Dynamics NAV 2016 was released recently, which means you have probably heard a lot about all the great new features and upgrades. Before you begin a Dynamics NAV upgrade, it’s significant to see what’s required. Whether you’re staying on top of the new versions or have taken a few releases off, we have a created a checklist to help ensure you are prepared.

•We understand our upgrade path
If you’ve been staying current on your updates, your upgrade path should be directly from your current version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV to the newest release. It requires a two-stage upgrade process. For example, there is no direct upgrade from Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 to Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016, so that would involve upgrading to an intermediate version before moving to the most recent release. Be certain you have allotted extra time as this can add approximately 50% to the total time required for an upgrade.

•  We will/will not require a test upgrade
If you’re relatively current, don’t have complex integrations and don’t have many companies or locations, there should be no issues upgrading Dynamics NAV. However, if you don’t meet the above criteria, it might be worth considering a test upgrade. Although a test upgrade does add more cost upfront, it can prove more cost-effective to identify and mitigate risk in a test environment to prevent costly issues later.

•  Our hardware/software is compatible
This is a pretty standard part of any software upgrade, but it’s also something that’s easy for you to find out. Just don’t forget to review the specifications for the server you plan to install NAV on as well as the workstations for your NAV users.

•  Our third-party add-ons and integrations support the new version
If you’re using Dynamics NAV as an independent product, you don’t need to care. If you’re using ISV products or have integrations that rely on third-party tools you’ll require to make sure that they support Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016. Many of the major software vendors that integrate with NAV already support NAV 2016, or have plans to do so in the next month. If your third-party supports the relevant version of NAV, it will be upgraded along with NAV. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to delay your upgrade or find a different solution.

•  Our backups are complete and recent
This is a crucial and obvious step, yet easily overlooked if you haven’t had issues for a while. Before you initiate an upgrade, ensure that your backups are current and complete.

•  We have researched what new modules and features we want to use
Before you decide to upgrade it is important to review all the new features and offers of the release. Once you have determined which features you want to take advantage of or new modules you want to install, then you can assess your existing processes and/or schedule some additional training. You can find out what’s new in Category: Microsoft Dynamics NAV Tags: How to Upgrade Dynamics Nav, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics Nav 2016, Microsoft Dynamics Nav Upgrade, Microsoft Dynamics Nav Upgrade 2016, Upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics Nav, Upgrade to NAV 2016