The Business Central (BC) v25 update webinar addresses a variety of important enhancements that will affect current work environments. This update, also known as “wave 2 of 2024”, has introduced key changes to migration processes and available functionality.
Download webinar documentation
Here is a detailed summary of the webinar highlights:
Change of timing for updates
New update period
The upgrade period is now five months, starting on October 1, giving you until March 1 to complete the migration.
Reduced grace period
The “grace period”, i.e. the period during which it is still possible to update extensions, has been shortened to one month after March 1. After this date, extensions that have not been updated will be uninstalled.
Internal update target
Gestisoft recommends that its customers complete their migration by the end of January, thus allowing room for maneuver should unforeseen circumstances arise.
Migration process
Version v25 is not yet available for all test (sandbox) environments, but as soon as it is, a copy of the production environment will be made to test the migration without disrupting current data.
Once testing is complete, customers will need to validate business-critical functionalities, such as invoicing or receipts, to ensure smooth operation in production.
Major new features
Changes in user group management
User groups become authorization sets. Internal procedures will have to be adapted to this new approach, but the migration will take place automatically in the background.
Improved warehouse transactions
Previously, only one warehouse transaction could be carried out at a time, due to sequential number management. With this update, multiple transactions can run simultaneously, improving performance for companies with high transaction volumes, particularly those using inventory scanners.
Subscription billing and revenue recognition
A brand-new module for managing customer contracts, automated billing schedules and updating pricing parameters. This module is a substantial addition for companies working on subscription models, and a dedicated webinar will be offered this winter to explain it in detail.
Archiving service documents
It will now be possible to archive service documents, such as quotations or service orders, in the same way as purchase and sales documents.
Using artificial intelligence with Copilot
Suggest sales lines
Thanks to Copilot, it is now possible to use artificial intelligence to automatically suggest sales lines from an e-mail or text file. For example, a customer could send a list of products, and Copilot would automatically generate the corresponding sales lines in BC.
Analysis with Copilot
In “analysis” mode, a button can be used to ask Copilot to generate specific analyses. However, it's important to remember that Copilot can only perform actions that are already possible via the BC interface.
Financial reporting improvements
Five new financial reports have been added as examples to help create line definitions and formulas tailored to specific company needs.
Project management and automated replenishment
Replenishment of items for projects is now possible thanks to a new functionality based on planning lines. The system will automatically create purchase orders for unavailable items, facilitating project-related inventory management.
Directed sampling for projects
Another interesting feature is the addition of directed and suggested picking for projects, which optimizes logistics and stock storage.
Modern list search
A new search functionality has been introduced, improving the speed and accuracy of list searches. This feature can be activated in the Functionality Manager, for a smoother, more intuitive search.
Quick access keys
New for French-speaking users: the quick access keys are now available in French, enabling rapid navigation of the system without using the mouse. This is particularly useful for users who prefer to use the keyboard.
Queue notification management
It is now possible to receive automatic notifications of failures in background job queue processing. Administrators can be notified by e-mail in the event of a problem, making it easier to manage critical processes such as updating exchange rates.
Conclusion
The Business Central v25 update brings a series of significant enhancements aimed at simplifying operations, improving performance, and integrating new automation features. With the introduction of Copilot, users can benefit from artificial intelligence to streamline certain tasks, while improvements in transaction and project management will enable companies to work more efficiently.
This update marks an important step in the evolution of Business Central, and it is essential that customers take the time to test critical features before making the final switch to v25.
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October 21, 2024 by Samuel Champoux by Samuel Champoux Dynamics 365 Business Central Technical Expert
