ARTICLE | 5 MIN READ
How Business Central Cloud Infrastructure Boosts Operations
Reduce downtime and system failures for business continuity.
In my professional roles, I’ve spent more than 15 years helping companies improve processes and keep their business operations stable, scalable, and future-ready.
I’ve watched companies suffer when their systems lag or face downtime. Every minute of downtime eats into revenue, customer satisfaction, and employee productivity.
And when you consider that every company’s goals are built around seamless, uninterrupted operations, it becomes clear that resilience isn’t a nice to have; it’s a must.
This is why I’ve become such a fan of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Business Central’s cloud infrastructure addresses these challenges and turns them into opportunities to future-proof businesses.
These are my top 8 ways Business Central can not only keep your business operational but also set you up for long-term success.
1. The Cost of Downtime: Why Reliability is Essential
Downtime is more than a minor inconvenience—it’s a serious financial risk.
Industry studies show the cost of downtime is soaring. Today, the average cost of IT downtime can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars per hour.
For distribution, manufacturing, and service industries, downtime doesn’t just impact revenue—it also hinders productivity, disrupts sales, and erodes customer trust. Every moment of disruption leaves a lasting mark on a company’s reputation.
Example: A distribution company experienced downtime during a peak order season.
Without real-time access to inventory and logistics data, they faced delays in order fulfillment, resulting in missed shipments, customer dissatisfaction, and lost revenue.
After migrating to Business Central, the company achieved 99.9% uptime, ensuring data remained accessible during high-demand periods and reducing revenue loss from unplanned downtime.
High Cost of Downtime
Forrester emphasizes that relying on industry averages for downtime costs can be misleading, as the financial impact varies significantly across organizations.
They advocate for conducting personalized business impact analyses to assess potential losses and accurately justify investments in reliable systems.
2. Built on Microsoft‘s Global Cloud Network: Reliable and Resilient
One of my favorite aspects of the cloud is how it provides access to top-tier technology for organizations of every size. Small startups now have access to the same advanced tools that were once reserved for only the largest companies, like those in the Fortune 500.
Business Central takes full advantage of Microsoft’s global cloud infrastructure to make this possible. This infrastructure spans numerous data centers worldwide, offering redundancy, security, and uptime reliability that few on-premises systems can match.
Example: A global manufacturing company avoided delays when a power outage hit one of Microsoft’s data centers.
Business Central automatically shifted their operations to a backup center, keeping them running without interruption.
3. Security You Can Trust
Just as the cloud levels the playing field for access to top-tier technology, it does the same for security. Enterprise-level security that was once exclusive to Fortune 500 companies is now accessible to organizations of all sizes.
Business Central, built on Microsoft’s secure cloud, delivers advanced security features that would be prohibitively expensive and complex to implement in-house. This ensures companies are better protected against the ever-growing risk of cybersecurity threats.
Example: An IT Services provider maintaining sensitive client data faced cyberattacks on its previous on-premises ERP system.
They achieved multi-layered security by switching to Business Central’s cloud infrastructure, including data encryption and regular vulnerability scans.
As a result, the organization significantly reduced security incidents, safeguarding client information and maintaining regulatory compliance.
4. Automatic Updates: No More Downtime for Maintenance
Remember the hassle of scheduling downtime for system maintenance and updates?
With Business Central, updates happen automatically, behind the scenes, without interrupting your workday.
Example: A mid-sized financial services firm struggled with prolonged downtime during on-premises ERP updates, disrupting client services.
After switching to cloud-based Business Central, updates happened automatically and seamlessly.
With no need for maintenance downtime, the firm maintained a high standard of service while benefiting from regular feature updates and performance improvements.
5. Scalability on Demand: Meeting Your Operational Needs in Real Time
In today’s market, scaling resources up or down as needed is crucial.
Hardware often limits on-premises systems, making it difficult to adjust to changing demands quickly.
Whether your business is growing rapidly or adjusting to seasonal demand, Business Central’s cloud-based infrastructure provides the flexibility to scale in real time.
Example: A seasonal manufacturer that experiences demand spikes during the holidays needed a solution to handle fluctuating workloads.
With Business Central’s cloud model, they scaled resources up during the holiday rush and back down afterward.
This flexibility allowed them to optimize resources and control costs, ensuring they weren’t overwhelmed during high-demand periods and saved on expenses during slower times.
Cloud ERP Adoption Trends
Forrester’s research indicates a steady shift towards cloud-based ERP solutions, driven by the need for modernization and flexibility.
They note that while many companies still operate on-premises ERP systems, there is a growing trend to migrate to cloud solutions to meet evolving business needs and reduce downtime risk.
6. Real-Time Access Anywhere
In today’s hybrid work environment, businesses need systems that can be accessed from anywhere.
Business Central’s cloud architecture ensures that teams can access critical data and tools whether they’re in the office or working remotely.
Example: A project-based consulting firm struggled to manage timelines and resource allocation while coordinating across multiple locations.
After adopting Business Central, their teams could access project schedules, budgets, and task assignments in real time.
This streamlined communication, improved collaboration, and ensured deadlines were consistently met, no matter where team members were working.
7. Real-Time Insights for Smarter Decisions
One of the top reasons I encourage organizations to move to the cloud—after understanding their challenges—is the power of real-time access to their data.
Business Central’s cloud infrastructure ensures that data is available and accessible when needed, enabling powerful real-time reporting and analytics.
This empowers decision-makers to make proactive, data-driven decisions that keep operations running smoothly and efficiently.
Example: A distribution company struggled with inventory issues due to poor visibility into demand trends.
Using Business Central’s real-time analytics, they identified patterns in sales and adjusted inventory levels accordingly.
Predictive insights enabled them to anticipate stock needs, avoid overstocking, and improve delivery timelines, resulting in cost savings and higher customer satisfaction.
8. Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Maintaining on-premises ERP systems is costly, with expenses for hardware, software licensing, upgrades, and IT staff quickly adding up.
Business Central’s cloud infrastructure shifts these responsibilities to Microsoft, helping companies achieve a lower total cost of ownership (TCO).
Example: A non-profit organization faced high IT maintenance costs with its outdated ERP system.
Moving to Business Central’s cloud model reduced server maintenance and software upgrade expenses.
With Microsoft managing infrastructure and security, the IT team could focus on strategic initiatives, achieving a lower TCO and redirecting savings toward mission-driven programs.
Ready to Migrate to the Cloud? Take Control of Your Business Continuity with Business Central
I’ve seen firsthand how Business Central can help companies achieve their strategic objectives.
As businesses face increasing demands for operational continuity, flexibility, and real-time decision-making, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central stands out as a powerful solution.
Its cloud-based infrastructure is designed to minimize downtime, maximize uptime, and keep your business running smoothly.
With a robust cloud platform and innovative tools and insights, Business Central can drive your business forward.
Let’s keep your business running smoothly—and growing stronger—with the power of Business Central.
Reach out today to learn how a migration to cloud-based Business Central can be the best investment for your business’s future.
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About the Author
Lauren Dissinger, CPA, has spent over 15 years guiding companies toward success, and today, as Director of Sales and Customer Experience for ERP at Cargas, she continues to do what she loves—aligning organizations’ strategic goals with innovative technology to reach their 5–10-year objectives.
Interested in learning more? Subscribe to her newsletter, The Strategy Lab.
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