Microsoft Navision End of Life: What Your Business Should Do Next

For years, Microsoft Navision (later rebranded as Dynamics NAV) has been a trusted enterprise resource planning (ERP) system for businesses managing their finances, supply chains, and operations. However, as technology evolves, legacy systems like Navision eventually reach their end of life (EOL)—meaning Microsoft will no longer provide updates, security patches, or official support.

If your business is still using Microsoft Navision, this end of life status poses serious risks. Without regular updates, your system becomes vulnerable to security threats, compliance issues, and performance inefficiencies. Additionally, integration with modern business tools becomes more difficult, limiting your company’s ability to stay competitive in a data-driven world.

This article will dive into what Navision's EOL means for your business, and what the best next steps are.

What Does "End of Life" Mean for Microsoft Navision?

When software reaches its end of life (EOL), it means the developer—in this case, Microsoft—will no longer provide updates, security patches, or official technical support. This is exactly what’s happening to Microsoft Navision (Dynamics NAV), and businesses still using it must prepare for the impact.

The Timeline of Microsoft Navision’s End of Life

Microsoft has been gradually phasing out support for older versions of Dynamics NAV as it transitions users to Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Mainstream support for most NAV versions ended in 2020, meaning no more new features or updates.
Extended support for NAV 2018 ends in January 2028, marking the complete end of Microsoft’s official support.
Earlier versions (NAV 2015 and older) are already out of support, leaving businesses vulnerable to security and operational risks.

What Happens When an ERP Reaches End of Life?

Once software is no longer supported, businesses face critical challenges, including:

No More Security Updates – Without patches, your system is exposed to cybersecurity risks, making it easier for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities.
No Official Microsoft Support – If an issue arises, Microsoft won’t provide assistance, forcing you to rely on third-party IT support (which may be costly and unreliable).
Compliance Risks – Many industries require businesses to meet financial and data security regulations (e.g., GDPR, IFRS, SOX). Using an outdated, unsupported system can put compliance at risk.
Integration Problems – Newer business applications (e.g., Microsoft 365, Power BI, CRM tools) may no longer be compatible with Navision, leading to inefficiencies and data silos.
Higher Maintenance Costs – As the system becomes outdated, businesses spend more on IT workarounds just to keep operations running.

What Are Your Options?

With Microsoft Navision reaching end of life, businesses need to decide on their next steps. The good news is that you have options, but not all of them are equally beneficial. Below, we’ll explore three possible paths and explain why upgrading to Dynamics 365 Business Central is the smartest choice.

Option 1: Staying on Microsoft Navision (Not Recommended)

Some businesses may consider continuing to use Navision despite its end-of-life status, but this approach comes with serious risks:

No more security updates, leaving the system vulnerable to cyber threats.
No official Microsoft support, meaning any issues must be resolved through third-party providers—often at high costs.
Compatibility issues with newer applications, making integration with Microsoft 365, Power BI, and cloud services increasingly difficult.
Rising maintenance costs as IT teams struggle to maintain outdated infrastructure.

💡 Verdict: Staying on Navision is a temporary workaround at best, but it’s not a sustainable long-term strategy.

Option 2: Upgrading to Dynamics 365 Business Central (Best Option)

The natural upgrade path from Microsoft Navision is Dynamics 365 Business Central—Microsoft’s modern cloud-based ERP designed for scalability, automation, and real-time insights.

Why Business Central is the Best Replacement for Navision

✅ Seamless Migration – Business Central allows data migration from Navision, ensuring a smooth transition.

✅ Cloud-Based & Accessible Anywhere – No need for on-premises servers; work from anywhere with remote access.

✅ Built-In AI & Automation – Reduce manual tasks with automated workflows and intelligent reporting.

✅ Full Microsoft 365 Integration – Works seamlessly with Excel, Outlook, Teams, Power BI, and Power Automate.

✅ Stronger Security & Compliance – Enterprise-grade security with built-in GDPR, IFRS, and SOX compliance tools.

✅ Future-Proof & Scalable – Grows with your business, eliminating the need for future ERP migrations.

📌 Key Takeaway: Business Central isn’t just a replacement for Navision—it’s a huge upgrade that helps businesses work smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

How to Upgrade from Microsoft Navision to Business Central

Migrating from Microsoft Navision to Dynamics 365 Business Central is a strategic move that ensures your business stays secure, scalable, and competitive. However, a smooth transition requires careful planning and execution. Below is a step-by-step guide to upgrading successfully.

Step 1: Assess Your Current Navision System

Before migrating, it’s essential to evaluate your current Navision setup, including:

NAV Version – Identify which version of Navision you’re using (e.g., NAV 2013, NAV 2018) as this affects the migration approach.
Customisations & Integrations – Review any third-party add-ons or custom modules that need to be replicated in Business Central.
Data Quality – Identify duplicate, outdated, or inaccurate data that should be cleaned before migration.

📌 Tip: Working with a Microsoft Partner can help assess compatibility and technical requirements for your migration.

Step 2: Choose Your Migration Strategy

There are two main approaches to upgrading from Navision to Business Central:

1. Direct Upgrade (for Newer NAV Versions)

If you’re using NAV 2018, Microsoft offers an upgrade toolkit to migrate your data directly to Business Central.
This approach is faster and ensures a smoother transition.

2. Reimplementation (for Older NAV Versions)

If you’re using NAV 2017 or earlier, a new Business Central implementation is often recommended.
This method involves setting up a new system, migrating key data, and optimising processes.
It’s an opportunity to remove outdated customisations and improve efficiency.

💡 Key Consideration: Businesses with heavily customised NAV systems may require a phased migration to avoid disruptions.

Step 3: Data Migration & System Configuration

Once the migration approach is selected, the next step is transferring your data into Business Central. This includes:

Chart of Accounts – Ensuring financial data is mapped correctly.
Customers & Vendors – Migrating customer, supplier, and transaction records.
Inventory & Sales Data – Ensuring stock levels and sales orders transfer accurately.

📌 Tip: Test the migrated data in a sandbox environment before going live to identify and fix any discrepancies.

Step 4: User Training & Adoption

A successful ERP transition isn’t just about technical migration—user adoption is key.

Provide hands-on training for employees.
Assign super users who can help their teams adapt.
Use Business Central’s built-in tutorials to familiarise users with the interface.

💡 Tip: Businesses using Microsoft 365 (Excel, Outlook, Teams) will find the transition easier, as Business Central has seamless integration with these tools.

Why Work with a Microsoft Partner?

Migrating from Navision to Business Central is a technical process that requires expertise. A Microsoft Partner can:

Assess your current system and recommend the best migration path.
Handle data migration & integration with minimal disruption.
Provide training & ongoing support to ensure your team is confident using Business Central.

💡 Key Takeaway: A well-planned migration ensures minimal downtime, accurate data transfer, and a smooth transition to a modern ERP system.

Next Steps: Get Ready to Upgrade

If your business is still on Microsoft Navision, now is the time to plan your transition. Upgrading to Business Central ensures long-term success with better security, automation, and integration capabilities.

Ready to upgrade? Contact us today for a free consultation on migrating from Microsoft Navision to Business Central!

Microsoft Navision End of Life: What It Means for Your Business & Next Steps