If you’re considering a transition from Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations, you probably have a lot of questions. This article provides guidance and considerations from our experienced team here at Western Computer to get you started. We have worked extensively in both systems with customers spanning many industries so we know the advantages of each solution and how to help customers choose the best system for their environment.
First, there are a few common signs to help you determine if you are ready for a more robust solution. For example:
- Are you trying to get more granular inventory control?
- Do you need more sophisticated warehouse management?
- Are you looking for more advanced manufacturing capabilities such as shop floor control?
- Would you like to add retail functionality?
- How about support for a global implementation for your growing business?
If any of these apply to your organization, or you are experiencing any Dynamics NAV shortcomings, then you will want to evaluate Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations. Transitioning from Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations is a logical path that will help you enhance and streamline your business while reducing dependence on expensive hardware and customizations. You can make major improvements to your business processes without completely starting over from scratch.
Where do I start?
Once you’ve made the decision to transition to Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations, you will want to ensure a smooth transition. One important step we take is to perform a business process analysis with every customer, preferably near the beginning of the implementation. This is your opportunity to compare your current state to the functionality within Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations. Given the robust feature set of your new system, we will help you change your business processes to fit your new solution as much as possible. It is usually better to change and improve your current processes to fit the software than to modify the system to match your current processes.
What is a business process review?
A business process review compares your existing processes to the functionality in Dynamics 365. As a team, we work together through each process and map it to how it is performed in the ERP system. Examples of high-level business processes include order-to-cash, procure-to-pay, and plan-to-ship.
Western Computer often performs a business process review as part of the Fit/Gap Analysis phase of the implementation project. Not only will this save you time and money by shortening the development cycle, but because Dynamics 365 incorporates business best practices, we can determine where your practices “fit” the capabilities of the system and any areas where there are “gaps” that need to be addressed. Skipping the business process review can result in an ERP system that simply automates outdated and inefficient business processes.
When working with any implementation partner, make sure you choose one that invests time to understand where you are coming from and where you are going. With a large team of experts in both Dynamics NAV and Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations, Western Computer is well positioned to help you with your transition. We offer customized services to help you choose, implement, and support the solution that makes sense for your organization. Feel free to contact us today to find out how we can help.
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