Custom Navision integration development
Appfront builds custom integrations between Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Navision) or Business Central and your webshop, WMS, CRM or your own applications. Using the platform's official OData, SOAP and REST APIs, we develop integrations that remove manual entry and automate your entire order flow, from purchasing to invoicing.
From Dynamics NAV to Business Central: the full picture
Navision began in the 1990s as a Danish accounting and ERP package for small and medium-sized businesses. After Microsoft acquired it in 2002, it was successively renamed Dynamics NAV and, since 2018, Dynamics 365 Business Central. In the Netherlands, thousands of organisations run some version of this platform, from on-premise NAV 2009 installations to fully cloud-based Business Central environments on Azure.
The integration options vary considerably. Older NAV versions offer SOAP web services and XML ports, while Business Central provides modern OData v4 endpoints and a REST API with OAuth 2.0 authentication. Appfront is familiar with both, and builds integrations that match the version and infrastructure you actually run.
A Navision integration connects the ERP system with the rest of your software landscape: webshops, warehouse management systems, CRM packages, logistics providers or your own applications. Orders, products, customer data and financial transactions flow automatically between systems, with no staff retyping data.
Bidirectional data synchronisation
Changes made in Business Central or in the connected system are passed on in both directions. Customer details, stock levels and order statuses are up to date everywhere.
Multiple systems, one data flow
We don't just connect two systems. We design an integration layer that multiple applications can plug into, creating a single source of truth for your entire chain.
Built on Microsoft's standard APIs
Implemented through the platform's official OData, SOAP and REST endpoints. No reverse engineering or undocumented workarounds, so it stays upgrade-safe and maintainable.
How we build a Navision integration
Every integration follows a structured process that starts with your business processes rather than the technology. We map out which data flows exist, where the bottlenecks are and which automation will deliver the most value. Only then do we start writing code.
We take stock of your NAV/BC environment, the connected systems and the data flows you need. For each entity (customer, item, order, invoice) we document the field mapping and direction of synchronisation.
We choose the right API strategy (OData, SOAP, REST) based on your NAV version. Authentication is set up using OAuth 2.0, service-to-service tokens or API keys with restricted permissions.
We build iteratively, with automated tests for each entity. You receive working builds along the way and can validate test data before we move on to the next data layer.
Controlled go-live with a parallel run period. Alerting, logging and dashboards are put in place so that you and your team can see immediately when something deviates.
Integrations we build most often
The specific functionality depends on your business processes. These are the integration patterns we regularly implement for organisations working with Navision or Business Central.
Webshop order flow
Orders from Magento, Shopify, WooCommerce or Lightspeed flow automatically into Business Central as sales orders. Customer details, items, prices and VAT rules are carried across. Conversely, stock levels and delivery statuses are sent back to the shop.
Stock and warehouse synchronisation
Items, stock levels and locations are synchronised between Business Central and your WMS or warehouse software. Every goods receipt and dispatch is passed on in real time, so purchasing, sales and logistics all work from the same figures.
CRM debtor sync
Customer data and invoicing history from NAV/Business Central are linked to your CRM, whether that is Salesforce, HubSpot, Teamleader or a custom one. Sales reps see the current financial status, and the finance team works with consistent contact data.
Invoicing automation
Based on contracts, project hours or service orders, sales invoices are created and posted automatically in Navision. Recurring billing, tiered discounts and VAT logic per customer group are handled entirely within the integration.
Purchasing and supplier management
Purchase orders created in an external system or portal automatically land as purchase lines in Business Central. Goods receipts and creditor movements are sent back, so the entire purchasing chain closes digitally.
Reporting and BI dashboards
Financial and operational data from Navision is made available in real time for Power BI, Looker Studio or custom dashboards. Think of revenue overviews by customer group, profit margins by item category, or open items by creditor.
Sectors and applications in practice
Navision and Business Central are widely used across Dutch businesses. The specific integration requirement differs by sector, from warehouse automation in wholesale to hours-to-invoice flows in professional services.
Wholesale and distribution
Wholesalers that use Navision for purchasing, inventory management and invoicing integrate the system with a WMS, B2B ordering portal or EDI platform. Item master data, purchase orders, sales orders and inventory movements are exchanged automatically. This prevents duplicate data entry and gives the warehouse real-time visibility of what is expected, received and shipped. See also our wholesale software services.
Manufacturing and production companies
Manufacturers use Navision as their financial backbone and integrate it with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), planning tools and quality management packages. Bills of materials, work orders and material movements are synchronised so that the shop floor and the back office work from the same data. Variances in material consumption flow straight into cost calculations.
Professional services
Consultancies, IT service providers and engineering firms invoice based on recorded hours or project milestones. An integration pulls hours and expenses from a planning or time-tracking tool and converts them automatically into sales invoices in Business Central. This speeds up the billing cycle and prevents errors in translating hours into invoices.
Construction and building services
In construction and installation, projects are often managed financially in Navision while the work itself is carried out using industry-specific software. We integrate project budgets, cost reporting, progress invoices and supplier bookings so that the financial status of each project is visible in real time, without manual Excel workarounds. Also see our AI for construction advice solutions.
The technology behind the integration
The choice of technology depends on your NAV version, hosting model and the systems at the other end of the integration. We work with modern, well-maintained stacks and make sure your own team or a future supplier can understand and manage the integration.
Why choose Appfront for your Navision integration?
Appfront has experience building API integrations for a wide range of ERP environments among Dutch SMEs. We understand that a Navision integration is about more than technically connecting two endpoints. It is about translating your business processes into reliable data flows.
We therefore always start by mapping out your actual processes. Which fields need to be included? What happens in exceptional situations, such as a return order, a manual credit invoice or a block on a debtor? These scenarios determine the architecture, not a standard list of features.
Upon handover, you receive complete documentation. The code is transparent, the logging is clear and your team can monitor the integration independently. Should you later wish to switch supplier, that is straightforward: no lock-in, no black box.
See also our broader services around API integrations, middleware and custom software development.
- Experience with Dynamics NAV 2009 through to Business Central (cloud)
- Knowledge of OData, SOAP, REST and AL extensions
- Structured error handling and retry mechanisms
- Logging and monitoring from the very first sprint
- Transparent documentation for your team or a subsequent supplier
- A fixed technical point of contact, no account managers passed from pillar to post
- Ongoing management or handover — you choose
- Experience with industry-specific NAV add-ons and ISV solutions
Security and GDPR compliance in Navision integrations
Navision contains financial data, customer data and often employee information too. Every integration we build handles that data with the care it deserves. We encrypt data in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest, work with service accounts based on least privilege and document all data flows.
For Business Central in the cloud, authentication runs through Azure Active Directory using OAuth 2.0, a standard that supports multi-factor authentication and conditional access. For on-premise NAV installations, we set up secure tunnels or VPN connections and limit the scope of the web services to exactly the entities that are needed.
More about our approach: information security policy and vulnerability disclosure policy.
- GDPR-compliant data processing and data minimisation
- Encryption in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest
- OAuth 2.0 via Azure AD for Business Central cloud
- Role-based access and least-privilege principles
- Audit logs with traceable data flows
- Automatic retries and dead-letter queues for errors
- Secrets management in line with best practice
- Documentation for your record of processing activities
Frequently asked questions about Navision integrations
Answers to the questions we most often receive about custom integrations with Dynamics NAV and Business Central.
A Navision integration is a technical integration that lets Microsoft Dynamics NAV, now Dynamics 365 Business Central, exchange data automatically with other software. This can be done via the OData web services, SOAP endpoints or the modern Business Central API. Think of synchronising customer data, sales orders, purchase invoices, products and stock levels with a webshop, WMS or CRM system.
Navision was the original name of the ERP system that Microsoft acquired in 2002. After being renamed Dynamics NAV, it became part of the Dynamics 365 suite as Business Central in 2018. The core platform is the same, but Business Central runs in the cloud (Azure) by default and offers modern APIs alongside the classic SOAP and OData web services. Appfront builds integrations for both older on-premise NAV installations and cloud-based Business Central environments.
In principle, any system that can exchange data via an API or structured files. The most common integrations we build are with webshops (Magento, Shopify, WooCommerce), WMS packages, CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot), time registration and planning tools, and industry-specific software packages. Integrations with logistics providers, payment providers and document management systems also come up regularly.
The lead time depends on the number of entities to be integrated, the direction of the data flows and the complexity of your business logic. A one-way integration, for example orders from a webshop into Business Central, can be live within a few weeks. Bidirectional integrations with multiple entities and exception logic take more time. After an intake session, we always provide a concrete plan.
The investment is determined by factors such as the number of systems being integrated, the volume of data entities, the synchronisation frequency, the complexity of the field mapping and the required error handling. Ongoing maintenance and monitoring also affect the total cost. After a no-obligation conversation, you will receive a transparent quote.
All the integrations we build comply with Dutch privacy legislation and security best practices. We encrypt data in transit and at rest, use authentication methods based on least privilege, and document the data flows so that your record of processing activities remains complete. With Business Central in the cloud, you also benefit from the security infrastructure of Microsoft Azure.
Yes. We have experience with both the classic Dynamics NAV versions (2009, 2013, 2016, 2018) and modern Business Central environments. For older versions we work with SOAP web services or XML ports, and for newer versions with OData v4 and REST APIs. We also support hybrid scenarios, in which an organisation gradually migrates from on-premise NAV to Business Central in the cloud.
Yes. Appfront regularly takes over integrations that were originally built by another party. We carry out a thorough code and architecture review, document how it works and draw up an improvement plan. We can then extend, stabilise or migrate the integration to a more modern technology stack, depending on your wishes.
Ready to build your Navision integration?
Tell us which systems you want to connect to Dynamics NAV or Business Central and what you want to automate. A no-obligation advisory conversation will give you a clear picture of the architecture, the approach and the next steps within half an hour.