A Dynamics NAV alternative built around how you run.
Dynamics NAV, formerly Navision, is Microsoft's ERP software for midsize organizations. Its last release was NAV 2018, and Microsoft points NAV customers to Dynamics 365 Business Central. thinkbridge offers another route: a system modeled on how your business runs, which you own at the end of the term.
Signs you've outgrown Dynamics NAV
- The system runs on code customized years ago, and few people still understand it.
- Moving to Business Central means checking every customization built over the years.
- Reports and approvals depend on exports to Excel.
- The people who maintain NAV are hard to find or close to leaving.
Dynamics NAV compared with a system you own
| Dynamics NAV | thinkbridge | |
|---|---|---|
| How it fits | Configured around the vendor's standard process; gaps are closed with customization, add-ons or spreadsheets | Modeled on how your business actually runs, including its exceptions |
| Who owns it | You license it; the vendor owns the code and the roadmap | You own the code, the data model and the business logic |
| How you pay | Subscription or license, plus implementation partner fees | Priced on outcomes, paid over an agreed term |
| After go-live | Changes go through a partner or an upgrade cycle | Managed care keeps improving it; low-risk changes ship to a beta you approve |
| AI | Added through the vendor's roadmap and add-ons | Built into the workflows from the start |
How the move works
- ObserveWe watch how the work runs today, including the workarounds.
- Model and buildThe system is modeled on your process and generated with
think One - Migrate and validateYour data moves over and your team tests it on real cases.
- Go liveIn about four months.
The four stages are a short version of the six-step method (see how it works). For what gets built, see ERP replacement and consolidation.
Questions about moving off Dynamics NAV
Can thinkbridge replace Dynamics NAV?
Yes. thinkbridge models how the business runs, builds a system that fits and migrates the data from NAV before cutover. It can replace NAV outright or take over only the areas that don't fit.
When does Microsoft support for Dynamics NAV end?
Microsoft says extended support for Dynamics NAV 2018, the last NAV release, ends in January 2028. Check Microsoft's lifecycle page for the current dates.
Is Business Central the same as NAV?
Microsoft describes Business Central as the next generation of Dynamics NAV and has said the two run the same application code base. thinkbridge offers a different route: a system modeled on how your business runs, with your customizations built into it.
How long does a Dynamics NAV replacement take?
About four months to go live.
Related alternatives
See every alternative, grouped by vendor.
There's a new way there™.
Tell us what you run today, and one of our experts will reply within five business days.