When companies explore Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, they often encounter conflicting stories. Some of these stories are based on outdated comparisons with older Microsoft systems like NAV or GP. Others reflect general fears about ERP projects or the cloud. The result is a set of misconceptions that can prevent decision makers from moving forward. By addressing these myths directly, organizations can make a more informed choice about whether Business Central is the right ERP for them.
Business Central misconception #1: It is only for small businesses
One of the most common Business Central misconceptions is that it was built only for small companies. This belief usually comes from how Microsoft positions its ERP portfolio, where Business Central is often contrasted with Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management, the solution marketed toward very large enterprises. In practice, Business Central scales well beyond the boundaries of a small business. With native support for multiple companies, currencies, and languages, along with localizations for tax and regulatory compliance, it serves mid-market organizations and even larger enterprises that need to consolidate operations across regions.
We have seen regional distributors start with only a handful of users and grow into multi-country operations without needing to change systems. Global firms with branches across multiple continents have unified their accounting under one Business Central environment by using the platform’s built-in features. At Domain 6, our role is to configure these capabilities so that growth and expansion do not trigger unnecessary system changes.
Business Central misconception #2: It can’t support complex industries
Another misconception is that Business Central is too generic for specialized industries like healthcare, education, or real estate. This stems from early perceptions that it was designed primarily as a general ledger system. The truth is that Business Central includes robust functionality for projects, manufacturing, service management, and supply chain, and its flexibility increases when paired with ISV applications. Independent software vendors have built solutions for everything from construction job costing to property management, all of which integrate with Business Central.
An engineering and construction company may initially dismiss Business Central as too simple for project tracking. However, once the right ISV applications and process further enhancements are added with Power Apps, the firm will be able to manage budgets, timesheets, and billing in a single system. In real estate, our Domain 6 accelerators extend Business Central to handle multi-entity consolidations and investor reporting. This shows that Business Central is not limited to generic accounting but can serve as the backbone for specialized industries.
Business Central misconception #3: It is just an accounting tool
It is easy to mistake Business Central for a financial management system because accounting is often the first module companies adopt. Yet it is much more than that. Business Central is a full ERP covering finance, supply chain, sales, service, warehouse management, and projects. Many companies begin with finance and then gradually discover the operational capabilities that allow them to retire disconnected systems.
If a manufacturing company began using Business Central only for their accounting processes, they will not be restricted to this module alone. As they explore the system further, they will realize it included production orders, bills of materials, and warehouse features. By activating these modules, they eliminate their standalone inventory software and can simplify reporting. At Domain 6, we frequently help clients identify the functions they already own within Business Central, reducing redundancy and driving more value from the ERP investment.
Business Central misconception #4: It forces you to change your processes
Organizations sometimes fear that implementing an ERP will mean abandoning established workflows and adapting everything to fit the system. While older ERPs often forced this kind of standardization, Business Central is designed differently. Personalization, workflow configuration, and extensions allow the system to adapt to unique processes rather than the other way around.
For example, a services firm will need custom approval steps for expenses. Instead of asking them to compromise, we would recommend using Power Automate to design workflows that mirrored their exact process within Business Central. The result would be adoption without disruption. In our projects, we emphasize designing the ERP around the client’s operations so that efficiency improves without erasing established practices.
Business Central misconception #5: Its integrations are limited
Another widespread belief is that Business Central exists in isolation. Integration is one of its strongest capabilities. Business Central connects natively with Microsoft 365, Power BI, Power Apps, and Dataverse, and its APIs make it possible to connect to third-party systems. This enables automation across finance, HR, payroll, and field service without manual workarounds.
A client running a third-party HR system may assume employee data has to be maintained separately. With the right integration, payroll and HR information flows directly into Business Central, reducing errors and saving hours each month. Our team at Domain 6 frequently builds these integrations so that Business Central is not just an ERP but a central hub for all business data.
Business Central misconception #6: The cloud version isn’t secure
Security is one of the most persistent ERP misconceptions. Some companies believe that hosting Business Central in the cloud exposes them to more risk than keeping systems on their own servers. Microsoft’s cloud environment, however, offers enterprise-grade security, encrypted backups, and compliance certifications that most on-premise IT setups cannot match.
We complement this by configuring governance, permissions, and audit settings tailored to the client’s regulatory environment.
Business Central misconception #7: Migrations are too risky and costly
The idea that migration is prohibitively risky often stops projects before they start. The risk comes from poor planning rather than the system itself. With structured migration tools, phased approaches, and strong change management, companies can move to Business Central with manageable cost and minimal disruption.
At Domain 6, we design migration roadmaps and provide training, so adoption is smooth. This ensures that long-term savings outweigh the short-term investment.
Business Central misconception #8: It is difficult to learn
Adoption concerns are another sticking point. Some users fear that moving away from spreadsheets or legacy systems will slow them down. Business Central’s interface, however, is intuitive and designed with helpful shortcuts that streamline onboarding. Microsoft also provides extensive documentation on the platform that can be complemented by the right partner to create a hyper-efficient training and adoption process.
At Domain 6, we provide role-specific training that accelerates adoption and ensures teams get comfortable quickly.
Business Central misconception #9: You lose control when you move to the cloud
Another misconception is that migrating to Business Central Online means giving up control over the system. Cloud deployment removes the infrastructure burden while preserving customization and governance. Updates are managed by Microsoft, but businesses retain control through role-based access and extensions. As your trusted partner, our role is to ensure governance structures are in place, so clients remain in control without carrying the IT overhead.
Other misconceptions we encounter
Beyond these core myths, there are a few more that deserve mention. Some believe that Business Central cannot scale to handle large data volumes or concurrent users, but we have seen it manage significant transaction loads. Others assume it becomes more expensive over time, though total cost of ownership often decreases once infrastructure and manual reconciliation costs are factored in. Global operations are also frequently cited as a limitation, but Business Central supports multiple currencies and tax regimes through localization packs.
For additional perspective, see Microsoft’s Business Central overview and ERP discussions in ERP Software Blog and MSDynamicsWorld.
Moving past Business Central misconceptions
Misconceptions about Business Central often come from outdated experiences or incomplete information. It is a flexible, scalable ERP that integrates finance, operations, and industry needs into one system.
At Domain 6, we help clients separate myth from fact. From portfolio-wide consolidation to AI-ready ERP strategies, we deliver implementations that reduce complexity and prepare firms for growth. If your organization is ready to see what Business Central can really do, it’s time to move past the misconceptions.
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