Artificial intelligence stopped being a topic for the future long ago. In recent years Microsoft has integrated AI features directly into Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

With the so-called Copilot, features are available that can support companies with everyday tasks:

• generating text
• analyzing data
• recognizing patterns
• delivering suggestions for decisions

The big advantage:
The AI works directly in the ERP system with the company data that is already there.

That means companies do not have to introduce a new platform; they can use AI directly in their existing processes.

The decisive question is therefore no longer:

“Should we use AI?”

but:

“Which AI features actually benefit our company?”

4 AI Features in Business Central That Really Work Today

1. Automatic generation of marketing text for items

Anyone who regularly creates new items in the ERP knows the problem:
Product descriptions have to be written — often again and again to a similar pattern.

With Copilot, Business Central can automatically generate first drafts of item descriptions.

The AI draws on information such as:

• item attributes
• categories
• target groups
• existing product data

The result is not a finished marketing text but a sensible starting point that can then be adapted.

The biggest advantage:

The blank page is gone — and that saves time.

This feature is particularly helpful for companies with:

• many new items
• online shop connections (for example Shopify)
• small marketing teams

2. Support with bank account reconciliation

Reconciling bank statements is one of the most time-consuming tasks in accounting.

Business Central can use AI here to suggest matching assignments between entries and bank statements automatically.

The system analyzes:

• amounts
• posting dates
• recurring patterns from past entries

The suggestions are then checked and confirmed by the accountant.

The result:

• less manual searching for documents
• a faster accounting process
• less effort with high transaction volumes

The effect is especially clear at companies with more than 200 entries per month.

3. AI-supported sales and inventory forecasts

Business Central also offers forecasting features for sales and inventory levels.

These are based on machine learning models and analyze historical sales data.

Typical use cases:

• demand forecasts
• early detection of supply shortages
• better procurement planning

Example:

An item sells particularly well every fall.
The system recognizes this pattern and recommends ordering earlier.

That helps companies to:

• avoid stock shortages
• plan inventory better
• improve delivery times

4. Data analysis in natural language

Another interesting feature is the natural-language analysis assistant.

It lets users evaluate ERP data more easily.

Examples:

• sorting open items by due date
• analyzing revenue by customer group
• filtering sales figures by region

Instead of configuring complex filters by hand, users simply describe the analysis they want.

For more complex analyses, however, Power BI remains the stronger tool.

What Is Often Underestimated About AI in the ERP

Many companies expect perfect results from AI immediately.

One decisive factor is often overlooked:

The quality of the data.

AI systems always work with the information that is present in the system.

That means:

• incomplete item master data
• inconsistent postings
• missing history

inevitably lead to poorer results.

When Copilot suggestions fail to convince, the problem often lies not with the AI but with the data base in the ERP system.

The Right Way into AI with Business Central

The most sensible path is not a big rollout but a step-by-step start.

The following approach is recommended:

1. Choose one concrete AI feature
2. Test it in a small area
3. Evaluate the results
4. Then activate further features

That way companies gather experience while avoiding risk.

A good starting question is:

“Which task in the company is done regularly and hardly ever changes?”

That is often exactly where AI offers the greatest benefit.

Conclusion: AI in Business Central Is Not a Vision of the Future

The AI features in Microsoft Business Central are already usable in practice today.

They do not replace employees, but they can make many tasks considerably more efficient — particularly with:

• routine processes
• data analyses
• forecasts
• recurring tasks

The biggest advantage is that these features are integrated directly into the ERP system.

Companies can therefore integrate AI into their processes step by step, without building a completely new infrastructure.

A Final Tip

Many companies have no idea which AI features are already available in their Business Central environment.

Often a quick check of the system settings is enough to make that potential visible.