Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 is Fastest Yet: Two Experts Weigh In

For all the excitement over the upcoming Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 release, it's only since the beta release that the community been able to put the software to the test in any open way.

Now we have a new look at performance metrics  in NAV 2013, including some compelling improvements over various configurations of NAV 2009, both with SQL Server and (in some cases) with 2009's native database/classic client setup.

Dynamics NAV MVP Vjekoslav Babic has recently shared his findings in a series of benchmark tests that compared the NAV 2013 Role Tailored Client (RTC) and web services with 2009's RTC, web services, and classic client.  Babic's test came in response to Per Morgensen of Mergetool's own performance benchmark findings.  After Morgensen's initial findings showed NAV 2013 performing worse than 2009, he identified some testing issues, and updated his findings with results showing NAV 2013 running faster in many cases.

For those interested in the full details of the test rig, test details, and results check out Vjeko's blog.  The five primary tests he ran covered creation of sales orders, iterating through entities, reading unique G/L Account Numbers, and SIFT reads. In general, NAV 2013 outperforms NAV 2009 with SQL Server by an order of magnitude, according to Babic's findings.  For example, here are the results for the "Repeated Read" test:

The one place where a NAV 2009 test came out measurably faster than 2013 was the unique G/L account numbers test.  Here 2013 came in slower ...