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Migrating to Business Central From Legacy Systems Part 2: A Step-by-Step Guide

Business Central, ERP Software, Synergy Technology
Man and woman looking at a computer screen with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central on it.

Introduction

ERP systems are the operational backbone for UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), supporting everything from finance and manufacturing to sales and analytics. As many long-standing ERP solutions approach end of life, UK SMEs face the reality of unsupported software, rising costs, and security risks. This is particularly pressing with major products like Microsoft Dynamics GP and Dynamics SL, which are due to have support phased out, or to receive minimal updates in coming years.

As businesses look to modernise, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central stands out as a powerful, cloud-based ERP designed to manage finances, operations, sales, and more, all in a single, unified solution. Business Central is simple to implement and configure, scales with business growth, and tightly integrates with the Microsoft ecosystem, making it a compelling choice for SMEs needing a proven, future-ready platform.

In part 2 of this 2 -part series, we give you a step-by-step guide to migrating, and look at why you need an expert partner for your ERP migration.

 

Migrating to Dynamics 365 Business Central: A Step-by-Step Guide

Migrating to Business Central is a process that, when carefully managed, delivers continuity and growth without disrupting business-as-usual. Here’s a practical, high-level roadmap tailored for UK SMEs:

1. Discovery and Readiness Assessment

  • Review your current ERP, integrations, and reporting requirements.
  • Identify technical and business drivers for migration (e.g. EOL timelines, scalability, remote work, security).
  • Conduct stakeholder interviews to determine key pain points and wish-lists.

2. Solution Design & Fit-Gap Analysis

  • Map your current business processes to Business Central’s capabilities.
  • Identify process gaps, configuration needs, and customisation opportunities.
  • Finalise requirements for reporting, dashboards, and compliance.

3. Data Preparation & Cleansing

  • Audit, cleanse, and validate legacy data for accuracy and completeness.
  • Plan and map data transformations to fit Business Central’s schema.
  • Prepare test data sets for migration scenarios.

4. Migration Planning

  • Develop a detailed migration project plan, including critical path, dependencies, and stakeholder roles.
  • Define cutover and rollback plans to mitigate risk during go-live.
  • Identify key training moments to ensure staff adoption.

5. Configuration & Customisation

  • Customise Business Central for your unique business requirements (workflows, security, reporting, etc.).
  • Integrate with other business-critical systems (Microsoft 365, payroll apps, etc.)
  • Build or source any essential extensions or add-ons.

6. Data Migration Execution

  • Conduct trial data migrations in a test environment.
  • Validate migrated data for completeness, accuracy, and usability.
  • Run user acceptance testing (UAT) to ensure that business processes function as intended.

7. Training & Change Management

  • Provide bespoke training for end-users and admins tailored to roles and departments.
  • Create documentation tailored to your internal workflows.
  • Communicate project updates and provide hands-on support throughout the rollout.

8. Go-Live & Post-Implementation Support

  • Execute the go-live with full technical and user support on hand.
  • Monitor early system usage for issues or improvement opportunities.
  • Provide ongoing training and troubleshooting to ensure a smooth transition.

Why You Need an Expert Partner for Your ERP Migration

ERP migrations are high-stakes initiatives. Missteps can lead to data loss, compliance failures, business interruptions, and cost overruns. That’s why expert guidance is essential.

  • Specialised Knowledge: Experienced partners bring proven migration methodologies, deep system understanding, and resources to anticipate and resolve challenges.
  • Project Management: They steer projects efficiently, minimising risk, managing timelines, and maintaining clear communication.
  • Post-Go-Live Support: Ongoing assistance ensures your business gets full value and resolves issues proactively, not reactively.

Woman sitting at a desk typing on a laptop with Microsoft Dynamics on the screen.

Why Choose Synergy Technology for Your Migration to Dynamics 365 Business Central?

With years of experience, a team of highly trained consultants, and all the relevant Microsoft certifications, Synergy Technology stands out among UK Business Central partners for several reasons:

  • Years of Practical Experience: With a track record of successful legacy system migrations, Synergy Technology has the insights, tools, and real-world experience needed to avoid common pitfalls and deliver smooth transitions.
  • Microsoft Business Applications Solutions Partner: This prestigious designation recognises Synergy Technology’s consistent delivery of high-quality results in business application deployments, a standard achieved by only a select group of UK partners.
  • Small and Midsize Business Management Specialisation: Fewer still hold this competency, which demonstrates deep expertise in scoping, implementing, and supporting Business Central solutions tailored to the unique needs of UK SMEs.
  • Client-Centric Approach: Synergy Technology is committed to understanding your business challenges and delivering tailored, cost-effective migration paths with minimal disruption.
  • Continued Support: From initial consultation through to post-launch optimisation, you’ll benefit from a partnership dedicated to your lasting success.

Read More

You can read part 1 of this blog here: Migrating to Business Central From Legacy Systems Part 1: Key Considerations

Start Your Migration Journey With Confidence

Now is the time to take the next step and future-proof your business operations. Don’t let outdated, unsupported systems put your organisation at risk or hold back your growth ambitions. Let our team of Microsoft-certified experts show you how the right ERP, implemented the right way, can unlock new efficiencies and opportunities for your business.

Book your FREE, no-obligation consultation with a Synergy Technology specialist today, discover how effortless the move from legacy ERP to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can be. Contact our migration experts or call us on +44(0) 345 456.

Sources and Further Reading:

For more information on how Synergy Technology can help your business grow, call us on 0345456 0050 or send us a message through our contact page.

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