Five considerations for evaluating a Microsoft Dynamics NAV upgrade

In my experience, well more than half of Microsoft Dynamics NAV users continue to run old versions of the software. Many still rely on NAV software that is more than five versions old!

Dynamics NAV has delivered powerful business and operational benefits throughout its evolution; and upgrading to Dynamics NAV 2017 takes performance, functionality, agility and interoperability to new levels. Too many Dynamics NAV customers are missing out on the real benefits of upgrading to Dynamics NAV in today's cloud-based environment.

It is very important to bear in mind that when we talk about a NAV upgrade from versions older than NAV 2009, each case must be analyzed carefully. In our experience, when a list of customizations is not used anymore, or those customizations are already standard in the latest NAV version, then reimplementation of NAV should be done; or in some cases, NAV is partly upgraded and partly reimplemented, especially when the customer needs to keep a sales history and all data tables.

Barriers to upgrading

One main reason for the high percentage of older NAV systems is a reluctance to upgrade. Upgrades in the past have been expensive time-consuming tasks that meant downtime and disruption.

Apart from the fear factor, many businesses are not sure how to approach an upgrade to Dynamics NAV 2017. Where should they start? What do they need to consider? Where can they get help? What difference will an upgrade make to their business?

The good news is that recent versions of Dynamics NAV have made upgrading a smoother process than it had been in years past. And once an organization is on the latest release, staying current is far less challenging. With the right support, businesses can plan to take advantage ...