What to Ask a Microsoft Solutions Partner About Migrating from Dynamics NAV or GP
Why the Partner Question Matters More Than the Software Question
If your business is running Dynamics NAV or Microsoft GP and you have decided to evaluate a migration to Business Central, the most important variable in the success of that project isn't the software. It's the partner you choose to implement it. Business Central is a well-established platform with consistent core functionality. The difference between a migration that goes well and one that doesn't is almost always the quality of the implementation work. That means your partner evaluation deserves as much rigor as your software evaluation.
Questions About Migration Experience
The first area to probe is direct migration experience. Ask the partner how many NAV-to-Business Central or GP-to-Business Central migrations they have completed in the past two years. Ask what the typical size and complexity of those companies were, specifically whether they have worked with manufacturers and distributors at a similar scale and operational complexity to yours. Ask for references from migration clients specifically, not just Business Central implementation clients, because a partner who has only done new implementations hasn't dealt with the data complexity and process mapping work that migrations require.
A partner with a strong greenfield implementation track record but limited migration experience will approach a migration project differently, and not always in ways that serve the client well. Migration requires specific expertise in legacy data extraction, mapping, transformation, and validation that goes beyond standard implementation skills.
Questions About Data Migration Methodology
Data migration is where most NAV and GP migrations encounter their most significant complications. Ask the partner what tooling they use for data extraction from your current system. Ask how they handle legacy customizations that stored data outside standard table structures. Ask what their process is for data cleansing and validation before the migration, and how they manage the parallel run period when both systems need to remain consistent. Ask specifically what data doesn't migrate cleanly from NAV or GP to Business Central, because there is always some, and a partner who claims everything migrates seamlessly is either overstating their experience or hasn't dealt with a complex enough migration.
Questions About Timeline and Scope
Get specific numbers. How long have comparable migrations taken from kickoff to go-live? What are the primary drivers of timeline variation? What are the common scope creep scenarios and how does the partner handle them? What happens if the business decides to delay the cutover after implementation work is substantially complete? Understanding the timeline and scope management approach before you sign a contract gives you meaningful insight into how the partner will operate when the project gets complicated, and migrations always get complicated in at least one area.
Questions About the Dynamics 365 Activate Program
Microsoft's September 2026 Dynamics 365 Activate program provides structured migration support and tooling for NAV, GP, and SL customers moving to Business Central. Ask any prospective partner what they know about the Activate program, whether they have run engagements under its framework, and specifically what Activate provides versus what falls outside its scope. A partner who isn't familiar with Activate or who can't explain what it does and doesn't cover is working with less than current information about the migration landscape.
Red Flags to Watch For
There are several warning signs in partner conversations that are worth taking seriously. A partner who gives you a timeline and fixed-price quote before completing a discovery engagement hasn't done the work required to scope a migration accurately. A partner who can't name specific issues they have encountered in NAV or GP migrations and how they resolved them is either inexperienced or not being candid. A partner who positions the project as straightforward without qualifying that assessment against your specific customizations and integrations hasn't asked the right questions. At Turnkey Technologies, our approach to migration scoping begins with a structured discovery process before we provide implementation timelines or cost estimates. That process examines your current system configuration, customizations, integration landscape, and data quality in enough detail to give you a realistic picture of what the migration actually involves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I ask a Microsoft Solutions Partner about migrating from Dynamics NAV?
Ask how many NAV-to-Business Central migrations they've completed in the past two years, whether those companies had similar complexity to yours, and for references specifically from migration clients. Also ask about their data migration methodology, how they handle legacy customizations, and their familiarity with Microsoft's Dynamics 365 Activate program.
What is the Dynamics 365 Activate program and how does it affect migration cost?
Dynamics 365 Activate is a September 2026 Microsoft program providing structured migration support and tooling for GP, NAV, and SL customers moving to Business Central. It reduces overhead on the data migration infrastructure side, which can lower overall migration cost. Partners familiar with Activate can give you a clearer picture of what it covers and what falls outside its scope.
How long does a Dynamics NAV or GP to Business Central migration take?
Timeline varies based on customization complexity, data volume, and data quality. A well-scoped migration for a mid-market manufacturer or distributor typically runs six to twelve months from kickoff to go-live. Companies with significant customizations or large volumes of historical data should plan for the longer end of that range. A proper discovery assessment before scoping is the only accurate way to estimate.
