In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses are increasingly moving towards cloud-based solutions to enhance efficiency, scalability, and reduce costs. Microsoft’s Business Central Online has become a key player in this transition, offering a robust platform for managing financials, operations, and more. However, the migration process from older systems to Business Central can be challenging without the right tools and support. This is where Simplanova steps in, providing a comprehensive suite of tools for BC migrations and consultancy to simplify the migration process.

Migration and Modernization Program

Simplanova’s Migration and Modernization Program is designed to help resellers and partners streamline the migration of their customers to Business Central Online. The program offers coaching, technical tools for BC migrations, and consultancy to ensure a smooth transition, emphasizing scale and simplicity. By identifying “low-hanging fruits,” the program aims to maximize efficiency in migration efforts, lowering the cost and speeding up cloud adoption for end users.

Key benefits of joining this program are that partners can conduct as many migration assessments as needed, use our tools that can handle both code and data migrations, and get expert support for your upgrade at no additional cost.

Powerful Tools for BC Migrations to Simplify the Process

Simplanova offers a wide array of tools that automate and simplify various aspects of the migration process. Let’s explore some of the most valuable tools:

1. SALT (Simplanova AL Tools)

SALT is a powerful tool designed to handle code conversion and modernization during the migration process. It helps transition legacy C/AL code to the newer AL language while addressing common issues encountered in upgrades. This tool handles:

• Code to Events: Automatically converting C/AL triggers to events in AL.
• Options to Enums: Replace outdated option fields with the new Enum types.
• File Management Issues: Resolves issues related to file handling during the transition from on-premises to cloud environments.
• Report Substitution: Facilitates report layout transitions by automatically converting formats from older versions to AL.
• Breaking Changes: Automatically resolve issues that appear from breaking version changes.

This automation minimizes the manual effort involved in upgrading legacy code, reducing both the time and the risk of errors.

This tool license is available to buy or for free under the Migration & Modernization (M&M) program.

2. External Object Manager: This tool allows to view, import, and export objects in a NAV database without requiring a license, streamlining object management during the upgrade process. This tool is only available via the M&M program.

3. Object Usage Log Tool: This tool tracks which objects are actively used in the customer’s Dynamics NAV/Business Central environment, helping you determine the true scope of the upgrade. By identifying unused reports or functionalities, you can focus on what truly matters in the migration.

4. Automating Report and Dataport Conversion, Data Encryption

4.1 Report Converter: Migrating reports can be a time-consuming task, especially when moving from older versions like NAV 2009. The Simplanova Report Converter automates the conversion of Classic NAV reports to the RDLC/AL format, saving significant time.

4.2 Dataport Converter: Dataports were used in versions before NAV 2009 R2 to import or export data. But beginning with Dynamics NAV 2013, Dataports have been replaced with XMLports and now Dataports no longer exists. Upgrading Dataports to XMLports is a challenging task for developers, but there is a solution to avoid human mistakes and save time. Dynamics NAV Dataport Upgrades can be fully automated with Simplanova Dataport Converter, which automatically converts Dynamics NAV Dataport to XMLport.

5. Data Encryption Toolkit: Security is a priority when migrating business data. Simplanova Data Encryption Toolkit protects confidential information such as personal details or business contracts during migration, ensuring data is secure throughout the process.

Ensuring Migration Success with Data Migration Tools

Simplanova provides several tools to help manage and verify data during migrations:

1. Data Migration Toolkit: This toolkit facilitates the migration of custom data between extensions in a database. It automates the generation of SQL scripts and extension tables, reducing the risk of human error during data migration.

This tool is only available via the M&M program.

2. Data Migration Checker: This verification tool ensures the accuracy of data migrations by comparing data between source and target databases, identifying discrepancies, and ensuring data consistency.

This tool is only available via the M&M program.

We’re expanding the range of tools available in the M&M program, with more options set to be introduced in the future to streamline the upgrade process. While we haven’t included the smaller tools just yet, our free consultation services are here to provide you with valuable insights on how to make the most of before mentioned and other resources we offer. Stay tuned for more updates!

Final Thoughts on Tools for BC Migrations

Migrating to Business Central Online can be a daunting task, but with Simplanova’s suite of migration tools, it becomes a streamlined and efficient process. By automating key tasks like code conversion, report migration, and data verification, Simplanova reduces the complexity and risks associated with migrations, allowing partners to focus on delivering value to their customers. More niche and smaller tools can be offered for your needs. In addition, the M&M program will be constantly updated with even more new tools.  As businesses continue to move towards cloud-based solutions, having the right tools and support is more critical than ever.