Extensions and apps for Business Central – how to expand the capabilities of your ERP system

Just a few years ago, extending ERP systems meant modifying the source code, which was costly and difficult to maintain. Newer versions of Business Central introduced a different approach, where:

1. the system core remains untouched,
2. additional functionality is delivered in the form of apps and extensions.

As a result, the system is more stable, easier to update, and more secure.

Extensions and applications can be divided into three main groups:

1. Localization extensions

They adapt Business Central to local legal and accounting regulations in a given country (e.g., Polish localization). This is usually the first extension implemented for new customers. 2. Industry-specific extensions

a. pharmaceuticals,

b. food service,

c. printing,

d. furniture manufacturing,

e. industrial production. 3. Universal extensions

Useful across multiple industries. Examples include:

a. carbon footprint tracking,

b. e-commerce integration,

c. mobile warehouse operations (data collectors, barcode printing),

d. supply chain management,

e. electronic document workflow (e.g., Continia Document Capture),

f. production process visualization (e.g., Netronic),

g. HR, payroll, and workforce management (e.g., apps aligned with tax regulation changes).

Based on implementation experience, some of the most commonly selected apps include:

• Continia Document Capture – automates invoice registration and document workflows,
• Netronic – visualizes production processes using Gantt charts.

Mini case 1: Automating invoice processing with Continia Document Capture

Companies that process hundreds of invoices per month often struggle with time-consuming manual work. Continia Document Capture

Mini case 2: Better production planning with Netronic

In standard Business Central, production orders are displayed as lists.

The Netronic app

transforms them into an interactive Gantt chart showing machine capacity and job sequences. This allows production managers to see overlapping processes

and plan plant operations more effectively.

The Microsoft AppSource marketplace already offers thousands of applications,

with another 100–200 added each month. In practice, this means that custom development is becoming less common — the process usually starts with evaluating available off-the-shelf apps.

However, there are situations where a custom extension is a better choice:

• when a ready-made app is too complex and the company needs only part of its functionality,
• when licensing costs are disproportionate to actual business benefits,
• when the client’s processes are highly specific and no suitable app exists.

Although apps published in AppSource are verified by Microsoft (ensuring security and compliance with standards), some risks may still arise:

• functional conflicts with existing custom extensions,
• data redundancy - for example, duplicating the same information across different modules,
• implementation cost and time - some apps require cooperation with the vendor rather than a simple “install” click like in an app store.

Microsoft releases Business Central updates twice a year and increasingly moves popular features from apps into the standard system (e.g., quality control). This trend is expected to continue, although specialized industry apps will remain essential.

• Time and cost savings – no need to build everything from scratch.
• Up-to-date compliance – especially in HR and payroll apps aligned with new regulations.
• Security – AppSource applications go through Microsoft’s certification process.
• Flexibility – the ability to choose between ready-made solutions and custom extensions.