The end of the year is a period when operational processes and strategic decisions converge closely for companies. In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, there are a number of processes that should be prepared now to ensure a smooth transition into the new financial year. Those who organise themselves early on can avoid bottlenecks, correct potential sources of error and start the new year with a clean database.
Master data is one of the most important areas. Thorough maintenance determines whether inventory, financial statements and planning function reliably. Companies should check items, debtors and creditors, clean up outdated entries and standardise inconsistent names. Correct number ranges are equally important, because incorrect or missing numbers can immediately lead to posting stops from 1 January onwards. The settings for storage locations, units of measure, tax groups and G/L accounts should also be checked again to ensure that all subsequent processes run smoothly.
The intensive phase is now beginning in financial accounting. Open items must be reconciled, bank accounts checked and periodic accruals prepared. VAT settings also deserve special attention, as incorrect tax allocations often only become apparent at the end of the financial year. Companies should also ensure that all posting periods are set up correctly and that user rights have been assigned in such a way that postings and corrections can be carried out cleanly. Many use this time to update their charts of accounts and close unused accounts.
Inventory is an important issue. Business Central offers various methods such as periodic inventory, perpetual inventory and count lists. Companies should clarify at an early stage which method will be used and how the count sheets will be organised. For items with batches or serial numbers, it is particularly important that all information is stored in full. Errors in item tracking lead to discrepancies that are difficult to correct later on. The valuation, such as FIFO or standard cost, should also be reviewed.
One often underestimated topic is the optimisation of workflows and automation. Many approval processes, notifications or recurring bookings can be adjusted or expanded at the end of the year. Business Central offers extensive options for this via Power Automate, which saves many manual steps. At the end of the year, it is worth conducting an analysis: Which processes were prone to errors during the year, where did delays occur, and where could automated checking or approval be useful?
From a technical perspective, the environment should also be reviewed. Many companies carry out updates or upgrades at the end of the year in order to use the latest version of Business Central. This often includes features that make the transition to the new year easier, such as improved evaluations or new financial reports. Data cleansing also plays an important role. Old log entries, outdated attachments or unused extensions can be removed to keep the system faster and clearer.
In addition, all users should be informed about which steps are to be carried out and when. This applies to booking stops during inventory, internal deadlines for settlements and the assignment of authorisations. A clear schedule prevents bookings from being made during inventory or data from accidentally being entered in the wrong periods.
Wer diese Bereiche sorgfältig vorbereitet, sorgt dafür, dass Business Central stabil, sauber und zuverlässig ins neue Geschäftsjahr übergeht. Gut vorbereitete Daten, klare Abläufe und moderne Automatisierungen schaffen Raum für einen schnellen Abschluss und einen stressfreien Start in das neue Jahr. Wenn du möchtest, ergänze ich konkrete Checklisten, empfohlene Fristen oder Beispiele aus der Praxis.