Looking back a little, in September 2021, Microsoft launched the Bridge to the Cloud promotion to help current SMB customers (Dynamics NAV, GP, SL, and Business Central on-premises) who are committed to moving to the Cloud and are on an active Enhancement Plan (EP) get discounted cloud licenses through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program. Roll forward and now we have Microsoft Bridge to the Cloud 2023.

What will the Microsoft Bridge to the Cloud 2023 promotion change in 2023?

In anticipation of the shift, many businesses created budgets and made plans for change. Investing heavily in new business software and technology is a strategic decision that can position your company for future success. Businesses and organizations still using legacy ERP may experience sluggish productivity, mediocre functionality, laborious procedures, and an antiquated user interface and would benefit from a more up-to-date, comprehensive system.

With Business Central available for an inexpensive license and a guided migration path from a reputable technology solutions partner, the Microsoft Bridge to the Cloud campaign is a fantastic opportunity to adopt a cloud-hosted ERP solution at a fraction of the usual cost.

The promotion was planned to run until 2022, then extended to allow more firms to switch to Business Central, ending on December 31.

Continue reading to learn more about the promotion and what you need to know moving ahead.

What's new?

The promotion began on February 1, 2023. With a three-year migration period, eligible customers will enjoy a 40% discount on licensing expenses.

It's a fantastic chance to upgrade to Business Central for less money.

What happens when the promotion period is over?

This deal is a one-way transition, which means customers will completely switch to Business Central online when the promotion expires and will no longer have access to their old ERP solution or licenses.

It's a fantastic chance for companies who intend to relocate but aren't quite ready to commit.

What are the rights to dual access?

Dual access privileges are available to promotion customers, allowing you to continue using your current ERP system throughout the migration until the end of your offer period. You can use your existing ERP normally while implementing, customizing, and testing Business Central. You should know that only one of these solutions can be active simultaneously. Therefore, Business Central will only be used for testing while you continue to utilize your Dynamics GP, Dynamics NAV, or Dynamics SL solution.

Benefits specific to each eligible application: During the promotional period, all eligible Microsoft ERPs (NAV, SL, and GP) will enjoy substantial license cost reductions, dual access rights to their current system and Business Central, and a no-rush migration to Business Central. Of course, once they switch to Business Central, the ERP's cutting-edge features and user-friendly design will be of immeasurable value to the company going forward. Each legacy application benefits specifically from a switch to Business Central on an individual basis:

• Dynamics NAV

Any organization using Dynamics NAV will want to upgrade to Business Central because it is the most recent NAV generation built on the same foundation as Dynamics NAV. Since Business Central is essentially the next stage of NAV's development, people familiar with NAV will quickly adapt to the new system. It leads to quicker upgrade adoption and less disruption of daily operations.

• GP Dynamics

There is no sunset date for the ERP, and GP is still supported; however, there will be no future significant updates or features. Bug fixes and tax-related adjustments will be the only minor upgrades. Although many GP users are devoted to the old program, Microsoft has made it evident that Business Central is their top priority.

As a result, Dynamics GP will serve as a technological time capsule that will never again be in contact with cutting-edge technology. Users of Dynamics GP who switch to Business Central will see many advantages, including a more contemporary and user-friendly design, incredible customizability, the usage of dimensions, the absence of batch processing bottlenecks, and more.

• SL Dynamics

In January 2024, Microsoft will stop offering general support for Dynamics SL 2018. That alone should be enough motivation to look for a new, more advanced ERP that will continue to get updates and support. Beyond that, switching to a cloud-based ERP offers advantages like not relying on or investing in hardware or a remote desktop service, flexible licensing, scalability, and enhanced security.

A robust, out-of-the-box solution with a high degree of customizability to make it ideal for your industry and your procedures, Business Central is an excellent option for practically any company.

After the initial promotional period, what happens?

Three alternatives will be available to customers following the initial one-year promotional period:

1. The customer can stop the cloud migration and return to their old solution and licensing. For the promotional term, customers who choose this option and intend to re-enroll in their Enhancement will be responsible for any lapsed payments. A buyer can only alter their mind once during this deal.
2. At that point, the client can migrate to Business Central.
3. Bridge to the Cloud 2 has a fixed 3-year term from enrollment. If accepted, the customer is committed to moving entirely to the Cloud once they stop renewing the promotion's yearly extensions.

Although the Microsoft Bridge to the Cloud 2023 campaign, which began in February 2023, offers customers several significant advantages. It's a great chance to cut costs and is perfect for companies who need to switch to a new ERP soon but don't want to rush the process or don't have the time to devote to deployment.

Microsoft offers dual-use access to current on-premises licenses for qualified existing clients who move to Dynamics 365 Business Central online via Bridge to the Cloud. It's now possible for clients to switch to Business Central on the Cloud while still using their existing system.

In contrast to the three years of the CSP-EP Renewal offer, Bridge to the Cloud has a maximum four-year term. Customers that sign up for the Bridge to the Cloud promotion commit to transferring to the Cloud, assuming they will eventually switch to a CSP license and complete a full migration to Business Central online once the promotional period has passed.

Changes to the promotion concern which customers are eligible for it as well as a reduction in the discount over a predetermined 3-year period.

Only on-premises Business Central, NAV, GP, and SL clients are eligible for the initial program. All on-premises Dynamics products, such as AX, Dynamics 365 for Operations, and Dynamics CRM, are included in the promotion with Bridge to the Cloud 2.

Additionally, the term restriction will now be three years, and the discount will reduce from 60% to 40%. The following table highlights the main variations:

Microsoft Bridge to the Cloud 2023 Overview

To see all the details behind the terms and conditions, partners can visit the Bridge to the Cloud 2 website, available to authorized Microsoft partners.

Are you eligible for the Microsoft Bridge to the Cloud 2023 promotion?

Not sure? Or perhaps you need help navigating how the changes will impact or help your organization.

Our complimentary consultation will assist you in determining your eligibility. If you decide that a Microsoft Bridge to the Cloud 2023 program is the correct move for you, the Liberty Grove experts can explain the process and get you started.

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.