Business Central 27: Everything You Need to Know About the Latest Release

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Business Central 27: Everything You Need to Know About the Latest Release

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has just dropped its version 27 update, and it's bringing more than just a few tweaks.

If you're currently running Business Central or thinking about moving to it, these changes will have a positive impact on how you work day-to-day. In this post, we’re breaking down what’s new in version 27, how it improves performance and usability, and which features you’ll want to pay attention to first.

What’s New in Business Central 27?

Version 27 continues Microsoft’s focus on improving productivity, AI-powered insights, and admin experience.

There are new features for finance, development, reporting, and integrations, and a handful of quality-of-life improvements users have been asking for.

Let’s explore these in more detail.

Headline Feature Updates

1. Improved Search and Navigation

Finding what you need inside Business Central has always been manageable, but version 27 takes this up a level. The updated search function is more intuitive, context-aware, and tailored to user roles. That means your finance manager and warehouse supervisor won’t be wading through the same list of irrelevant suggestions.

Another small but powerful addition is the new breadcrumb navigation. Breadcrumbs now appear at the top of pages and are fully clickable. You can jump back to the previous pages you visited without having to retype anything or go back to the homepage, which makes multitasking much smoother.

2. More Efficient Financial Reporting

For finance teams, this update introduces a more flexible and visually improved experience around account schedules. You can now apply custom formatting directly in Business Central before exporting, meaning less fiddling in Excel afterward.

Scheduled reporting is also a welcome addition. You can configure reports to run automatically on a recurring basis and send them to specific recipients. This is ideal for month-end reporting or keeping stakeholders in the loop without manual effort.

3. Copilot AI Enhancements

Microsoft’s Copilot AI is getting smarter with each release, and in version 27, the integration goes deeper. Copilot can now suggest product descriptions based on limited input, write email drafts using invoice or customer data, and even flag overdue payments and suggest collection actions.

It’s not just AI for the sake of it. These improvements genuinely save time for customer service reps, sales teams, and finance admins. If you've been unsure about using Copilot features in the past, this version gives you a much better reason to start testing them out.

4. Better Data Sync With Power Platform

Microsoft continues to strengthen the bridge between Business Central and the rest of its ecosystem. In version 27, you’ll see tighter integration with Power BI and Power Automate, making it easier to move data and automate business processes without needing a developer.

For example, you can trigger approval workflows from Business Central using Power Automate with fewer steps, or create dashboards in Power BI that update in near real-time. This means fewer manual tasks, faster insights, and more consistent data across your systems.

5. New Developer Features

For technical teams and ISVs, there are plenty of under-the-hood updates too. The AL language has received updates to help improve readability and performance, including better error messages and code suggestion improvements in Visual Studio Code.

Debugging across environments has been streamlined, and you can now run tests across multiple sandboxes in parallel. This is great news if you manage multiple apps or customisations and want to reduce time spent on deployment prep.

Thinking of implementing Business Central? Use our pricing calculator below to understand how much it could cost for your business. Or, check out our comprehensive Business Central Pricing blog.

Smaller But Handy Improvements

Not every change is headline-grabbing, but many smaller updates in version 27 will make life easier in practice. Here are a few that stand out:

  • Faster loading speeds for list pages and large data sets, reducing delays for high-volume users.
  • Enhanced job queue entry management, allowing easier filtering, editing, and duplication.
  • New ability to copy a production environment directly into a sandbox without submitting a support ticket.
  • Streamlined permission set management, including better export options and permission visualisation tools.
  • Improved onboarding experience with tooltips and contextual help for new users.
  • Enhanced email layout editor for custom document outputs.

What Does This Mean for Current Users?

If you're already on Business Central, this update will feel like a natural extension of what you’re used to. The UI remains consistent, but the performance and usability improvements are hard to miss.

For teams working in finance, operations, or customer service, the improved reporting, AI suggestions, and task automation will reduce repetitive work and help teams focus on bigger priorities. If your business is growing, the stronger integration with Power Platform and development tools will also help you scale more efficiently.

Should You Upgrade Now?

Business Central 27 will be rolled out gradually by Microsoft through the standard update channels, so if you’re on SaaS, you’ll get the update automatically depending on your scheduled update window.

However, if you’re running a heavily customised version, or have important third-party extensions in place, then it’s worth deploying version 27 to a sandbox first. This gives you the chance to test compatibility and avoid surprises when it hits your live environment.

For customers still on older versions, especially anything earlier than version 21, the jump to 27 is significant. Not only will you get access to all the newer features and UI upgrades, but you’ll also gain performance improvements, AI tools, and more automation support.

How to Prepare For the Update

To help your business get the most out of Business Central 27, it’s worth planning your update proactively. Here are a few practical steps you can take before and after the rollout:

  • Test in a Sandbox: This is essential if you have any extensions, workflows or customisations. A sandbox environment lets you safely trial the new version and catch any issues before they affect live operations.
  • Review Permissions and Roles: The improved permissions manager makes it easier to audit and streamline user roles. Take this opportunity to tidy up unused permissions and improve data security.
  • Train Your Teams: While the interface remains familiar, it’s worth doing a short run-through of new features for team leads. Highlight updates to Copilot, reporting, and job queues so users can take full advantage.
  • Speak With Your Partner: If you work with a Business Central partner, check in with them about any potential impacts on your configuration. They can help you run pre-update diagnostics or support any testing you need.

Why This Update Matters

Business Central 27 might not overhaul the system, but it represents another big step forward in Microsoft’s vision for a modern, user-friendly ERP. AI integration is more practical, automation is more accessible, and teams can work more efficiently with less manual effort.

For businesses already running on Business Central, this version strengthens your foundations. And for those still on the fence, version 27 makes the platform even more appealing.

With better developer tools, smarter workflows, and more reliable performance, this update sets the tone for what’s ahead in future releases.

If you're not yet on Business Central or haven’t updated in a while, now’s a great time to explore what you’ve been missing.