Microsoft Dynamics SL continues to support many project-driven and finance-led organizations today. At the same time, Microsoft’s long-term investment has shifted decisively toward cloud-first, AI-powered business platforms that integrate ERP, productivity, analytics, and security into a single operating model.
For leadership teams, the question is no longer whether Dynamics SL still works.
The question is how long it remains the right foundation for your business.
This page is designed to help you evaluate your options with clarity, context, and realism.
In just 5 minutes, Crestwood’s SL Migration Assessment evaluates your current Dynamics SL setup, identifies migration readiness, and provides a tailored roadmap to transition to Acumatica or Business Central. Receive a high-level report with insights on data, customizations, and timelines to plan your upgrade with confidence.
Microsoft is moving beyond traditional ERP toward AI-powered ERP platforms that combine:
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is Microsoft’s primary mid-market ERP offering within this strategy. It is designed to operate as part of a broader platform that includes Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Azure, and Copilot.
This shift has real operational implications, not just technical ones. It affects how finance teams close the books, how leaders access insight, and how organizations scale without adding overhead.
OPTION 1:
Expert troubleshooting, updates, and maintenance to ensure SL continues to work for you.
Need SL to integrate with other systems or adapt to new processes? Our developers can tailor SL to fit your evolving needs.
Features like the Business Analyzer and Quick Query SSRS reporting help you get the most out of SL, with real-time insights and streamlined reporting.
Considerations: Microsoft will only provide security patches during extended support, with no new features or enhancements. This could limit your ability to adopt modern technologies like cloud-native analytics or mobile-first workflows, and SL’s aging client-server architecture may struggle with today’s demands.
OPTION 2:
Dynamics 365 Business Central is a cloud-native ERP, delivering seamless access from any device without dependencies like SharePoint (required for SL’s cloud enablement).
Unlock advanced financials, real-time reporting, and deep integrations with Microsoft’s ecosystem (e.g., Office 365, Power BI), plus scalability to support your growing business.
Transitioning from Dynamics SL to Business Central is streamlined with Microsoft’s direct migration tools. Crestwood ensures a seamless process, migrating your financials, master records (customers, vendors, items), and configurations from SL 2015 or later. We provide tailored training and ongoing support, with minimal manual adjustments for items like customizations or bank accounts, keeping your migration efficient and aligned with your needs.
Considerations: Migrating to Business Central involves careful planning to leverage the direct migration path fully. While some customizations may need adjustments, this move ensures long-term growth with Microsoft’s continuous cloud innovation.
OPTION 3:
Unlike SL, which requires SharePoint for cloud enablement, Acumatica is natively cloud-based, accessible via any browser without additional licensing.
Acumatica charges based on computing resources, not per user, allowing unlimited users as your business grows, unlike SL’s per-user pricing model.
SL users will find similarities in Acumatica, as its co-founder, John Howell, was the CEO of Solomon (SL’s original name) from 1983-1999. Features like project accounting and financials feel familiar but modernized.
Acumatica includes payroll, document management, and industry-specific capabilities out of the box, reducing the need for third-party integrations that SL often requires.
We’ll handle your transition to Acumatica, ensuring seamless data migration, system setup, and team training.
Considerations: Like Business Central, moving to Acumatica is a new implementation, but its similarities to SL can ease the transition. Acumatica’s modern architecture and unlimited user model offer better long-term value.
NewGround International was running into limitations with their legacy Dynamics SL system. With Crestwood’s guidance, they transitioned to a modern ERP solution that gave them real-time visibility, improved efficiency, and set them up for future growth.
Microsoft provides powerful platforms. Crestwood provides the advisory layer that makes them usable and sustainable.
Our role is to help you:
We work with finance and operations leaders who want clarity before commitment.
Schedule a free consultation with Crestwood to explore your options and find the best path forward for your business
Migrating from Dynamics SL to a modern ERP is straightforward with Crestwood’s expertise and Microsoft’s direct migration tools for Dynamics 365 Business Central. Whether you choose Business Central or Acumatica Cloud ERP, our proven methodology ensures a smooth, efficient transition. Here’s what you can expect at each step of the journey:
We kick off with a detailed planning session, aligning our team with yours to define goals, timelines, and system requirements. This ensures a clear roadmap for your SL migration from the start.We start with a thorough kickoff, aligning our team with yours to set goals, establish timelines, and provision your environment. This ensures everyone is on the same page from day one.
Our experts provide tailored training through Acumatica University, self-registration resources, and business process workshops. You’ll learn how your new ERP, whether Acumatica or Business Central, enhances SL’s project accounting and financials.
Our team handles the heavy lifting, configuring your system, migrating data, and conducting proof-of-concept testing with your users. We ensure your financials, customer data, and operations transfer accurately.
We prepare for go-live with client end-user training, final data migration, and deployment planning. You’ll have the confidence to transition smoothly, with a clear go/no-go decision.
FREE TOOLKIT
Before you evaluate software, evaluate the decision.
Get three practical tools to help your team assess modernization readiness, align leadership priorities, and evaluate ERP platforms and implementation partners.
✓ Decision Framework Worksheet
✓ Executive Discussion Guide
✓ ERP Partner Evaluation Checklist
eBook
Discover how to transition smoothly from Dynamics SL to Dynamics 365 Business Central with this Microsoft-backed guide. It details the direct migration path, leveraging tools to transfer your data and configurations, and helps you assess readiness, identify business challenges, and plan a seamless move to the cloud.
FAQ
This FAQ guide has the answers. From licensing and migration paths to cloud benefits and cost comparisons, get clear insights into what it takes to transition to Dynamics 365 Business Central and why now is the right time.
If you are running Dynamics SL today, the most responsible next step is not an upgrade or a migration. It is a structured evaluation.
A focused advisory session to understand your current state, future options, and the role AI-powered ERP could play in your business.
This conversation is designed to support executive decision-making, not force a direction.
