Business Central Essentials vs Premium

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Essentials and Premium are two popular plans for developing businesses. They offer a powerful, effective, and flexible ERP solution that can help you manage your finances, sales, service, and operations.

However, choosing the right plan for your business is essential. Before you make a decision, it's important to understand the key differences between Business Central Essentials and Premium.

In this blog post, we'll compare the two plans in detail and help you decide which one is right for your business. 

Comparing Business Central Essentials and Premium

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a powerful ERP solution that can help businesses of all sizes manage their finances, sales, service, and operations. Specifically built for SMBs, BC offers modern tools, functions, and capabilities to streamline various operations.

Based on Microsoft NAV (Navision) infrastructure, it offers seamless integration with native and third-party solutions to enhance the capability of a particular Business Central module. You can integrate applications like Power BI, Mobile WMS by Tasklet, Continia Integration, and more from the Microsoft Dynamics ecosystem.

Business Central is available in three plans: Team Member, Essentials and Premium. The Essentials plan is designed for small businesses that need a comprehensive ERP solution to manage their core business processes. The Premium plan is designed for larger businesses and businesses with more complex needs, such as manufacturing or service management.

  • Dynamics 365 Business Central Team Members: This plan offers restricted access to a user. With this plan, a user can do general tasks like sharing data, checking metrics, uploading information, and more.
  • Essentials: The Dynamics 365 Essentials licencing plan offers different modules that we will discuss next. In short, it offers comprehensive access to the modules necessary to run a small business.
  • Premium: The Dynamics 365 Premium licencing plan offers all modules of the Essentials plan. And along with it, you will get Service and Production/Manufacturing management modules. This is a perfect licencing option for all kinds of businesses. 

Here is a comparison of the two plans: 

Which plan is right for you?

Feature

Essentials

Premium

Core ERP functionality

Yes

Yes

Manufacturing management

No

Yes

Service management

No

Yes

Advanced reporting and analytics

Yes

Yes

Integration with other Microsoft products

Yes

Yes

Scalability

Good

Excellent

Price

Lower

Higher

If you are a small business with basic ERP needs, the Essentials plan is a good option. If you are a larger business or a business with more complex needs, the Premium plan is a better choice.
You can consider the below factors before choosing the perfect plan:

Your business size and growth plans: If you are expecting to grow rapidly in the near future, the Premium plan may be a better choice because it is more scalable.

Your industry: Some industries, such as manufacturing and service, require more advanced ERP features. If you are in one of these industries, the Premium plan is likely a better choice.

Your budget: The Premium plan is more expensive than the Essentials plan. However, it is important to consider the value that each plan provides. If you need the advanced features of the Premium plan, the extra cost may be worth it.


Microsoft Dynamics 365 Essentials vs Premium: The Most Accurate Comparison

In this section, we are going to compare the features, modules, capabilities, and functionalities of the Essentials and Premium Business Central licencing plans. Also, this will give you a better understanding of both plans so that you can choose the perfect one for your business.

Business Central Essentials

When it comes to Business Central pricing, this plan will cost you £57.50 per user per month. In this pricing, you will get the following modules to manage your business:

  • Financial Management
  • HR Management
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • CRM
  • E-Services
  • Project Management
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Warehouse Management and Inventory
  • Other Capabilities

Financial Management

Account Schedules Basic XBRL Deferrals Responsibility Centers Allocations
Budgets Unlimited Dimensions Bank Account Management Cash Flow Forecast Fixed Assets
Bank Reconciliation Check Writing Multiple Currencies Basic General Ledger Consolidation
Payment Handling Cost Accounting Intercompany Postings
AI (artificial Intelligence)
Cash Flow Forecast Late Payment Prediction Image Recognition Inventory Forecast Sales Forecast
CRM (customer relationship management)
Business Inbox for Outlook Contact Classification Email Logging Relationship Management Campaign Management
Contact Management Interaction/Document Management Task Management Campaign Pricing Opportunity Management
E-Services
Document Management Document Capture Tax. Reg. No. Validation Service (EU) Document Exchange Service PayPal
HR (Human Resource Management)
Basic Human Resource Payroll Management
Project Management
Basic Resources Job Quotes Capacity Management Multiple Costs Time Sheet
Supply Chain Management
Alternative Order Addresses Item Attributes Purchase Invoicing Sales Line Pricing Item Budgets
Purchase Line Discounting Sales Order Management Alternative Vendors Item Categories Purchase Line Pricing
Sales Return Order Management Assembly Management Item Charges Purchase Order Management Sales Tax/VAT
Basic Inventory Item Cross References Purchase Return Order Shipping Agents Basic Payables
Item Substitutions Requisition Management Standard Cost Worksheet Basic Receivables Item Tracking
Demand Forecasting Stock keeping Units Calendars Location Transfers Sales Invoice Discounts
Vendor Catalogue Items Cycle Counting Multiple Locations Sales Invoicing Order Promising
Warehouse Management and Inventory
Automated Data Capture System Internal Picks and Put Aways Warehouse Shipment Warehouse Receipt Warehouse Management Systems

Business Central Premium

The Business Central pricing of Premium plan will cost you at £82.20 per user/month. Along with all modules of Essentials plan, you will get two more modules.

  • Service Management
  • Manufacturing Management
Other Capabilities
Analysis Reports Retention Policies Workflow Change Log Unlimited Companies
Embedded Power BI Notifications User Management Reason Codes Word Reporting
Service Order Management
Planning and Dispatching Service Item Management Service Price Management Service Contract Management Service Order Management
Manufacturing Management
Agile Manufacturing Finite Loading Production Orders Basic Capacity Planning Machine Centers
Sales and Inventory Forecasting Basic Supply Planning Production Bill of Materials Version Management

Business Central Essentials vs Premium

Parameters Essentials Premium
Pricing £57.50 per user/month £82.20 per user/month
Users Unlimited Unlimited
Service Order Management No Yes
Manufacturing Management No Yes
Best for Businesses Small Small and Medium

Struggling to Choose the Best Business Central Licensing Plan for your Business?

To choose the perfect plan for your business, you need to understand your business as well as its requirements. Once you have the data, you can choose the perfect plan that can support your business's growth and scalability.

In case you need help understanding your business needs and demands, feel free to connect with Dynamics Square, a leading Microsoft Solutions Partner in the UK.

As a Business Central Partner, we have been helping growing businesses implement smart and innovative business solutions to enhance their growth while opening up new opportunities for growth.

Write us a mail at info@dynamicssquare.co.uk or call us directly at +44-207-193-2502 for instant support.

Kapil Jangid

Kapil Jangid is a Digital Marketing expert with an aim of uplifting businesses through cloud-based software as a service (SaaS). He has more than 8+ years of experience working with numerous SaaS companies, driving brand awareness, and enhancing revenue opportunities.

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