Microsoft Dynamics 365


Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a set of enterprise accounting and sales software products. Its flagship product, Dynamics GP, was released in 1981.

Applications

Microsoft Dynamics 365 largely consists of products developed by companies that Microsoft acquired: Dynamics GP, Dynamics NAV, Dynamics SL, and Dynamics AX. The various products are aimed at different market segments, ranging from small and medium-sized businesses to large organizations with multi-language, currency, and legal entity capability. In recent years Microsoft Dynamics ERP has focused its marketing and development on software as a service products.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 contains more than 15 applications:
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 SalesSales Leaders, Sales Operations
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer data platformCustomer Insights
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer data platformCustomer Voice
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer ServiceCustomer Service Leaders, Customer Service Operations
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field ServiceField Service Leaders, Field Service Operations
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Remote Assist
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Human ResourcesAttract, Onboard, Core HR
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & OperationsFinance Leaders, Operation Leaders
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain ManagementStreamline planning, production, stock, warehouse, and transportation
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order Management
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Commerce
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 MarketingAdobe Marketing Cloud, Dynamics 365 for Marketing
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Artificial IntelligenceAI for Sales, AI for Customer Service, AI for Market Insight
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Mixed RealityRemote Assist, Layout, Guides
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business CentralERP for SMBs

    Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations

Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations Enterprise Edition ERP and CRM software-as-a-service product meant for mid-sized and large enterprises. Integrating both Dynamics AX and Dynamics CRM features, consisting of the following modules: for Financials and Operations, for Sales Enterprise, for Marketing, for Customer Service, for Field Service, for Project Service Automation. It is designed to be easily connected with Office 365 and PowerBI.

Microsoft Dynamics ax

Microsoft Dynamics AX was one of Microsoft's Enterprise resource planning software products. In 2018, its thick-client interface was removed and the web product was rebranded as Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations as a part of the Dynamics 365 suite. MDCC or Microsoft Development Center Copenhagen was once the primary development center for Dynamics AX. Microsoft Dynamics AX contained 19 core modules:

Traditional core (since axapta 2.5)

  • General ledger – ledger, sales tax, currency, and fixed assets features
  • Bank management – receives and pays cash
  • Customer relationship management – business relations contact and maintenance
  • Accounts receivable – order entry, shipping, and invoicing
  • Accounts payable – purchase orders, goods received into inventory
  • Inventory management – inventory management and valuation
  • Master planning – purchase and production planning
  • Production – bills of materials, manufacturing tracking
  • Store, manage, and interpret data.

    Extended core

The following modules are part of the core of AX 2009 and available on a per-license basis in AX 4.0:
  • Shop floor control
  • Cost accounting
  • Balanced scorecards
  • Service management
  • Expense management
  • Payroll management
  • Environmental management

    Morphx and x++

X++ integrates SQL queries into standard Java-style code.

Presence on the internet

Information about Axapta prior to the Microsoft purchase was available on, a proprietary web-based newsgroup, which grew to a considerable number of members and posts before the Microsoft purchase in 2002.
After Microsoft incorporated Axapta into their Business Solution suite, they transferred the newsgroup's content to the Microsoft Business Solutions newsgroup. The oldest Axapta Technet post that can be found dates to August 2000.

Events

Extreme Conferences: extreme365 is a conference for the Dynamics 365 Partner Community which now includes Dynamics AX, featuring an Executive Forum.

Personalization and predictive analytics

At the National Retail Federation Conference 2016 in New York, Microsoft unveiled its partnership with Infinite Analytics, a Cambridge-based predictive analytics and personalization company.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central ERP and CRM software-as-a-service product meant for small and mid-sized businesses. Integrating both Dynamics NAV and Dynamics CRM features, consisting of the following modules: for Financials and Operations, for Sales Professionals, for Marketing. Easily connected with Office 365 and PowerBI.
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement contains modules to interact with customers: Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, Field Service. The Customer Service is a module used to automate customer service processes providing performance data reports and dashboards.

    Online and on-premises deployment

The Dynamics 365 Business Central system comes in both an online hosted version and an on-premises version for manual deployment and administration.
Some features, such as integration with other online Microsoft services, are not available in the on-premises version and only in the online edition.

Localization

As an international ERP system, Business Central is available with 24 official localizations to work with the local features and requirements of various countries. Local partners provide an additional 47 localizations.
The system is compliant with various internal financial standards to meet local requirements, such as GDPR, IAS/IFRS and SOX.

Editions and licensing

There are two editions of Business Central, Essentials and Premium. Essentials covers Finance, Sales, Marketing, Purchasing, Inventory, Warehousing, and Project Management. Premium includes all of Essentials functionality plus Service Management and Manufacturing features.
With the arrival of NAV 2013, Microsoft introduced a new licensing model that operated on a concurrent user basis. With this model, user licenses were of two types: A full user or a limited user. The full user has access to the entire system, whereas the limited user only has read access to the system and limited write access.
From the Business Central rebrand launch, the licensing model changed to a per-seat license model with a 3x concurrent seat multiplier added to any existing perpetual licenses from previous Dynamics NAV versions. Customers with a Dynamics NAV Extended Pack license were moved to the Premium edition.

Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

Business Central is primarily distributed and implemented through Microsoft’s global network of Value-Added Resellers and Independent Software Vendors. VARs provide services such as consulting, implementation, customization, integration, training, and ongoing support. Because Business Central is highly extensible, VARs frequently tailor deployments to meet the specific requirements of industries such as manufacturing, distribution, retail, professional services, and field service.
ISVs supplement the core product by offering add-on applications and extensions through Microsoft AppSource. These extensions expand Business Central’s capabilities in areas such as reporting, payroll, manufacturing execution, commerce, document management, and integrations with third-party systems. Together, VARs and ISVs enable Business Central to support a wide range of industry and regional scenarios while maintaining a standardized cloud platform.

Examples of Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is supported by an international network of authorized partners. Examples of recognized VARs that provide implementation, customization, and support services include:
  • Sabre Limited – A North American partner specializing in manufacturing-focused Business Central implementations, including engineer-to-order, configure-to-order, and job shop environments. Sabre Limited also offers training, support, and industry-specific consulting services.
  • ArcherPoint – A global partner providing Business Central and Dynamics NAV consulting, development, and managed services across retail, manufacturing, and distribution sectors.
  • Innovia Consulting – A long-established Business Central/NAV partner specializing in cloud migration, ERP implementations, and support for distribution, manufacturing, and service organizations.
  • Encore Business Solutions – A Canadian and U.S.-based Microsoft partner delivering Business Central, CRM, Power Platform, and Azure implementations across multiple industries.
  • Western Computer – A Business Central and Dynamics 365 integrator focused on distribution, rental, and manufacturing industry solutions.
  • Sikich – A global technology and professional services firm that offers Business Central implementations along with broader digital transformation consulting.
  • Clients First Business Solutions – A U.S.-based ERP partner delivering Business Central implementations for manufacturing, distribution, and professional services, including multi-entity and multi-location environments.
  • The NAV People – A major UK-based partner known for Business Central/NAV training, support, and large-scale ERP deployments.
These partners often supplement Business Central with industry-specific extensions, integrations, or custom development depending on customer requirements and local regulations.