Migration from NAV 2013 to Business Central SaaSThe project was carried out in the years 2023 and 2024
Client Overview
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Industry: Manufacturing
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Head Office: Bangalore, India
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Operations: Multiple manufacturing plants across India
🔍 Key Migration Considerations
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Current NAV Environment
- Version: NAV 2013 (on-premises)
- Customizations: Manufacturing-specific modules, workflows, and reports
- Database Size: Over 1 TB of data.
- Historic Data Preservation: Client insisted on retaining all historical records.
🛠 Migration Strategy
1. Assessment & Planning
• Data Audit: Review master data, transactional data, and historical records.
• Customization Analysis: Identify C/AL customizations and plan conversion to AL extensions.
• Integration Mapping: Document existing integrations and plan for API-based connectivity.
2. Upgrade Path
• NAV 2013 → NAV 2018 (intermediate step for data upgrade) → Business Central SaaS
• Use Microsoft Upgrade Toolkit for schema and data migration.
Business Challenge
In 2023, the client faced a critical database crash on their Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 system.
- Their existing NAV partner could not retrieve the database.
- The client approached several major NAV partners in India, but none could recover the data.
The situation was urgent because losing recent transaction records would severely impact operations
Solution Implemented
LS Apps implemented a seamless migration from Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central SaaS. The migration approach focused on minimizing downtime, ensuring data accuracy, and enabling cloud-first capabilities.
The solution included:
- Assessment and upgrade path planning from NAV 2013 to Business Central SaaS
- Data migration of master and transactional data
- Reconfiguration of manufacturing, finance, inventory, and procurement modules
- Optimization of business processes to align with Business Central best practices
- User training and post-go-live support
Implementation Highlights
- Migrated legacy NAV customizations to modern extension-based architecture
- Enabled cloud access for users across all manufacturing plants
- Improved system performance and availability
- Ensured secure and compliant SaaS deployment
Business Benefits
- Reduced Infrastructure Costs: Eliminated on-premises servers and maintenance overhead
- Improved Visibility: Real-time access to financial and operational data across locations
- Scalability: Cloud-based platform ready to support future expansion
- Enhanced Productivity: Faster processes and improved user experience
- Future-Ready Platform: Easy integration with Microsoft ecosystem and third-party solutions
Conclusion
By migrating to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central SaaS, the client successfully modernized its ERP platform, improved operational efficiency, and established a scalable foundation for future growth. LS Apps delivered a smooth and risk-mitigated transition, enabling the client to focus on core manufacturing operations with confidence.
As Microsoft and LS Retail certified partners, we offer Business Central licenses and cloud services with flexible, value-packed pricing
Working with the LS Apps team is always a great experience. They are responsive, professional, and focused on delivering results.
