Overview
This post covers the funding available to businesses moving from Dynamics NAV, GP, SL or AX to Business Central. It explains Bridge to the Cloud 3, the Business Central Migration Voucher, and how to check your readiness before you commit. It also looks at what the move costs and what it saves.
Why Cloud Migration Is Back on the Agenda
If your business still runs Dynamics NAV, GP, SL or AX, you have probably discussed moving to the cloud more than once. For many businesses, the idea itself is not the problem. The real barriers are risk, cost and uncertainty about what the move actually involves.
Microsoft has backed this transition with real funding, which changes the calculation for many businesses. Because the support is time limited, it makes sense to understand what is available before you decide when to move. Our Business Central implementation service can give you a clearer picture of what a move involves for your business.
Two Funding Routes, but You Can Only Choose One
There are two main funding paths for eligible businesses, and you cannot combine them. Knowing which one suits your situation matters before you start any conversation with a partner.
Bridge to the Cloud 3, known as BTC3, gives eligible customers a 30 percent discount on three year term subscriptions for most Dynamics 365 products. Enrolment runs from 1 January 2026 through 31 December 2027. This route works well when your priority is reducing the ongoing subscription cost rather than the upfront project cost.
The Business Central Migration Voucher takes a different approach. Instead of discounting the subscription, it helps cover the cost of the migration project itself. Eligible on-premises customers can receive up to 100 percent of their first year annual contract value, capped at $150,000 [STAT NEEDS SOURCE], depending on deal size and eligibility. Eligible systems include NAV, GP, SL, AX and Business Central on premises.
For many businesses, implementation cost is the single biggest barrier to migration. The voucher exists specifically to remove that barrier, which means the decision often comes down to timing rather than budget.
How to Check If You Are Ready to Migrate
Before you commit to a project, you need a clear view of what the move actually involves. An assessment gives you that clarity, so decisions rest on facts rather than assumptions.
A proper readiness assessment should look at three things. Your current on-premises environment, including how it has been customised over the years. The complexity of your data and what needs to happen before it can move. Whether your business is technically ready to run Business Central online.
Once a migration is underway, a structured Business Central implementation approach keeps the project predictable. This matters because moving data from NAV, GP or SL each involves different technical considerations, which a generic approach will not handle well.
What the Move Actually Costs, and What It Saves
Cost is usually the question behind every other question, so it deserves a direct answer. A total cost of ownership review can help you quantify three things before you commit to anything.
First, the savings from retiring on-premises servers and infrastructure. Second, the productivity gains from moving to a connected, modern system. Third, the longer term financial picture of running Business Central compared with staying on your current setup.
This turns cloud migration from a vague promise into numbers you can take into a budget meeting. Businesses in manufacturing and engineering often see the clearest return, because manual processes tend to carry the highest hidden cost.
If you are weighing up whether now is the right time, our post on Dynamics NAV end of support explains what happens when Microsoft stops patching a legacy system. Our guide on why NAV to Business Central migration needs a specialist also breaks down what a realistic project looks like.
Talk to Tecvia About Your Migration
Tecvia works with businesses across Manchester and the UK to plan and deliver Business Central migrations. If you are running Dynamics on premises today, funding is available to reduce both the ongoing cost through BTC3 and the upfront cost through the Migration Voucher.
Because both offers sit within fixed enrolment windows, it is sensible to start the conversation now rather than later. Get in touch with Tecvia to book a consultation and find out which funding route fits your business. We can also arrange a free Business Central quote, so you can see what the platform would cost before you commit to a decision.
FAQs
For anything not covered here, get in touch directly. We’re happy to answer questions specific to your business and your ERP requirements.
The Business Central Migration Voucher is a Microsoft funding scheme for eligible on-premises customers moving to Business Central. It can cover up to 100 percent of your first year annual contract value, capped at $150,000 [STAT NEEDS SOURCE]. Eligibility depends on your current system and the size of the deal. NAV, GP, SL, AX and Business Central on premises customers can all qualify.
No, you cannot combine BTC3 and the Migration Voucher. You need to choose the route that suits your situation. BTC3 reduces your ongoing subscription cost, while the voucher reduces the upfront project cost. Your Business Central partner can help you decide which one applies.
Timelines vary depending on how complex your current system is and how much data needs to move. A straightforward migration can take a few months from assessment to go live. A more complex project, involving heavy customisation or large data volumes, will take longer. An early readiness assessment gives you a realistic timeline for your business.
Your data moves through a structured process that includes cleansing, mapping and testing before go live. Not all historical data needs to move in full detail. Many businesses keep older records in read-only access on their legacy system, while moving current data fully into Business Central. This keeps the new system clean without losing access to historical records.
Microsoft has confirmed end of support dates for older Dynamics NAV versions, which is pushing many businesses toward migration. The exact timeline depends on your version and licence type. Dynamics NAV end of support covers the full timeline in detail. Speaking to a partner early gives you more time to plan a smooth move.
