This week Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central was leaked and later officially announced by Microsoft as the new name for Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations Business Edition (Microsoft’s cloud version of Dynamics NAV). Business Central is offering the full Dynamics NAV functionality in the cloud, as apposed to Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations Business Edition’s slimmed down functionality.
Previously code named as Dynamics 365 Tenerife, many (myself included) were hoping that NAV would find some place in the new name. Alas , that was not to be, but the new name “Business Central” does make a lot more sense than the pseudo-acronym “NAV”… and at least it’s more catchy than “Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations Business Edition”.
We also learnt the release date of Dynamics 365 Business Central, which is planned for the 2nd April 2018. A Docker image preview of Business Central is available for partners to explore.
Counter to earlier reports, we will not be seeing Dynamics NAV 2018 R2 released with Dynamics 365 Business Central. Instead, Microsoft will release the new re-branded version of Dynamics NAV as Dynamics 365 Business Central (Hosted / On-premise) in autumn 2018.. Cumulative updates for Dynamics NAV 2018 will be released as normal.
Keep an eye on the Dynamics 365 Roadmap page for new and planned features.