You can streamline project management
Running projects efficiently can be a massive headache for most businesses.
Deadlines keep getting pushed back. Costs keep going over budget. No-one can find anything anymore.
The problem is…
Most project management solutions don’t connect to your financials. They don’t link up to your inventory. And they definitely don’t give you a clear overview of everything happening on each project.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central does.
The system was named the best ERP system of 2023 by Forbes Advisor. And for good reason. Business Central finally unites your projects with the rest of your business. No more confusion. No more guesswork. Just total visibility and control.
In this post, you’ll learn:
So if you’re ready to start tackling your project management chaos, read on.
What Is Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Business Central is Microsoft’s cloud-based ERP solution for small and mid-sized companies.
It brings together every part of your business in a single system. Finance. Sales. Operations. You name it… Business Central covers it – including project management.
To understand more about what is dynamics 365 business central in detail, you need to know that it acts as the command centre of your business. The system collates all information into one single dashboard. So you no longer have to hop between disconnected applications.
The solution has also won awards and accolades for its real value.
Why This ERP Is Perfect For Project Management
You might think all ERPs are the same. Trust me, they’re not. Here’s why Business Central excels at project management.
Most project management tools are siloed. They sit alone in their own system. Meanwhile, your finance software is over there. Inventory management is over there. Staff scheduling is over there.
In fact, in many companies, the information on projects is spread across several disconnected solutions. That’s why tasks get missed, inventory gets lost, and people stop knowing where things are.
Business Central changes that.
Projects in Business Central connect directly to your:
The result is that whenever you update your project, all of the other information updates too.
This integration:
Project management all of a sudden becomes much easier when you have the right information.
Did you know…
According to recent data, 33% of organisations that had integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered ERP features reported improved project management metrics. Microsoft’s Business Central platform now integrates Microsoft Copilot. This is Microsoft’s all-in-one AI assistant that provides intelligent automation to help with project management.
The Top Features That Actually Matter
Business Central contains some incredible features.
I’m not going to bombard you with a list, however. Let’s look at the features that actually matter.
Real-Time Project Tracking
Visibility of current project status is one of the most important benefits.
You can see budget consumption, time logged, resource utilization, project profitability, and more. That information is available in real-time.
The system doesn’t show you yesterday’s data. It shows you what’s happening right now.
Integrated Budget Management
Budget overruns are the primary reason that projects go over cost. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central allows you to set your budgets from the outset. You can then track budget status in real-time against actual spend.
Business Central will alert you when expenses start to creep up. So you can deal with the issue before it goes too far.
Resource Scheduling
Efficient project management is about having the right people working on the right tasks. Sounds simple, right?
In reality, it can be a big challenge.
Business Central gives you an overview of who is available. You can see people’s skills. So you can be confident that your team isn’t getting overbooked or working on something they don’t have the skills to do.
Automated Invoicing
Work has been done. Time to invoice, right?
Wrong.
In most businesses, invoicing can be one of the most time-consuming activities after project work has been completed.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central ties your project work directly to your billing system.
So there’s no chasing timesheets or manually creating invoices. Everything is automated.
Getting Started The Right Way
Implementing Business Central to manage projects is the smart way to work.
But where do you start?
Step 1: Define Your Projects
The first thing to do is work out the different types of projects your business runs.
Fixed price? Time and materials? Retainer-based?
Business Central treats each of these differently. Once you define your projects, set them up.
Step 2: Set Up Your Resources
Add in your resources. You’ll need to create a list of people with their skillsets and availability.
Step 3: Create Project Templates
This is especially useful if you run the same types of projects on a repeat basis. It can save you a ton of time.
Step 4: Connect Your Financials
One of the most important things to get right is how your project accounts link up to the general ledger.
Linking accounts up means all of your project transactions flow through into your financial reports.
Step 5: Train Your Team
The best system in the world is useless if people aren’t using it right.
Train up your staff to use Business Central for project management. Microsoft has training resources. And your implementation partner should be able to offer hands-on support too.
Takeaway On Business Central For Project Management
Business Central is an all-in-one ERP solution that happens to cover project management.
But don’t let that throw you.
The main benefit of the platform is the integration. Your projects don’t exist in a silo in Business Central.
They’re connected to your financials. Your inventory. Your procurement. Your resource management. Your sales.
This all means you can finally have an overview of exactly what’s happening on each project at all times. Plus, visibility cascades down to the individual task level.
And for SMBs, this is the ultimate win. You can have the transparency and control of an enterprise-level system without the enterprise price tag or complexity.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is more than an ERP system.
It’s a complete business management platform. It also includes project management.
Why does this matter?
Because projects integrate with the rest of your business in Business Central.
You finally have a system that unites project work with operations, people, finances, and inventory.
In Summary:
If you’re currently managing projects in spreadsheets and across different systems, it’s time to think about a better approach.
Business Central could be the solution that finally brings order to the chaos of your project management.
