If you work in the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central ecosystem, you already know how quickly things evolve.
New features roll out every month. AI capabilities keep expanding. Clients want more connected, data-driven systems. And partners are trying to balance all of that while keeping project delivery smooth and teams fully skilled.
So what can you expect in 2026? A lot.
This year is set to be one of the most transformative yet for Dynamics 365 Business Central partners. Product innovation is speeding up, Microsoft’s cloud is becoming more tightly integrated, and customers are asking for solutions that go far beyond the basics.
To help you prepare, here are the five trends that will shape Business Central over the coming year, plus what they mean for your teams.
1. AI-powered automation becomes the norm
AI inside Business Central is no longer a future vision. It’s happening right now.
And in 2026, you will see AI take on a bigger role in the day-to-day work of finance and operations teams. Thanks to Microsoft’s ongoing investment in Copilot, AI will start doing more than speeding up routine tasks. These capabilities can spot cash flow risks before they hit, recommend changes to pricing or stock levels, and help teams forecast with better accuracy.
Clients will expect Business Central to do more thinking for them, not just more processing.
That means partners will need people who understand both the product and the data behind it.
If your consultants can explain what an AI model is doing, help clients trust it, and tune it based on business goals, you will stand out fast. These projects will depend just as much on data fluency as ERP knowledge.
Action point: Start weaving AI training into your internal learning plans. Encourage your team to explore certifications and courses that blend Business Central with data and AI skills.
2. Migration from Dynamics GP picks up speed
Dynamics GP will reach end of support in 2029, but organizations are already preparing for the move. That means 2026 will be a busy year for Dynamics GP migrations, especially as Microsoft releases more tools and incentives to help customers transition smoothly.
For partners, this is a huge opportunity. It’s also a challenge.
Many Dynamics GP consultants have been supporting the product for years, sometimes decades. Moving to Business Central is not a small shift. The architecture is different. The data model is different. Extensions, integrations, workflows, licensing rules, all different.
Partners who want to capture this migration wave will need clear retraining paths and dedicated migration teams. Those who understand both Dynamics GP and Business Central will become incredibly valuable, because clients want someone who speaks both languages.
Action point: Start upskilling Dynamics GP specialists now. Pair seasoned Dynamics GP experts with Business Central consultants so knowledge transfer is natural and ongoing. If you need support, #BCTalent’s CrossSKILL can give your Dynamics GP consultants the skills and support to confidently make the switch.
3. Industry-specific Business Central solutions gain momentum
More and more clients want ERP that feels like it was designed for their industry, not adapted to it. In fact, 67% of executives say that industry-specific functionality was a significant consideration in their ERP selection.
The Dynamics suite already offers solutions and features tailored to Financial Services, Education, Government, Real Estate, Professional Services, Telecommunications, and Travel and Hospitality, and 2026 will see continued growth in verticalized Business Central solutions.
Partners are already building specialized apps and extensions for manufacturing, construction, nonprofits, professional services, and many more sectors. AppSource gives partners a global marketplace to scale those solutions, which is why the line between ISVs and implementation partners is starting to blur.
This is great news for partners with industry depth. If your team knows an industry inside and out, 2026 is the year to turn that knowledge into repeatable IP.
Industry-based extensions do more than differentiate your business. They create recurring revenue, deepen customer loyalty, and position your team as experts in a particular field.
Action point: Review where your team already has strong domain knowledge. Is there a process or challenge your clients talk about constantly? That might be your first extension or integration to build.
4. Deeper integration across Microsoft’s cloud raises complexity
One thing is certain this year: Business Central will not stand alone.
The Microsoft ecosystem is becoming more connected every month. Business Central now ties into Dynamics 365 Sales, Power BI, Teams, Power Automate, and a growing set of AI tools. In 2026, that integration will get even deeper and even more important.
Clients want end-to-end solutions. They want financial data flowing into dashboards in real time. They want Power Automate to handle repetitive tasks. They want Teams to become the collaboration layer for their ERP.
This level of integration is powerful, but it also increases project complexity. Your teams will need to understand APIs, data flows, automation logic, and multi-product architecture. Delivery managers will coordinate across more workstreams than before.
Partners who can bring Business Central, data, automation, and user experience together will be well positioned to lead high-value engagements.
Action point: Strengthen collaboration between your Business Central and Power Platform teams. Build shared delivery frameworks so processes, data security, and lifecycle management stay consistent across products.
5. The talent gap becomes the biggest challenge for partners
Even with all the technology evolution happening, one thing stands out across every partner conversation. Talent is still the hardest part.
The Business Central ecosystem is growing fast. The need for consultants who understand AI, data, cloud integrations, governance, and industry processes is rising even faster.
The pressure to deliver Dynamics GP migrations, build industry extensions, and support tighter cloud integrations is rising, and many teams don’t have the bandwidth to keep up.
#BCTalent helps solve that problem. Created through a collaboration between Microsoft and key enablement partner, Revolent, #BCTalent offers clear learning and onboarding paths that bring new talent into the ecosystem and elevate the skills of your existing team.
- ReSKILL: Onboarding, training and coaching talent into Business Central professionals, inclusive or exclusive of recruitment services
- CrossSKILL: Training for experienced BizApps consultants or developers into Business Central (including Dynamics GP)
- UpSKILL: Training and coaching new graduate hires into Business Central professionals
Future-proof your Business Central delivery
The Business Central ecosystem is moving fast, and partners who want to stay ahead need both the right technology and the right people.
Whether you’re preparing for Dynamics GP migrations, building AI-enabled solutions, or expanding into industry-specific apps, your team’s skills will define your success.
If you want to strengthen your workforce, now is the time to act.