Is Business Central growing in popularity?

Yes. Business Central is one of Microsoft’s fastest-growing cloud products, with more than 45,000 SaaS-only customers and over 50,000 total customers worldwide. Cloud adoption continues to rise year-on-year.

How many companies use Business Central?

Reliable sources place Business Central SaaS customers at 45,000+ (2025), while broader datasets show millions of organisations using Business Central-related technology worldwide.

What size businesses typically use Business Central?

Business Central is most popular with SMEs and mid-market organisations — typically businesses with 10–500+ employees that need stronger financial management, reporting and operational control than entry-level tools can offer.

What is the ROI of Business Central?

A Forrester Total Economic Impact (TEI) study reported a 265% average ROI over three years, with a typical payback period of six months due to reduced manual work, automation, and lower IT maintenance.

Why are so many companies switching to Business Central?

Key drivers include cloud adoption, Microsoft 365 integration, improved reporting and automation, lower infrastructure costs, and the need for multi-company or more scalable finance capabilities.

Is Business Central replacing other Microsoft ERP systems?

Yes — Business Central is the modern cloud replacement for Dynamics NAV and Dynamics GP, with Microsoft investing heavily in its future roadmap and continued innovation.

Does Business Central support multiple industries?

Yes. Business Central is used across more than 20 industries including professional services, wholesale distribution, manufacturing, retail, non-profits, real estate, and multi-entity groups.

Is Business Central suitable for fast-growing companies?

Very much so. The platform is designed to scale as companies add new entities, locations, users, products, or reporting needs — making it a top choice for fast-growing organisations.

Business Central by the Numbers: 2025 Statistics, Adoption & ROI

Written by:

Steve Harper, Business Central Consultant

Last updated: 18th September 2025

Why Business Central is growing faster than ever

Business Central has seen extraordinary growth over the last few years — in adoption, functionality, customer satisfaction and measurable ROI. Whether you're evaluating ERP options, building an internal business case or simply staying informed, these up-to-date statistics highlight why so many organisations are choosing Business Central as their finance and operations platform.

This page brings together the most reliable, credible and recent data available — from independent research firms, Microsoft reports, industry analysts and global usage trends.

Why Businesses Are Choosing Business Central

The latest adoption and ROI statistics that highlight Business Central’s value for modern, growing organisations.

50,000+

50,000+ Organisations Running Business Central

45,000+

45,000+ SaaS-Only Customers (and growing)

6-month

6-month average payback period

3.17 million

3.17 Million Companies Using Business Central Data Tools

265%

265% Average ROI After Migrating to Business Central

97%

97% Satisfaction for Cloud Users Moving from Legacy Systems

15-20%

15–20% Productivity Improvement for Finance Teams

#1

#1 Most Deployed Microsoft ERP in the SME/Mid-Market Space

Why these stats
matter.

Beyond the big figures, the real story is how Business Central improves productivity, reduces costs and accelerates decision-making for growing organisations.

265% ROI Over 3 Years

A Forrester TEI study found that organisations implementing Business Central achieved a 265% return on investment — driven by reduced manual work, automation of financial processes, and elimination of legacy system costs.

Key contributors to ROI include:

Faster month-end close cycles
Less time spent on manual reporting
Lower IT maintenance and infrastructure costs

6-Month Average Payback Period

Most organisations recoup the cost of Business Central in under six months — significantly quicker than traditional ERP systems.

Savings come from reduced licensing, simplified processes, and removal of outdated on-premise solutions.

This rapid payback makes Business Central one of the most cost-effective modern ERPs in the SME/mid-market space.

15–20% Increase in Productivity

Finance teams using Business Central report notable gains in efficiency thanks to automated journals, bank integrations, streamlined approvals and real-time reporting.

This frees teams to focus on analysis, not admin.

These improvements often result in:

Shorter financial close
More accurate reporting
Fewer manual workloads

97% Cloud Customer Satisfaction

Among organisations moving from legacy systems to Business Central’s cloud version, satisfaction rates are exceptionally high.

Users highlight ease of use, stronger reporting, Microsoft 365 integration, and improved reliability as the biggest wins.

A high customer satisfaction score signals low adoption risk and strong end-user acceptance.

Case Study:

Trusted Across Industries and Business Models

Business Central isn’t built for one type of organisation — it’s used across service firms, wholesale, manufacturing, non-profits, and multi-entity groups worldwide. The data shows a platform that adapts to different needs and scales with a growing business.

3.17 Million Organisations Using Business Central Technology

Business Central’s technology footprint spans millions of organisations across the globe — from small businesses to mid-market companies and multi-entity groups. This wide adoption demonstrates a mature ecosystem, strong support network and proven reliability in real-world environments.

Where Business Central is heading next

Business Central isn’t standing still. With continuous investment from Microsoft, rapid cloud adoption and new AI-driven capabilities, the platform is evolving faster than ever. These trends highlight what organisations can expect in the years ahead.

Accelerating Cloud ERP Adoption

Double-Digit Year-on-Year Growth Since Launch

Business Central has maintained consistent double-digit annual growth as more organisations move away from on-premise systems.

Cloud ERP adoption is now the default choice for SMEs and mid-market businesses — making Business Central one of Microsoft’s fastest-growing product lines.

This growth is fuelled by:

Lower implementation and maintenance costs
Strong Microsoft 365 integration
Faster feature delivery via cloud updates

Stronger Multi-Company & Global Capabilities

Ongoing Enhancements for Multi-Entity Groups

Each release brings deeper support for organisations managing multiple entities, currencies, or international operations.

This strengthens Business Central’s position as the preferred ERP for businesses outgrowing Sage, Xero or QuickBooks and needing consolidated visibility.

Recent improvements include:

Intercompany automation
Cross-company approvals
Consolidated reporting enhancements

AI-Powered Finance & Operations

New AI Capabilities Introduced Every Release Wave

Microsoft continues embedding AI into Business Central, including predictive insights, automated processes and natural language reporting.

From forecasting to anomaly detection, BC’s AI roadmap signals a major shift toward smarter, more proactive finance and operational workflows.

Release Wave investments include:

Copilot-assisted data entry
AI-powered reporting and financial analysis
Predictive inventory and cashflow tools

Expanding App Ecosystem & Integrations

Thousands of Extensions Now Available on AppSource

The Business Central ecosystem continues to expand rapidly.

Whether you need industry-specific features, reporting add-ons, or workflow tools, the AppSource marketplace offers a plug-and-play approach that reduces the need for custom development.

This ecosystem gives organisations: