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ERP Migration & Modernization Services

Migrate Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central

Choose Alletec Upgrade Factory to migrate your legacy Dynamics NAV Migration to Business Central

0+
NAV to Business Central migrations delivered
0.0X
Faster migration than industry average
0.0 TB+
Data Migrated
0%
On-time delivery rate

Why Migrate from Dynamics NAV to Business Central?

There are 5 key reasons organizations should consider Dynamics Navision (NAV) to Business Central migration: rising maintenance cost, no new features, shrinking developer talent, closed product roadmap, and imminent end-of-support.

The end-of-support deadline

Many NAV versions are already past Microsoft support. The rest exit between now and January 2028. After that, Microsoft no longer provides patches or compliance updates — leaving organizations to manage those gaps independently.

The rising cost of NAV maintenance

NAV maintenance keeps getting more expensive. Servers age out, SQL Server licenses cost more each renewal, and the few developers still working on NAV command premium rates. Years of customization add technical debt that slows every change.

The closed NAV product roadmap

Microsoft stopped selling new NAV licenses years ago. The product line’s future is Business Central. ISV add-ons, training programs, and partner expertise have moved with it.

The widening AI gap

NAV hasn’t received a new feature in over four years. Business Central ships 200+ every year — Copilot, AI tools, deeper Power Platform automation. Each release pushes NAV further behind what modern ERP can do.

The shrinking NAV talent pool

NAV developers are moving to newer technologies — Business Central, Power Platform, modern dev stacks. Microsoft now certifies new consultants on Business Central, not C/AL. Finding active NAV expertise gets harder and pricier every year.

Is Your Dynamics NAV Version Still Supported?

Microsoft has been phasing out support for Dynamics NAV over the years. Some versions are already out of support; others are approaching their end-of-support deadline. Find out where your version stands.

Dynamics NAV VersionSupport Status
Dynamics NAV 2009 / 2009 R2No longer supported
Dynamics NAV 2013 / 2013 R2No longer supported
Dynamics NAV 2015No longer supported
Dynamics NAV 2016No longer supported
Dynamics NAV 2017Coverage ends January 2027
Dynamics NAV 2018Coverage ends January 2028

Source: Microsoft Lifecycle Policy

Dynamics NAV vs Business Central: Key Differences

Business Central is the cloud-native successor to Dynamics NAV. NAV runs on-premises with concurrent-user licensing and hasn’t received a new feature since 2018. Business Central runs on Azure with subscription licensing, ships 200+ new features per year, and includes native Microsoft Copilot integration. Here’s how they compare across 13 dimensions.

Dimension
Dynamics NAV
Dynamics 365 Business Central
Deployment
On-premises only (Windows Server, SQL Server)
Cloud-native on Azure. On-prem and hybrid also available.
Licensing
Perpetual, concurrent-user
Subscription, per named user
Updates
No new versions since 2018. Security patches only for versions still in extended support.
Two automatic updates per year (April and October waves)
Dimension
Dynamics NAV
Dynamics 365 Business Central
AI capabilities
None
Microsoft Copilot and embedded AI agents
Security & compliance
Managed by partner or customer independently
Managed by Microsoft. SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, regional certifications.
Scalability
Bound by your server
Elastic Azure infrastructure
Dimension
Dynamics NAV
Dynamics 365 Business Central
New features per year
None
200+
Microsoft 365 integration
Limited. Custom code required.
Native integration with Outlook, Teams, Excel
Reporting & analytics
Custom reports, limited dashboards
Native Power BI, embedded analytics, Microsoft Fabric
Dimension
Dynamics NAV
Dynamics 365 Business Central
Customization
C/AL code that often modifies base tables directly
AL extensions that preserve the base. AppSource apps and per-tenant extensions.
Interface
Windows desktop client (later versions added a limited web client)
Modern web client. Native mobile apps.
API & integration
Custom C/AL code, SOAP web services, limited OData
Native REST API
Global localization
Country versions exist, but localizations on older NAV depend on partner updates
40+ countries with native VAT, GST, and e-invoicing
NAV to Business Central Migration Decision Guide on tablet and phone
Migration Decision Guide
The Business Case for Migrating from NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central
This guide covers the business case, the risks of waiting, the Microsoft incentives still open in 2026, and how the Alletec Upgrade Factory delivers in 8 to 14 weeks.
Get the Free Guide

Choose Your Migration Path: Three Ways to Migrate From NAV to Business Central

The right path to upgrade Dynamics NAV to Business Central depends on your NAV version, customizations, and how much your business has changed. Alletec recommends one of three approaches after a structured assessment.

01

Technical Upgrade

Move your existing NAV to BC with minimal changes to your processes.

  • Best forNAV 2017 or 2018, light to moderate customization
  • Timeline8 to 12 weeks
  • RiskLowest. Preserves your current setup as closely as possible.
  • Trade-offExisting process limitations carry over to the new platform.
02

Re-implementation

Start fresh on Business Central with redesigned processes and only the data that matters.

  • Best forOlder NAV (2009, 2013, 2015), heavily customized environments, or businesses whose operating model has changed
  • Timeline12 to 14 weeks (longer for complex multi-entity rollouts)
  • RiskHigher upfront effort, lower long-term tech debt
  • Trade-offMore change management. Pays off in lower future maintenance and faster access to new BC features.
03

Hybrid Approach

Combine technical migration for stable modules with re-implementation for areas you want to redesign.

  • Best forMid-customization environments where some modules work well and others need a refresh
  • Timeline10 to 14 weeks
  • RiskModerate. Needs disciplined scoping.
  • Trade-offThe right balance for many mid-market organizations, but only with strong governance.

The Alletec Upgrade Factory

The Alletec Upgrade Factory is a delivery center that specializes in Dynamics NAV migration to Business Central. It has delivered 50+ successful migrations so far using Alletec's five-phase migration framework, with automated tooling in each phase. It has a track record of delivering 4x faster migrations than the industry average.

We scan your NAV environment automatically — customizations, add-ons, data volume, integrations, and risks. You get a fixed-price scope document at the end of this phase. No open-ended estimates, no surprises.

We provision your Business Central environment, design the extension architecture for your converted customizations, and decide which data moves with you. You get a sprint plan with milestones and confirmed Bridge to the Cloud eligibility.

We build your Business Central environment alongside your live NAV. The automated toolkit converts C/AL code to AL extensions while data is extracted, cleansed, and transformed. Every converted extension is checked by an AI code reviewer before it touches production.

Automated regression tests, integration tests, performance benchmarks, and UAT with your team. Role-based training runs in parallel. A formal sign-off gate before cutover planning begins.

Cutover happens over a weekend with a dedicated war room. Final data load, validation, and switchover. Ninety days of hypercare starts immediately — written into the contract, not an add-on.

Four Tools That Make the Factory Faster

Automated Migration Toolkit

A SQL-based data transfer engine that handles 100+ GB per hour with integrity checks and automated rollback built in. This is what lets large NAV migrations finish in a single weekend.

AI Code Reviewer

Every converted C/AL-to-AL extension is automatically checked for performance issues, deprecated patterns, and security gaps before it reaches production. Catches what manual reviews miss.

Report Migration Factory

Batch-converts RDLC and Classic NAV reports to Business Central layouts. Alletec has delivered 500+ reports in a single engagement, on time and on budget.

Dimensions Conversion Tool

Handles complex dimension migration from older NAV versions with full historical reporting continuity after go-live. Removes one of the biggest pain points finance teams face after cutover.

“We’ve partnered with All e Technologies for our Microsoft NAV and Business Central projects, where they acted as our primary system integrator. The implementation of NAV for accounting and subsequent migration to Business Central, linked to our online portal, was executed efficiently. Their insight into travel business specifics played a key role in overcoming integration hurdles and achieving a successful implementation.”
Mayank KhandelwalCTO, Treebo Hotels
“As a leading B2B travel platform, Tripjack has partnered with All e Technologies as our trusted Microsoft Business Applications partner for deploying Dynamics 365 Business Central across our operations. Their team successfully integrated Business Central with our booking platform, enabling seamless handling of complex back-end accounting, reconciliation, and high-volume transaction processing. Their strong understanding of the travel industry, particularly B2B distribution and supplier settlements, was instrumental in delivering a robust and scalable solution. They have been supporting us for more than 2 years now.”
BalajiChief Financial Officer, Tripjack
“We partnered with All e Technologies for our Microsoft NAV and Business Central initiatives, where they acted as our primary system integrator. From the initial NAV deployment for our pharmaceutical operations to the smooth upgrade to Business Central and its integration with our salesforce application, their execution was seamless. Their deep understanding of healthcare processes, compliance needs, and system integration challenges was instrumental in ensuring a successful transformation.”
NileshDirector, Finance & Administration, Meridian Enterprises
“Alletec is a trusted business partner that understood our needs and quickly adapted to the changes required to ensure successful Migration GoLive. During migration process, the lines of communication were always open and when challenges arose, the Alletec team was able to gather the relevant stakeholders together in order to solve issues and create solutions that worked for us.”
Matt FirthDirector Finance, Muskoka Brewery
“This has been one of the smoothest upgrades! Alletec & CinchKit team Excellent work! All the hard work of past few months paid off! We have processed our first customer order on D365 BC!”
Travis Sapp VP IT, QwikKit (Formerly known as Cinchkit)

The Microsoft Bridge to the Cloud Offer

Reduce the Cost of Moving from NAV to Business Central

Bridge to the Cloud is Microsoft’s promotional offer for NAV customers moving to Business Central. Qualifying customers get a discount on cloud licensing plus dual-use rights — the ability to run NAV and Business Central in parallel during the transition, without paying full price for both.

As a Microsoft FastTrack Partner, Alletec verifies your eligibility and handles the licensing engagement directly with Microsoft. Bridge to the Cloud terms change periodically, and we map your environment to the current offer at no extra cost to you.

ROI of Upgrading to Business Central

Forrester’s Total Economic Impact study quantifies the return on moving from legacy ERP to Business Central.

265%
3-Year Return on Investment
$3.7M
Net Present Value
<14 mo
Average Payback Period
40%
IT Cost Reduction

Source: Forrester Total Economic Impact Study, Dynamics 365 Business Central

NAV to Business Central Migration Success Stories

Niif Case Study

NIIF

Financial Services · India
NAV → Business Central

NIIF upgraded from an age-old NAV environment to Dynamics 365 Business Central with Alletec, replacing legacy limitations with a modern, cloud-native ERP that delivers enhanced financial management, real-time reporting, and seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem.

Read the full case study →
See All Case Studies

Why Choose Alletec as Your NAV to Business Central Migration Partner

Microsoft FastTrack Partner

Direct access to Microsoft engineering during your migration. FastTrack reduces escalation time and technical risk at every phase.

Microsoft Inner Circle 2025/26

Awarded to the top tier of Microsoft partners worldwide for AI Business Solutions.

All Six Solution Partner Designations

Business Applications, Data & AI, Infrastructure, Digital & App Innovation, Modern Work, and Security. Few partners globally hold all six.

50+ NAV to Business Central Migrations

Every migration follows a documented methodology, uses our proprietary tools, and hits a 99% on-time delivery rate.

Deep Dynamics Heritage

Delivered on every Dynamics version, from Navision through NAV to Business Central Cloud.

300+ Certified Microsoft Consultants

Deep enough to staff complex multi-module migrations. Functional, technical, data, and change management capability under one roof.

Industry-Specific Delivery

Migration playbooks tuned to your industry — compliance requirements, workflow patterns, and sector-specific integrations.

Global Delivery, Timezone-Aligned Coverage

Delivery centers in the US, Canada, UAE, Kenya, and India. Round-the-clock coordination for critical NAV environments and multi-country rollouts.

Navigating the Path to Digital Transformation: Leverage Alletec’s Expertise for a Seamless Migration from Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central

Download our practical guide to ensure a smooth transition from Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central—complete with expert strategies, checklists, and migration tips!

Download Guide

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Ready to migrate from NAV to Business Central?

If your Dynamics NAV environment is unsupported or approaching its end-of-support date, now is the time to plan your move to Business Central. Book a free migration assessment and a migration architect will review your NAV setup, recommend the right migration path, and map out a timeline.

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NAV Version *
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Common Questions About NAV to Business Central Migration

No, but they share a lineage. Business Central is the direct successor to Dynamics NAV, built on the same codebase but rearchitected for the cloud. NAV is on-premises; Business Central is cloud-native, with on-premises and hybrid options. Business Central's functional coverage is broader than NAV's, and it continues to receive new features twice a year while NAV does not.
End-of-support dates vary by version. NAV 2009 through NAV 2016 are already past extended support. NAV 2017 reaches end of extended support in January 2027. NAV 2018, the final NAV release, reaches end of extended support in January 2028. After end of extended support, Microsoft no longer issues security updates or technical fixes.
Most NAV to Business Central migrations through the Alletec Upgrade Factory complete in 8 to 14 weeks, roughly half the industry average of 20 to 30 weeks. The exact timeline depends on NAV version, customization volume, data volume, and chosen path (Technical Upgrade, Re-implementation, or Hybrid).
Bridge to the Cloud is a Microsoft promotional offer that gives qualifying Dynamics NAV on-premises commercial customers a discount on Business Central cloud licensing when they commit to migrating within a defined term. It also includes dual-use rights, allowing organizations to run NAV and Business Central in parallel during the transition without paying full list price for both.
Most can, but they must be re-engineered. NAV's C/AL code, especially modifications to base tables, cannot be lifted into Business Central as-is. Customizations must be rewritten as AL extensions, either AppSource apps or per-tenant extensions. The Alletec Upgrade Factory uses an automated toolkit for C/AL-to-AL conversion, with every converted extension validated by an AI code reviewer before it touches production.
No, but you choose what to migrate. Master data is typically carried forward in full. Open transactions are migrated. Historical transactional data can be migrated, archived in a read-only environment for reference, or both. Alletec's Automated Migration Toolkit handles 100+ GB per hour with built-in integrity validation.
Cost depends on five factors: NAV version, customization volume, data volume, integration touchpoints, and chosen path. The Alletec Upgrade Factory provides a fixed-price scope document at the end of Phase 1 — no open-ended estimates. For most mid-market organizations, project cost is a fraction of the multi-year savings on infrastructure, SQL Server licensing, and reduced internal IT overhead, particularly when Bridge to the Cloud licensing benefits are applied.
Alletec is a Microsoft FastTrack Partner and Inner Circle 2025/26 partner with 25 years of Dynamics delivery, including the original Navision through every NAV release. The Alletec Upgrade Factory is a NAV-to-BC migration methodology with 50+ completed migrations, four automated tools, and a 99% on-time delivery rate. Alletec delivers globally with timezone-aligned coverage from the US, Canada, UAE, Kenya, and India, useful for multi-country NAV environments and parallel-run cutovers.
Moving from on-premises NAV to cloud-based Business Central removes the burden of maintaining SQL Server infrastructure, applying patches, and managing backups in-house — Microsoft handles infrastructure, security patching, and uptime under an SLA. Licensing shifts from a capital expense to a subscription model, and you gain access to features released twice a year, which NAV no longer receives. For multi-location businesses, cloud deployment also simplifies access for remote and international teams compared to VPN-dependent on-premises setups.
The most common issues stem from customizations: C/AL modifications to base tables don't carry over directly and must be rebuilt as AL extensions, which if done manually can introduce bugs or break integrations. Other frequent challenges include third-party add-ons with no Business Central equivalent, data quality issues surfacing during migration, and underestimating testing time for business-critical processes. This is also where migration difficulty varies most — a lightly customized NAV 2018 environment is a comparatively straightforward Technical Upgrade, while heavily customized or older environments (NAV 2013, 2015) usually need Re-implementation or a Hybrid path. Working with an experienced migration partner that has automated conversion tooling, like the Alletec Upgrade Factory, is what keeps these risks from turning into project delays.
If your NAV version is approaching or past end of extended support, it isn't optional for long — Microsoft stops issuing security updates and technical fixes after that date. Beyond support timelines, the decision usually comes down to whether you're paying to maintain aging on-premises infrastructure and manual processes that Business Central's cloud architecture would eliminate. A short discovery assessment with a qualified Dynamics partner can quantify the actual cost and risk of staying on NAV versus migrating, using your own environment rather than general industry averages.
Technically possible in-house if your team has both NAV (C/AL) and Business Central (AL) development expertise, but that combination is increasingly rare as NAV specialists move on. An established Microsoft partner brings migration-specific tooling — automated code conversion, data validation at scale — that materially shortens timelines compared to manual re-platforming. Alletec's consultants have handled NAV upgrades since the original Navision product, so version-specific quirks going back to NAV 2009 and earlier are familiar territory, not a discovery process billed to the client.
Upgrade NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central | Alletec