Unlock the full potential of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central with these overlooked gems

As a solutions architect, I have seen how powerful and adaptable ERP solutions can be. One standout solution is Dynamics 365 Business Central. This ERP system helps Nordic companies achieve their business goals with its flexibility, scalability and standout features.

By leveraging Dynamics 365 Business Central, companies can streamline operations, enhance their digital presence and achieve sustainable growth. So, whether you work for a small business looking to expand or a large enterprise seeking to optimize processes, Dynamics 365 Business Central offers the tools and insights you need to succeed. It also integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products such as Microsoft 365, Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft Power Automate and Microsoft Copilot.

This cloud-based platform covers a wide range of business areas, including accounting, logistics, inventory, sales, projects, procurement and CRM. Dynamics 365 Business Central also ensures secure local data storage by keeping your database within your country's borders to comply with local regulations and enhance data security.

The capabilities above are all well-known, but the ERP system actually has a lot more to offer. Let’s dive into it.

The three overlooked gems of Dynamics 365 Business Central 

There are at least three overlooked features in Dynamics 365 Business Central that can significantly enhance your experience and outcome.

They can provide additional value, streamline processes and offer deeper insights, making your ERP system even more powerful and efficient.

Gem #1: Eco enhance with sustainability tool

One of the best and most overlooked features of Dynamics 365 Business Central is the sustainability module. This module allows you to maintain a climate account directly within your ERP system, eliminating the need for external software.

It's easy to set up and includes user-friendly reports to display your climate data. The module even has a dedicated role for sustainability, providing a simple overview and insights into your climate account.

This feature is particularly valuable for companies that are committed to reducing their environmental impact and meeting sustainability goals.

Entries to climate accounts are made via a journal in Dynamics 365 Business Central. If there is any missing information during the entry, the user will be informed about lines that need to be checked before they are posted to the climate accounts. Errors thar occur during the entering of data shown in the journal check fact box shown in the right hand of the picture below.

In the picture below, you can see what happens when the line I have entered is missing data that will be needed to post the journal. In the error there is information as to what field is missing data or has incorrect data making it easier to fix the error.

Gem #2: Simplify your subscription billing

Another impressive feature is the subscription billing module that was launched in the second half of 2024. This module streamlines billing of service packages to customers based on the set up of items and contracts.

For example, you can sell a coffee machine to a customer and include a service package that bills them monthly for maintenance. The module also provides clear revenue and cost overviews, making subscription management more straightforward.

This feature is especially beneficial for businesses that offer recurring services or products, as it simplifies billing and ensures accurate financial tracking.

Gem #3: Expert insights with analysis mode 
 

In my experience from previous projects, Dynamics 365 Business Central's analysis mode is a game-changer.

It allows customization of views and data export to Excel, making it simple to share information. In the picture below, you can see a simple overview of the item table in Dynamics 365 Business Central. Here the view is set up to show the inventory on stock per vendor and showing the inventory level per item category giving me more insight into the totals on the page in Dynamics 365 Business Central, rather than having to export the lines of data to Microsoft Excel and use formulas to create the same overview.

You can also share your customized views with other users of the ERP system, saving them the time and effort of creating their own views. This feature enhances collaboration and ensures that all team members have access to critical information in a format that suits their needs.

Microsoft are making even more changes to this feature and during 2025 will release updates allowing you to add fields from the related tables when working in analysis mode:

They will also add multiple standard analysis views for finance, inventory, purchasing, projects and more.

Furthermore, the analysis mode supports advanced data analytics and reporting capabilities. Companies can generate detailed reports on various aspects of their operations, gaining valuable insights into performance metrics and identifying areas for improvement.

This data-driven approach enables companies to make informed decisions, optimize processes and achieve better outcomes. The ability to customize reports and dashboards means that users can focus on the most relevant information for their roles, enhancing productivity and effectiveness.

Start unlocking the full potential

As the business landscape continues to evolve, having a robust, adaptable and versatile ERP solution such as Dynamics 365 Business Central is crucial for staying ahead of the curve and achieving long-term goals. By exploring and utilizing these three overlooked gems, you can unlock even more potential and value within the ERP system, enhancing your business processes and driving growth.