The cloud ERP for ambitious supply chain businesses.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a modern, cloud-first ERP from Microsoft. It connects your finance, sales, purchasing, inventory and operations in a single system — and integrates seamlessly with best-of-breed warehouse management, transport and automation solutions to keep your supply chain moving.
A cloud ERP that unifies the whole business — not just the books.
The successor to Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Navision), delivered primarily as a SaaS cloud service — with on-premise deployment still available.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a cloud-based ERP from Microsoft for small and mid-sized businesses that unifies finance, sales, purchasing, inventory, warehousing and manufacturing in one platform. It is natively integrated with Microsoft 365, Teams and Power BI, so the tools your teams already use are part of the system, not bolted onto the side of it.
Business Central is designed for businesses with roughly 20 to 500+ users, and is used across wholesale, distribution, manufacturing and 3PL operations. Balloon One implements Business Central in the UK with native integration to Infios WMS, TMS, and automation via our BOX iPaaS layer.
Built for supply chain, powered by Microsoft.
Six reasons growing supply chain businesses choose Business Central — and why Balloon One is the partner to deliver it.
Cloud-first, always current
Delivered as a true Microsoft cloud service with automatic updates, enterprise-grade security and a 99.9% uptime SLA, so you're always on the latest release.
Real-time visibility
A live view of stock, orders, cash and margin across the business, with built-in dashboards and Power BI integration for fast, confident decisions.
Single data hub
One source of truth for finance, inventory, sales and purchasing — eliminating spreadsheets, duplicate records and month-end reconciliation.
Built to integrate
Native connections to Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, Excel) plus deep integration with Infios WMS, TMS, automation and e-commerce platforms via our BOX iPaaS layer.
Compliance ready
HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital (MTD), with built-in support for IFRS, UK GAAP and GDPR — plus full audit trails and role-based permissions.
Work from anywhere
Browser, desktop, iOS and Android access, with configurable role centres so warehouse, finance and sales each see the information that matters to them.
Business Central vs SAP Business One vs Sage 50 vs Sage 200.
A side-by-side view of where Business Central sits against the other ERPs that UK supply chain businesses most often shortlist.
| Feature | Business Central | SAP Business One | Sage 50 | Sage 200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Cloud-first (SaaS), on-premise available | Cloud or on-premise | On-premise / Sage Cloud | On-premise or Sage Cloud |
| User count | ~20 to 500+ | ~10 to 100 | 1 to 50 | ~10 to 200 |
| Pricing (indicative) | Essentials & Premium per user/month (GBP) | Per-user licence | Per-user subscription | Per-user subscription |
| Manufacturing depth | Full BOM, MRP, production orders | Strong manufacturing | Very limited | Limited (add-ons) |
| WMS integration | Native via Infios WMS / BOX iPaaS | Available via partners | Limited | Limited |
| Ideal use case | Wholesale, distribution, manufacturing, 3PL | Manufacturing-led SMBs | Small businesses, basic accounting | Mid-market UK businesses outgrowing Sage 50 |
Configured for the way supply chain businesses actually run.
Not a generic capability deck — a focused view on where Business Central earns its keep in the two areas Balloon One implements most, plus the integration layer that ties everything together.
Business Central for wholesale distribution
Multi-location inventory, lot and serial tracking, automated replenishment — the operational fundamentals that scale from single warehouse to multi-site network.
Wholesale and distribution businesses live or die on inventory accuracy and order-to-cash speed. Business Central supports both with multi-location inventory, lot and serial tracking, bin management, automated replenishment, and integrated sales and purchasing workflows — all native, none bolted on.
Combined with Infios WMS via Balloon One's BOX iPaaS, Business Central scales from a single-warehouse operation to a multi-site distribution network without the system becoming the bottleneck. The ERP holds the commercial truth; the WMS handles operational complexity; the integration layer keeps them in lockstep in real time.
- Multi-location inventoryOne stock view across every warehouse, branch and 3PL site.
- Lot & serial trackingFull forward and backward traceability — essential for retailer audits and recall scenarios.
- Automated replenishmentMin/max, reorder points and demand-driven replenishment configured per SKU and per location.
Business Central for manufacturing
BOM management, MRP, capacity planning and shop floor control — supporting make-to-stock, make-to-order and assembly workflows.
For manufacturers, Business Central includes BOM management, production orders, capacity planning, MRP, and shop floor control. It supports make-to-stock, make-to-order and assembly workflows with full traceability across raw materials, work-in-progress and finished goods.
The Premium tier adds full Manufacturing and Service Management modules on top of the core ERP — making it the right choice for businesses running production or field service operations. For businesses that combine manufacturing with distribution into the major UK retailers, Business Central's integration with Infios WMS handles the operational complexity that pure-play ERP modules typically can't.
- BOM & MRPFull bill-of-materials hierarchies with material requirements planning across multiple production lines.
- Production orders & capacitySchedule against real capacity, not against an idealised version of the shop floor.
- End-to-end traceabilityRaw material → WIP → finished goods → retailer DC, with no gaps in the chain.
The wider Microsoft & supply chain stack
A new ERP is only as useful as the systems it talks to. The integration layer is where most ERP projects underperform.
Business Central is natively integrated with Microsoft 365, Teams and Power BI, which removes a layer of friction that most other ERPs still impose. Outlook becomes a CRM surface. Excel becomes a controlled data-entry tool, not a shadow system. Power BI becomes the reporting layer without a separate data warehouse project.
Where Business Central needs to reach into the operational stack — WMS, TMS, automation, e-commerce — Balloon One's BOX iPaaS layer handles the messy middle. Retailer EDI, ERP, WMS, TMS and e-commerce talk to each other in real time, without bespoke connector code that breaks every time something upstream changes.
- Microsoft 365 nativeOutlook, Teams, Excel and Power BI integration is part of the platform, not an add-on.
- Infios WMS & TMSNative connection to best-of-breed warehouse and transport management via BOX iPaaS.
- E-commerce & EDIReal-time data flow between retailer EDI, marketplaces, ERP and the operational systems.
Business Central in eight lines.
The short version, for the board pack, the procurement file, or the conversation you're about to have with finance.
Cloud-first ERP
A Microsoft cloud ERP that unifies finance, sales, purchasing, inventory, warehousing and manufacturing in a single platform.
20 to 500+ users
Small and mid-sized businesses across wholesale, distribution, manufacturing and 3PL operations.
Finance to service
Finance, Sales & CRM, Purchasing, Inventory, Warehousing, Manufacturing, Project Management and Service Management.
SaaS, on-prem or hybrid
Cloud (SaaS) as the primary model, with on-premise and hybrid available. Two major Microsoft updates per year.
HMRC recognised
Recognised for Making Tax Digital (MTD), with support for IFRS, UK GAAP and GDPR. Full audit trails and role-based permissions.
UK Microsoft Partner
Implementing Business Central for supply chain businesses, with native integration to Infios WMS, TMS and automation via BOX iPaaS.
Successor to NAV
The cloud-first evolution of Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Navision) — same data model, modern web client, two major updates a year.
Live, single truth
Built-in dashboards and native Power BI give finance, warehouse and sales the same real-time view of stock, orders, cash and margin.
The questions buyers actually ask before they pick an ERP.
Straight answers — on cost, on timelines, on how Business Central compares with the alternatives, and on whether it's right for your operation.
What is an ERP?
ERP, or Enterprise Resource Planning, is software designed to help businesses manage and integrate core processes. An ERP system unifies functions into one system to streamline processes and information organisation-wide. These functions typically include accounting, procurement, project management, risk management, compliance and supply chain operations.
By centralising data, ERP software offers real-time visibility, improves data accuracy and supports informed decision-making. This approach enhances collaboration across departments, ensures efficient resource use and boosts overall business performance.
What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a cloud-based ERP system from Microsoft, designed for small and mid-sized businesses. It connects finance, sales, purchasing, inventory, warehousing and manufacturing in a single platform, with native integration to Microsoft 365, Teams and Power BI. Balloon One implements Business Central for supply chain businesses across the UK.
Business Central is the successor to Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Navision) and is delivered primarily as a SaaS cloud service, though on-premise deployment is still available. It is designed for businesses with roughly 20 to 500+ users and is used across wholesale, distribution, manufacturing and 3PL operations.
How much does Business Central cost?
Business Central is licensed per user, per month in two main tiers: Essentials and Premium, billed in GBP for UK customers. Team Member licences are available at a lower price point for light users. Total cost depends on user mix, add-ons, integrations and implementation scope. Balloon One provides tailored quotes based on your specific requirements.
How long does a Business Central implementation take?
A typical Business Central implementation takes 3 to 6 months for a standard wholesale or distribution deployment, and 6 to 9+ months for complex manufacturing or multi-entity rollouts. Timelines depend on data migration, integration complexity, customisation and user training. Balloon One uses a structured Sure Step methodology to keep projects on time and on budget.
What is the difference between Essentials and Premium?
Essentials covers core ERP functionality: finance, sales, purchasing, inventory, project management and basic warehousing. Premium adds full Manufacturing and Service Management modules on top, making it the right choice for businesses running production or field service operations. Both are licensed per user, per month, and you cannot mix Essentials and Premium users on the same tenant.
Is Business Central the same as Dynamics NAV?
Business Central is the cloud-first successor to Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Navision). It shares the same underlying data model and much of the codebase, but is delivered as a SaaS service with a modern web client, two major Microsoft updates per year, and native integration with Microsoft 365 and Power Platform. Microsoft no longer sells new NAV licences.
What industries use Business Central?
Business Central is used across wholesale distribution, manufacturing, 3PL and logistics, food and drink, retail, professional services and not-for-profit. It is particularly strong for supply chain businesses needing multi-location inventory, lot and serial tracking and integrated warehousing. Balloon One specialises in implementing Business Central for UK supply chain and distribution businesses.
Business Central vs SAP Business One: which is better for supply chain?
Both Business Central and SAP Business One are strong ERPs for small and mid-sized supply chain businesses. Business Central suits Microsoft-centric organisations wanting cloud-first deployment and Power BI integration. SAP Business One suits businesses with deeper manufacturing requirements or existing SAP standardisation. Balloon One implements both and recommends based on your specific requirements.
Is Business Central better than Sage 50 or Sage 200?
For growing supply chain businesses, Business Central typically replaces Sage 50 or Sage 200 once a business outgrows their inventory, multi-location or reporting capabilities. Business Central offers full ERP functionality including manufacturing, advanced warehousing, multi-company consolidation and native Power BI, which Sage 50 and Sage 200 do not necessarily provide at the same depth.
Is Microsoft Business Central good for supply chain businesses?
Yes. Business Central is well-suited to supply chain businesses including wholesale distribution, manufacturing and 3PL operations. It includes multi-location inventory, lot and serial tracking, bin management, automated replenishment and BOM-based manufacturing. For complex warehousing, Balloon One extends Business Central with Infios WMS.
Your supply chain technology partner since 2003.
Balloon One is a UK-based Microsoft Partner specialising in ERP and WMS implementations for supply chain businesses. With over 30 years' experience delivering business systems and as an official Infios WMS partner, our certified consultants have implemented Business Central and its predecessor Dynamics NAV for wholesale, distribution, manufacturing and 3PL operations across the UK. Our BOX iPaaS layer connects Business Central seamlessly with warehouse management, transport, automation and e-commerce platforms.
Download the free ERP guide — or book a consultation.
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing an ERP System covers cloud or on-premise implementation, seamless integration with leading WMS providers, a single data hub for cross-communication between business areas, and real-time information accessible from virtually anywhere. If you'd rather just talk it through, book a free consultation with our team.
