Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has rightfully claimed its position as the best ERP of 2023, according to Forbes Advisor, thanks to its emphasis on long-term cost savings and comprehensive features.
Operating as a hybrid between accounting and business management solutions, Business Central showcases robust features, spanning project management, supply chain, and CRM. Its unparalleled functionality and adaptability make it a standout choice. Moreover, its ability to seamlessly integrate with other Microsoft Cloud Services, such as Dynamics 365 suite, Microsoft 365 (Office 365), Power Automate, Power BI, and PowerApps, gives it a unique edge over its competitors for its offer.
Having said that, as many companies transition from older versions like Dynamics GP or Dynamics NAV to Business Central, a crucial step precedes this shift—understanding the potential financial commitment. Let’s delve into the different user subscription plans to help you decide which one aligns best with your business requirements.
Dynamics 365 Business Central Team Members User
$ 8/User/Month (+ Services)
The Dynamics 365 Team Member License is created for users who don’t have specific roles tied to a function but still require access to the fundamental features of a line-of-business system. This license is suitable for scenarios where users need to:
- Consume data or reports from line-of-business systems.
- Complete light tasks such as time or expense entry.
- Update HR records without needing full user capabilities.
- Participate in workflows by approving or rejecting tasks.
- Create, edit, or delete specific information like quotes.
- Enter time sheets for jobs.
- Utilize PowerApps for Dynamics 365.
Dynamics 365 Business Central Essentials User:
$ 70/User/Month (+ Services)
For comprehensive access to the core functionality of Business Central, the Essentials plan is suitable. This plan caters to you if your roles and responsibilities involve:
- Financials and accounting tasks.
- Forecasting
- Supply chain and inventory management.
- Project management.
- Purchase and payables.
- CRM activities.
- Human resources functions.
- Warehousing operations.
- General reporting requirements.
The essential subscription plan is ideal for you if you need:
- Financial Management: Streamline financial close, gain real-time business performance visibility, and securely share information with accountants.
- Inventory Management: Increase visibility, reduce costs, and predict replenishment needs to avoid shortages and lost sales.
- Sales: Connect sales and accounting, respond to inquiries from Outlook, and manage multiple addresses per customer.
- Purchasing: Control processes with automated workflows, dynamic inventory updates, and approvals to prevent unnecessary purchases.
- Reporting and Analytics: Centralize data for an end-to-end business view, facilitating faster, informed decisions.
- Project Management: Efficiently handle tasks, monitor budgets, track project hours, and access real-time data on available resources.
Dynamics 365 Business Central Premium User
$ 100/Named Users/Month (+ Services)
If your business demands additional capabilities like Service Management and Manufacturing, the Premium plan is the choice. This plan is for users involved in:
- All functionalities covered in the Essentials version.
- Enhanced ERP solutions with Service Management.
- Streamlined manufacturing processes.
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics for informed decision-making.
Roles Benefiting from the Premium Plan
The Premium plan is tailored for roles that require advanced functionalities and industry-specific capabilities beyond the Essentials version. It is particularly beneficial for:
- Service Managers
- Manufacturing Professionals
- Decision Makers and Analysts
Here are specific scenarios, where opting for the Premium plan is the most beneficial:
Advanced Service Management Needs:
If your business relies heavily on service operations, necessitating meticulous management of service tasks, scheduling, and resource optimization, the Premium plan includes Service Management features. This allows you to streamline service operations, enhance customer support, and efficiently manage field service tasks.
Complex Manufacturing Processes:
If your business involves intricate manufacturing processes with specific requirements for production control, quality assurance, and demand planning, the Premium plan’s Manufacturing capabilities offer comprehensive control over manufacturing production operations. This ensures efficiency, quality, and adherence to industry standards.
In-Depth Reporting and Analytics Needs:
If your decision-makers and analysts require advanced reporting tools and analytics to derive actionable insights from your business data, the enhanced reporting and analytics of the Premium plan are beneficial. This allows your team to access detailed insights, create customized reports, and make data-driven decisions for strategic planning.
Diverse User Roles with Varied Needs:
If your organization has a mix of roles, including service managers, manufacturing professionals, and decision-makers, each requiring specific functionalities, the Premium plan caters to a diverse range of roles. It ensures that users with different responsibilities have access to the tools and features they need to excel in their specific functions. Additionally, the Premium plan may provide more cost savings compared to purchasing multiple Essential licenses along with additional modules for specific functionalities, especially if your company heavily relies on service operations or has intricate manufacturing processes. It’s crucial to assess your organization’s specific requirements and user roles to determine the most cost-effective licensing strategy.
Watch our role-based demo in D365 Business Central here.
Future Growth and Scalability:
If your business anticipates growth and expansion, requiring an ERP solution that can scale seamlessly with increasing demands, the Premium plan meets current business needs and provides the flexibility to adapt to future growth. This ensures that your ERP system evolves with your business.
Choosing the Premium plan in these scenarios ensures that your business gets the most out of Dynamics 365 Business Central, with advanced functionalities designed to meet specific industry demands and diverse operational requirements. Learn more about the Service Management, Manufacturing, Supply Planning in the Premium plan here.
*NOTE: The provided monthly per-user pricing strictly covers the licensing charges only. New Microsoft Business Central customers must decide between the Essentials Version and Premium Versions, since Team Member license only allows you to read/view. Once this decision is made, companies can select how many Team Memberships they need.
Microsoft Partner Services Pricing
For an accurate service estimate, it’s essential to consider various factors during the installation and training process. Engaging a licensed Microsoft Partner, such as TMC, ensures a tailored assessment that accounts for the intricacies of your business needs, data transfer requirements, the scale of your workforce, and the overall objectives of your organization. The service estimate will be shaped by the complexity of these aspects, offering a customized solution.
Moreover, an in-depth business process review conducted by a partner like TMC plays a pivotal role in this estimation phase. This review comprehensively defines the scope of the project, providing transparency in timelines and costs. It considers additional factors like required customizations, ensuring that the estimate aligns with the unique needs and goals of your organization.
The outcome is an impeccably planned transition to Microsoft Business Central, a process that stays on budget, on time, and, most importantly, gets it right the first time. In contrast, if this crucial step is underestimated or bypassed, users may find themselves in a predicament. They might have to seek out a new partner to rectify errors or endure the frustration of waiting for their current partner to troubleshoot implementation issues, resulting in additional costs and time overruns—far from the initial projections of being within budget and on time.
This thorough initial assessment guarantees a clear understanding of the service requirements, facilitating a successful and complete transition to Microsoft Business Central.
If you have any questions or want to learn more about the pricing plan, contact a team member today.
Why Choose TMC as your Microsoft partner?
TMC currently serves over 350 Microsoft Dynamics clients and have successfully executed more than 1500 ERP/CRM implementations. Our team possesses over 550 years of combined consulting expertise. As a Gold Certified Microsoft partner for over 19 years, we were honored with a nomination for the renowned INC 5000 Fastest Growing Businesses in 2017 and Best Workplaces in 2022. TMC has also maintained annual awards such as the Microsoft President’s Club membership and has consistently ranked in Bob Scott’s & Accounting Today’s Top 100 VAR Awards for over a decade.
When you choose to partner with TMC, you’ll benefit from more than just our extensive expertise. We go beyond simply providing consulting services to become active collaborators in your client projects. We embrace the complexity of challenging projects, constantly striving to deliver exceptional results that surpass your expectations. We are known for our outstanding customer service, training, and support. With our proactive approach to customer service, we have established a strong reputation as the leading Microsoft Dynamics Partner in Southern California while also serving companies nationwide and internationally.
Feel free to get in touch with us directly to learn more about how we can assist you or to find further information on transitioning to TMC as your Microsoft partner.
