Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations vs Business Central

Dynamics 365 offers two comprehensive solutions capable of meeting complex business requirements and operational needs: Microsoft Dynamics Business Central and Finance and Operations. In this article, we will offer you a comparison between these two: what are the similarities and the differences? And which one would be a perfect match for your company? Are you curious? Then definitely continue on with reading!

What are the similarities between Business Central and Finance and Operations?

We will start with the similarities between both ERP solutions:

1. Both offer the same availability when it comes to languages and localizations.
2. Both integrate very well with other Microsoft products, such as for example Outlook, Teams and Power Platform.
3. Both have efficient Finance Management capabilities.
4. Both offer Copilot capabilities and assistance.

All in all, both solutions offer a rich and full experience for users.

What are the differences between Business Central and Finance and Operations?

When we look at the differences between the Microsoft Dynamics for Finance and Operations and Microsoft Business Central, we can divide it into 4 main categories:

1. Industry & Vertical Capabilities. Where Business Central offers scalable horizontal functionality enriched with partner apps for specific industry capabilities, F&O focuses on rich functionalities for companies with diverse operations; from supply chain challenges to operational tasks).
2. Operations in multiple geographies: Business Central originally focused more on local companies with automated interactions for financial management, but nowadays also offers possibilities for international set-ups. Finance & Operations takes this a step further, and focuses on international companies with a connected supply chain and extended logistic intercompany functionalities and cross company planning. 
3. Implementation approach: when it comes to the implementation approach there are also some differences. The project time for F&O depends on the complexity (average 1-2 years), but overall there is a full-blown implementation approach taking into account the broader scope and larger project organization. Business Central has a moderate implementation cycle, on average 9-12 months, due to the lower level of complexity.
4. Licensing: when it comes to licensing and pricing, F&O is more expensive when it comes to full user access, due to the wide range of capabilities. For F&O you will need a minimum amount of 20 users, whereas for Business Central you don't have that limitation.There are also some small differences in the available roles in both systems.

What is the right choice for me?

So the question is now, would Business Central or F&O be the best choice for your organization? It’s essential to keep the following in mind: both applications are very capable solutions, providing a broad range of functionalities. Every company is unique and all variables need to be considered in the decision. You should ask yourself the right questions, such as 'What do I expect from an ERP system today?' or 'Will my expectations change in the near future?'.

Let’s learn more!

Do you want to learn more about the two ERP platforms? Then watch our webinar. Besides an extensive explanation, this also includes a demo on how both platforms work, a presentation of two successful customer cases in practice and information about our experience, expertise and approach.