Microsoft updates NAV partners on Dynamics 365 Business Central rollout: Locales, licensing, web client, and more

Microsoft reports that more than half of Dynamics NAV customers are on unsupported versions - earlier than NAV 2015 - and the company believes that ratio will grow by 2020. Having so many outdated customers could make both Microsoft and Dynamics partners uneasy, but perhaps also hopeful about the opportunity to make the case for Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Business Central continues its worldwide rollout through summery 2018, and Microsoft is sharing updates with its partners on what the solution will offer globally, when, and for whom. Inga Kanclerienė of Simplanova reported on some of the latest guidance in a new blog post based on guidance provided by Microsoft at a partner workshop at Microsoft Lithuania.

As the successor to Dynamics NAV, Business Central will carry forward some of the ERP solution's heritage. For example, localization will become available in stages. Fourteen countries gained support at the initial launch in April and more are will get it in July - Australia, New Zealand, and W1.

W1 will be available on demand only, Kanclerienė explains:

What does that mean for you? Only a selected number of countries will be able to use W1 version. Microsoft will release Worldwide version in waves for other countries, which are not on the list ... If you're not on the list - be patient or go to Microsoft with a business case.

Microsoft will provide more guidance on other locales in the July timeframe at the Inspire event.

Kanclerienė reported that Microsoft will offer three licensing scenarios for Business Central - cloud, on-premises, and hosted. Licensing conditions will ...