For years, spreadsheets have been the backbone of businesses for tracking sales, managing cash flow, and stitching together the numbers when it is time for big decisions. But today, those same spreadsheets are slowing companies down.
According to a recent study, around 94% of business spreadsheets contain errors. It is no wonder that businesses lose an average of 12 hours per employee every month just updating, reconciling, and fixing spreadsheets. That is why organisations of all sizes are making the leap from isolated spreadsheets to a modern ERP built for real growth.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central delivers the scalability to keep pace with your ambitions. Here is how leading businesses are moving from spreadsheet stress to strategic success.
Why Upgrade to Business Central?
Growing businesses hit a ceiling when their operations live in disconnected spreadsheets. Data gets siloed, updates are missed, and teams waste hours fixing mistakes that should not happen in the first place. That is where Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central comes in.
Business Central brings everything under one roof, including finance, sales, purchasing, inventory, supply chain, and even project management. You won’t have to jump between tabs and search email threads because you get a single, real-time view of your business. No more version confusion, no more manual copy-paste.
According to the reports, companies that move to an ERP like Business Central report up to 23% faster financial close cycles and 22% fewer errors in order processing.
Benefits of Business Central
Moving to a new system is a big decision, but the advantages of upgrading to Business Central are hard to ignore. Here is how this platform helps UK businesses leave spreadsheet struggles behind for better productivity and peace of mind.
1. Microsoft 365 Integration
For most businesses, Microsoft 365 is already the daily toolbox with email in Outlook, budgets in Excel, and chat in Teams. Business Central connects the tools you already know.
Send quotes or invoices directly from Outlook, update sales forecasts right from your inbox, and sync contact records without any double entry. If you want to enter numbers, Business Central lets you export and analyse live data in Excel, then push your changes right back into the system. This way, there are no lost formulae and no outdated files.
You also get instant collaboration with Microsoft Teams integration. Anyone can pull up a customer record, discuss it with the group, and track updates without leaving the chat window. When you need the extra capability, Business Central taps into the Power Platform. You can also build custom dashboards with Power BI, automate routine approvals with Power Automate, or create simple apps for your unique workflow using Power Apps.
Since it is all built on Microsoft’s cloud, you get access to the latest Azure AI features for forecasting sales, predicting cash flow, and spotting risks before they become problems.
Besides that, the Power Apps integration lets you customise your workflows and automate processes. You can do all of this while keeping your data safe, recoverable, and always available.
Since it is all built on Microsoft’s cloud, you gain seamless integration with Azure AI for advanced capabilities like forecasting sales, predicting cash flow, and identifying risks before they become problems. This powerful functionality is fully integrated with ERP updates, such as migrating from NAV to Business Central, ensuring smooth transitions and continuous business insights.
2. Cloud-Based for the Modern Workforce
Work does not stop at 5 p.m., and it definitely does not wait for you to be at your desk. The ERP cloud migration gives your team the same experience regardless of their location. They could be at HQ, at home, or anywhere in between. All you need is a browser, tablet, or phone. Every update syncs in real time with no emailing files, no missed changes.
Business Central uses Microsoft’s global data centres, automatic backups, and enterprise-level data protection for security. You don’t have to worry about servers crashing or losing everything to a hard drive failure because your data is safe, recoverable, and always available. Plus, Power Apps can be used to customise and automate processes further.
3. Built-In AI and Real-Time Reporting
Running a business means making hundreds of decisions every week. With Business Central, you don’t have to rely on guesswork or outdated reports. The platform comes with built-in AI features for cash flow forecasting, sales predictions, and late payment insights so you can spot risks before they show up in your bank account.
Whereas, real-time dashboards powered by embedded Power BI give you the live view of your finances, sales pipeline, inventory, and more. This transparency makes board meetings easier and lets managers respond to problems before they grow. Automated workflows and approvals take the pressure off your team
4. Customise Business Central to Fit Your Needs
Every business is unique, but not every ERP is built to adapt. That is where Microsoft Business Central stands out. You can easily build or tweak your own tools with Power Apps without any complex coding.
If you need something more advanced, use the Browse Microsoft AppSource for pre-built extensions to add new features, connect with e-commerce, or automate reporting. Business Central offers sector-specific add-ons for manufacturing, distribution, retail, etc., that plug right in.
5. Manage Global Operations Easily
Business Central is ready for international expansion from day one, with brilliant support for multi-currency, multi-language, and tax compliance across over 100 countries and regions.
Built-in localisation packs make it easy to meet local rules, from VAT compliance in the UK and UAE to e-invoicing in GCC markets. The platform reduces tax risk while absorbing complexity, so you don’t need a small army of accountants to stay compliant.
If your team works across offices, regions, or even continents, everyone gets the same unified experience, all managed from a single platform. UK-based firms expanding into the EU, Middle East, or Asia can leverage localisation packs and exchange rate automation from day one. That is one less barrier to scaling up and a major advantage for UK businesses looking to enter new markets.
6. Keep Your Data Safe and Stay Compliant
Business Central UK delivers robust privacy features, with role-based user controls, audit trails, and detailed access logs to keep your information safe.
Everything is powered by Microsoft’s industry-leading cloud security, which means your data is encrypted in transit and at rest, backed by enterprise-grade redundancy and 24/7 monitoring. Compliance is built in, with GDPR-ready controls and the flexibility to adapt to UK-specific and international legal requirements as they change.
What’s New in Business Central 2025 Release Wave 2
Microsoft’s 2025 Release Wave 2 for Dynamics 365 Business Central rolls out from October 2025 to March 2026. This release will bring new AI-driven capabilities, financial tools, global localisation updates, and sustainability features, all designed to make your ERP smarter and your business more agile.
Here is a breakdown of what is coming:
1. Smarter AI with Copilot and Intelligent Agents
With this release, Microsoft Copilot will become more powerful and useful across the platform. It will help users reconcile bank accounts, summarise data, and even guide them through tasks, without any complex setup.
Alongside Copilot, autonomous AI agents can handle full processes like generating purchase invoices from PDFs or converting emailed sales orders into structured documents. These features are built directly into Business Central and are available to online users at no additional cost.
Basically, you get automation without giving up control where every action is trackable and reviewable.
2. Financial Management & E-Documents
Business Central’s financial management tools are getting more intelligent. AI can now assist with routine bookkeeping tasks by learning from your business patterns. These updates are designed to reduce manual effort while improving accuracy for businesses juggling multiple tax frameworks. The update also brings stronger e-document handling for cleaner and faster digital transactions across vendors and customers.
3. Global & Regional Expansion
For UK firms trading internationally, this release adds new localisation packs and enhanced exchange rate automation. From VAT compliance in the UK and UAE to e-invoicing across GCC markets, the platform helps reduce tax risk and reporting complexity. Business Central is now supported in over 170 countries, and new markets continue to be added through partner-led localisations.
4. Shopify Integration Enhancements
Businesses using Shopify will see better control over product costs, pricing, and discounts. Inventory can now be managed across multiple locations and item variants for easier tracking and optimisation of stock. Whether you are using Shopify or Shopify Plus, Business Central keeps operations in sync without requiring manual reconciliation between systems.
5. Built-In Sustainability Reporting
Sustainability is no longer optional, and Microsoft knows that. Business Central will now help you track emissions, waste, and water usage across sites. You can access dedicated sustainability dashboards, generate CO₂ reports, and even include carbon footprint data on invoices. The platform supports reporting for CSRD, CBAM, and EPR regulations to help businesses meet ESG goals and compliance requirements more easily.
How Mazik Global Makes Your Business Central Upgrade Simple
Choosing the right platform is only half the journey. How you implement it makes all the difference. Mazik Global is a trusted Business Central partner that takes the hassle out of your ERP upgrade, so you can move from spreadsheets to a unified system easily.
Here is what sets our approach apart:
1. Fast, Proven Business Central Implementation
With Mazik Global, you don’t wait months for results. Our Business Central Rapid Implementation gets you up and running quickly using pre-configured best practices, guided setup, and robust data migration tools.
2. Easy Data Integration & Process Automation
We connect your new ERP to the rest of your business by integrating Microsoft Power Platform and building custom connectors that automate the manual steps holding you back. Ditch repetitive spreadsheet tasks and let your data flow securely and automatically.
3. Industry Solutions That Go Further
Mazik Global offers specialized industry add-ons, like MazikCare and Mazik365, to extend Business Central’s functionality for healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and more. These pre-built solutions save you months of custom development and come ready to deploy.
4. Cloud Managed Services That Never Sleep
If you are worried about maintenance and downtime, our managed cloud services provide 24/7 Azure monitoring, automated backups, security updates, and fast incident response. This way, your Business Central environment is protected and always up to date.
5. Microsoft 365 Integration, Done Right
Our team ensures your Microsoft Business Central rollout is tightly connected to Teams, Outlook, Excel, and OneDrive. There are no broken links or manual double entry, just seamless productivity.
6. Strong Security and Compliance
Mazik Global goes beyond the basics with advanced identity management, data loss prevention, and detailed compliance reporting to help you stay protected and meet UK and international standards.
7. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
We also offer automated backups and a disaster recovery plan to keep your data safe and your ERP running, no matter what.
We don’t stop at implementation. Mazik Global helps you move beyond the feature list and turn every update, including the 2025 Wave 2 release, into real business value. From configuring Copilot and AI agents to training your team and fine-tuning compliance settings, we ensure you are ready for the new updates from day one
If you are ready to take advantage of everything in Wave 2, Mazik is here to guide the way, so you adopt new features and use them to grow.
Final Words: From Outdated to Outstanding
Relying on spreadsheets to run a growing business is risky. Missed opportunities, manual errors, and slow decision-making can hold your company back right when you need to move forward. That is why upgrading to Business Central is a strategic move for any UK business ready to scale.With Microsoft Business Central, you get more than a modern ERP. You gain real-time visibility, built-in intelligence, and the ability to adapt as fast as your market changes. And with Mazik Global by your side, every step of your journey is handled by experts who know what success looks like.
