Business Central in the Cloud– Myths vs. Reality

Table of contents

Myth 1: "Business Central in the cloud is not secure"
Myth 2: "Cloud ERP is more expensive in the long run"
Myth 3: "Cloud ERP is not customizable"
Myth 4: "Migrating to the cloud is difficult and risky"
Myth 5: "An ERP in SaaS cannot interface with third-party applications, whether in the cloud or on-premise"
Key benefits of Dynamics 365 Business Central in the cloud

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is one of the most widely used ERP systems for small and medium-sized businesses. Its flexibility, native integration with the Microsoft suite, and ability to centralize data make it attractive to growing organizations. But it is precisely this popularity that has brought a wave of misperceptions: numerous myths have arisen around cloud ERP - and Business Central - ranging from hidden costs and lack of security to the idea that an implementation would be too complicated.

Myth 1: "Business Central in the cloud is not secure"

Reality:

Established cloud solutions such as Microsoft Azure provide a level of security and compliance that most companies can't achieve with a proprietary infrastructure. Dynamics 365 Business Central runs on this infrastructure, benefiting from ISO-certified, GDPR-compliant data centers protected by advanced technologies against cyberattacks. In addition, it includes critical features like automatic backup, end-to-end encryption, and the ability to granularly control user access.

Myth 2: "Cloud ERP is more expensive in the long run"

Reality:

The total cost of ownership (TCO) of Business Central in the cloud is often lower than an on-premise solution. There are no large upfront investments in servers or perpetual licenses (one-time payment; the company owns the solution indefinitely, but upgrades and servers are its responsibility), and upgrades and maintenance are already included in the subscription. In addition, the system is scalable: you can add or remove users according to your company's real needs, paying only for active users. So you avoid locked-in investments, eliminate wastage and gain the flexibility to adapt quickly to any business change.

Myth 3: "Cloud ERP is not customizable"

Reality:

Dynamics 365 Business Central offers multiple customization and extension options: through AppSource, APIs, Per Tenant Extension (PTE) apps, and low-code/no-code development. You can create customized workflows and reports tailored exactly to your business needs. Plus, native integration with Microsoft 365 (Excel, Teams, Outlook) and Power Platform (Power BI, Power Automate) ensures seamless collaboration and advanced data analytics without additional effort.

Myth 4: "Migrating to the cloud is difficult and risky"

Reality

Microsoft and its partners are providing tools and best practices that reduce both the risk and duration of the transition to Business Central in the cloud. Full support is provided for importing data from non-Microsoft applications as well as migrating from existing Microsoft solutions such as Dynamics NAV or Dynamics 365 Business Central On-Premise. In addition, implementation can be phased so that the impact on current operations is minimized.

Myth 5: "An ERP in SaaS cannot interface with third-party applications, whether in the cloud or on-premise"

Reality:

Dynamics 365 Business Central is built to operate in an open ecosystem, offering standardized REST APIs that enable integration with external applications, whether cloud or on-premises. In addition, it has predefined connectors through Power Automate and Logic Apps for hundreds of applications, from CRM and e-commerce to manufacturing solutions. Thousands of out-of-the-box extensions are available through AppSource, Microsoft's marketplace, and native integration with Microsoft 365 and Power Platform makes it possible to create customized workflows and interactive reports. Furthermore, using Microsoft Azure resources, Business Central can be connected with any other compatible application or various data sources, EDI and platforms.

Key benefits of Dynamics 365 Business Central in the cloud

Access from anywhere, anytime - desktop, tablet, mobile;
Automatic updates - always up-to-date with new features;
Full integration with the Microsoft ecosystem;
Real-time analytics with integrated Power BI;
Flexibility and scalability to support business growth.

Myths about cloud ERP are often the result of unfamiliarity or experiences with older solutions. Dynamics 365 Business Central demonstrates that a modern cloud ERP system can be secure, scalable, customizable and affordable, giving companies a real competitive advantage.

If you're still wondering what's myth and what's reality when it comes to Business Central, let's talk. We can show you concretely how it would work in your company.