As Microsoft prepares to roll out the 2025 Release Wave 1 for Dynamics 365 Business Central, businesses must stay informed about the upcoming changes. This release introduces several new features, mandatory updates, and deprecations that could significantly impact existing customizations and pricing structures. Understanding these changes is crucial to ensure seamless operations and to leverage the new capabilities effectively.
Key Features and Enhancements
The 2025 Release Wave 1 brings a host of new functionalities aimed at enhancing user experience and operational efficiency. While you can dig through the full list of changes here, notable updates include:
- Copilot and AI Integration: Building upon previous AI capabilities, this release introduces features like marketing text suggestions, aiming to boost productivity across various small and medium-sized business roles.
- Field Service Integration: Enhanced integration with Dynamics 365 Field Service allows for better synchronization and management of service operations, providing actionable insights for schedulers and frontline workers.
- Application Improvements: Updates such as improved troubleshooting options for cost adjustments and extended item availability views in Field Service work orders are set to streamline operations.
Mandatory Updates and Deprecations
With this release, certain features that were previously optional are becoming mandatory, and some legacy functionalities are being deprecated. Key changes include:
- Extending G/L Entry Aggregations When Posting Invoices: This feature, generally available since Update 23.1, becomes mandatory in Update 26.0 (2025 Release Wave 1). It replaces the legacy "Invoice Post. Buffer" table, addressing extensibility issues and allowing for customized implementations of G/L invoice posting.
- New Extensible Exchange Rate Adjustment: Introduced in Update 23.0, this feature becomes mandatory in Update 26.0. It replaces the legacy Exchange Rates Adjustment Report, offering increased extensibility, better compliance with local and industry-specific requirements, and enhanced control over exchange rate adjustments, including a posting preview and improved reporting.
- Transition to the New Sales Pricing Experience: One of the significant changes in this release is the transition to a new sales pricing experience. This update offers enhanced flexibility and functionality in managing sales prices. However, businesses with custom pricing tables or integrations should be aware that these customizations may require remediation to align with the new pricing structure. It's advisable to review and, if necessary, adjust custom pricing solutions to ensure compatibility with the updated system.
- Legacy Reports Deprecation: Many legacy reports in Business Central are being deprecated due to their complexity and the technical skills required for modification. These reports are scheduled for complete removal in the 2026 Release Wave 1.
Impact on Customizations
The mandatory adoption of new features and the deprecation of legacy functionalities necessitate a thorough review of existing customizations. Businesses should:
- Assess Current Customizations: Identify customizations that interact with deprecated features or utilize legacy tables and reports.
- Plan for Remediation: Develop a strategy to update or replace customizations to align with the new standard functionalities. This may involve re-implementing certain processes or adopting new extensions.
- Test Extensively: Before deploying updates to the production environment, conduct comprehensive testing to ensure that all customizations function as intended with the new release.
Recommendations for a Smooth Transition for the 365 Business Central 2025 Release
To navigate the changes introduced in the 2025 Release Wave 1 effectively, businesses with existing customizations should consider the following steps:
- Review Customizations: Conduct a thorough audit of all custom features, including pricing tables, reports, and integrations, to identify dependencies on deprecated or modified functionalities.
- Test Compatibility: Utilize sandbox environments to test customizations against the updated system, identifying potential conflicts or issues that may arise post-upgrade.
- Plan Remediation: Develop a remediation plan that includes updating or replacing deprecated features, adjusting custom code to align with new functionalities, and ensuring that mandatory features are appropriately configured.
- Stay Informed: Regularly consult Microsoft's official release notes and documentation to stay abreast of upcoming changes and best practices for implementing them.
By proactively addressing these updates and understanding their implications, businesses can maintain operational continuity and position themselves to take full advantage of the enhancements introduced in Dynamics 365 Business Central 2025 Release Wave 1. Our team at All Your Ducks are up to speed on these and all the changes coming in Wave 1. Contact us today to make sure your business stays up and running through the update and beyond.
