Business Central for higher education: streamline finance, planning and operations

Modern ERP for universities, colleges and higher education providers. Bring finance, operations, planning and student‑facing services together in one connected system.

Talk to an expert

business-tools-for-higher-education

Why higher education providers need Dynamics 365 Business Central

Higher education institutions face growing financial pressure, rising expectations from students, and the increasing complexity of managing operations across faculties, campuses and digital environments. When finance, procurement, student services and operations run on disconnected systems, it becomes harder to control costs, streamline processes and make informed decisions.

Dynamics 365 Business Central gives higher education leaders a unified view of their organisation so they can plan better, act faster and drive long‑term value.

Dynamics 365 Business Central is a modern ERP system designed to streamline finance, operations, budgeting, asset tracking, purchasing and reporting. It replaces multiple standalone systems with one connected platform built by Microsoft. The result is a clearer picture of your organisation, stronger controls, and technology that is easier to maintain and scale as your institution evolves.

Meet Business Central: an ERP for higher education

An ERP built for higher education helps you run a more efficient organisation. Here is how Business Central supports the sector:

Unified finance and operations

Business Central connects finance, procurement, grant management, budgeting and operational workflows in one system. This reduces duplication of effort, improves accuracy and helps teams work together more easily.

Better decision‑making

Real‑time dashboards, forecasting tools and analytics help leaders understand financial performance, programme costs and operational pressures. Recent reports show that 72% of education leaders say data‑driven decision‑making is a priority for the next two years, highlighting the need for accessible, connected insights.

Scalable technology

Whether your institution is growing student numbers, opening new campuses or modernising outdated systems, Business Central is designed to scale. It supports cloud, on‑premise or hybrid deployment so you can introduce change at a pace that works for your organisation.

Cost control and efficiency

Automating manual processes such as invoice approvals, procurement workflows and reporting frees staff time and reduces operational costs. A 2025 study found that higher education IT leaders identified cost optimisation as their number one digital priority, reinforcing the need for systems that streamline complex processes.

Compliance and governance

Business Central includes strong controls, audit trails and reporting capabilities that help institutions demonstrate compliance with funding requirements, internal regulations and external audits.

erp-solution-for-higher-education

Discover how Microsoft Dynamic 365 Business Central works

Why your business needs an ERP

82%

of businesses are utilising an ERP

1 in 5

businesses are dissatisfied with their current ERP

96%

of businesses say using an ERP has contributed to achieving business outcomes

Data taken from a survey we commissioned in December 2024

ERP designed for higher education organisations

Universities and colleges operate in a challenging environment, with tight budgets, high expectations and the need to keep up with digital transformation. Dynamics 365 Business Central helps institutions run more effectively by simplifying key processes, strengthening financial visibility and supporting better planning across the organisation.

Financial management

Track budgets, allocations, grants and departmental spending in real time. Finance teams get a clearer picture of income and expenditure, which helps them support deans, programme leads and operational teams with accurate, up‑to‑date information.

Resource allocation

Manage academic, administrative and operational resources more effectively. Business Central helps institutions plan staff usage, track assets and monitor the utilisation of facilities or equipment, making it easier to deliver high‑quality services without overspending.

Budgeting and forecasting

Build more accurate budgets for departments, faculties and central services. Automated forecasting tools help leaders respond quickly to changes in student demand, funding cycles or operational costs.

Why higher education providers choose Dynamics 365 Business Central

Student services and programme cost tracking

Monitor the cost of programme delivery, student services and support activities. This helps leaders understand financial performance across faculties and ensures resources are aligned with strategic priorities.

Grant and funding management

Track funding streams, manage grant budgets and maintain audit‑ready records. Business Central provides clearer visibility over restricted and unrestricted funds, reducing the risk of non‑compliance.

Procurement and supplier management

Streamline purchasing and gain better control over spend across the institution. Teams can follow a consistent procurement process, manage contracts and analyse supplier performance to ensure best value.

Campus and facilities operations

Track facilities costs, schedule maintenance and manage assets from one system. This supports operational teams in keeping campuses running efficiently and minimising unplanned downtime.

Data visibility for leadership teams

Vice‑chancellors, CFOs, COOs and directors need a unified view of performance. Business Central brings together financial, operational and service‑related data so leaders can plan confidently and make decisions backed by up‑to‑date insights.

why-dynamics-365-crm

Download our report

The Dynamics of Success

Get a better understanding of the benefits of using a CRM system - allowing businesses like yours to overcome fragmented systems and disconnected workflows. Don't just read about them either, our report provides you with actionable insights and practical recommendations so that you can begin to make data-led decisions.

the-dynamics-of-success-report-download-1

Download our report

The Dynamics of Success

Get a better understanding of the benefits of using a CRM system - allowing businesses like yours to overcome fragmented systems and disconnected workflows. Don't just read about them either, our report provides you with actionable insights and practical recommendations so that you can begin to make data-led decisions.

the-dynamics-of-success-report-download-1

Supercharge your institution with a modern ERP

Higher education organisations need systems that support smarter planning, stronger financial control and long‑term resilience. Business Central brings your data, people and processes together so you can focus on delivering quality education and a strong student experience.

Want to understand how Business Central could support your university or college? Get in touch using the form.

See our latest blog posts

Frequently asked questions

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central for higher education?

It is an ERP system that helps universities and colleges manage finance, procurement, budgeting, assets, grants and operations in one connected platform.

How does Business Central support finance teams in higher education?

It centralises financial data, automates reporting, improves budget accuracy and helps finance teams support departments with real‑time insights.

Can Business Central help manage grants and funding?

Yes. It includes tracking tools for restricted and unrestricted funds, audit trails and financial controls to support compliance with funding requirements.

Is Business Central suitable for multi‑campus institutions?

Yes. It can manage financial and operational processes across multiple locations with shared data and consistent workflows.

Does Business Central integrate with student information systems (SIS)?

It can integrate with many commonly used SIS platforms through APIs and connectors, depending on the institution's integration needs.

How does Business Central help with budgeting and forecasting?

It provides forecasting tools, real‑time cost tracking and the ability to run department‑level budgets within a single system.

Can higher education institutions customise Business Central?

Yes. It offers sector‑specific configurations and can be tailored to meet the needs of different faculties, departments or campuses.

What deployment options are available?

Business Central is available in the cloud, on‑premise or hybrid, allowing institutions to adopt the model that suits their digital strategy.

Is Business Central secure enough for sensitive student and financial data?

It is built on Microsoft’s cloud security framework, which includes encryption, access controls and compliance with international standards such as ISO 27001 and GDPR.

How does Business Central support reporting in higher education?

It centralises data and offers custom reports, dashboards and analytics tools to make reporting faster, more accurate and easier to share across leadership teams.