New Forrester report finds initial Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central investment recovered in under six months

A newly published report from Forrester has found that Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has the potential to ‘pay for itself’ in less than six months. 

The Total Economic Impact Of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Report models the experience of a composite organisation using Business Central and looks at benefits over a three-year period. The headline result? A projected ROI of over 200%, with payback in under six months.  

So where does that value come from? 

According to Forrester, much of the impact is driven by time savings and reduced complexity. Businesses in the study saw faster month-end close (30% reduction), quicker audit preparation (30% reduction), less reliance on manual processes across finance and fewer disconnected systems to maintain. 

That translated into a 50% productivity increase for finance teams, a 14% reduction in total cost of ownership and improved visibility across the business. 

The report – released on 31st March 2026 – also highlights the benefits of consolidating ERP systems. By retiring legacy tools and bringing finance, reporting and operations into Business Central, organisations were able to reduce duplication, simplify reporting and scale without adding unnecessary overhead.  

It’s worth noting that Forrester frames these results as potential outcomes, based on a composite model. But taken together, the findings reinforce why so many growing organisations are reassessing old and on-premises ERP systems – particularly when cloud platforms can now support automation, real-time insights and future AI capabilities in one place.  

This isn’t the only recent nod Business Central has received. Forbes Advisor named Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central among the best ERP software solutions for SMBs, in September 2025, recognising it for its breadth of functionality and suitability for growing businesses. 

How Tecman can help 

Tecman is a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central partner with manufacturing and distribution experts supporting every step. We help manufacturers and distributors get real value from their ERP – not just at go-live, but as their business evolves. If you’re exploring Business Central, replacing a legacy system or want to understand what ROI might look like for you, we’re happy to talk.