For many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), legacy systems and spreadsheets still dominate daily operations. But as companies grow, these tools become a bottleneck. That’s why more and more SMBs are embracing cloud ERP solutions, like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, to modernize operations and stay competitive.

In this article, we explore five major benefits of migrating to a cloud-based ERP and how AlfaPeople’s Start&Go™ Business Central offering can help you transition with ease.

1. Increased Productivity and Automation

Manual processes slow down your team and leave room for errors. A cloud ERP centralizes data, automates workflows, and eliminates repetitive tasks — freeing up time to focus on strategic goals.

With Microsoft Copilot built into Business Central, SMBs can automate reporting, summarize customer interactions, and even generate documents directly from apps like Outlook or Excel.

2. Real-Time Insights for Better Decision Making

With cloud ERP, business leaders gain real-time visibility into sales, finance, operations, and customer data — all in one place. No more digging through spreadsheets or waiting on monthly reports.

Business Central enables smarter decision-making through built-in dashboards, AI-powered forecasts, and actionable alerts.

3. Scalability Without the Growing Pains

Traditional ERPs can be rigid and expensive to scale. In contrast, a cloud ERP grows with your business. You can start small and expand usage as needed, across users, departments, or regions.

Business Central is ideal for SMBs that want flexibility to evolve without replatforming every time they expand.

4. Enhanced Security and Compliance

Cloud ERPs offer built-in security, backups, and compliance features that SMBs often can’t match with on-premise solutions. With Microsoft Azure as the backbone, Business Central provides:

• Role-based access control
• Encryption by default
• Automatic updates and compliance with global regulations

This means you can focus on your business while Microsoft keeps your data secure.

5. Lower Total Cost of Ownership

On-premise systems require servers, maintenance, IT staff, and upgrades. A cloud ERP reduces these hidden costs. With Business Central, updates happen automatically, and you only pay for what you use.

In fact, a Forrester study found that SMBs using Business Central saved $30,000 per year in third-party tools and achieved 172% ROI over three years.

Why Start&Go Business Central?

AlfaPeople’s Start&Go™ Business Central is designed specifically for growing SMBs. It includes pre-configured templates, Microsoft Copilot integration, and expert support to help you:

• Migrate from legacy systems
• Train your team efficiently
• Start seeing value fast – without disrupting daily operations

Download the Free Guide: AI-Powered Cloud Technology for SMBs

📘 Get our free eBook: Adopting AI-powered cloud technology — An SMB’s guide to growing faster with Start&Go for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Learn how cloud ERP and AI work together to:
• Streamline finance, sales, and operations
• Improve customer experiences
• Future-proof your business

Download Now

Empower Your SMB with the Right Tools

The shift to cloud ERP for SMBs is not just about upgrading software — it’s about unlocking growth. With Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and AlfaPeople as your partner, the transition becomes a strategic advantage.

Ready to modernize and scale your operations?
Let’s start the journey together.