What Is Navision? Everything You Should Know About the Popular ERP System

If you run an online business, you may have heard of Navision – the legacy system behind one of the most widespread ERP systems on the market. But what exactly is Navision, and how has it helped so many companies streamline their processes and increase efficiency?

In this article we will dive into the essence of Navision and give you a comprehensive overview of the system’s features, benefits and evolution.

Among other things, we will cover:

• What Navision is, and which business processes it integrates
• Navision’s history and evolution into Dynamics 365 Business Central
• The benefits of using Navision/Business Central in your company
• Good advice for companies considering implementing the system

Navision, what is it?

Navision is a comprehensive, integrated business system categorised as an ERP system (short for “Enterprise Resource Planning”). This means that Navision is designed to bring together and coordinate different business processes in one unified software solution.

The main purpose of Navision is to streamline and optimise company operations by integrating the following primary functions:

• Financial management
• Inventory management
• Purchasing
• Logistics
• Sales
• Production
• Project management
• Payroll and HR (Human Resources)

By bringing these functions together in one system, companies gain a number of benefits, such as:

• Improved overview of and control over business processes
• Increased efficiency and productivity
• Fewer manual processes and errors
• A better basis for decision-making based on real-time data

Navision is therefore a powerful tool that helps companies optimise their business and create a solid foundation for growth and success. Whether you are a small, medium-sized or large company, Navision can be adapted and scaled to meet your specific needs and challenges.

The story behind it (in brief)

Navision has a long and interesting history stretching back to the 1990s. The software has undergone considerable development since then and has been released by Microsoft in many different versions over the years.

Originally the software went under the name Navision, which was its official designation until 2007.

That year Microsoft chose to change the name to Dynamics NAV to indicate that it was part of their Dynamics range of business software.

In 2018 there was another name change, when Microsoft decided to integrate Dynamics NAV into their cloud-based Dynamics 365 range. From then on the software became known as Dynamics 365 Business Central, which is its current name.

Microsoft has been dedicated to keeping the software updated and improved over the years. They typically release a new version of Dynamics 365 Business Central about twice a year.

These updates often contain new features, improvements to existing functionality as well as fixes for any bugs and shortcomings.

This constant development and updating of the software has helped ensure that it remains relevant and useful for companies that want to streamline their business processes and achieve greater efficiency.

Dynamics 365 Business Central

Dynamics 365 Business Central is the natural successor to Microsoft Dynamics NAV. This new solution builds on the solid foundation from NAV, while at the same time offering a range of exciting new possibilities and benefits for companies of all sizes.

One of the biggest advantages of Business Central is that it is a cloud-based solution.

This provides unprecedented flexibility and scalability, so the system can easily be adapted and grow with the company’s needs. At the same time, the regular updates ensure that the system is always up to date with the latest security features, so your data is in safe hands.

Another major strength of Business Central is the seamless integration with other Microsoft tools such as Outlook, Excel and Teams.

This makes it easy to collaborate across departments and functions, which can lead to significant improvements in productivity.

Several studies from Microsoft have shown that companies implementing Business Central experience a wide range of benefits:

• High ROI: Over 172% return on investment within just 7 months of implementation.
• Cost savings: Up to 18% reduction in operational costs.

These figures underline that an investment in Business Central is not merely an investment in an ERP system, but an investment in the company’s future and competitiveness.

So if you are looking for a modern, flexible and future-proof solution for managing your business processes, Dynamics 365 Business Central is definitely worth a look.

It combines the best of Dynamics NAV with the power and flexibility of cloud technology and sets new standards for what an ERP system can do for your company.

Why is it good?

The software offers a wide range of features and benefits that can help companies streamline their processes and improve efficiency.

Although Navision received ongoing updates and improvements, updating them often came with major challenges. That is why the newest versions of the system, here especially 365 Business Central, have improved functionality that makes the process far smoother.

This means that companies can benefit from the latest technologies and best practices, which can help them stay competitive in their industry.

Improved efficiency with 365 Business Central

A good example of how 365 Business Central can make a company more efficient is our customer Shark Gaming Systems A/S.

They faced the challenge of managing their rapidly growing gaming business. They needed a robust system that could integrate their finance, sales and inventory functions.

By implementing 365 Business Central, Shark Gaming Systems A/S achieved several significant improvements:

• More efficient order and inventory management
• Increased customer satisfaction
• An increase in sales

This shows how Navision can help companies tackle their specific challenges and achieve measurable results.

Whether it is a matter of improving financial management, streamlining the sales process or optimising inventory management, Navision has the tools and features needed to support the company’s growth and success.

Guidance for companies

When it comes to choosing the right ERP solution for your company, it is important to consider your specific needs and requirements. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a flexible and scalable solution that can be adapted to all companies and industries, regardless of size. One of the great advantages of Business Central is its ability to adapt to your company’s unique processes and workflows.

So whether you are a manufacturing company, a service company or something else entirely, Business Central can be tailored to support your specific needs. If your company already uses a Dynamics solution, such as NAV/Navision or C5, it may be a good idea to consider migrating to Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Read more in Good advice for migrating from C5 to 365 Business Central

Or Move from NAV to Business Central without losing a fortune

Summary

Navision, now known as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, is a versatile and effective ERP system that can revolutionise the way your company does business. By integrating and streamlining core processes such as finance, inventory, sales, production and HR, Business Central can help you achieve significant improvements in efficiency, productivity and profitability.

With its cloud-based architecture, ongoing updates and seamless integration with other Microsoft tools, Business Central is a future-proof solution that can be scaled and adapted in step with your company’s growth and changing needs.

So if you are looking for a way to optimise your company’s operations, improve decision-making and strengthen your competitiveness, Dynamics 365 Business Central is absolutely worth considering. With the right implementation and support, this powerful ERP system can become a decisive factor in your company’s success today and in the future.

At Connectify we have strong partners with extensive experience in helping companies migrate to Business Central.

Is Navision an ERP system?

Yes, Navision is an ERP system (Enterprise Resource Planning). It is used to manage a company’s finance, sales, purchasing, inventory, logistics, CRM, production, project management, payroll administration and HR.

What is Navision called today?

Today Navision is called Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Microsoft changed the name in 2018 as part of their development of the system.

What is an ERP program?

An ERP program (Enterprise Resource Planning) is a software system that helps organisations streamline their core business processes. It integrates different functions such as finance, HR, production, supply chain, sales and purchasing into one unified system, giving a single overview of the company’s activities.

Are Navision and Business Central the same?

Yes and no. Business Central is the newest version of what was once called Navision. Although they share many principles, design and structure, Business Central is a modernised and cloud-based version of the system. If you are used to working with Navision/NAV, you will quickly be able to pick up your work in Business Central.

History

Navision was originally developed in 1984 by three Danish engineers under the name PC Plus. The system has undergone several name changes:

1.1990s: Navision

2.2007: Microsoft Dynamics NAV

3.2018: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Microsoft acquired Navision in 2002, which enabled stronger integration with other Microsoft products such as the Office suite.