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The Benefits of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central SaaS

Posted 10th September 2024

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Software as a Service (SaaS) is a comprehensive cloud-based business management solution. Designed for small and medium-sized businesses, it offers cost savings, seamless upgrades, easy customisation, robust data security, and integration with other Microsoft tools. 

In this quick guide, we demonstrate the benefits of Dynamics 365 Business Central SaaS and explore how it can help future-proof your business, enhance productivity, reduce IT costs, and achieve compelling ROI. 

Learn how your business can benefit from:

  1. Versionless updates and seamless maintenance
  2. Enhanced security and partner collaboration
  3. A scalable subscription model for future-proofing
  4. Cost-efficient operation and infrastructure savings
  5. Anywhere accessibility to empower your teams
  6. Streamlined financial management through data centralisation 
  7. Integration with your other Microsoft solutions

 

1. Versionless updates and seamless maintenance

Automatic updates through Business Central SaaS (BCSaaS) eliminate the need for expensive infrastructure upgrades every few years. In addition to keeping your system efficient and secure, they allow you to access the latest Microsoft features and improvements. 

Maintaining optimal performance: effortless and secure updates 

  • Continuous, touchless updates are applied to Business Central online, providing you with access to new features and functionality
  • Administrators can set a maintenance window for each environment, allowing Microsoft to update during low-traffic hours to reduce workflow disruption
  • Microsoft schedules updates based on your configuration, ensuring you remain in control 
  • Staying current ensures you receive critical fixes, security patches, and performance enhancements.

 

2. Enhanced security and partner collaboration

BCSaaS offers robust cybersecurity protections. Your data is secure in the cloud, while cloud-based access streamlines secure collaboration between individuals and teams. 

Robust cybersecurity protections

BCSaaS complies with ISO 27001, SOC 2, and the EU GDPR security standards, ensuring data protection, confidentiality, and privacy.

Streamlined Partner Collaboration

Through Streamlined Partner Collaboration, partners can request specific admin privileges. This means customer tenants can manage Dynamics 365, handle support requests, and access the Business Central administration centre. 

Meanwhile, cloud-based access enhances collaboration by supporting remote working anywhere, anytime.

 

3. Futureproofing with a scalable subscription model 

BCSaaS offers both perpetual and subscription licensing options, with the subscription-based pricing model allowing you to scale up or down as needed. 

This flexibility means you can be agile in the face of market fluctuations and configure your usage to meet evolving needs. 

B2B companies are increasingly adopting subscription models to help build customer relationships and maintain customer service excellence. By paying a monthly fee based on the current number of users, flexibility and cost-effectiveness are ensured.

 

4. Cost-efficient operation and infrastructure savings

Business Central offers infrastructure savings and cost-effectiveness in both SaaS and on-premise deployments.

Infrastructure savings

  • The BCSaaS cloud-based architecture provides access from anywhere with an internet connection
  • With no need for local servers, maintenance costs and the physical space required for on-premise hardware are eliminated
  • Predictable, pay-as-you-go monthly subscription removes the need for upfront capital expenditure.  

Financial benefits of SaaS cloud-based infrastructure

    • Fast implementation: Cloud-based deployment is faster than on-premise deployment
    • Scalability: User licences can be easily adjusted to meet current needs
    • Focus on core business: Eliminating server maintenance allows IT team focus to be redirected to more value-adding tasks.
Cost-effectiveness comparison
SaaS – monthly Licence fee On-premise – server and hosting expenses
  • Lower initial costs
  • Higher upfront costs (hardware, licences)
  • No server setup or maintenance expenses
  • Ongoing server maintenance (updates, backups, security)
  • Predictable monthly subscription
  • Potential scalability challenges


5. Anywhere accessibility to empower your teams

Business Central’s accessibility empowers users to work efficiently by freeing them from IT-related distractions.

Convenience, flexibility, and empowerment

BCSaaS can be accessed from any device, whether you’re at the office, home, or on the go. Users are empowered to self-manage and handle tasks independently, reducing their reliance on IT support. 

In turn, this allows IT teams to focus on strategy and spend more time on core activities instead of dealing with server maintenance or technical issues.

6. Streamlined financial management through data centralisation 

By centralising data through user-friendly dashboards and leveraging built-in analytics, BCSaaS enables users to make data-driven decisions more efficiently. 

Data centralisation

BCSaaS centralises data from finance, sales, service, and operations. This unified view allows for informed decision-making by presenting critical information in one place.

Dashboards and analytics

BCSaaS connects seamlessly with Power BI, the Microsoft platform that provides interactive visualisations and business intelligence capabilities within a user-friendly interface, enabling users to create their own reports and dashboards.

Empowering users with AI

Microsoft Copilot simplifies data analysis within Business Central, allowing users to easily transform raw data into clear views with totals, grouping, pivots, and filters.

7.Integration with other Microsoft solutions

BCSaaS offers seamless integration with multiple Microsoft tools designed to enhance productivity and collaboration. With a unified ecosystem, you can create smoother workflows, enable better collaboration, and provide comprehensive insights to enhance productivity and decision-making. 

Key integrations include:

Office 365 integration

  • Effortless workflow: BCSaaS integrates seamlessly with Office apps like Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word to allow you to manage your tasks within familiar tools
  • Enhanced data management: View and edit BCSaaS data directly in Excel, create insightful analytical reports, and use Excel as a powerful design tool for report layouts
  • Convenient accessibility: Integrate with OneDrive for Business to open and work on Excel workbooks from Business Central directly in your browser using Excel for the web. 

Power BI integration

  • Enhanced insights: Enrich your Power BI dashboards with data prepared by Business Central, providing deeper and more comprehensive insights
  • Unified Access: Access these enriched dashboards within Cosmos and other applications like Teams and CRM to have critical information at your fingertips across your preferred platforms.

 

Benefits of a unified ecosystem

  • Streamlined workflow: Users stay in their preferred apps while accessing relevant data
  • Efficient collaboration: Seamless integration fosters collaboration across teams.
  • Holistic insights: Data from Business Central can enhance reports, providing your business with a unified view.

 

How BCN can help

Expertise in Business Central 

BCN specialise in delivering flexible Business Central solutions that get to the heart of our customers’ challenges. 

Comprehensive cloud services

BCN offers a host of cloud services to meet all requirements. As a Microsoft Solutions Partner with designations for Modern Work & Infrastructure, we have vast experience migrating customer workloads to the Microsoft Cloud.

Microsoft cloud migration expertise

If you’re looking to start your cloud migration journey, BCN is ready to help. Contact us today.

How can BCN help? 

BCN is the expert in helping businesses to maximise their investment in Business Central. 

We specialise in delivering flexible Business Central 365 solutions that get to the heart of our customers’ challenges. We hold the the Microsoft designation – Microsoft for Partner Business Applications – which is proof of our knowledge and successful implementations of so you can unlock the full power of your technology investments.

Comprehensive cloud services

BCN offers a host of cloud services to meet all requirements. As a Microsoft Solutions Partner for Modern Work & Infrastructure, we have vast experience migrating customer workloads to the Microsoft Cloud.

Microsoft cloud migration expertise

If you’re looking to start your cloud migration journey, BCN is ready to help. Speak to us today. 

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