Dynamics 365 vs. Business Central: What’s the Difference?

You may have heard of Business Central as well as Dynamics 365, but it’s not always clear what these are, how they are different or indeed how they might benefit your business.

Overview:

  • Microsoft Dynamics 365: A suite of cloud-based business applications integrating CRM and ERP functionalities, designed for medium to large enterprises.
  • Microsoft Business Central: An ERP solution tailored for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), focusing on automating and streamlining business processes.

Key Differences:

  • Purpose: Dynamics 365 offers various applications for CRM, ERP, and more, while Business Central is an all-in-one business management solution.
  • Target Audience: Dynamics 365 targets medium to large enterprises, whereas Business Central is aimed at SMBs.
  • Main Focus: Dynamics 365 focuses on CRM and ERP, while Business Central emphasises financial management, supply chain, and operations.
  • Customization & Extensibility: Dynamics 365 is highly customisable and scalable with a wide range of apps, while Business Central offers moderate flexibility with extensions and integrations. However, Business Central partners like Brookland Solutions extend this functionality by offering bespoke development tailored to your company.
  • Modules: Dynamics 365 includes CRM, ERP, AI, sales, marketing, customer service, field service, HR, finance, and supply chain. Business Central covers core modules like finance, sales, purchasing, and warehouse. However, the premium version also offers service management and manufacturing.
  • Deployment Options: Dynamics 365 is cloud-first, hybrid, and on-premises, while Business Central currently offers cloud and on-premises options.
  • Integration with Office 365: Both platforms integrate seamlessly with Office 365 tools, but Dynamics 365 has stronger integration with other Microsoft services.
  • Pricing: Business Central is more affordable, tailored for SMBs, while Dynamics 365 has higher pricing for large-scale operations.
  • Industry Solutions: Dynamics 365 provides industry-specific solutions, whereas Business Central is more focused on standard business processes.
  • AI & Analytics: Dynamics 365 offers advanced AI, machine learning, and real-time insights, while Business Central provides basic analytics and reporting – although Business Central has its own integrated version of Microsoft’s AI, CoPilot. This functionality was integrated in 2023, and the functionality continues to grow.
  • Scalability: Dynamics 365 is highly scalable for enterprises with global operations, while Business Central is suitable for growing businesses.
  • User Interface: Business Central has a simple, intuitive interface, while Dynamics 365 has a more complex but robust interfaces.
  • Mobile Accessibility: Both platforms are mobile-friendly.
  • Implementation Complexity: Business Central has lower implementation complexity, which of course is supported by a partner such as Brookland Solutions, while Dynamics 365 requires extensive setup and customization.

Benefits of Dynamics 365:

  1. Ease of Use: Intuitive interface and cloud-based access.
  2. Seamless Integration: Strong integration with Microsoft products.
  3. Enhanced Customer Service: Personalised experiences based on extensive customer data.
  4. Built-In Analytics: Advanced tools for real-time insights and predictive analytics.
  5. Cost Savings: Reduces operational costs through automation.
  6. Customization Options: Extensive customisation with built-in workflow tools.
  7. Scalability: Flexible subscription model for scaling up or down.

Benefits of Business Central:

  1. Low Cost of Ownership: Subscription-based model minimising financial strain.
  2. Single Source of Truth: Unified data across departments.
  3. ERP and CRM Integration: Comprehensive solution for operational efficiency and customer management.
  4. Advanced Warehouse and Supply Chain Management: Predictive stock replenishment and intelligent order fulfilment.
  5. Flexibility and Scalability: Cloud-based nature allowing remote work and scalability.
  6. Simplified Project Management: Effective project management tools.
  7. Seamless Integrations: Integration with Microsoft applications enhancing productivity.

Conclusion:

  • Business Central is ideal for SMBs looking for a cost-effective, scalable ERP solution.
  • Dynamics 365 is suited for larger enterprises needing robust CRM and ERP functionalities with extensive customisation.

    These differences can help you determine which platform is better suited for your organisation’s needs. 

If you’d like to discuss more about how Business Central can help to streamline your business processes, or about making the move across to BC, reach out today to Brookland Solutions for a no obligation discussion. Get in touch!

June 2, 2025

RECENT POSTS

  • At a Glance From April 2026, HMRC’s Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) becomes mandatory for self-employed individuals and landlords earning over £50,000. Businesses must maintain digital records and file quarterly updates. Brookland Solutions helps SMEs prepare through Dynamics 365 Business Central integration, training, and ongoing compliance support. What is HMRC’s Making Tax Digital April 2026 Deadline? As April 2026 draws closer, individuals and businesses may have to make significant changes regarding Making Tax Digital (MTD). The UK Government introduced MTD for VAT-registered businesses in 2019, and it’s now a mandatory exercise. By April 2026, MTD will create a significant change to the UK tax system by introducing Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) to cover income tax for sole traders and landlords whose combined gross business and/or property income is £50,000. It’s valid to ask, “Do I have to use Making Tax Digital for my business?” If you haven’t started exploring how MTD affects you or your business yet, now is the right time to prepare for the shift. In our MTD-readiness guide, you’ll learn if your business will be impacted by the April 2026 deadline and how you can prepare in advance. Making Tax Digital April 2026 - What Does It Mean? From April 2026, MTD for ITSA will apply to: Self-employed individuals Landlords (those with income from UK property or overseas property) Partnerships with self-employed individuals, where the combined turnover crosses the threshold People with multiple income sources. For example, a self-employed individual who also has rental income Thresholds for Compliance: From April 2026: Those with a gross annual income over £50,000 From April 2027: Those with income over £30,000 From April 2028: Those with income over £20,000 These thresholds are for gross business/ trading and/or property income before expenses, not income from profit. What Do the HMRC Making Tax Digital 2026 Changes Mean for Your Business? If these upcoming changes apply to you, you’ll need to: Start Maintaining Digital Records Keeping paper trails or spreadsheets isn’t enough (unless spreadsheets are used via bridging software). You’ll also need to keep digital records of your income and expenses, which is best done with MTD-compatible software in Business Central. Start logging business expenses, sales, income, and bank transactions. Take photos of receipts and upload them to the records. Submit Quarterly Updates Instead of one annual tax return, from April 2026, you’ll need to send four quarterly updates. These updates report your tax position after every quarter, lowering the load and stress of the year-end rush. Remember to submit updates by: August 7 (for quarter ending July 5) November 7 (for quarter ending Oct 5) February 7 (for quarter ending January 5) May 7 (for quarter ending April 5) Create a Final Declaration You’ll also need to send an End of Period Statement (EoPS) and a Final Declaration at the end of the tax year, replacing the traditional self-assessment exercise. Common Making Tax Digital Problems Businesses May Face Ahead of MTD 2026 In the rush to meet the upcoming deadline, your business may face some common Making Tax Digital problems. Here’s how you can resolve them: 1. Using Incompatible or Unapproved Software Making Tax Digital mandates the use of compatible and approved software for submissions. You may be risking non-compliance by relying on outdated accounting systems or spreadsheets for digital record-keeping and quarterly submissions. You don’t need to look for another MTD-compatible software when your Dynamics ERPs, like NAV (some versions) and Business Central, have MTD features built in. If you’re already familiar with BC but want to get started with MTD, connect with our team today. 2. Lacking MTD Integration with ERP Without MTD software integrated with your broader finance and accounting systems, you’re likely to struggle with reporting gaps, errors in data, data duplication, and related issues that can slow down your efforts and make you non-compliant. NAV and BC already unify your operations into one interconnected system, and pull information from various accounting programmes. You gain complete visibility into deadlines, ensuring you meet them on time. Solidify your MTD prep and reduce the chances of errors, duplication, and non-compliance with Dynamics ERPs. 3. Lack of Accountability Don’t assume that your accountant will handle everything for you, as this can be a major oversight. Without clear accountability and ownership, your hard work and prep to meet the HMRC Making Tax Digital 2026 deadline may fail. We recommend getting the right guidance and training on handling MTD with your existing systems. Brookland’s team can help if you’re already a BC user looking for training and support for setting up and managing MTD. Choosing the Right Software & Partner to Stay MTD-Compliant A 2021 HMRC report highlights that MTD for VAT helped 69% businesses experience at least one benefit, with 67% admitting that it lowered the chance of errors in their records. Along with working with the right software, you need the right partner to implement the right tools to simplify the MTD prep. Keep These Points in Mind When Looking for an MTD Software: Is it compatible and approved by the HMRC? Does it support digital record keeping? Can it check and submit automatically? Will my tax information be secured? Will it be easy to use? Will it have a steep learning curve? Brookland Solutions is a Silver-certified Microsoft Partner that has helped many businesses, SMEs, and group companies simplify their VAT submissions and returns through NAV and Business Central. With our deep industry knowledge and experience handling complex needs, we’re confident that our team is ready to support self-employed individuals and traders in preparing for the HMRC Making Tax Digital changes in 2026 and beyond. Key Actions to Take Now to Ensure MTD‑Ready Systems Preparing for the Making Tax Digital April 2026 changes isn’t just a legal need. Your business should see it as an opportunity to upgrade old systems and create a strong foundation for better and efficient financial management. Investing in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, an ERP built for customisation, can not only help you with tax compliance but also streamline your overall business operations. Brookland Solutions can help in implementing, consulting, training, and support services for your Dynamics ERP. If you’re not a Dynamics user but are interested in implementing the MTD solution for your business, contact us today.

How to Prepare for Making Tax Digital Before April 2026

November 26, 2025|

At a Glance From April 2026, HMRC’s Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) becomes mandatory for self-employed individuals and landlords earning over £50,000. Businesses must maintain digital records and file [...]

Top 9 Mistakes SMEs Make When Setting Up MTD

November 19, 2025|

At a Glance Many UK SMEs still struggle with Making Tax Digital due to multiple issues, ranging from non-compliant software to poor data handling. Brookland Solutions can help streamline MTD compliance through Microsoft Dynamics 365 [...]

  • business central GDPR, two people shaking hands in front of a screen with a secure padlock image.

Benefits of Business Central For UK GDPR Compliance

November 12, 2025|

At a Glance Complying with GDPR is essential for UK SMEs handling personal data. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central simplifies this task with its built-in tools for classification, correction, deletion, and anonymisation. With Brookland Solutions’ [...]