Microsoft Offers A First Look at What to Expect in Dynamics NAV 2017

Microsoft has provided new details on the new and improved capabilities of Dynamics NAV 2017, the upcoming release expected before the end of calendar year 2016.

Eric Wauters, aka Waldo, has shared an overview slide from Microsoft about what's new in NAV 2017.

Many details are left undisclosed as of today, but we can expect Microsoft to start revealing more NAV 2017 details at the upcoming NAV Directions US and EMEA events, as well as at NAVUG Summit.

Microsoft has divided the enhancements of the new release into three thematic areas: "Bringing two worlds together," "Enhancing the core application and platform," and "Creating new opportunities".

The "opportunities" theme perhaps gives the future of NAV an aspirational quality. While most of these items could have been categorized in the other two buckets, they do stand apart as areas where partners could start investing to offer more value.

In the context of the present NAV channel chatter, Extensions is the most widely discussed opportunity. Wauters writes:

"I think it's not a secret: Extensions is going to be the shit (pardon my language..)! Whether you like it or not, Microsoft is committed to Extensions, and making Extensions as important as can be in the near future. NAV2017 is another big step in that direction!"

Don't rule out the importance of the other "opportunity" ...