If you've read our first-timer's guide to Business Central implementation, you know what the steps are. This article looks at the same project from a different angle: what you should have in your hands at the end of each phase, and how long the whole thing tends to take for different kinds of companies.

At Winzi Technologies, our Dynamics team at Winzi Dynamics uses this “deliverables” view to keep projects honest. If a phase ends and nobody can point to its output, it isn't finished.

The Ten Phases and Their Deliverables

1. Discovery

You get: a documented picture of how your business actually runs, including the workarounds, and a list of gaps between that and standard Business Central. This is where Business Central consulting earns its keep, because gaps found now are cheap to fix.

2. Solution Design

You get: a blueprint covering chart of accounts, dimensions, approval flows, permissions, migration rules, and integrations, plus an agreed scope. If it isn't in the scope document, it isn't in the project.

3. Configuration

You get: a working system set up with your ledgers, tax rules, posting groups, number series, and role-based permissions, built on standard features wherever possible.

4. Extensions

You get: only the custom work that standard features couldn't cover, built as upgrade-safe extensions. If this list is long, ask why. Our notes on customization and AL extensions explain when it's justified.

5. Data Migration

You get: cleaned master data, open transactions, and opening balances that reconcile to your books. History you don't need daily stays archived. For the traps to watch for, read top pitfalls in Business Central data migration or see our migration service.

6. Integrations

You get: connections to CRM, Microsoft 365, e-commerce, payroll, and banking, each with an agreed source of truth. Late-added integrations are a classic cause of delay, so scope them in phase 1. Details are on our integration page.

7. Testing and UAT

You get: signed-off end-to-end scenarios run by your own staff, from purchase order to payment and from quote to invoice.

8. Training

You get: people who can do their own jobs in the system, taught by role rather than in one generic session. See training and user adoption.

9. Cutover

You get: a written plan and a live system: legacy frozen, final data loaded, balances set, and a rollback plan in case something goes wrong.

10. Post-Go-Live Support

You get: fast fixes and a steady stream of small improvements while your team settles in. Support and maintenance usually take over here.

How Long Does It Take?

Timelines depend on scope, data quality, and how much time your own team can give the project. As a rough guide:

TypeTypical durationUsually includes
Standard / Express2 to 4 monthsOut-of-the-box setup, core finance, few integrations, clean master data
Mid-market / Advanced4 to 8 monthsCustom workflows, multi-currency or multi-entity, CRM and e-commerce integrations, advanced inventory or manufacturing
Enterprise / Multi-entity8+ monthsComplex legacy ERP migration, heavy extensions, global compliance, multi-warehouse setups

Treat these as ranges, not quotes. A firm timeline only exists after discovery. Timelines and budgets go together, so our guide to Business Central implementation cost in 2026 is worth reading next. If you're in the Gulf, the Business Central buyer's guide for Dubai and the UAE covers VAT, e-invoicing, and pricing.

What to Look for in an Implementation Partner

The partner shapes the outcome as much as the software does. Check that they:

See how we run projects on our Business Central implementation page.

Plan Your Roadmap with Winzi Technologies

Winzi Technologies, through Winzi Dynamics, helps growing companies plan, configure, integrate, and support Business Central, with a defined output at every phase. If you'd like a realistic timeline for your own scope, contact WinziDynamics and we'll walk through it with you. You can also browse our full range of Business Central services.

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