Dynamics NAV to Business Central Migration Services
Veelead moves Dynamics NAV and older Navision systems, from 2009 through 2018, to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, online or on premises. Every NAV to Business Central upgrade starts with the exact path for your version. We then convert customizations to extensions and reconcile every company before anyone signs off.
Book a NAV Upgrade Assessment
Dynamics NAV End of Support: Is Your Version Covered?
Every Dynamics NAV version is past mainstream support. Once extended support ends, Microsoft stops releasing security updates for it, so even a move from NAV 2018 to Business Central now has a deadline.
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2018
Microsoft Dynamics NAV
2013 R2 and Earlier
Support ended: mainstream support ended 2018, extended support ended 2018 -
Jan 2025
Microsoft Dynamics NAV
2015
Support ended: mainstream support ended January 2020, extended support ended January 2025
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Apr 2026
Microsoft Dynamics NAV
2016
Support ended: mainstream support ended April 2021, extended support ended April 2026
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Jan 2027
Microsoft Dynamics NAV
2017
Extended support ends: mainstream support ended January 2022, extended support ends January 2027
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Jan 2028
Microsoft Dynamics NAV
2018
Extended support ends: mainstream support ended January 2023, extended support ends January 2028
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Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Support dates are not the only pressure:
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Fewer NAV specialists
C/AL skills are harder to hire every year, and costlier to keep.
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Ageing infrastructure
NAV servers, SQL versions, and Windows hosts all need their own upgrades.
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No new capability
Copilot, the Shopify connector, and automatic updates arrive only in Business Central.
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Harder upgrades later
The further behind a NAV database falls, the more intermediate steps it needs.
Dynamics NAV vs Business Central
Business Central is NAV's successor, so a Dynamics NAV to Business Central migration keeps the core accounting model familiar. What changes is how it is hosted, extended and updated.
| Area |
Dynamics NAV
|
Business Central
|
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | On-premises servers you maintain | Cloud service on Microsoft Azure, or on premises |
| Updates | Manual upgrade projects every few years | Automatic updates twice a year (online) |
| Customization | C/AL code changed inside the base application | AL extensions that sit on top and survive updates |
| Add-ons | ISV objects merged into the database | Apps installed from AppSource |
| User interface | Windows client (plus web client in later versions) | Browser, mobile and Teams |
| Microsoft 365 | Limited | Works inside Outlook, Excel and Teams |
| Reporting | Built-in reports and Excel export | Financial reporting, live Excel and Power BI |
| AI assistance | None | Copilot in Business Central |
| Licensing | Perpetual license plus enhancement plan | Subscription per user (online) or perpetual (on premises) |
NAV Upgrade vs Reimplementation
A technical upgrade is not the only option. A reimplementation, or a hybrid of the two, is sometimes faster and cheaper.
Technical upgrade
All companies, full history, and customizations converted to extensions
Well-used NAV systems whose processes still fit
Most steps; every customization must be converted
Reimplementation
Master data, opening balances and setup, using Microsoft's BC14 reimplementation tool
Heavily customized or outdated systems
Posted history and legacy customizations stay behind
Hybrid
A fresh Business Central setup, plus selected history and rebuilt customizations
Keeping what works and dropping what does not
Needs clear decisions on what to rebuild
Customizations, Add-ons and C/AL to AL Conversion
Before Business Central online, every C/AL customization must become an AL extension. Data in customized tables only migrate if the extension is installed on both sides. This is where most NAV upgrades slip.
Each ISV add-on is checked for a Business Central version, and local tax or regulatory features are checked against the Business Central localization for your country.
We inventory every modified object and sort it into one of four outcomes:
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Retire
Business Central now does this as standard.
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Replace
An AppSource app covers it, including newer versions of your ISV add-ons.
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Convert
The logic still matters, so it is rewritten as an AL extension.
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Rebuild
The process has changed, so it is redesigned rather than copied.
How Veelead Benefits Your NAV to Business Central Migration
Moving from Dynamics NAV to Business Central is more than a version upgrade. It requires accurate migration, clear planning, and a smooth transition for your team. Our Dynamics NAV upgrade services give you a structured approach designed to reduce migration risks and minimize disruption.
Reconciled, Not Assumed
We validate migrated data against your NAV records, helping ensure key balances and financial information are accurate before go-live.
Microsoft Expertise
Our experience across Business Central, Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365, and Azure help you build a migration that fits your broader Microsoft environment.
Secure Data Handling
We follow security-focused processes when working with your financial and business data, supported by an ISO 27001-certified information security management system.
Transparent Scoping
We clearly separate what standard Microsoft migration capabilities can handle from where additional services or customization may be required, so you know what you are paying for.
Support Beyond Go-Live
We help your team transition into Business Central and provide continued support after launch, including assistance through your first financial close and ongoing managed services.
FAQ for Business Central for Manufacturing
Start With a NAV Upgrade Assessment
Planning a NAV to Business Central upgrade? Start with a clear picture of your current environment. Our assessment helps identify outdated customizations, integration dependencies, data considerations, and technical requirements so you can plan your upgrade with greater clarity and fewer surprises.
