Sage 200 to Dynamics 365 Business Central Migration  

Sage 200 is one of the most popular ERP systems used by businesses over the past few years. But modern businesses have changed a lot, especially after the advent of AI. This is why many businesses are now looking to migrate from Sage 200 to Dynamics 365 Business Central Migration. The modern enterprise needs the AI-powered ERP system of Dynamics 365 Business Central to support its operations.

As a certified Dynamics 365 migration consultant, which enables us to assist businesses worldwide with their ERP system transitions from Sage 200 to Dynamics 365 Business Central. In this article, we will look at the process that we follow to execute Sage 200 to Dynamics 365 Business Central migration.  

The Process of Sage 200 to Business Central Migration 

Our team uses this approach to move data from Sage 200 to Dynamics 365 Business Central because we established this process as our standard method for data migration. 

 

We need to investigate further because the process requires us to identify all required tasks that must be performed at each step.

But before we start, let us be clear on one thing – the process might differ from one environment to another. You should conduct a complete evaluation through our expert team before proceeding with your next steps.

Are your goals aligned with a Sage 200 to Dynamics 365 Business Central Migration? Is your current infrastructure ready for migration? Conduct a detailed assessment to set your expectations right.

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• Pre-Migration Assessment & Planning  

Before you touch any data, you must set the expectations correctly. That is why we consider the pre-migration assessment to be the most crucial aspect of the migration process. In this stage, we execute certain technical actions, define the scope, map the fields, and conduct a gap analysis. 

Technical Actions:  

• System & Version Check: Identify the version of Sage 200 that you are using. We proceed to examine which database system you use together with your custom modules implementation.  

• Defining the Scope: We will prepare an inventory of the master data, open transactions, and historical data that need to be migrated.  

• Field and Customization Mapping: The team will create a data mapping matrix for each table/field on Sage 200 to the relevant fields in Dynamics 365.  

We will document all current system customizations because they need to be duplicated in the new system. 

The team will conduct a detailed gap analysis to discover which functions in Sage 200 you use most and find their corresponding functions in Dynamics 365. 

Also read: Sage 200 vs Dynamics 365 Business Central

• Environment Setup

The next stage requires us to establish a fresh operational environment on the Dynamics 365 system. The following activities will occur at this particular phase.  

• Dynamics 365 Business Central sandbox and production environments will be created.  

• The core modules in Business Central will be configured, including Sales, Financials, Inventory, VAT, and Purchasing setup.  

• APIs will be enabled to safely import data from Sage 200.  

• Access to SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and Sage 200 SDK/API is checked.   

• In most cases, a test migration database is created. 
   

• Data Extraction from Sage 200  

The actual work starts now that both systems have completed their preparatory work. First, we will need to extract all the raw data from the SQL database of Sage 200. 

Technical Actions:  

Here are the key technical steps that will need to be completed  

• Connect to Sage 200 SQL database through SSMS  

• The SELECT queries or stored procedures to export data including:  

• Chart of Accounts  

• Customers  

• Suppliers  

• Items  

• Transactions  

• BC Config packages prefer data to be stored in CSV or Excel format. So, data will be extracted in those formats.  

• Primary Key References will be maintained to ensure the integrity of relations is maintained.  

• Only active and relevant records are extracted.
   

• Data Transformation & Cleansing 

It is important to note that the data schema of Sage 200 differs from that Dynamics 365 Business Central. Therefore, you must transform or ‘reshape’ the data before you load it into the D365 environment. 

We often use Power Query, SQL scripts, or even ETL tools for:  

• Data type conversion  

• Data formatting to match the ISO format used by Business Central.  

• Consolidating duplicate records 
   

Map IDs, like:  

• Sage Account Codes -> Customer/Vendor numbers in Business Central  

• Sage stock codes -> BC item numbers  

• Adjusting VAT to match Business Central’s configuration  

• If required, we will create transformation scripts for better control and flexibility. 
   

• Importing Data into Business Central 

Now comes the most critical part of the process, where we will be migrating the data from Sage 200 to Dynamics 365 Business Central. There are two ways of doing this – either through Configuration Packages or through APIs and third-party ETL tools. 

Steps to Migrate Through Configuration Packages  

• Go to Configuration Packages in Business Central  

• Select the target tables  

• Map the CSV columns to corresponding fields in Business Central  

• Import the package and then validate and apply

Steps to Migrate Through APIs/ETL Tools

We use BC OData endpoints or API v2.0 for programming data loading. This is ideal for large data sets. 

When importing the data, we do it in the following sequence, to avoid any conflicts and errors, later.  

• Chart of Accounts  

• Dimensions  

• Customers & Vendors  

• Items & Inventory  

• Open transactions & Balances 

• Data Validation 

Once the data is migrated, we ensure that the integrity of the data is maintained. To do that, we run extensive validation checks. 

Here are some of the actions that we take: 

Run Business Central reports to match:  

• Trial balance in Sage 200 vs trial balance in BC  

• Customer and vendor balances  

• The value of the inventory 

• If there are any discrepancies, they are fixed in staging or adjusted manually with Business Central journals.  

• Migrating Transaction and Historical Data 

In some specific cases, we also migrate the historical data, especially if they are needed for reporting. 

Here is how we generally do it:  

• We map and load them as General Ledger entries or Sales/Purchase Ledger entries with the correct date.  

• If required, we can also load historical data into a separate, read-only Business Central company. This is done for archival purposes. 

• Go Live 

Finally, it’s time to go live with your new Dynamics 365 Business Central environment. Here are the key actions that will be taken at this stage.  

• Freeze any data entry in Sage 200 at the cutover point  

• Perform the final delta migration for transactions after the last test is completed.  

• Update all the necessary integrations.   

At Evolvous, we also offer comprehensive role-based Dynamics 365 training, so that your team has the necessary skills to use the platform to its fullest potential.

Cost Factors and Expected Timelines for Sage 200 to Dynamics 365 Business Central Migration

Download our FREE migration guide to understanding of the cost factors involved and the expected timelines for Sage 200 to Dynamics 365 Business Central migration.

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Simplify Your Sage 200 to Business Central Migration with Evolvous

Evolvous is a certified Microsoft Solutions Partner, and we have been helping businesses migrate from Sage 200 to Dynamics 365 for years. Here are some of the reasons why you should choose us.  

• Proven Experience 

Our team has an in-depth understanding of the SQL structure of Sage 200 and the schema of Business Central. This eliminates the chances of errors in field mapping, data transformation, and validation. We have successfully managed complex multi-company and multi-currency migrations and ensured a smooth and on-time delivery.  

• Industry-Specific Migration 

For diverse industries like manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and financial services, we have pre-defined migration frameworks and configuration templates that are tailored to the specific needs of the industry. This leads to faster setups of posting groups and more efficient workflows.  

• End-to-End Consulting 

As a professional Dynamics 365 consulting partner, we extend our support beyond moving data. We will be with you every step of the way. Our team will also offer post-migration troubleshooting support, performance optimization, and extensive user training to help you achieve a seamless transition and faster adoption.  

Planning your Sage 200 to Business Central migration? Let our experts guide you through every step with a proven, risk-free approach. 

Book Your Free Migration Consultation.