ERP On The Go: The Dynamics 365 Business Central mobile experience

Dynamics 365 Business Central is Microsoft’s premier mid-market ERP solution that supports a wide range of functionality to cover all business process that may be required by small- to mid-sized companies. The Business Central mobile app brings some of the great functionality to tablets and phones for on-the-go usage . The app is available on the Windows store, Apple store, and Google Play and works for most devices running up-to-date operating systems.

It’s important to note that there are a variety of mobile user experiences for Business Central. This blog focuses on the Business Central mobile app, but there is also a Business Central tablet client and Business Central phone client that utilize the web experience of Business Central scaled down to the size of the screen being used.

The Business Central mobile app maintains a similar look to the Business Central web client, while optimized for one or two-handed usage. Every button is within easy reach of one thumb. The main menu is quite like the web client. From here, users can easily jump into and view sales from the month, overdue invoices, current sales and purchase documents, payments, and more. Simply tapping on any of the buttons will open a list of relevant documents and entries. For example, by tapping on the Sales Orders button under Ongoing Sales, the current sales orders can be viewed and edited. Tap into any of the orders and select the pencil at the bottom to make edits to details. New sales orders can be made back on the Sales Orders list by tapping the plus icon at the bottom. This process is the same for creating and editing other documents.

Back on the home screen, at the bottom is a fixed tool bar to quickly jump to different functions. The button with three lines brings up a list to view Customers, Vendors, Items, Bank Accounts, and the Chart of Accounts. Just like the previously discussed documents, each of these card types can be edited in the mobile app. Simply tap into whichever list is needed, like Items for example. Then either add a new entry via the plus at the button or select an entry and tap the pencil to make edits.

The star on the bottom hotbar is where the account favorites list can be viewed and edited. Add new accounts to the list by selecting the plus icon at the top. This list gives a quick way to view accounts that are frequently used.

There are also a couple charts loaded in automatically with the option to connect Power BI for additional data visualizations. The first option between Home and Favorites is a Business Performance collection that includes a variety of charts such as Cash Flow. Switch between charts in the collection by tapping the Business Performance dropdown at the top and choosing next or previous chart. This dropdown is also where the time period can be changed. The chart option to the right of Favorites is a simplified version of the G/L Trial Balance chart.

Finally, the options button on the far right of the hotbar has options for creating new documents, customer/vendor cards, payments, reports, and some company setup tools along with other app settings. Extensions can be added here to expand the system’s functionality.

The Business Central mobile app is a great tool to keep track of business process while away from the computer. Traveling sales teams can make great use of its ability to generate sales documents and invoices without needing to be at their desks. However, it is important to note that not all functions available on the web client can be accomplished with the mobile app. It serves to compliment the web client and give increased flexibility to some teams.

With the release of 2021 Release Wave 1, Microsoft has introduced cloud printing from the Business Central mobile app. This will allow for users to send documents and report printouts to cloud-enabled printers supported by Business Central. If you are unsure whether you have cloud-enabled printers configured in Business Central, you can setup and manage them on the Printer Management Page. This feature is available on tablets including Windows, Apple, and Android, and mobile devices using iOS or Android.