End of Support for Navision:

Many midsize companies in the DACH region have relied on Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Navision) as their ERP system for years. But time is running out: NAV has aged, official support for older Navision versions is coming to an end and for some versions has already expired.

The key dates at a glance:

· Dynamics NAV 2015: January 14, 2025 (already expired) · Dynamics NAV 2016: April 14, 2026 · Dynamics NAV 2017: January 11, 2027 · Dynamics NAV 2018: January 11, 2028

What does the end of support mean in practice?

When Microsoft discontinues support for Navision, that means: · No more security updates: vulnerabilities stay open and become entry points for cyberattacks and data loss. · No support: when technical problems occur, no official support is available any more. That makes them harder to resolve, which costs time and money. · No legally compliant adjustments: changes to tax or compliance requirements have to be implemented manually. · Shadow processes: because the system is no longer developed further, you run into its limits. The consequence is that data and processes are moved outside it — often unnoticed at first, until it is too late and leads to errors and friction. The greatest risk: your ERP system becomes a technical dead end. New technologies, interfaces and cloud solutions can hardly be integrated, or not at all. That can restrict your competitiveness massively.

Why migrating to Business Central makes sense

The decision to migrate is not just an IT question but a strategic course-setting. Reasons to switch: · Future-proofing: Business Central is continuously developed further and is fully geared to the cloud. · Integration: seamless connection to Microsoft 365 (Excel, Teams, Outlook), Power BI and modern production solutions. · Flexibility: scalable for growing requirements — even without expensive custom programming. Waiting means that the migration will later have to happen under greater pressure and at higher cost. Acting early gives you planning certainty.

What possibilities and benefits does Business Central offer?

Business Central is more than a replacement for Navision — it is a platform for digital transformation: · Cloud-first: Business Central in the cloud (SaaS) reduces IT and maintenance costs and lets employees access your data securely at any time and from anywhere. · Updates: monthly and semiannual updates make sure that you always have the latest version of Business Central and its security updates automatically. · Innovation: you have access to the newest features and can use new technologies such as Copilot straight away. On request, the AI helps you process sales orders. · A modern user interface: the intuitive Business Central UI makes for a quick learning curve, and thanks to the clear, consistent interface it makes no difference whether you are on a desktop, a tablet or a smartphone. · Easy extensibility: you have access to hundreds of certified extensions through the AppSource marketplace.

Conclusion: now is the right time for the first step

The end of Navision support is a risk. Acting now secures not only your IT but the future viability of the entire company. If you still run Navision, you should ask yourself the following questions: - What risks do missing updates create for us - Where do we still maintain Excel lists by hand or run shadow processes - Which processes would we design differently today if we could? Our recommendation: start with a no-obligation analysis to obtain a neutral assessment of your systems and processes as well as of the effort and the opportunities of a migration. That gives you clarity on how to move into the future safely and economically.