LBMC Technology Solutions

Author name: Susan Boeve

ERP & Accounting Software, Microsoft D365 Business Central

When Does Support for Dynamics NAV Actually End?

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If you’re running Dynamics NAV today, the clock on your version is already ticking — and for some organizations, it’s closer to running out than they realize. Microsoft has laid out a clear, fixed timeline for when each NAV release loses support entirely, and that timeline is the single biggest factor most businesses underestimate when planning a move to Business Central. Here’s what the dates actually mean, and why waiting rarely saves as much time as it feels like it does.

ERP & Accounting Software, Microsoft D365 Business Central

NAV 2018 vs. Business Central

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If you’re running Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018, you’re likely asking one of two questions: “Do I need to upgrade to Business Central?” or “What actually changes if I do?” Here’s a direct answer to both, along with the details behind them.
What is the main difference between NAV 2018 and Business Central?
NAV 2018 is an on-premises-only ERP system with manual updates, no AI capabilities, and a retired Windows desktop interface. Business Central is Microsoft’s cloud-based (with on-prem/hybrid options) successor, built with automatic updates, native AI/Copilot features, extension-based customization, and deep Microsoft 365 integration. In short: NAV 2018 is a legacy platform in extended support; Business Central is the actively developed, modern replacement.

ERP & Accounting Software, Microsoft D365 Business Central

Moving Document Attachments to External Storage in Business Central

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Every scanned invoice, vendor packing slip, and signed sales order attachment in Business Central lives in the same place: your production database. That’s fine until it isn’t — until you’re staring at a capacity warning and realizing that years of PDFs are eating into the same storage limit as your actual transactional data. Business Central now has a built-in answer to that problem: external file storage. Here’s what it actually involves.
The files themselves move off your database and onto external storage; only the link back to the record stays in BC. Users don’t see a difference — they still open, add, and manage attachments from the same Attachments FactBox they always have. What changes is where the bytes actually live.

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