Implementation & Operation

ERP changeover and migration on Microsoft Dynamics 365

Your ERP system has been up and running for years and keeps your business running smoothly. However, every customisation is becoming more expensive, new channels are proving difficult to integrate, or Microsoft is discontinuing support for your version of NAV. 

The collana Group is replacing legacy systems with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Finance & Supply Chain Management and its own industry-specific solutions. This applies to NAV installations as well as in-house developments and inventory management systems that have evolved over decades.

Enquire about ERP migration

10,000+ orders

on the first day following the migration from NAV to Business Central at the Netto online shop

48 branches

Migrated to a shared ERP system at B.O.C.

30 years

Replaced by an older in-house development at Goldner Fashion
Two managers working together on a laptop.
Implementation & Operation

When a Switching ERP systems is worth it

It is rare for a single reason to be the deciding factor. Usually, several factors come together. In our projects, these five were the main ones.

Support is coming to an end

The Lindenhof Group was using a Navision system that was nearing the end of its life cycle. The Züriwerk Foundation was still using NAV 2009. Without manufacturer support, Microsoft no longer provides security updates.

Custom developments slow down every release

Over the years, numerous in-house developments at the Netto online shop had a profound impact on the standard system. Whilst they worked from a functional point of view, each release required more effort from a technical perspective.

New channels cannot be connected

B.O.C.’s stock management system had been in use for over 25 years. It was virtually impossible to integrate an online shop, till systems and logistics with it.

Data is distributed

At Züriwerk, data was also spread across Excel and Access. At GartenHaus, a decentralised IT landscape resulted in a high level of manual work.

The business is growing faster than the systems

As Bike-Discount expanded and internationalised, it reached the limits of its existing IT infrastructure.

Not sure which system is right for you yet?

Then why not start with our ERP strategy and system selection →

NAV & Navision

NAV and Navision on Migrating Business Central

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is the successor to Dynamics NAV, formerly known as Navision. Anyone still using NAV today has a clear roadmap and a fixed timeframe.

How much longer will Microsoft continue to support Dynamics NAV?

For NAV 2017, extended support ends on 11 January 2027. For NAV 2018, it ends in January 2028. After that, Microsoft will no longer release security updates for these versions.

(Source: Microsoft Lifecycle, as at October 2026)

What happens to our bespoke developments?

They are reviewed and not simply carried over. The Netto online shop has been running the collana diva industry solution on NAV since 2016, supplemented by numerous in-house developments. During the migration to Business Central, we technically separated standard functions from customised processes. We have reintegrated some of the custom developments into the diva standard. This reduces the effort required for any future updates.

What happens to our data?

At the Lindenhof Group, all existing master and operational data was fully migrated to Business Central. At the Züriwerk Foundation, we consolidated address and client data from NAV 2009, Excel and Access, and automatically checked for duplicates. Today, the organisation has a centralised data management system.

How long does a migration from NAV to Business Central take?

That depends on the scope of the bespoke developments and the systems involved. For the Netto online shop, the project began in autumn 2023 and went live on schedule in June 2025, after around one and a half years. On the very first day, over 10,000 orders were processed smoothly through the new system.

Will our industry-specific solution remain in place?

Yes, provided it is available for Business Central. collana diva is currently running on Business Central at the Netto online shop.
Züriwerk uses Business Central with the collana care and collana addresses.

You can find out more about the end of support for Navision and the migration process in our podcast

CoreShift by collana →

The solution is collana

Your ERP system is about to A change?

The migration is complete with the go-live, but work on the system is not. It is the initial period following the go-live that is crucial in building trust in the new system.
Arrange a migration consultation
Haven’t decided on a system yet?
ERP Orientation and Selection Workshop
Success Stories

Replacing in-house developments and third-party systems

Not every change begins with NAV. Many companies use an enterprise resource planning system that was programmed for them decades ago, or a patchwork of individual systems. Here are a few examples from our projects:
Our practical experience

What we learn from Involve migration projects

Every migration is different. However, there are some decisions that have consistently proved to be the right ones in our projects.

01

Back to the default,

wherever possible. What has developed individually over the years does not necessarily have to be transferred one-to-one into the new system. In the case of the Netto Online Shop We have decoupled our in-house developments from the standard and, in some cases, reintegrated them into the standard for the industry solution.

02

Core processes first

Lampenwelt It began with an MVP approach that mapped all key business processes from the outset. PureNature deliberately focused on the core processes in order to go live quickly and reliably. GartenHaus expanded the system to include additional warehouse locations immediately after it went live.

03

Choosing the right moment

B.O.C. It was deliberately launched at the end of January, during the off-peak season, so as to minimise disruption to in-store business.

04

Import data in full and in a cleaned-up format

With the Lindenhof Group All master and operational data has been migrated. At Züriwerk, duplicates were automatically checked prior to the transfer.

05

Test the load before things get serious

For BFS Baur Fulfilment Solutions Quality and load tests have demonstrated that the system can reliably process up to 140,000 jobs per day.

06

Do not stop the operation

Lampenwelt The changeover took place whilst operations were ongoing. Bike-Discount migrated its shop and ERP system simultaneously. PureNature relocated its warehouse at the same time.

07

Integrate on-site

At the Netto Online Shop On-site workshops and comprehensive integration tests ensured a shared understanding of the requirements. The team from MAC IT-Solutions supported the migration directly at the client’s premises in Regensburg.

Target platforms and industry solutions

The target platform for your sector

The end result of a migration is Microsoft Dynamics 365, either in its standard form or with an industry-specific solution from the collana Group, depending on the organisation.
Target platform Who is it for? A real-life example
Dynamics 365 Business Central
SMEs, all sectors; see below for all sector-specific solutions Based on collana diva, med, care, npo, intrade and fresh
Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management
larger, internationally operating companies REMONDIS BURCU
collana diva / diva now
E-commerce and omnichannel retail Netto Online Shop, Lampenwelt, B.O.C., PureNature
collana med
Hospitals and clinics Lindenhof Group
collana care
social institutions Stiftung Züriwerk
collana npo
Associations and non-profit organisations Salvation Army Switzerland
The solution is collana

Your ERP system is about to A change?

The migration is complete with the go-live, but work on the system is not. It is the initial period following the go-live that is crucial in building trust in the new system.
Arrange a migration consultation
Haven’t decided on a system yet?
ERP Orientation and Selection Workshop
We will then continue to manage your system as part of our Managed Service. If you wish to connect with suppliers and customers electronically, you can find the EDI integration for Business Central here.

Managed Services

Reliable operation and rapid implementation.

Learn more

EDI integration

Connect suppliers and customers electronically.

Learn more
Stable operation and continuous development

According to the Go-live

The migration is complete with the go-live, but work on the system is not. It is the initial period following the go-live that is crucial in building trust in the new system.

„It was crucial for us that we were able to get support quickly at any time during this phase. The response times leading up to the go-live were exceptionally good and gave us a great deal of confidence.“

Christian Müller

Owner and Managing Director, C2M COMMERCE GmbH

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about ERP migration

What is the difference between ERP migration and ERP implementation?

An ERP implementation involves introducing a new system into a company. An ERP migration involves replacing an existing system, including its data, processes and interfaces. In practice, almost every implementation is also a migration, as there is always a predecessor system.

Can an ERP system be changed whilst operations are ongoing?

Yes. Lampenwelt replaced its old ERP system with collana diva whilst continuing to operate. PureNature relocated its warehouse at the same time as the ERP changeover, without interrupting operations.

Do the online shop and the ERP system need to be migrated at the same time?

No, both are possible. Bike-Discount migrated both its online shop and ERP system at the same time. At PureNature, the existing Shopware 5 shop continued to operate unchanged whilst the ERP system was being changed.

Is it worth switching from an in-house system to a standard ERP system?

Goldner Fashion has replaced a 30-year-old, bespoke ERP system with one developed by collana diva based on Microsoft Dynamics. The aim was to achieve standardised processes for mail order, multi-client capability and the performance required to handle five-figure order volumes.

Should we migrate to Business Central because support for Dynamics NAV is coming to an end?

Yes, anyone who continues to use Dynamics NAV productively should plan their migration now. Microsoft will end extended support for NAV 2017 on 11 January 2027 and for NAV 2018 in January 2028. After that, there will be no further security updates for these versions. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is the direct successor to NAV. Data, processes and industry-specific solutions can be transferred, as demonstrated by the migrations at the Netto online shop and the Lindenhof Group. In the case of the Netto online shop, the project took around one and a half years. Anyone who does not wish to make the switch under time pressure should therefore start early.

Your ERP system is up and running Before the change?

Please discuss your current situation, your individual development goals and a realistic timetable with us.