Martin Schlaman
Head of product development and member of the management board at KUMAVISION
Higher, faster, further – the constant desire for improvement has always driven people. This is no different in the world of business software: Navision began as a groundbreaking project in northern Europe and has now developed into an AI-supported software platform Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central further developed.
This transformation makes it clear that ERP systems are also undergoing an evolution and are developing further in order to meet the ever-increasing demands of the markets. Whereas they previously had to deal with purely administrative tasks, they now play a central role in the strategic orientation of companies.
In this article, we highlight the milestones of this remarkable journey and how they help companies to be more efficient, agile and future-proof today.
Navision: Digitalization is taking hold
The computer revolution in the 1980s fundamentally changed the way companies worked. With the increasing use of personal computers and driven by increasing competitive pressure, companies looked for ways to make their processes faster and more error-free. In the midst of this technological dynamism, Navision was developed in Denmark - one of the first flexible ERP solutions specifically tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized companies.
At that time, Navision revolutionized accounting: It allowed companies to centrally manage their financial processes and thus made a decisive contribution to greater transparency and efficiency. Step by step, Navision developed into a comprehensive ERP solution that soon also covered inventory management as well as warehouse and production processes.
“NAVISION was more than just a product. It was a symbol of the shift towards data-driven business development.”
- Martin Schlamann, Head of Product Development KUMAVISION AG
The original NAVISION development environment was quite simple compared to today's systems. A developer only needed about seven days of training to be able to program his own software. This flexibility was a central part of the philosophy: everything the customer needed was programmed for him. But this strength soon turned into a weakness, and customer installations became very complex and therefore cumbersome. Another consequence of modularity: high costs, because a lot of the functionality was in-house developed and had to be paid for and maintained separately. All of this had a negative impact on customer satisfaction.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV: Welcome to the Ecosystem
In the following years, competitors such as SAP and Oracle made inroads into the SME sector, and Navision came under pressure. In order to grow faster and better tap into the international market, Navision decided to sell to Microsoft in 2002. The takeover was not just a simple business deal, but marked a decisive turning point: Navision was integrated into the Microsoft Dynamics suite and was given a fitting new name: Dynamics NAV. This integration not only opened up access to an expanded user base, but also new opportunities for companies: They could finally seamlessly connect their ERP processes with familiar Microsoft products such as Office and SQL Server - a significant improvement in everyday work, which was reflected in increased user satisfaction and productivity.
“Dynamics NAV has become an integral part of the digital transformation that has accompanied numerous companies on their way into the future.”
- Martin Schlamann, Head of Product Development KUMAVISION AG
As it continued to develop, Microsoft also asked how companies could meet the challenges of an increasingly globalized economy and a constantly changing market. The answer: with a comprehensive digital ecosystem that supports business processes as a whole, unlike isolated ERP solutions. The improved interoperability and the ability to access a wide range of software tools made Dynamics NAV interesting for companies of all sizes, including those that wanted to expand globally.
Dynamics 365 Business Central: It's getting cloudy
In the 2010s, the pressure on companies to act flexibly and cost-efficiently grew. Rigid structures were increasingly perceived as a hindrance, and agility was the magic word. Cloud-ERP systems offered the solution: They enabled companies to react quickly to market developments while supporting the increasing mobility of employees who were increasingly working in global teams and remotely.
The next revolution was just around the corner: in 2018, Dynamics NAV became Dynamics 365 Business Central and moved to the CloudWith the introduction of the first pure CloudIn the 2019 version, Microsoft consistently relied on software-as-a-service. This eliminates the need for large IT investments and makes time-consuming manual updates a thing of the past. Regular updates now keep the software up to date.
However, the transition from Navision to Business Central was a challenge. The original programming environment was not suitable for the Cloud but was strongly focused on on-premises installations. For KUMAVISION, this change also marked a turning point: The focus shifted from the traditional project business to a subscription model that, in addition to standardized products, also increasingly relies on standardized services. In addition to the operation and optimization of the Cloudsoftware, this also includes various migration tools that KUMAVISION uses to help customers make a smooth transition to the Cloudplatform supported.
“We have developed new competencies to help our customers Cloud and offer them individually tailored services. We attach great importance to first-class customer service and long-term support."
- Martin Schlamann, Head of Product Development KUMAVISION AG
Power Platform and Low-Code: Orchestrating the IT Landscape
With the introduction of the Microsoft Power Platform (Power BI, Power Automate, Power Apps), the corporate world experienced a cultural change: not only software developers, but also employees from various departments can now automate processes themselves and develop their own apps.
This orchestration of the IT landscape makes companies more agile because departments can digitize their processes more quickly and make them more efficient without having to rely on external IT experts or wait for long development cycles.
The key to this change lies in the low-code and no-code platforms that underlie the Power Platform. The idea is simple: business users are given user-friendly tools that allow them to implement customizations with minimal effort - extensive software knowledge is not necessary. This gives these so-called citizen developers access to software development. A step that has changed the dynamic in many companies.
"The Microsoft Power Platform enables employees to shape change themselves and to actively participate in the digital transformation of their company. ERP systems are once again concentrating more on their core task of managing quantities and values."
- Martin Schlamann, Head of Product Development KUMAVISION AG
Microsoft Copilot: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work
The integration of Microsoft Copilot in Dynamics 365 represents the biggest development step to date. For the first time, AI-supported functions can be used directly in the ERP system, which takes efficiency and user-friendliness to a new level.
Copilot makes it possible to analyze large amounts of data, automate routine processes and perform predictive analyses. This helps employees gain valuable insights, make decisions faster and focus on strategic tasks. Artificial intelligence not only improves efficiency, but also enables deeper, personalized interaction with customers. The key to success lies in the quality and volume of data that the AI is "fed" with: Copilot learns with every interaction, imitates the style and solutions of the users and thus becomes increasingly precise in its recommendations and decisions.
Especially in the context of the shortage of skilled workers, automation and the associated efficiency gains through AI offer significant advantages. It is estimated that intelligent ERP systems will be able to handle around 80% of everyday tasks independently - from creating bookings to approving orders. 20% of this automation is already possible today, which shows how close we are to a future in which AI makes everyday work significantly easier.
With the introduction of artificial intelligence, the demands on employees are also changing. The need to effectively interpret data and make strategic decisions, for example, is leading to new roles such as data analysts becoming more important. Specialists like these are becoming indispensable in order to make the most of the opportunities offered by AI.
"Technologies not only make the world of work easier, they also challenge us to constantly develop and learn new skills. The automation of business processes will revolutionize the way we work. With Microsoft Agents, the foundation has now been laid for using AI as an autonomous system for independent execution."
- Martin Schlamann, Head of Product Development KUMAVISION AG
