Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Dynamics 365 Business Central offers flexible pricing and licensing options to suit different business needs:

1. Subscription model: Business Central uses a monthly subscription model, with pricing based on the number of users and functionality required.
2. Dynamics 365 Business Central offers two billing options with different price points:
   • Monthly billing: This option provides more flexibility but comes at a higher cost.
   • Annual billing: By committing to an annual subscription, customers can save 20% (current as at July 2024) compared to the monthly billing option.
3. License types:
   • Essentials: Includes core financial management, sales, and customer service features.
   • Premium: Adds advanced functionality for manufacturing and service management.
   • Team Members: Provides limited access for light users who need basic functionality.
   • Device: The Device license for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a specialised licensing option that allows multiple users to access Business Central functionality through a single licensed device. Here are the key features of the Device license:
     • Shared access: Multiple users can use a single device covered by this license simultaneously.
     • Specific use cases: It's designed for point-of-sale devices, shop floor devices, or warehouse devices.
     • Limited functionality: The Device license provides a subset of Business Central capabilities, tailored to specific operational areas.
4. Full user vs. Team Member licenses: Full user licenses (Essentials or Premium) grant complete access to all features, while Team Member licenses offer restricted capabilities for occasional users.
5. Additional costs: Factors like implementation services, customisations, and additional storage may impact the total cost.
6. Not for profit and educational pricing: Special pricing is available for qualifying nonprofit and educational institutions.

License descriptions accurate as at July 2024.

An Accountant license in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a free, specialised license type designed for external accountants who manage books and financial reporting for Business Central clients. Here are the key points about the Accountant license:

1. Free of charge: Business Central includes three free External Accountant licenses with each subscription.
2. Purpose: It allows external accountants to access their clients' Business Central data to perform accounting tasks and financial reporting.

Business Central integrates seamlessly with several Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) applications, enhancing productivity and streamlining workflows:

1. Microsoft Excel:
   • Export data from Business Central to Excel for analysis
   • Edit data in Excel and update Business Central directly
   • Use Excel for designing analytical report layouts
2. Microsoft Outlook:
   • Access customer and vendor information directly from emails
   • Create and send Business Central documents (e.g., quotes, invoices) from Outlook
   • View Business Central documents linked in emails and do approval of workflows
3. Microsoft Teams:
   • Share Business Central data and records within Teams conversations
   • Access Business Central information without leaving Teams
4. OneDrive for Business:
   • Store and share Business Central files in the cloud
   • Open Excel and Word files directly in their online versions
5. Microsoft Word:
   • Create document templates in Word for use in Business Central
   • Merge Business Central data into Word documents
6. Power BI:
   • Create advanced reports and dashboards using Business Central data
   • Embed Power BI reports directly in Business Central
7. Power Automate:
   • Create automated workflows between Business Central and other Microsoft 365 apps

These integrations allow users to work efficiently across multiple Microsoft applications while maintaining data consistency and leveraging the strengths of each platform. The seamless connectivity between Business Central and Microsoft 365 apps helps businesses streamline their operations and improve overall productivity.

In a Global Market Place, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central’s Multi-Currency functionality is a game changer. Multi-Currency Management: Business Central allows you to manage transactions in multiple currencies simultaneously. You can define currencies, set exchange rates, and perform currency conversions automatically.

1. Automatic Exchange Rate Updates: It offers integration with financial data services that automatically update exchange rates, ensuring that your currency conversions are always based on the latest rates.
2. Currency Revaluation: Business Central supports currency revaluation processes, which are essential for businesses with international operations to comply with accounting standards (like IFRS or GAAP). This feature helps adjust the value of foreign currency balances based on the latest exchange rates.
3. Global Reporting: You can generate financial reports in the currency of your choice. This capability is crucial for businesses with international stakeholders or operations, as it allows for consistent and clear financial reporting across different regions.
4. Streamlined Transactions: When entering transactions, Business Central automatically handles the currency conversion based on predefined rates or real-time rates, reducing manual effort and potential errors.
5. Consolidation: For organisations with multiple subsidiaries or entities operating in different currencies, Business Central supports financial consolidation across currencies. This feature helps in creating consolidated financial statements that reflect the overall financial health of the entire organisation.
6. Audit Trails and Compliance: It maintains audit trails of currency-related transactions, which is essential for compliance and transparency purposes. This capability ensures that all currency conversions and financial activities are traceable and auditable.
7. User-Friendly Interface: The interface of Business Central is designed to be user-friendly, making it easier for finance teams to navigate and manage multi-currency operations without needing extensive IT support.

Overall, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides comprehensive tools to manage multi-currency operations efficiently, from transaction processing to financial reporting and compliance. This capability is particularly beneficial for businesses that operate globally or deal with international customers, suppliers, or subsidiaries.

Yes. Business Central allows for the personalisation of most pages in Business Central. You can add fields, remove fields, move sections.
To personalise screens in Dynamics 365 Business Central, follow these steps:

1. Access personalisation mode: Click the gear icon in the top right corner and select "Personalise" from the dropdown menu.
2. Modify elements: Once in personalisation mode, you'll see red icons next to various elements on the screen. These icons allow you to:
   • Hide or show items by clicking the red icon and selecting "Hide" or "Show"
   • Move items by clicking the red icon and dragging them to a new location
   • Add new fields by using the "+ Field" option to access a list of available fields
3. Freeze columns: In list views, you can freeze columns to keep them visible while scrolling. Click the red icon next to the column header and select "Set Freeze Pane".
4. Rearrange columns: In list views, drag and drop columns to reorder them.
5. Customise card pages: On card pages, you can rearrange fields within designated sections using drag-and-drop actions.
6. Save changes: When finished, click "Done" to save your personalisations.

Remember that these personalisations are user-specific and won't affect other users' views. For system-wide changes, administrators can use the "Design" mode instead of ‘Personalise’ mode.

In Microsoft Business Central, users have a convenient feature for numeric fields such as cost or quantity. Instead of performing calculations separately, they can input mathematical formulas directly into these fields. The system automatically computes the result and displays the final value. For instance, if a user types "32+71" into a numeric field, Business Central will instantly calculate the sum and show "103" as the field's value. This functionality streamlines data entry and reduces the likelihood of calculation errors, enhancing overall efficiency in financial and inventory management tasks.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central stands out as an all-in-one ERP solution designed to support growing businesses. Unlike other platforms, Business Central includes functionality across Finance, Sales, Service Management, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain in a single license. It also integrates seamlessly with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem (Outlook, Excel, Teams) and the Power Platform (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate), providing unmatched flexibility and scalability.

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