Business Central Apps

Why apps?

If you have previously used on-premise versions of Microsoft’s ERP solutions, you are used to having external consultants develop customizations for your specific needs.

On the cloud platform, Microsoft still allows custom development to some extent. However, we recommend avoiding it if possible. The reason is that you cannot receive monthly updates from Microsoft without first validating your custom development against each new release.

The benefit of using apps is that Microsoft updates your Business Central every month, and you don’t have to do anything. No cost. No tasks. No upgrade projects. Consider how much time and money you have spent on version upgrades through the years. App technology eliminates this burden.

The technology of apps

Understanding how apps work in Business Central is essential. It represents a fundamental change in the approach to customization, not just the same old methods with different technology.

The choice between apps and custom development is an IT-strategic decision and should be treated as such. Custom development makes it easier to meet inflexible and comprehensive requirements, while apps make it easier to deploy extended functionality quickly and upgrade to new versions.

Know which corner you are painting yourself into.

The cloud version of Business Central is just as customizable as the on-premise version. Whether it’s a good idea to make customizations is another question.

The traditional approach
In the past, if you needed the solution to be customized, you would change the code directly in the core of Business Central. This was fast and efficient, but it created a significant problem.

When Microsoft released a new version of the core solution, your customization would be overwritten. You would then have to manually go through every single customization and migrate them individually to the new version. This is why upgrades were traditionally so expensive.

The modern approach with extensions
With Business Central in the cloud, apps are based on a technology called Extensions.

With an extension, you place the customization outside of Business Central. It is an addition to the solution, not an alteration. Extensions utilize events that Microsoft has placed inside the core, allowing developers to trigger code even though it is placed outside the solution. For the user, the end result is the same.

When Microsoft releases a new version of Business Central, your customization is not overwritten. New versions don’t break your solution.

When Microsoft reviews and approves an extension, it becomes an app. It’s published on Microsoft Marketplace, and everyone can download it.

App suppliers commit to Microsoft to maintain their apps and test them before new versions are released. You will not experience upgrade issues, and the days of large upgrade projects are over.

How to install an app

Installing an app in Business Central is straightforward, something you can easily do yourself.

In the top menu, select Setup & Extensions, then choose Extensions.

This page shows an overview of the apps and extensions installed in your Business Central. Apps are the ones from Microsoft Marketplace, but this list may also include extensions developed exclusively for you, called Per-Tenant Extensions. The one called Base Application is actually your Business Central, which is also an app.

To install a new app, select Extension Marketplace from the menu. This accesses Microsoft Marketplace from inside Business Central. You can search for apps that meet your needs.

When you find an app you want, read about it, and if it suits your needs, click Get it now. Approve the terms and privacy policy, then install the app. In the Deployment Status window, you can see the current status of the installation process. For a small app, installation typically takes only about a minute.

Once installed, the app adds its functionality to Business Central, which may include new menu items, fields, or pages depending on the app.

How to test an app

Before you install an app in your live environment, you should test it.

Microsoft has certified all apps and guarantees that they work technically. However, you probably want to evaluate whether the app does what you are looking for, which is why you should test it in your sandbox environment.

If the app doesn’t live up to your expectations, or you simply don’t need it anymore, you can delete it. Don’t be afraid to test new apps.

When you have Business Central in the cloud, you also have a sandbox environment available. In the Admin Center, you can create a sandbox as a copy of the production environment. Use this to test apps before installing them in your live company.

To remove an app, go to the Extensions list inside Business Central, click Uninstall, and Business Central will remove the app and clean up. It’s that simple.

Apps are automatically updated

The great thing about apps is that you don’t have to maintain them. Updates are always part of the deal.

All apps have a version number. This is how Microsoft keeps track of the versioning and upgrade process.

Microsoft requires all app suppliers to keep up with new versions. Microsoft releases minor updates every month and major updates twice a year. Well in advance, app suppliers must test their apps with the new version.

When updates roll out, your apps are also automatically updated. You don’t have to do anything. There are no upgrade projects anymore, even if you use many apps.

Find your apps

Explore new apps for your Business Central on Microsoft Marketplace, or get inspiration from others who have already tested them.