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Migrate on-premises data to Business Central Online

  • Article

Organizations that run their workloads on-premises but are looking to move to the cloud can easily migrate to Business Central online. By moving to the cloud, users get the benefits of cloud scenarios such as Machine Learning, Power BI, and Power Automate to drive suggested actions.

If you're not familiar with Business Central online, learn more in Business Central trials and subscriptions.

Supported migration paths

You can use the built-in migration tools to migrate data to Business Central online from specific product versions. The on-premises solution must use SQL Server 2016 or a later version, and the database must have compatibility level 130 or higher. Currently, you can migrate to Business Central online from the following products:

  • Business Central on-premises

    • From on-premises version 25 and later, migrate directly to Business Central online.
    • From on-premises version 14 through 24, upgrade to at least version 25 on-premises before migrating to Business Central online.

  • Dynamics NAV

    If you are currently on a version of Dynamics NAV, you must upgrade to Business Central on-premises, and then switch to Business Central online.

  • Dynamics GP 2015 and later versions - Dynamics GP 2015 and later versions

  • Dynamics SL 2015 and later versions

If a customer is coming from another product, you can use configuration packages and templates to migrate their data to Business Central on-premises. After that, use the cloud migration tool to switch to Business Central online. For more information, go to Set Up Company Configuration Packages.

Tip

Customers coming from QuickBooks can use apps from Microsoft to move to Business Central online. For more information, go to Changing from a QuickBooks App to Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Next steps

The migration process, including the data flow and tasks that must be done to prepare and run the cloud migration, is similar for Business Central and Dynamics GP. But there are some differences. To continue, select the link that matches your on-premises product:

Partner webinars and office hours

Join the upcoming partner webinars and office hours for Dynamics GP partners exploring Dynamics 365 Business Central. The webinars provide valuable information and opportunities to ask questions. Check out the topics and dates in the next section. Registration opens at the end of October 2024: Join.

Date Office Hour Topic Abstract
November 12 Architecture Join the webinar and open office hour with Microsoft where we cover how to effectively manage multiple environments and companies. We also cover tenant-environment relationships, managing users from different tenants, transferring environments between Microsoft Entra tenants, optimizing capacity, and implementing localizations for regional compliance.

Register here to join at 5:00PM CET/8:00 AM PT on November 12: Join.
November 19 Performance This cloud performance webinar focuses on enhancing the performance of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central through various strategies and tools. It covers real-life workloads, scalable architecture, and factors affecting performance such as configuration, data volume, and concurrent activities. The session also highlights tools like the Business Central Performance Toolkit (BCPT) and telemetry for monitoring and optimizing performance.
December 5 Maintenance Join the Microsoft webinar on monitoring and maintenance for Dynamics 365 Business Central, covering key topics such as Backup, Restore, and Disaster Recovery, Security and Compliance, Monitoring, and Code Maintenance within Application Lifecycle Management. Gain insights into keeping your environment secure, monitoring its health, and streamlining your development processes.
December 10 Transformation Join the Microsoft webinar and office hour about the cloud transformation. We provide guidance for transitioning from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central. We cover key topics such as strategies, tools, and processes for data migration. Covering both master data and historical data to ensure a smooth transition. We also share best practices for reducing data stored in Business Central databases.
December 17 Financial Management Join the Microsoft webinar and office hour about financial management In Dynamics 365 Business Central. We provide an overview of setting up and managing the Chart of Accounts and Dimensions, ensuring accurate and efficient financial tracking. Additionally, we explore the functionalities of the General Ledger, including making corrections and adjustments. The webinar also covers budgeting techniques and tools, as well as best practices for generating and analyzing financial reports.
December 18 Financial Management Repeat

FAQ about migrating to the cloud from on-premises solutions