Why Business Central Training is Essential for Manufacturers

For manufacturers investing in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, the software is only part of the equation. The real difference between success and struggle lies in how well your people know how to use it. That’s where Business Central training becomes critical.

Business Central is a powerful platform with deep manufacturing capabilities — but it’s not something you can just turn on and expect results. Without training that’s specific to your business and your team, you’re likely to face inefficiencies, poor adoption, and costly errors that eat away at the value of your ERP investment.

In this article, I’ll walk through why Business Central training is so important for manufacturers and how the right approach can boost productivity, improve accuracy, and set your team up for long-term success.

The Unique Operational Complexity of Manufacturers

Manufacturers face operational challenges that are fundamentally different from other industries. From the moment raw materials are ordered to the time finished goods are shipped, your ERP system is tracking hundreds — sometimes thousands — of data points across departments.

These may include:

• Bill of Materials (BOMs) with multiple layers
• Routing and capacity constraints
• Shop floor data capture
• Inventory and warehouse management
• Subcontracting, scrap, and quality control

Each of these processes must be executed precisely and reported accurately. Business Central has tools to manage all of them — but only if users understand how to leverage the system to reflect real-world operations.

Without training, even experienced manufacturing staff will make assumptions that lead to incorrect setups, workarounds, or manual errors that create major inefficiencies.

You can even start with our free Business Central training courses to get a better grasp of the system — or to brush up on the features you haven’t used in a while.

What Business Central Training Should Include

Not all training is created equal. Manufacturers need training that reflects the reality of their production workflows, not generic ERP overviews. At a minimum, high-quality Business Central training for manufacturers should include:

Core Modules Covered

• Production Orders – Understanding make-to-stock vs. make-to-order vs. discrete builds, with deep dives into BOMs, routing, and scheduling.
• Inventory Management – Receiving, put-away, picking, shipping, and inventory adjustments, with focus on lot/serial tracking if used.
• Shop Floor Control – Capturing time and output, barcode scanning, job tracking, and integration with MES if applicable.
• Planning (MRP/MPS) – Material and capacity planning, safety stock setup, forecast-driven production, and how to interpret planning suggestions.
• Assembly Management – For simpler builds, kits, or pre-packaged items — and understanding when to use Assembly vs. Production.
• Projects & Jobs (if applicable) – This functionality ties production activities directly to a project or job, offering better visibility into costs, progress, and profitability over the course of long-term or custom builds.

Role-Based Learning

Every department interacts with the ERP differently:

• Production planners need deep planning and order routing knowledge.
• Warehouse teams require a hands-on understanding of item tracking and logistics.
• Accountants must know how transactions flow through G/L and cost centers.
• Executives rely on accurate data for reporting and forecasting.

Effective training accounts for this by delivering content tailored to each role, not just a one-size-fits-all lecture.

The Cost of Skipping or Minimizing Training

Some manufacturers attempt to reduce costs or save time by limiting training to a few users and asking them to pass knowledge down internally. This may seem efficient on the surface, but it often leads to:

• Tribal knowledge that isn’t documented or scalable
• Process inconsistencies between departments
• Incorrect data that throws off financial reports, forecasts, and compliance
• Frustration and resistance from users who weren’t properly onboarded

In fact, studies show that ERP implementations with insufficient training have a significantly higher failure rate — often due to poor user adoption and errors in setup.

The Long-Term ROI of Proper Business Central Training

While training requires time and upfront investment, the return is long-lasting and tangible. Manufacturers that prioritize training see improvements across the board:

Operational Efficiency

Trained users perform tasks faster, with fewer mistakes and less reliance on IT or consultants.

Inventory Accuracy

When receiving, issuing, and adjustments are handled correctly, your data reflects your actual inventory — not just what’s on paper.

Production Consistency

Operators and planners understand how to manage orders, track output, and make changes as needed without derailing schedules.

Better Reporting and Business Intelligence

Clean, consistent data means more reliable dashboards, KPIs, and forecasts — essential for continuous improvement and strategic planning.

Improved Morale and Retention

Users who are confident in the system are more engaged and less likely to revert to spreadsheets or resist change.

What to Look for in a Training Partner

Not every Business Central partner offers training tailored for manufacturing. When evaluating providers, look for:

• Manufacturing expertise, not just general ERP knowledge
• Customization based on your processes and product types
• Real-world examples and use-case-driven instruction
• Documentation, quick-reference guides, and recordings for future reference
• Post-training support so users can ask questions as they apply what they’ve learned

Bonus points if your trainer has actual experience on the shop floor or in manufacturing operations.

If you're still evaluating your options, check out our guide to the best Business Central manufacturing partners to find the right fit for your implementation and training needs.

Build a Training Strategy That Works

To get the most from your ERP investment, plan your training just like you'd plan a production launch:

1. Conduct a gap analysis – Where are users struggling? What tasks are error-prone?
2. Segment training by role – Don’t lump accounting, warehouse, and production together.
3. Schedule over phases – Don’t overload users. Let them learn in steps as features are rolled out.
4. Measure and adjust – Track usage, errors, and user satisfaction post-training and update your materials regularly.

Conclusion: Training Isn’t Optional — It’s the Backbone of Success

You wouldn’t hand a CNC machine to a new hire without proper instruction. Business Central is no different. Without training, even the most powerful ERP system will underperform.

Manufacturers who take Business Central training seriously see better adoption, cleaner data, fewer mistakes, and stronger ROI. It's not just about learning the software — it's about building a team that knows how to use it to run your business better.

Don’t let undertrained users hold back your ERP success. At Sabre Limited, we deliver hands-on, role-based Business Central training tailored to manufacturers like you. Book a free consultation and start building the confidence your team needs.