and waste intensity management. Finally, the new Scope 3 emissions value chain automation will streamline the management of indirect emissions throughout the supply chain, helping users get a more comprehensive view of their carbon footprint.
Increased focus on cross-industry recruitment
With the Business Central ecosystem still suffering from a talent scarcity problem—one that isn’t likely to improve anytime soon as more organizations adopt the platform—we expect to see a greater focus on cross-training of Business Central talent from other industries to fill new roles.
While candidates specifically trained in Business Central, and those from a business technology background, are few and far between, there may be hope for the talent market in other areas.
Tech skills are crucial to any business looking to harness the potential that Business Central offers, but what’s often even more difficult to find in a candidate is the right industry experience. Understanding how industries like manufacturing, supply chain services, or finance and accounting work, with all their unique challenges and processes, is incredibly valuable to any organization.
And that kind of industry-specific awareness and appreciation only comes through practical experience—it can’t be taught. What can be taught, however, is how to use Business Central. That’s why many businesses are coming to the realization that great talent can be found in non-technical roles across their industry.
Thanks to innovative programs such as the ReSKILL program, part of the Business Central Talent Initiative, Microsoft partners can find candidates who’ve worked in their industry—and have heaps of valuable experience—and upskill them in Business Central. By taking this experience-first approach, businesses can access certified Business Central professionals who also boast extensive and priceless experience in their fields.
This pipeline has already provided many partners with the talent they need, and as the demand for Business Central specialists continues to grow, it’s a channel we’re bound to see more organizations taking advantage of.
“Overall, it’s an exciting time for both Business Central users and partners. The developments on the horizon in 2025 hold the potential to unlock further opportunities for growth and innovation. Partners will again be looking to the end-user side to source team members with rich industry-specific experience to make the most of this ongoing sustained growth of BC. It’s never been a better time to consider a career swap to the Microsoft Partner side.”
Andrew Wingate
Microsoft MVP and Business Central Practice Director, Venture
Whatever your business has planned for 2025, clearly there are plenty of developments on the way to help you achieve them through Business Central. With Release Wave 1 on the way, and a second update scheduled for Fall, this will no doubt be a year packed with exciting new features for the much-loved ERP.
And no matter the challenges you might come across on your own migration to Business Central, there’s support at hand to make sure you have the talent you need to get maximum value.
Want to get your team ready to make the most of Business Central in 2025?
The Business Central Talent Initiative can help you upskill your employees and turn them into Business Central superstars.