Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) require tools that match their profile. As they look to expand their operations and improve efficiency, these organizations require a platform that can take advantage of their agility within the market while scaling with company growth.
Microsoft Dynamics Business Central is a comprehensive ERP platform designed to help SMBs use their unique strengths while managing the various aspects of their operations. With its reach extending to 174 countries and support for 54 languages, Business Central has established itself as a global solution for organizations looking to streamline their processes and seize emerging opportunities.
One of Business Central’s key strengths lies in its seamless integration with other Microsoft tools like Word, Excel, Teams, and Power Platform. This interoperability allows businesses to enhance collaboration, manage data more effectively, and automate manual processes, helping businesses focus on more strategic initiatives. Furthermore, the introduction of AI capabilities, like Copilot, has added another layer of innovation by simplifying workflows and making tasks more intuitive.
For example, a report writer can take information from an Excel workbook and share it directly to Business Central from the app. The collaborative function also allows instant collaboration through the use of Microsoft Teams, meaning multiple people can edit the data and provide feedback as needed. Business Central’s intuitive dashboards go a step further and make information accessible at a glance while allowing important data points to be shared directly from the interface.
Strengthening Financial Operations
Business Central provides a range of functionalities that support financial management in both day-to-day operations and strategic decision-making. The platform includes features for managing general ledgers, accounts payable and receivable, cost accounting, fixed assets, field service management, CRM, and project management. Additionally, Business Central can assist organizations in complying with local financial regulations and offers tools for managing intercompany transactions, making it easier for businesses to operate across borders. This includes localizations specific to each country where Business Central is offered, with regular updates from Microsoft that keep pace with changing regulations.
Business Central’s integrated tools also help reduce manual data entry, streamline reporting processes, and offer greater visibility into financial performance, assisting with accuracy and efficiency.
Enhancing Manufacturing, Warehouse and Supply Chain Management
Another area where Business Central excels is supply chain management. Inventory control is crucial for efficient operations, and Business Central’s warehouse management capabilities allow companies to categorize inventory using zones and bins, even ranking them to enhance pick-and-put-away processes. This kind of granular control helps businesses enhance operational efficiency and maintain the flexibility needed to adapt to changing demands. For industries with specific requirements, such as cold storage, Business Central can accommodate these needs with tailored classifications and workflows.
By offering real-time insights into inventory levels and warehouse operations, Business Central enables businesses to make informed decisions that can improve fulfillment times and help reduce unnecessary stock levels.
Business Central provides tools that help enhance manufacturing as well. For example, it supports discrete manufacturing through its production planning and execution features. Additionally, it enables businesses to manage bills of materials (BOMs), routings, work orders, and capacity planning. This helps companies enhance production processes, improve inventory levels, and increase overall efficiency.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central offers advanced warehousing capabilities that can significantly improve operational efficiency, helping businesses improve their inventory management and general operations.
Advanced warehousing in Business Central goes beyond the basics, allowing businesses to track and manage inventory across multiple locations and zones, offering greater flexibility and control. By using SKU cards, businesses can track variants by size, color, and configuration, delivering precise inventory management even for complex product lines.
Key Features
- Zones and Locations: Business Central allows the division of warehouses into zones, similar to how locations are managed. This feature is particularly useful for businesses with large or complex storage needs.
- Bin Management: Efficient bin management is crucial for effectively using warehouse space. Business Central's bin management feature helps with assigning and planning bin capacities, helping to store items efficiently and keep them easily accessible.
- Document Management: Business Central requires receipt and shipment documents for tracking inventory movements. This helps ensure that every item received or shipped is accounted for, providing a clear audit trail and enhancing accountability.
- Putaways and Picks: These features allow businesses to manage the movement of inventory within the warehouse. Putaways help in directing where items should be stored, while picks guide the retrieval of items for shipment.
- Multi-warehouse Management: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central enables businesses to efficiently manage multi-warehouse inventory by providing real-time tracking, automated stock replenishment, and enhanced warehouse operations across multiple locations. Its advanced features, such as bin management, transfer orders, and inventory forecasting, help ensure accurate stock levels, reduced carrying costs, and streamlined logistics.
- Automated MRP: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, with Copilot, automates material requirements planning (MRP) by analyzing demand forecasts, inventory levels, and production schedules to generate smart procurement and manufacturing suggestions. This AI-powered automation helps businesses better adjust stock levels, reduce shortages, and improve efficiency by providing real-time insights and proactive recommendations.
Improving Data Security and Compliance
Business Central provides robust measures to protect sensitive information and enhance data security. Role-based permissions give organizations control over user access, meaning data is only available to authorized individuals. This level of control helps businesses maintain compliance with data protection regulations and safeguards their operations from potential security breaches. These configurable security protocols serve a key function in maintaining business continuity and protecting stakeholder trust.
Putting the Platform To Work
Implementing and integrating Business Central into daily operations isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. Every business has unique needs, and BDO’s team of experienced professionals can help companies configure and address any questions that arise. This includes providing guidance in areas directly related to Business Central or other operational needs related to it, including data governance, cybersecurity, supply chain management, and more.
Looking to the Future
The future of Microsoft Dynamics Business Central is promising, with continuous updates and enhancements planned. The platform’s focus on integrating AI and other advanced technologies means that organizations using Business Central will have access to powerful tools that will help them remain competitive, even in changing markets. These advancements can assist with process automation, enhance decision-making capabilities, and offer new ways to interact with business data.
As Business Central evolves, its capabilities can help organizations keep pace with the demands of their growing operations, offering a flexible and scalable solution that assists companies as they adapt to changing market conditions. It can also scale with businesses as they expand their existing capabilities and look to offer new services or products.