MSDYN365BC - Q&A about data upgrades to Business Central?

Hi Readers,

This week I am planning to Discuss all Upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics Business Central Wave 2 (on-prem).

In this article let's talk about all questions that customers/partners have about Upgrades. We at Archerpoint are passionate about Upgrading all NAV / Business Central Client in Community to the latest and greatest version of Product.

Let's try to talk about all the questions that I heard about. If you have more questions about upgrades add as a comment to this article.
#bcalhelp #Msdyn365bc


1. There is no way to Upgrade the database to Business Central?

That's not true.

• From any version of Dynamics NAV, you can upgrade to Business Central.
• It will not be one step but there is an upgrade toolkit from any version to Busines Central. 
• No. of steps depends on which version you are upgrading from, but it's possible to upgrade to Business Central with all your data.

2. We think you should or we should Re-implement than upgrades?

I will ask the reasons behind thinking that.

• Do you want all your data in the New Version? - Upgrade.
• Are you changing what you do? - Reimplement.
• We want to remove all Customs from our database? - Upgrade.
• Database Size? - Upgrade.
• Heavily Customized? - Upgrade.
• Data is Messed up? -  Reimplement.

3. Reimplementation is riskier than Upgrades?

It depends on how you feel about it. Here is what my reasoning is -

• I think Re-implementation are riskier than upgrades because - 
• with upgrades, there is never data inconsistency. 
• with Re-implementation, You need to check and verify your master data that you are setting up with the new version.

4. Upgrades are time-consuming Projects?

• After doing all the upgrades that we have done to date the maximum time frame that is part of the upgrade project during User testing.
• Merge and Migration time can be estimated which is more or less the same as estimated.
• What I feel is user testing time in upgrades is still less than the re-implementation project. 
• During Upgrade user testing you only test the business process but in re-implementation, you test business process and data also.

5. When a customer should decide to re-implement?

• The Only reason to re-implement as per my understanding is a Business Requirement. 
• In that scenario, I will recommend re-implement and for all other cases and complexity that you can think of - Upgrades is the way to go ahead.
• If you want to Trim Ledgers before a certain date then Re-implement doesn't upgrade. With Upgrades, if you do so then you might cause data inconsistency. 
• Even your partners think that they can do it, I would recommend not to do this with upgrades.

6. We want to remove all Customs so we should re-implement?

• Sorry, but I will not suggest that. 
• An Upgrade where you don't want any customs from the legacy system is super easy projects.
• Merge effort is nearly zero because only the process that partners need to do is strip data from your current version related to customs and then replace all objects with base.
• Then Run the Microsoft Data Migrations to upgrade to the latest versions.

7. Due to Extensions New Methodology in Business Central, we should not upgrade?

• An extension is not a data migration or upgrade related change.
• Extension Methodology is a Technical Change. You as customers should not worry about Technical Changes in the Product.
• It will be like I am worried if my phone behavior changes after a Programming Langauge changed for developers to write apps.
• The extension does not / Should not change how you use the System or any business central. 

8. What if I have to upgrade to Business Central SaaS?

• There are paths to upgrade to SaaS with all data.
• All Business related data can be upgraded to SaaS with Replication Tool in Business Central (on-prem). 
• This will slowly transfer all data to SaaS while users are working in an on-prem environment.
• Once replication is complete you can switch off on-prem services and ask users to use SaaS web client URL.
• Read Here about Replication Process.

9. Required events do not exist that required for our customization to convert to Extension?

• That can be true in a few cases. But how we expect Microsoft to know it? 
• We as customers and partners have a responsibility to request those events from Microsoft.
• If you need an Event then use Idea Site to request an event - https://aka.ms/bcideas

10. Our Database is Big we cannot be upgraded to Business Central (on-Prem) Version?

• We hear every customer think so and that is not wrong. 
• But partners as experts with processes should be able to do it. 
• There are tips and tricks that can run faster than base Microsoft upgrade toolkit.
• Every database Size can be upgraded from any version to any version (on-prem) within a two day weekend. 
• We have recently upgraded to the 37 Terabyte database on a weekend.
• Read Here about 37 TB Upgrade.

References - 

1. Submit Ideas
2. Learning and Training
3. Need Help from Experts - Use Twitter hashtag with question #bcalhelp
4. Need an Estimate for Upgrade - Contact Us?
5. Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Upgrading to Business central. - Free Ebook.

I hope you find answers to your questions. If you any more questions please add comments to the article and I will add my thoughts on that in this article.

Regards,
Saurav Dhyani

www.sauravdhyani.com