Migration path · SL
Dynamics SL to Business Central migration
Dynamics SL extended support ends on July 11, 2028. Business Central has a built-in cloud migration for SL; the design work is in project accounting and everything the tool does not carry across.
Where things stand
Microsoft lists July 11, 2028 as the end of extended support for Dynamics SL 2018 (Microsoft Lifecycle). Mainstream support has already ended, so year-end updates have stopped and only security fixes remain.
Microsoft’s June 2025 announcement points SL customers, like GP customers, toward Dynamics 365 Business Central. Business Central online includes a cloud migration for Dynamics SL 2015 and later (Microsoft Learn). It replicates system and company setup, fiscal periods, tax groups and inventory sites, master data for accounts, customers, vendors and items, open customer and vendor documents, account balances by period and historical data, and you choose which companies and data to bring.
Microsoft also publishes SL Analysis and Repair tools to check readiness before you start. The tool moves the core finance data. Project accounting, customisations, reports and integrations are the project work around it.
What the migration covers
Project accounting design
SL’s project controller and time and expense are mapped to Business Central jobs and resources, or to a project-focused AppSource app where the gap is real.
Chart of accounts
SL subaccounts become dimensions. We design these with your controllers before any data moves.
Cloud migration and reconciliation
Microsoft’s SL cloud migration replicates setup, master data, open AR and AP and GL balances by period. We run it in a sandbox first, reconcile every company to SL reports, then repeat for production.
History
Open projects in full; closed projects summarised or archived, depending on your contract and audit needs.
Reports
Project profitability and WIP reports rebuilt in Business Central, Power BI or both.
Integrations
Payroll, banking and any time-capture systems reconnected through supported APIs.
What to watch for
- Project accounting is where SL and Business Central differ most. Prototype it before you commit to dates.
- Government contractors should confirm indirect-rate and compliance reporting needs early.
- Run Microsoft’s SL Analysis and Repair tools early: data the Repair tool flags will fail the cloud migration later.
- SL customisations built in Customization Manager do not carry over; list them and decide which still matter.
- Migrate open projects at a period end to keep WIP reconciliation simple.
Questions we get about this path
When does Dynamics SL support end?
Extended support for Dynamics SL 2018, including security updates, ends on July 11, 2028. Microsoft has also said January 15, 2030 is the last day to add perpetual users to existing SL systems. Sources: Microsoft Lifecycle — Dynamics SL 2018, Microsoft Dynamics 365 blog, June 2025.
Do we have to bring all of our historical data across?
No. Most companies bring master data, open balances and open transactions, plus a limited window of history, and keep the old system or an archive read-only for audit. Microsoft's GP cloud migration, for example, lets you choose how many historical years to move. Source: Microsoft Learn — GP data migrated to Business Central.
How long does a migration to Business Central take?
A single-company move from GP, NAV or SL with light customisation is typically planned in months, not years. Multi-entity, heavily customised or AX-to-Finance & Operations projects take longer. The honest answer comes out of the assessment, where we map your data, code and integrations and put dates against them.
How do we start?
Fill in the contact form with your current system and version, and use the project field for the number of companies and users and any deadline you are working to. You can paste or attach an RFP if you have one. We reply with a short list of questions and a time for a call.
Next step
Tell us what you run today.
Current system and version, number of companies and users, and any deadline. We reply with the questions we need answered and a time to talk.