This is the backbone of any ERP system, and Business Central Essentials provides robust capabilities to manage your company's financial health.
- General Ledger Record and track all financial transactions.
- Accounts Payable Manage vendor invoices, payments, and track liabilities.
- Accounts Receivable Handle customer invoicing and cash receipts.
- Bank Reconciliation Match bank statements with ledger entries.
- Budgeting Set budgets and compare them with actual performance.
- Fixed Assets Track asset acquisition, depreciation, and disposal.
- Cash Flow Forecasting Predict future cash flow and manage liquidity.
- Financial Reporting Generate standard and custom financial reports.
- Cost Accounting Monitor and allocate operational costs.
- Tax Management Set up and manage VAT or sales taxes.
Human Resources Management (Basic)
While Business Central Essentials doesn't have the full depth of a dedicated Human Resources Information System (HRIS) like Dynamics 365 Human Resources, it provides basic capabilities for managing employee data.
- Employee Records Store employee details like contact info and work history.
- Absence Tracking Track leave, vacation, and sick days.
- Payroll Integration Connect with third-party payroll systems.
- Basic Reports Generate simple employee-related reports.
Business Central leverages Microsoft's AI capabilities to provide intelligent insights, particularly in forecasting.
- Sales Forecasting Predict future sales based on trends.
- Inventory Forecasting Know when to reorder and how much.
- Cash Flow Forecasting Forecast inflows and outflows more accurately.
- Image Recognition Extract data from scanned documents.
- Automation AI helps with repetitive tasks and data insights.
- Copilot Integration Use natural language to get help from Microsoft's AI assistant.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Business Central Essentials includes foundational CRM functionalities to manage customer interactions and sales processes. It's designed to give you a 360-degree view of your customers.
- Contact Management Track customers, leads, and interactions.
- Sales Opportunities Manage deals from lead to close.
- Campaign Management Run basic marketing campaigns.
- Sales Orders Create quotes, orders, and returns.
- Customer History Keep full records of customer activity.
- Reports & Dashboards View sales pipeline and performance.
- Outlook Integration Log emails and tasks from Outlook.
Essentials provides tools to manage projects from planning to completion, helping track progress, resources, and profitability.
- Project Setup Define tasks, timelines, and budgets.
- Resource Allocation Assign people and equipment to projects.
- Time Tracking Log hours worked through timesheets.
- Cost Tracking Compare actual costs to budgeted amounts.
- Invoicing Bill customers by milestones or time.
- WIP Management Track ongoing project value.
- Project Reports Monitor progress and profitability.
This module helps businesses optimize their flow of goods, from procurement to delivery.
- Purchasing Manage purchase orders, vendors, and receipts.
- Sales Processing Handle quotes, orders, and returns.
- Inventory Planning Get reorder suggestions using AI.
- Vendor Data Track vendor details and performance.
- Item Data Manage product details and pricing.
- Demand Forecasting Predict future demand using trends.
- Basic Quality Tracking Monitor product quality at a simple level.
This refers to capabilities that facilitate electronic interactions and integrations.
- Document Management Attach files and scan invoices with OCR.
- Online Payments Accept payments via PayPal and others.
- Validation Tools Check VAT numbers and exchange rates.
- Microsoft Integration Work smoothly with Outlook, Excel, Word.
- APIs Connect with third-party apps and systems.
Warehouse Management and Inventory
These capabilities are crucial for businesses that deal with physical goods.
- Real-Time Stock Monitor inventory across locations.
- Item Tracking Track by serial or lot numbers.
- Inventory Valuation Use FIFO, LIFO, or average cost.
- Transfers & Adjustments Move or adjust stock easily.
- Warehouse Layout Use bins and zones to organize storage.
- Picking & Put-Away Guide staff on what to pick or store.
- Shipping & Receiving Manage goods in and out.
- Cycle Counting Regularly check inventory accuracy.