SAP Business One vs Dynamics 365 Business Central: Why Should You Switch?

Dynamics 365 Business Central is a cloud-native, AI driven ERP that is designed according to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises. Here is how it compares with SAP Business One 

Aspect	SAP Business One	Dynamics 365 Business Central
Deployment	On-premises or limited hybrid	Cloud-native, which makes it more accessible
Customization	Need to get add-ons	Mostly extension-based, which makes customizations cleaner
Reporting	Limited	Enhance reporting with Power BI integration
Scalability	Moderate	Highly scalable
Total Costs	Higher setup and operational costs	More predictable

 

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What is the Process of SAP ERP to Dynamics 365 Business Central Migration?

Let us now jump straight into the process of SAP ERP to Dynamics 365 Business Central Migration. Please note that this is a process that we generally follow. However, the actual process will depend on the existing SAP Business One setup that you might have.  

PHASE 1: Discovery and Assessment

We start off by analyzing your existing SAP Business One. Here are some of the key actions to take in this stage: 

• System Analysis 

• We identify the correct version of your SAP B1 ERP 

• Our team documents the size of the database, the growth rate, and the key metrics currently in use. 

• An inventory of all organizational databases is prepared. 

• Extracting the Database Schema 

• The various table structures like OCRD, OINV, OITM are extracted 

• We will identify the UDFs (User Defined Fields) and UDTs (User Defined Tables) 

• The relationships between core tables will be mapped. 

• Auditing Customizations 

• We will prepare a list of all the existing Business One add-ons 

• The SDK customizations will be analyzed. 

• All stored procedures and triggers will be identified and documented. 

• Mapping Integrations 

• Our team will document all inbound/outbound integrations like APIs, EDI systems, and third-party tools. 

• The data flow frequency and dependencies will be captured. 

• Profiling Data Quality  

• We will run checks to check for duplicate records, invalid values, and inconsistencies in data format. 

• A ‘data health report’ will be generated. 

Result 

At the end of the stage, we will be able to understand exactly what is required for your operations. A fit-gap analysis and a migration scope document will be created. 

PHASE 2: Data Mapping and Transformation

Once we have an idea of where to start, we will need to map the data so that they can be moved from SAP Business One to Business Central. 

• Master Data Mapping 

• We will map SAP ERP tables to Business Central entities, like OCRD is mapped to Customer/Vendor and OACT is mapped to Chart of Accounts. 

• Field-level Mapping 

• We will define transformations like data type conversions, normalizing currency, and standardizing the units of measure. 

• Designing the Dimensions 

• At this point, we replace SAP structures with BC dimensions. This will be done for departments, cost centers, and locations. 

• Preparing for Historical Data 

• Together with you, we will decide if we need to migrate the full historical data or just the open balances.  

• We will decide whether to use active data or archive them. 

• Setting data transformation rules 

• We will create the ETL logic including the cleansing rules, aggregation logic and setting default values for missing data 

Result: 

The data will be ready to migrate from SAP Business One to Business Central. Next, we will move to design the solution architecture. 

Also read: – Dynamics 365 Business Central for Construction Industry in Canada

PHASE 3: Solution Architecture & Environment Setup

At this stage, we start building the foundation in Business Central. Here are some of the tasks that we complete: 

• Provisioning the BC Tenant 

• We work towards creating a Business Central environment for both sandbox and production.  

• If required, we will configure the regions and localizations. 

• Core Configuration 

• Next, our team will set up the Chart of Accounts, posting groups, number series, and dimensions. 

• Setting Up the Security Models 

• The user roles, permission sets, and access controls will be defined to make sure that the environment is safe from security risks. 

1. Developing Extensions 

• We will rebuild the SAP customizations using AL language and extensions. 

• Integration Setup 

• Finally, we will be configuring the APIs, web services, and if required, the middleware as well.  

Result: 

At the end of this phase, you will have a Business Central environment, ready to import the data from SAP Business One.  

You will also get a technical architecture document, which can be readily referenced by your internal IT teams later. 

PHASE 4: Executing Data Migration

Once we have completed the above stages, we will proceed towards moving the actual data.  

• Extracting Data 

• We will be exporting the data from SAP B1 using the Data Transfer Workbench (DTW) tool or if required, custom SQL queries. 

• Staging the Data  

• Next, the data will be loaded to a staging environment within Dynamics 365 Business Central. 

• The pre-determined transformation logic. 

• Pre-Loading Data Validation 

• Before loading the data, we will validate the integrity, mandatory fields, and data formats. 

• Importing Data into Business Central 

• We will be using the configuration packages and for large datasets, we will be using custom codes.  

• Reconciliation 

• At the end of the phase, we will validate trial balance, inventory valuation, and open transactions. 

Result: 

At the end of data, the data will be loaded to Business Central. However, it is still not ready to be used. Before we go live, we need to test the system. 

PHASE 5: Multi-layered Testing

Before the system is finally deployed, we will be testing it through a multiple layer process 

• Unit Testing 

• We will be validating the individual modules like Finance, Sales, and Purchasing. 

• System Integration Testing (SIT) 

• Our team will be validating the entire workflows from Order to Invoice to Payment. 

• User Acceptance Testing (UAT) 

• Users from within your team will be asked to validate the system using real work scenarios. 

• The feedback will be captured and improvements will be made. 

• Performance Testing 

• The system will be tested under maximum load. 

• Bottlenecks will be identified and rectified. 

Result: 

If the team is successfully tested, then it can be deemed to be ready to be deployed. We will provide you with a UAT sign-off and defect resolution log. 

PHASE 6: Cutover Planning & Go Live

Now the system is rigorously tested, it is ready to be used. We will be planning the cutover and the switching system. 

• Cutover Strategy 

• We will be deciding whether to migrate it all in one go or in a phased manner 

• The downtime window will be defined. 

• Final Data Migration 

• Finally, the open Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable will be migrated. 

• Then the inventory and transactions will be migrated. 

• System Switch 

• Now, SAP transactions will be disabled. 

• The new Business Central will be activated. 

• Final Validation

• Financial balances and open orders are tested 

• The inventory management features are validated. 

Result: 

By the end of this stage, you will have a fully functional Dynamics 365 environment, loaded with all SAP Business One data, ready to be used. 

PHASE 7: Post-Migration Support

At Evolvous, we don’t stop migrating. We also offer extensive support post migration, which includes: 

• Performance monitoring 

• Here we will be tracking the system response times and API performance, among other key performance metrics. 

• User Training 

• To ensure faster adoption, we will offer personalized, role-based training to your users. 

• You will also get full documentation that can be referenced whenever you need it. 

• Troubleshooting Support 

• If you encounter any issues with the new system, our in-house team will be resolving them with ease. 

Result: 

With this, you get a stable system that delivers consistent performance over time. 

Get Your Personalized Business Central Migration Roadmap 

Connect with our Dynamics 365 consultants today and get your own personalized roadmap for SAP ERP to Business Central data migration. 

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What is the Cost of SAP B1 to Business Central Migration?

One of the first things that most businesses worry about is the cost of SAP ERP to Dynamics 365 Business Central migration.  

Well, the cost depends on a number of factors. Therefore, they vary depending on the existing systems. The price of Dynamics 365 BC migration is normally divided into the following ranges: 

Cost of Standard Migration:

Estimated Costs: CAD $15000 to $35000 

This is a straightforward implementation with standard configuration and controlled scope. 

This is suitable for: 

• Single legal entity 

• Low customizations 

• Basic modules 

• Limited integrations 

• Clean master data 

Cost of Mid-Level Migration

Estimated Cost: CAD $35000 to $80000 

This is the most common migration range that we help execute. Most mid-sized and enterprise level migration falls in this category. 

This is suitable for:  

• Multiple departments or business units. 

• Moderate customizations. 

• Inventory and warehouse operations. 

• CRM, payroll, or third-party integration. 

• Historical transaction data migration 

Complex Enterprise Migration

Estimated Cost: $80,000 to more than $200,000 

This involves significant technical planning and staged execution. 

This is suitable: 

• Multi-entity and multi-country operations. 

• Complex manufacturing environments. 

• Heavy SAP customizations. 

• Multiple add-ons and legacy integrations. 

• Heavily regulated industries. 

• Custom reporting and workflow design. 

What Determines the Cost of Migration?

Let us look at the key factors that determines the cost of migration from SAP ERP to Microsoft Business Central: 

• The scope of migration: The more data you migrate, more will be the costs. 

• Customizations and adds-on: If your SAP B1 is heavily customization, replicating them for Business Central will add to the costs. 

• Integration: The more platforms that you need to integrate, the higher the costs will be. 

• Number of entities: Migrating data from several entities will be expensive. 

• Data quality: If the quality of the Business One data is not up to the mark, then that will add to the cost. 

How Do We Optimize the Costs?

• We migrate only what matters: Our team identifies the critical operational data and removes all redundant data, reducing the migration time and costs. 

• Replace customizations: Many SAP customizations can be replaced using standard Business Central functionality. We use them wherever possible. 

• Clean Data before migration begins: We fix all data issues before migrating the data. This avoids failures and hence, saves on the costs. 

• Prioritize High-impact modules: Instead of migrating every process at once, we focus on finance, purchasing and other important modules. This reduces unnecessary costs 

Get a Detailed Migration Cost Estimate 

Get in touch with our team today and get a detailed cost estimate for SAP ERP to Dynamics 365 Business Central migration. 

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How Do We Address Security Concerns?

During SAP ERP to Dynamics 365 Business Central migration, it is important to address data security concerns. Here are some of the major risks and how we solve them: 

• Data Exposure During Migration

During data extraction and transfer, critical data can be exposed to risks through unsecured files or temporary storage. 

How we solve it: 

We use encrypted transfers, secure staging environments, role-based access controls, and secure deletion of temporary migration files after going live. 

• Broken Permissions & Access Controls

Improper user-role mapping often causes excessive access, broken approvals, and compliance risks. 

How we solve it: 

We redesign permissions using the RBAC function, validate the division of duties, and test approval workflows. 

• Security Risks with Integration

Rebuilding integrations with CRM, Teams and third-party systems can create vulnerabilities. 

How we solve it: 

To solve this, our team implements secure API architecture, token-based authentication, controlled credential management, and extensive security validation. 

How to Get Started with Migration? 

You can join our envisioning workshop to engage with our experts and discover how our solutions can help you. 

Connect with our teamto discuss your specific needs and discover how you can get started.

Get 50% off on your first Proof of Concept and discover how our solution prototype can impact your business. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

• How long does data migration from SAP ERP to Business Central? 

Most migrations take between 3 to 9 months. The actual timeline depends on data volume, customizations, integrations, and other key factors. 

• Can we migrate without disrupting daily operations? 

Yes. We use proper planning, phased migration, data validation, and controlled cutover strategies. This helps us clients to minimize downtime and avoid any significant operational disruption. 

• Will all SAP ERP customizations move to Business Central? 

Not directly. In most cases, we review, redesign and rebuild the customizations between Business Central extensions rather than making an exact copy. This enhances scalability without compromising functionality.