Microsoft delivers its latest Dynamics NAV ERP update
Microsoft will make generally available its latest release of its Dynamics NAV ERP product later this month.
Microsoft announced on October 7 that Dynamics NAV 2013 R2 will be generally available in October 2013.
Update: Another Microsoft blog post claims that Dynamics NAV 2013 R2 is generally available as of today, October 7. And this post also says NAV 2013 R2 has shipped and is available for download.
Dynamics NAV is one of four different ERP suites that Microsoft offers; NAV is focused largely on the small/midsize business market.
What's new in the NAV 2013 R2 release? Here's a partial list of features from a new Microsoft blog post on the topic:
- Improved interoperability with Office 365. Dynamics NAV can now be deployed as an application to on-premises and cloud-based SharePoint sites, with single sign on and a consistent look and feel across the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client and Office 365.
- Deeper data integration capabilities allwing users to extend Microsoft Dynamics NAV business processes with SharePoint workflows and Web parts, and take full advantage of Microsoft Excel and the Excel Web App.
- Enhanced cash management capabilities for improved risk management, automatic and manual payment processing, bank reconciliation tools, and support for SEPA direct debit and credit transfer.
- Usability enhancements across both the Web and desktop clients, designed to make Microsoft Dynamics NAV easier to use and faster to deploy. The UI is more like the Office 365 one now.
Microsoft made Dynamics NAV 2013 available as an Azure hosted offering via its hosting partners earlier this summer. With the R2 release, Microsoft will support multitenant deployments and is providing new tools for supporting large-scale hosting of Dynamics NAV.
Microsoft also offers its Dynamics GP 2013 ERP product in Azure-hosted form. Company officials have said they also plan to offer Dynamcs SL and Dynamics AX as Azure-hosted offerings via partners at some point in the future.