The Dynamics 365 Business Central Wave 2 2024 upgrade includes many new features and improvements to enhance business efficiency and profitability. Andrew Good, CEO of Liberty Grove, recently presented the upgrade's features.

Business Central has a rich history dating back to the 1980s. Over the years, it has undergone significant evolution, starting as a single-user version. As Windows evolved in 1995, Microsoft acquired The Vision and rebranded it as part of its suite of ERP solutions in 2005. The most significant evolution came in 2018 with the introduction of Business Central, a game-changing event for businesses, and the simultaneous introduction of NAV to take it to the cloud.

Microsoft updates Business Central, one of its most popular products, twice a year to keep it current and enhance its features, which companies rely on for efficient business management.

Here's a detailed look at some of the Liberty Grove team’s favorite features of the most recent Business Central upgrade and how they can benefit businesses:

Enhanced Reporting and Analytics

The Wave 2 update elevates the reporting functionalities within Dynamics 365 Business Central, providing users with tools to gain deeper insights and conduct real-time data analysis. It is essential for informed and timely decision-making. New industry-specific templates and highly customizable dashboards make it easier for teams to visualize data and track key performance indicators (KPIs).

AI-Powered Insights and Forecasting

Business Central now leverages AI to provide predictive insights and forecasting capabilities. It helps businesses anticipate market trends, manage inventory more effectively, and make data-driven decisions that increase profitability.

Financial Management Improvements

The upgrade includes enhancements to financial management features, such as support for multiple VAT numbers and the ability to use installments on sales documents. These improvements streamline financial operations and ensure compliance with various government regulations.

Workflow Automation and Usability Enhancements

Business Central Wave 2 introduces new automation tools that simplify and expedite routine tasks. For example, Copilot can help create sales orders directly from chat, making the process faster and more efficient. Additionally, integrating with GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio Code improves developer productivity by providing intelligent code suggestions and automating repetitive coding tasks.

Expanded E-Document Capabilities

The e-document feature in Business Central now offers more capabilities for sending documents, including integration with Dynamics 365 Field Service and expanded reporting capabilities for sustainability. That allows businesses to track their greenhouse gas emissions and other sustainability metrics, helping them meet regulatory requirements and improve their environmental impact.

Global Availability and Localization

Business Central Wave 2 expands its global availability, making it easier for businesses to operate in multiple regions and comply with local regulations. It includes support for various VAT numbers and country-specific features that cater to the unique needs of different markets.

Improved Integration with Third-Party Applications

The upgrade enhances integration with third-party applications, allowing businesses to connect Business Central with other tools and systems seamlessly. This interoperability ensures data flows smoothly across various platforms, reducing manual data entry and improving overall efficiency.

Core Application Functionality

• Copilot Integration: Enhanced Copilot capabilities for creating sales orders directly from Chat and generating product information faster.
• Sales Order Creation: Copilot can now assist in creating sales orders directly from Chat, making the process faster and more intuitive.
• Multiple VAT Numbers: Support for various VAT numbers to facilitate international business.
• Product Information: Copilot helps generate product information, such as Variables, Units of Measurement, and other details, more efficiently.

Integration with Dynamics 365 Field Service

• Service Orders: The integration now covers service orders, allowing for better coordination between Business Central and Field Service.
• Document Archiving: New capabilities to archive service management documents.

Sustainability Reporting

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: New reporting features to help companies track and report their greenhouse gas emissions, aiding in sustainability efforts.

Power Platform Integration

• Auto-Apply Templates: Templates are automatically applied when synchronizing data with Dataverse, streamlining data management.
• Subscription Billing: Improved management of subscription billing and revenue recognition.
• Shopify Connector: Enhanced integration with Shopify, including features like synchronizing product translations and defining shipping information.

User Experience Improvements

• Multi-User Warehouse Entries: More than one user can now post warehouse entries simultaneously, improving efficiency in warehouse management.
• Financial Reporting: New reports and demo data for financial reporting to help businesses better analyze their financial health.
• Project Planning: Users can add extended text to project planning lines, providing more detailed project information.

Application Enhancements

• E-Document Capabilities: Expanded capabilities for sending documents.
• Integration with Dynamics 365 Field Service: Expanded integration to cover service orders.
• Sustainability Reporting: New reporting capabilities for tracking greenhouse gas emissions.

Power Platform Integration

• Auto-Apply Templates: Auto-application of templates when synchronizing data with Dataverse.
• Subscription Billing and Revenue Recognition: Management of subscription billing and revenue and expense recognition.
• Shopify Connector: Improved Shopify connector for better integration.

Country and Regional Updates

• Legislative Capabilities: New legislative capabilities to help organizations stay compliant with various government regulations, ensuring they meet all legal requirements.

Conclusion

The Dynamics 365 Business Central Wave 2 2024 upgrade introduces features that streamline business processes, enhance decision-making, and improve financial management. Businesses can increase efficiencies and profit by leveraging AI-powered insights, automation tools, and expanded e-document capabilities.

The global availability and enhanced integration with third-party applications further solidify Business Central as a comprehensive business management tool for small and mid-sized organizations.

Microsoft Business Central offers a comprehensive solution that meets all your needs for managing complex business operations. With its robust tools for data management, synchronization, and correction, you can ensure data integrity and operational efficiency.

Business Central is a powerful tool designed to manage complex business processes efficiently. By ensuring accurate static and transactional data, providing robust controls and workflows, and offering flexible user permissions, Business Central helps businesses maintain data integrity and operational efficiency.

Investing in Business Central means embracing a future-proof solution that supports informed decision-making and drives business success.

Ready To Make the Most of Business Central?

Liberty Grove can help you optimize Business Central to ensure your organization's productivity, efficiency, and profitability.

Contact Liberty Grove for a complimentary consultation on how its experts can help you maximize Business Central and increase organizational efficiencies.

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About the author

Liberty Grove Software is an established Microsoft Partner that focuses on providing customers with sales, service, and support for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central/NAV solutions and training and upgrades.

Over more than 25 years, Liberty Grove has assisted hundreds of customers with businesses ranging from small to mid-sized to Microsoft Partners in implementing, training, customization, and upgrading Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions.

The organization is one of only a few companies worldwide that Microsoft recognizes as qualified to provide Business Central/NAV Upgrade Service Centers.