For organizations still running legacy Microsoft Dynamics systems like AX, NAV, GP, or on-premises CRM, the migration to Dynamics 365 is no longer a question of if, but how quickly and effectively it can be achieved.
As Microsoft continues to retire older platforms and push toward the cloud, many businesses are accelerating their move to Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (F&O) or Business Central. The benefits are clear: scalable infrastructure, integrated analytics, and native connections with the Power Platform suite. But while the technology is ready, many organizations are finding that the real challenge lies in assembling teams capable of executing a truly seamless transformation.
Understanding the new Dynamics landscape
Dynamics 365 represents a fundamental shift from traditional ERP and CRM systems to an integrated, cloud-first environment. Finance & Operations supports large-scale enterprise processes such as global finance, supply chain management, and manufacturing. Business Central provides a flexible and cost-efficient option for mid-sized organizations looking for end-to-end ERP capabilities in the cloud.
Both systems emphasize an extension-first model, meaning that instead of customizing the base code, teams create separate extensions that can be updated independently. This ensures faster updates, stronger security, and easier scalability, but it also requires new skill sets.
Developers and architects need to understand not just AL or X++ coding but also how to build within Microsoft’s extension framework to maintain upgradability. Functional consultants must know how to translate business processes into modular configurations. Increasingly, integration specialists are expected to connect Dynamics environments with tools from the Power Platform, including Power BI for analytics, Power Automate for workflow automation, and Power Apps for low-code customization.
The technology may have evolved, but the success of any migration still depends on the people behind it.
Why migration projects are accelerating
The urgency is increasing for two main reasons. First, Microsoft has made it clear that the future is cloud-based. Many customers still using AX 2012, NAV 2018, or GP are finding that mainstream support is ending, with security and compliance risks growing.
Second, global market conditions have shifted expectations. Executives now demand real-time insights, flexible operations, and integrated data systems to remain competitive. Dynamics 365 delivers that, but only if it’s implemented with precision.
Migrating from a legacy system to Dynamics 365 is not a lift-and-shift exercise. It is a strategic transformation that affects finance operations, customer management, and data governance. Getting it right means balancing technical expertise with change management and business insight.
The technology is powerful, but success still depends on people. Nigel Frank connects businesses with Dynamics 365 experts who can design, implement, and optimize cloud migrations to deliver measurable ROI.
Building the right migration team
A successful migration team combines technical proficiency with strategic alignment. While every project is different, most organizations benefit from assembling a mix of the following core roles:
- Dynamics 365 solution architect: Designs the overall system, ensuring that the configuration and extensions align with business needs.
- Functional consultants: Bridge the gap between business processes and technical design, translating requirements for finance, operations, or customer engagement into platform functionality.
- Developers (AL and X++): Build custom extensions while maintaining compliance with Microsoft’s extension-first best practices.
- Data migration specialists: Handle data mapping, cleansing, and validation between legacy systems and new cloud environments.
- Power Platform engineers: Integrate Power BI, Power Apps, and Power Automate to extend system capability and empower business users.
- Change management leads: Oversee communication, training, and adoption to ensure users embrace new workflows.
According to the Nigel Frank Careers and Hiring Guide, demand for professionals with Dynamics 365 F&O and Business Central expertise continues to rise across both North America and the UK, reflecting the acceleration of cloud transformation projects.
The extension-first approach: Long-term benefits
One of the biggest conceptual shifts for teams moving from legacy systems is embracing Microsoft’s extension-first customization model. Rather than modifying base code, as was common in AX or NAV, extensions allow developers to add functionality without breaking future updates.
For businesses, this means faster innovation cycles and lower total cost of ownership. For IT teams, it requires developers who understand modern AL development environments, version control practices, and Microsoft’s continuous delivery pipeline.
When supported by experienced Dynamics 365 professionals, this model creates an agile foundation for ongoing evolution that legacy on-premises setups could rarely deliver.
The right people can turn technical best practice into real business advantage. Nigel Frank helps organizations hire Dynamics 365 professionals who can design solutions that scale securely, integrate cleanly, and deliver consistent performance across teams and regions.
Power Platform: The missing link in modernization
The Power Platform is often the key differentiator between a simple migration and a full digital transformation. Its components—Power BI, Power Automate, and Power Apps—connect Dynamics 365 data to automated workflows, analytics dashboards, and custom business apps.
For example, a finance team could use Power BI to track multi-entity cash flow in real time, or a sales operations team could build a Power App to simplify lead management. The ability to extend Dynamics functionality with low-code tools empowers business units to innovate independently while maintaining governance through IT oversight.
However, this balance only works when organizations have Power Platform experts who understand both the technology and the governance frameworks required to scale safely. Hiring professionals with both Dynamics and Power Platform experience can bridge the gap between IT and business innovation.
From project to platform
Ultimately, the move from legacy Dynamics systems to Dynamics 365 is not just about upgrading technology. It is about building a platform for growth. Businesses that invest in multidisciplinary teams will be best positioned to leverage Microsoft’s evolving ecosystem, from AI-driven forecasting in F&O to Copilot capabilities across the Power Platform.
Strong Dynamics 365 teams can transform data silos into connected insights, manual processes into automation, and outdated infrastructure into strategic enablers of innovation.
