Business Central Update: Why the Testing Phase Is Key to a Successful Go-Live
The Business Central update was successfully installed. Technically, everything seems to be working perfectly. But the real challenge begins afterward. On the first workday after go-live, problems suddenly arise: Invoices aren’t being created correctly, payments can’t be processed, inventory valuations aren’t being posted correctly, or interfaces aren’t running error-free. Such errors often arise not from the technology itself, but because business processes were not sufficiently tested before the go-live.
A structured testing phase helps you identify and resolve precisely these kinds of risks early on. In this article, you’ll learn how to effectively organize the testing process for a Business Central update, which roles are important in this process, and what typical mistakes companies should avoid before go-live.
Organization and Roles in the Testing Process
A successful testing process begins long before the first test case. It is crucial that responsibilities are defined early on and that all involved business units are clear on their tasks. Only when IT, business units, and external consultants work closely together can errors be identified in a timely manner and resolved effectively.
A clear division of roles has proven effective in this regard. IT, in collaboration with the business departments, designates key users for areas such as finance, controlling, purchasing, sales, or logistics. These key users are most familiar with the day-to-day business processes and can assess whether the system is functioning correctly from a business perspective after the update. In addition, consultants support the individual business departments with business-related questions and the technical analysis of any problems that arise.
The key users then conduct the actual tests independently in their respective test environments. Errors should not only be reported but also documented as thoroughly as possible—for example, with a description of the problem, a document reference, and prioritization based on criticality. This enables IT and consultants to analyze the causes more quickly and resolve them in a targeted manner.
The testing phase is a key component of a successful Business Central update. If you’d like to learn why you should keep your Business Central solution up to date and how we can help you do so, you’ll find information about the entire migration process on our Business Central Updates page.
Recommended Testing Procedure
In many Business Central projects, a phased approach has proven effective. Instead of testing all companies at the same time, it is recommended to first thoroughly test the main client. This allows fundamental errors to be identified and corrected early on, before they affect other companies.
After the errors have been corrected, the affected processes are retested. Only once the main client is running stably is the system rolled out to other clients. This approach significantly reduces the testing effort and prevents identical errors from having to be investigated multiple times.
A typical example is the sales process: The entire end-to-end process—from the quote through the order and delivery to invoicing—should be run through. This is the only way to ensure that all process steps function correctly in conjunction with one another.
Address Unresolved Issues Early On
In addition to the actual testing process, there are numerous organizational issues that should be addressed at the very beginning of the project. Experience has shown that unclear responsibilities or a lack of acceptance criteria, in particular, lead to delays later on.
These include, among other things, the following points:
Those who address these issues early on can avoid lengthy discussions and delays in the go-live.
Common Mistakes in ERP Testing
Based on our project experience, testing phases rarely fail due to technical issues—organizational factors are almost always the decisive cause. Among the most common mistakes are:
Business units are brought on board too late. As a result, important feedback from day-to-day operations is missing, and errors are only discovered after the go-live.
Test cases are outdated or incomplete. Business processes are constantly changing. If test cases aren’t updated regularly, important workflows remain untested.
Bugs are not prioritized. Without clear prioritization, project teams waste time on less critical issues while serious errors go unaddressed.
Acceptance criteria are not defined. If it is unclear when a process is considered to have passed testing, the system’s release is delayed.
Testing is limited to technical aspects. A technically error-free system does not guarantee that business processes will function properly. Therefore, comprehensive end-to-end tests should always be conducted from the perspective of the business units.
Our conclusion
A structured testing process is much more than just a mandatory step in an ERP project—it is the best way to ensure a successful go-live. By consistently testing your processes, clearly defining responsibilities, and systematically resolving issues, you reduce risks and ensure that Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central reliably supports your business from day one.
Technical success does not automatically mean professional success
To ensure that your Business Central update doesn’t encounter vulnerabilities in production—which could lead to unnecessary costs and delays—we’ll help you systematically prepare, execute, and document your tests. Let’s work together to ensure a successful go-live.
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About the author
Nicole Dyck · TEAM Lead Functional Consultant
I come from financial accounting on the customer side and am familiar not only with the figures, but also with all related processes: controlling, cost accounting, asset accounting, accruals, valuation, group accounting, and financial statement organization.
Today, I bring this broad business expertise to Business Central projects. With an eye for the big picture, not just individual bookings.
In short: Business administration degree, over 30 years of experience with Business Central, and numerous annual financial statements under my belt. (So I'm a real BC dinosaur...)
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