Looking to Dynamics NAV 7, Microsoft Talks Productivity, Architecture Transition, More Integrated Features

As it gears up to release the next version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV-NAV "7"-Microsoft Corp. is focusing on helping customers, users and partners be more productive faster.

The company is also working to help partners take advantage of new business opportunities through software-plus-services and other enhancements to NAV, according to Todd Bergeson, Product Marketing Manager at Microsoft, and Microsoft's Statement of Direction for NAV.

Bergeson spoke yesterday at the  Dynamics NAV User Group's "Future Direction of Dynamics NAV" online workshop.

According to Bergeson, NAV 7, set for release in 2011-2012, will improve business processes for customers, while providing customers a broad horizontal platform on which they can build vertical solutions.

Highlights planned for this release include:

• Consolidating compelling country-specific functionality into the global product;
• Improving integration of the standard modules to increase user visibility into relevant information;
• Streamlining business processes across the company and with business partners with features like electronic banking and enhanced bank reconciliation and reporting capabilities.

Additionally, Microsoft plans to deliver a connector to Microsoft Dynamics CRM in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 7 as well as enable users to be more productive through enhanced interoperability with Microsoft Office, Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

The 3-step architectural transition that the company started with Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 continues with Microsoft Dynamics NAV 7 and will be completed with NAV 8. According to Microsoft, support for the NAV Database (C/SIDE) ends with Microsoft Dynamics NAV 7, which will only support Microsoft SQL Server as a database platform.

Bergeson said because Microsoft also plans to discontinue Forms in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 7, the company is strongly recommending that partners continue and complete upgrading ...