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AccSoft

BUSINESS CENTRAL

08
Sep
,

The Role of Power Platform in Enhancing Your Business Central Migration 

Introduction  Installing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is not upgrading the system, this is a tactical move towards brighter, more connected business. Migration, however, is typically preceded by delays: data clean-up, user adoption, integration needs, and process optimization. That’s where the Microsoft Power Platform (Power BI, Power Automate, Power Apps, and Power Virtual Agents) comes to the rescue.  Power Platform not only enables your Business Central migration, but it also accelerates it, simplifying the process and bringing value to your business on day one.  Accuracy of financial and operating data in the migration process is a big issue. Power BI enables businesses to:  1. Data Insights with Power BI  Validate data moved through pre- and post-migration reporting.  Compare reports from old ERP to reports from Business Central to detect variations.  Provide executives dashboards that reduce reliance on static Excel reports.  By making Power BI an included native feature of Business Central, decision-makers sense immediate up-to-the-minute insights with migration, knowing the new platform works.   2. Workflow Automation through Power Automate  ERP migrations have a way of exposing inefficiencies in manual workflows. Instead of carrying those inefficiencies with you to Business Central, Power Automate allows you to redesign workflows:  Automate purchase order, invoice, or journal entry approvals.  Notify on update of financial information, like key data.  Swapping e-mail-based manual workflows with traceable automated flows.  Your migration then is not a lift-and-shift, but a genuine process change.  3. Scalability of Functionality with Power Apps  Customizations in older systems can become a real migration challenge. Instead of attempting to replicate it all within Business Central, Power Apps allows you to:  Create lightweight, mobile-optimized warehouse, sales, or field-force apps.  Capture user data and import it into Business Central with minimal coding.  Swap spreadsheets with organized apps that tie in neatly with ERP data.  This saves the expense of customization and enables flexibility during and after migration.  4. Enabling User Adoption with Power Virtual Agents  User adoption is typically the hardest part of any ERP migration. With Power Virtual Agents, you can:  Build chatbots to guide users through new Business Central procedures.  Provide instant answers to “how do I…” type questions.  Reduce IT or support staff dependency while being educated.  By integrating virtual agents into Microsoft Teams, you provide employees with instant guidance as they get up to speed with Business Central.   5. One United Digital Environment  The real power in connecting Business Central to Microsoft Power Platform comes from integration. Instead of separate tools, you have an integrated solution where:  Financials, operations, and reporting are balanced.  People interact with data through Teams, mobile apps, or dashboards.  Your migration forms the basis for lasting digital transformation.  Conclusion  Migration to Business Central isn’t an upgrade to a new ERP, it’s a shift in how your business runs. Through use of Microsoft Power Platform i.e. Power BI, Power Automate, Power Apps, and Power Virtual Agents, businesses can facilitate migration, enhance adoption, and realize near-term business value.  If you’re planning a Business Central migration, don’t overlook the role of Power Platform it’s the accelerator that ensures your investment delivers results faster. 
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25
Aug
,

Sage vs. Business Central: Cloud ERP Capabilities That Make the Difference

Choosing the right ERP solution often comes down to how well it aligns with your needs for scalability, integration, functionality, and future growth potential. In this blog post, we’ll compare Sage (with emphasis on cloud-based offerings like Sage Intacct and Sage 50cloud) against Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central in the context of their cloud ERP capabilities.  1. Deployment & Cloud Architecture  Business Central can be hosted on the cloud (Azure) or on-premises, and flexibility and control are subject to your firm or regulatory requirements  Sage Intacct is cloud-hosted on AWS. It cannot be installed on-premises  Sage has a robust architecture foundation but has no smooth Microsoft ecosystem alignment such as the luxury of being an Azure-based Business Central user  2. Functional Breadth & Scalability  Business Central is a full-fledged ERP, e.g.:  Financials, supply chain, inventory, sales, CRM, manufacturing, and project management all simultaneously  Sage Intacct is excellent for financial management, accounts, GL, cash, project accounting but more sophisticated operational ERP capabilities usually need additional modules or third-party add-ins  Sage 50cloud is really an accounting product with minimal scalability and no ERP modules such as CRM or manufacturing  Business Central grows with your business from a few users to hundreds, with increasing levels of transactions  3. Integration & Ecosystem Synergy  Business Central is intrinsically integrated with Microsoft 365, Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, Teams, and Copilot into an integrated, collaborative environment  Sage is APIs and third-party application-supported with more effort and in the absence of Microsoft harmony  4. Reporting & Analytics  Sage Intacct leads with complete financial reporting with multi-dimensional general ledger, and best use is to slice data by dimension such as location or project  Business Central natively has reporting, and when combined with Power BI and Copilot, provides interactive dashboards, AI-powered insights, and cross-functional analytics  5. Automation & Intelligence  Business Central is feature-rich with automation capabilities, like workflow automation, AI-recommended recommendations, repeatable processes, and Copilot-powered forecasting and insights  Sage, while modern, inevitably falls behind in having such cutting-edge automation and AI capabilities; most of the steps remain manual or add-ons  6. Interface & Usability  Business Central offers a modern, easy-to-use, mobile-friendly, browser-based interface consistent with Microsoft UI design patterns and reducing onboarding friction  Sage Intacct is simple to use from an accounting point of view but arguably less intuitive for non-accounting departments  Sage 50cloud is probably founded on a traditional desktop UI without mobility and modern design elements  7. Cost Structure & Licensing  Business Central uses uniform role-based pricing (Essentials or Premium), usually with Microsoft services for extra overall value  Sage Intacct generally uses modular pricing by feature, by user, that is low to start and scales with business expansion or expanding functionality  8. Community & Support, Innovation  Microsoft innovation supports Business Central with ongoing update, global partner community, and strong community support  Sage Intacct enhances software credibility in finance, particularly with AICPA endorsement and fiscal accuracy  Summary Table: At a Glance  Capability  Business Central  Sage (Intacct / 50cloud)  Deployment Flexibility  Cloud + On-premises (Azure)  Cloud only (AWS)  Functional Breadth  Full ERP across departments  Primarily accounting & finance  Scalability  High, growing enterprise-ready  Limited for non-financial operations  Integration & Ecosystem  Seamless Microsoft + low-code extensibility  Requires add-ons; less cohesive  Reporting & Analytics  BI-rich with Power BI, AI insights  Excellent financial reporting  Automation & AI  Advanced workflows & Copilot  Limited automation  UX & Mobility  Modern, mobile-ready interface  Traditional desktop UI; finance-focused  Licensing & Cost  Predictable and often bundled  Modular; can escalate with growth  Support & Innovation  Strong Microsoft support & frequent updates  Specialized finance enhancements  Final Thoughts  You merely have a decision between Sage’s solution and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central based on what your company’s top priorities are:  Select Sage Intacct or Sage 50cloud if.  You require specialized, best-of-breed financial accounting capabilities.  Your business is predominantly financial management with little ERP requirement.  Select Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central if.  You require a cloud-based, unified ERP that scales with you in finance, operations, sales, and projects.  You appreciate extensive Microsoft application integration, automation, and analysis.  You appreciate contemporary UI design, adaptive licensing, and continuous innovation.  Bottom line: For those businesses that must expand, react, and become network-enabled operations, Business Central provides the most cloud ERP power and responsiveness. Sage does finance exceptional well but if you must add more advanced ERP capabilities with smart automation and integration depth, Business Central is the game changer you’ve been looking for.
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15
Aug

Understanding Dimensions in Business Central: Tips for Better Reporting 

For financial and operational reporting in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, there’s one thing most well-known for its flexibility and power: Dimensions. Regardless of your job title as a finance manager, business analyst, or ERP consultant, knowing about dimensions can make a big difference in how accurate, relevant, and useful your reports become.  In this blog post, we will unscramble what dimensions are, how and why they are useful, and how to use them properly for better reporting.  What Are Dimensions in Business Central?  Dimensions in Business Central are labels or characteristics that you assign to entries like general ledger postings, purchases, sales, or inventory movements. These labels allow you to categorize and report on data in a way that makes sense to your business.  Think of them as fields that you can customize to answer critical questions like:  Which department made this purchase?  Which project does this cost belong to?  To which region or cost center does this revenue belong?  Types of Dimensions  Global Dimensions  These are the two dimensions you will use most frequently in filters, reports, and analysis views.  They’re found right on most transactional pages and reports (e.g., Department and Project).  Shortcut Dimensions  You can define up to 8 shortcut dimensions for convenience on journals and documents.  They also exist for filtering and analysis, but not as widely as the global ones.  Default Dimensions  Defined at master data level (i.e., customers, vendors, items, G/L accounts).  Tag dimensions automatically when entering data.  Why Dimensions Matter for Reporting  Dimensions eliminate the need for a complex and long chart of accounts by enabling you to slice and dice data by any material category. Instead of opening multiple accounts for each department or location, you simply tag entries with dimensions.  Benefits are:  Improved data consistency:  Default dimensions automatically code entries correctly without reliance on memory.  Flexible analysis:  Use combinations of dimensions to build in-depth reports by customer segment, campaign, cost center, etc.  Improved decision-making:  Improved visibility into performance by business unit, product, geographies, or any custom dimension.  Dimensions Effectively: Best Practices  1. Start with an Overt Dimension Plan  Before setting up dimensions, determine what you want to track. Typical examples:  Department  Project  Customer Group  Location  Salesperson  Cost Center  Choose handy names and avoid duplicates or conflicting values.  2. Limit Global Dimensions to High-Usage Tags  Since only two can be global, choose the most used in filters and reports.  3. Define Default Dimensions for Master Records  This reduces time and errors while inputting data. For example:  Make “Marketing” the vendor of the Marketing department.  Make “Project A” a specific job or project.  4. Employ Dimension Combinations to Prevent Invalid Entries  Dimension combinations enable you to define values that are blocked or permitted together. This preserves data.  5. Train Users in Dimension Significance  All data entry users must understand the reason for dimensions in business and how to apply them in a uniform way.  6. Use Analysis Views  Analysis Views allow you to create multidimensional reports based on global and shortcut dimensions. They are especially useful for slicing financial data without resorting to external tools.  Shared Dimension-Driven Reports  Profit & Loss by Department  Sales by Product Line and Region  Expenses by Project  Budget vs. Actuals   These you can see through-out-of-the-box reports or build through custom reports with:  Financial Reporting  Power BI (advanced visualizations)  Final Thoughts  Dimensions in Business Central are more than a tagging system; they are the foundation of productive, flexible, and accurate reporting. By adopting a smart dimension strategy, training your staff, and leveraging built-in capability, you can translate powerful insights into wiser business decisions.  Require help configuring Business Central dimensions?  Reach out to our team for tailored consulting and reporting services suited for your business needs. 
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28
Jul
,

Why Professional Services Firms Are Choosing Business Central for Project Accounting 

In the fast-paced world of professional services, where projects are the lifeblood of the business, effective time recording, resource usage, and cost monitoring are imperative. If you’re an engineering company, legal firm, IT consultancy, or creative shop, optimizing client projects can be the difference between profit and loss on your bottom line. That’s why more companies are turning to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central for project accounting.  Let’s examine why Business Central is becoming the go-to ERP for project-based businesses.  1. A Single All-in-One Solution for Project and Financial Management  Professional services firms typically employ a suite of stand-alone systems, one for time, another for billing, and yet another for reporting. Business Central does it all:  Project planning & budgeting  Resource assignment  Time and expense capture  Client invoicing  Revenue recognition  Integrated financials  Having a single system to manage your projects and your finances in unison eliminates data entry, reduces errors, and speeds up decision-making.  2. Error-Free Time and Expense Posting  Time is money for professional services. Business Central allows employees to post timesheets and expenses against a specific job, activity, or client. This leads to:  Better billing accuracy  More stable cash flow  Improved profitability analysis  Time tracking can be linked to mobile apps, so it is handy for consultants on the move.  3. Improved Resource Management  Knowing who’s available, what skills they have, and what they’re engaged in is critical to achieving maximum delivery. Business Central enables:  Resource planning based on availability and skills  Capacity forecasting for future projects  Real-time workload allocation visibility  This means less idle time, happier employees, and faster project delivery.  4. Automated Billing and Revenue Recognition  Project-based billing approaches time & materials, fixed cost, or milestone come out of the box in Business Central. You can:  Set up billing rules by project or task  Automatically invoice  Track Work in Progress (WIP)  Comply with IFRS/GAAP revenue recognition rules  This ensures transparency for your customers and compliance for your auditors.  5. Scalable and Cloud-Based  Professional services businesses are growing faster than ever. You have a 10-employee business or a 500-employee company, Business Central grows with you. As a cloud-born solution, it delivers:  Anywhere, anytime access  Integration with Microsoft 365 and Teams  Lower infrastructure costs  Cyclically updated features  And you enjoy Microsoft’s enterprise-grade security and compliance.  6. Customizable and Extensible  Each firm is different. Business Central offers intrinsic flexibility and a vast marketplace of industry-specific extensions for:  Contract management  Advanced time tracking  Payroll and HR integration  Project forecasting and analytics  That is, you can apply Business Central to align your exact business model, without an overly complex custom build.  Final Thoughts  Project-based companies need more than bookkeeping software; they need a platform that can manage the entire project life cycle from proposal to payment. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is exactly that.  Through the integration of project accounting, operations, and finance in a single location, Business Central allows professional services organizations to serve more efficiently, raise profitability, and develop with confidence. 
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Simplifying Multi-Entity & Multi-Currency Accounting with Business Central (1)
23
Jul

Simplifying Multi-Entity & Multi-Currency Accounting with Business Central

Managing finance across multiple entities and currencies can be overwhelming, especially if that requires standing on fragmented systems, spreadsheets, or legacy systems. Multibranch and multinational companies make consolidation, compliance, and accurate reporting more difficult. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is engineered to shatter the complexity. With robust multi-entity and multi-currency accounting capabilities, it provides a hub for precise, automated, and scalable financial management. The Challenge: Siloed Financial Management Companies with numerous legal entities, global subsidiaries, or global operations are faced with a series of issues common to all: If your company is faced with this situation, the necessity for a single, intelligent financial system takes precedence. Business Central: The Multi-Entity & Multi-Currency Game-Changer Business Central comes with native abilities that free you from the frustration of multiple entities and currencies all in one system. 1. Single-Click Multi-Entity Management Business Central lets you set up and manage numerous companies in a single installation. Whether subsidiaries, divisions, or branches, you can run them based on shared data structures and quickly consolidate accounting. 2. Automated Multi-Currency Accounting Selling in multiple currencies? Business Central handles: It all reduces manual effort, removes currency exchange, and keeps financial accuracy at borders. 3. Quick and Accurate Financial Consolidation No manual reconciliations and midnight spreadsheets. This gives your leadership real-time visibility into the overall financial health of the entire company. 4. Advanced Reporting and Compliance Features With built-in financial reporting, budgeting, and Power BI integration, Business Central offers finance professionals visibility across all entities. Yo
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Optimizing Inventory and Supply Chain Management with Business Central
17
Jul

Optimizing Inventory and Supply Chain Management with Business Central

With the fast-evolving business landscape of the day, effective inventory and supply chain management is no longer a differentiator; it is a necessity. For companies with multi-channel distribution, variable demand, and complicated inventory, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central presents a single solution to simplify processes, lower costs, and improve customer satisfaction. Why Inventory and Supply Chain Optimization Matters Inventory. Supply chain interruptions hit profitability directly. Excess inventory takes up shelf space and money, and insufficient inventory results in lost sales and a poor customer experience. The answer to staying out of both extremes is a system that provides real-time visibility, smart planning, and automation capabilities at the center of Business Central. Key Features of Business Central for Supply Chain Optimization 1. Real-Time Inventory Visibility With Business Central, companies can monitor inventory at many locations and warehouses in real-time. Users can see item availability by location, bin, or lot/serial number, facilitating stock accuracy and rapid decision-making. 2. Demand Forecasting and Planning Business Central also has forecasting capabilities that can forecast future demand using historical selling patterns and trends. When used with sales and operations planning (S&OP), companies can create more complex replenishment strategies and prevent expensive stockouts or overstocking. 3. Replenishment Automation With the use of reorder point guidelines and planning worksheets, Business Central orders production and purchases automatically. The software realizes optimum order quantities and delivery schedules to minimize procurement and avoid human mistakes. 4. Vendor and Supplier Management The solution boasts comprehensive vendor performance monitoring, determining lead times, as well as managing orders. Business Central facilitates the formation of solid supplier relationships and timely procurements by business requirements. 5. Warehouse Management From simple stock movement to complex warehouse configuration, Business Central enables bin-level tracking, picking, and put-away functionality, and barcode scanner integration that delivers warehouse staff the speed and accuracy they need. 6. Departmental-Level Integration Since Business Central is an integrated ERP solution, it links inventory, sales, purchasing, finance, and operations. Meaning that any change in one department, a spike in sales, will be felt across the entire supply chain. Advantages of Implementing Business Central for Inventory and Supply Chain Final Thoughts Inventory and supply chain optimization is a process, but one that, using the right set of tools, has quantifiable and tangible benefits. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides the agility to meet current business needs to be competitive, informed, and agile. If a distributor, manufacturer, or retailer, Business Central assists in delivering the right product, at the right moment, to the right location, every time.
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