The ERP world is undergoing its most significant transformation since the move to cloud-based systems. And yet, a lot of ERP implementations still feel stuck in 2010.
Endless configuration. Clicks that should be automated. Clients drowning in data but starving for insights. That’s why Microsoft’s addition of Copilot AI to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is less of another feature update and more of a wake-up call for partners still doing business as usual.
What makes this different from previous updates is the speed of adoption. Unlike traditional features that might take years to gain widespread use, Copilot’s natural language interface and predictive capabilities are facilitating a speedy uptake from business users tired of complex menus and outdated interfaces.
Clearly, this isn’t about keeping pace with updates anymore. The partners who will thrive are those who understand how AI fundamentally changes what Dynamics 365 Business Central can do, how implementations should work, and what skills actually matter now.
How Copilot is rewriting the Business Central playbook
With the addition of Copilot to Business Central, the days of memorizing menu paths and building custom reports are gone. Now, customers can ask plain questions and get immediate answers to questions such as:
- “Show me a visualization of overdue invoices over $10K by sales region.”
- “Which items have turnover below our target this quarter?"
- “Which work orders are behind schedule and why?”
The system can spot unusual patterns before users do, learn processes, and start suggesting the right coding.
From a partner’s perspective, the arrival of Copilot changes Business Central implementations in several fundamental ways. First, clients don’t care as much about menus and navigation anymore. They expect to talk to their ERP like they’d talk to a colleague. “Show me which customers are about to hit their credit limits” needs to work without someone first building a custom report. Partners stuck teaching click-paths are losing deals to firms that demonstrate natural language queries on day one.
Second, implementation timelines are compressing dramatically. Tasks that used to take days—like setting up standard reports or configuring basic workflows—can now be accomplished through natural language commands. This doesn’t eliminate configuration work entirely, but it does mean partners can deliver visible value much faster while backend setup continues.
Perhaps most importantly, customization isn’t what it used to be. While custom code still has its place, many common scenarios can now be handled through Copilot’s ability to learn business context.
The most successful partners right now are those using Copilot to turn implementation projects into rapid value demonstrations, shift from data entry to decision support, and replace custom code with trained models in common scenarios.
What Copilot actually does (and doesn't do) well
Microsoft’s marketing makes Copilot sound like magic. Let’s break down where it delivers real value today and where partners still need to step in.
Where Copilot shines:
Natural language reporting works for most common financial and operational questions. When clients ask, “Show me inventory items with declining turnover,” they get accurate, visual answers without needing to build a report. The system understands follow-up questions too, like “Now show me just for our European warehouses”.
Anomaly detection in financials is surprisingly nuanced. Copilot learns what’s normal for each client’s business and flags exceptions with context.
Automated document processing improves with use. While all OCR systems claim this, Copilot’s ability to learn from corrections and apply those lessons across document types is legitimately impressive.
Where it still needs human help:
Industry-specific terminology often requires training. Copilot doesn’t automatically understand niche terms like SKU rationalization in retail or work in progress (WIP) accounting in construction. Partners need to invest time teaching the system each client’s unique lexicon.
Judgment calls on exceptions still require human oversight. When Copilot flags a potential anomaly or makes a recommendation, someone needs to validate whether it makes business sense.
Building trust in outputs takes work. Clients don’t automatically believe AI recommendations. Successful partners are spending significant time explaining how conclusions were reached and what data was considered—transparency builds confidence.
Copilot isn’t replacing consultants, but it is changing what consultants need to focus on. The best practitioners are spending less time on basic configuration, routine reporting setup, and data cleanup, and more time on teaching the system industry-specific context, validating AI recommendations, and helping clients build trust in the outputs.
Why industry experience now rivals technical skills
In this age of AI-infused ERP, your most technical Business Central expert might not be your most valuable team member anymore. With Copilot handling more of the platform mechanics, different skills are now rising to the top.
Technical skills that matter less
Memorizing every field in the general ledger setup isn’t necessary when Copilot can surface the right fields through natural language. Writing complex reports from scratch becomes less important when users can describe what they need. Even data migration becomes more automated, reducing the need for manual transformation tricks.
Business skills that matter more
Speaking the client’s industry language fluently is crucial for training Copilot effectively. A consultant who understands retail inventory metrics can teach Copilot faster than one who just knows Business Central tables. Spotting when AI recommendations don’t make business sense prevents costly mistakes.
This shift from the technical nitty-gritty to strategy and business acumen is already playing out across industries. Manufacturing clients care more about supply chain risk insights than posting group configurations. Retailers want help interpreting buying patterns, not setting up item categories. Service businesses need help acting on profitability signals, not configuring jobs.
The partners winning this shift are restructuring their teams to emphasize industry specialists who understand business processes deeply; business translators who can connect technical capabilities to operational needs and help organizations adapt to AI-enhanced workflows.
How #BCTalent is finding the right people for this new reality
Traditional hiring approaches focused on NAV or Business Central experience risk missing the mark in today’s talent ecosystem. The #BCTalent program helps partners find professionals with the right blend of industry knowledge and problem-solving skills through its unique training model.
We carry out targeted recruitment of career changers with deep industry expertise across the fields where your customers are. Then, we deliver focused, hands-on training to build skills that matter now. Our curriculum emphasizes teaching practical Copilot industry context rather than memorizing menus, validating AI outputs instead of just configuring systems, and communicating insights effectively to non-technical users.
Unlike traditional hires who might take months to become productive, #BCTalent participants join your team from day one and can begin working on real projects immediately, applying their existing business knowledge while learning the platform. We can also upskill your existing team from legacy systems like Dynamics GP or modernize their existing Business Central skills.
We’ve already supplied 200+ partners with the talent they need to thrive in this new era. Partners who are now enjoying implementation teams that connect better with client operations right from the start, more innovative solutions coming from professionals with fresh perspectives, and reduced training time as industry experts learn the platform faster than technical experts learn about industries.
Time to reset your approach?
Clients are already expecting more from their ERP, and partners stuck in the old ways will find themselves losing deals to firms that get this. The future belongs to partners who see Copilot not as a threat, but as an opportunity to finally deliver the kind of value ERP has always promised but rarely delivered.
Success isn’t about adding AI skills to your existing model. It’s about rethinking what Business Central services should look like now. Partners making the shift are thinking about what work Copilot will make obsolete, who can deliver the new value clients want, and how to lead with outcomes instead of features.
Ready to take your team into the Copilot age and seize on the AI opportunity?
Find out how our #BCTalent programs can help you leverage the AI opportunity to create real value.