Why I Choose Business Central—Every Day of the Week

I’ve been in the ERP and systems space since 2005. Like many people in this field, I didn’t plan to land here—it just kind of happened. My first foray into enterprise software was with a DOS-based system (yes, really), and the company I was with at the time wanted something more modern, more integrated.

Enter: Visual Manufacturing (or just VISUAL, as some called it). I was hired as a data entry clerk to help with the transition. That project sparked something in me—a curiosity about database relationships, system integration, and, ultimately, a passion for reporting and actionable data. It was also my first real insight into how the right system can elevate a business—or hold it back.

VISUAL was a decent fit for our manufacturing needs, but the implementation went sideways. The original partner just didn’t understand our business. That’s a lesson I still carry with me: the tech matters, but so does the team implementing it. Things improved when we brought in a partner who actually took the time to learn how we operated. They asked the right questions, cared about our outcomes, and, ultimately, made the software work for us—not the other way around.

In 2008, I joined that same partner firm, and for years, we worked exclusively with manufacturing clients. VISUAL served its purpose, but as the tech landscape evolved, it became clear it wasn’t going to keep up. Limited cloud options, rigid customization, and aging architecture pushed us to look for something better.

The GP Era—and Its Limits

We considered Microsoft GP and NAV. At the time, most advice pointed toward GP, so we gave it a shot.

GP was a strong financial solution—no question. It worked well for industries like retail and distribution. But for manufacturing? It often felt like we were trying to make it do things it wasn’t originally built for. Extensions felt bolted on, not baked in. Development was cumbersome (Dexterity, anyone?), and too often we were telling clients, “You can’t do that,” or “You’ll need a big customization to make that happen.”

We even dipped our toes into BatchMaster, a GP add-on tailored to food manufacturing. Let’s just say… that’s a story for another post.

Discovering NAV (and Eventually, Business Central)

When we finally turned to Microsoft NAV, it just clicked. And when NAV evolved into Business Central, things only got better.

What I love most about Business Central is how intuitive and customizable it is. Need a slight tweak to a page layout to improve adoption? Easy. Found a missing piece? Head to AppSource and tap into solutions built, tested, and maintained by partners who live and breathe this stuff. That’s powerful.

And while Business Central is solid for manufacturing, it’s equally capable across a wide range of industries. It scales with you, adapts to your needs, and integrates with tools you’re probably already using: Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive—you name it.

What’s more, Microsoft doesn’t build in a vacuum. They actively engage the community and roll out major updates twice a year, many based on real-world feedback. Sure, there are quirks here and there (I’m looking at you, page personalization and why you keep moving my actions!), but the feature growth and platform maturity make those trade-offs worthwhile.

A Partner-Led Success Story

What’s made the biggest difference in my journey—from user to implementer—is seeing how Business Central lets me say “yes” more often. Yes, we can do that. Yes, we can integrate that. Yes, we can customize that. And when we can’t do something out of the box, it’s rarely a massive lift to bridge the gap.

Of course, tech isn’t magic. Success still hinges on having the right people—internally and externally—who understand your business and aren’t afraid to challenge assumptions. That’s especially true when choosing an implementation partner. A good partner doesn’t just install software; they consult, coach, and collaborate.

Is Business Central Perfect?

No system is. Could someone make a case for a different solution if we’re talking purely about one module, like manufacturing? Sure. But ERP isn’t just about one area—it’s about integration. It’s about your entire business working together: finance, operations, supply chain, reporting, and beyond.

That’s why I keep coming back to Business Central. It gives businesses the flexibility to grow, the tools to collaborate, and the freedom to adapt—without sacrificing usability or locking you into a corner.

Final Thoughts

This is just my experience. ERP is never one-size-fits-all. But if you’re an SMB—or even a mid-size or larger org—looking for a modern, integrated, flexible ERP platform, Business Central absolutely deserves your attention.

You’ll need the right partner, the right team, and a clear understanding of your goals. But if you’ve got that, Business Central makes it a lot easier to deliver real, lasting value.