Dynamics 365 Business Central

Business Central for research organisations

Manage grants, projects, compliance, finance and multi-entity research activity on one connected platform. Dynamics 365 Business Central helps research institutes improve oversight, streamline administration and focus more time on innovation.

Overview

Why research organisations need Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Research organisations operate in highly regulated, data-intensive environments. They must manage grants, multi-year research projects, laboratory resources, complex procurement, multi-entity financials and compliance reporting - often while working across distributed teams and partnerships. When these processes rely on spreadsheets or fragmented systems, oversight becomes difficult and research administration slows down.

Dynamics 365 Business Central offers a modern, cloud-based ERP platform that centralises financial and operational data. It is widely used across mission-driven organisations, including research foundations and institutes, to simplify management processes and improve transparency.

Many research bodies also rely on grant-funding models. Business Central provides the structure to track funding, manage budgets, streamline expenditure approvals and support transparent reporting. It has been used by organisations such as Alzheimer's Research UK to improve efficiency and replace outdated finance tools. Additionally, research-specific ERP solutions built on Business Central centralise financial operations across multiple projects and entities, offering real-time insights and strong accountability.

Benefits

Meet Business Central: an ERP designed for scientific, academic and mission-driven research

Research environments demand accuracy, compliance and operational clarity. Business Central supports these needs through integrated financials, project tracking, procurement workflows and multi-entity management.

Unified research operations

Business Central connects finance, purchasing, grant management, project delivery, HR records, compliance documentation and reporting in one system. Solutions built on Business Central deliver full transparency, accountability and efficiency for mission-driven organisations.

Better decision making

With real-time dashboards, research leaders can monitor project progress, spending against grants, utilisation of staff or lab resources, and upcoming commitments. Centralised ERP platforms help institutes track budgets and generate real-time financial insights across their research portfolios.

Scalable for institutes, labs and multi-entity organisations

Business Central supports local research groups, multi-department institutes and even global networks with multi-entity structures. It is designed to work across multiple organisations and funding models with consistent processes and secure access.

Cost efficiency

Automation reduces administrative effort across purchasing, approvals, timesheets, expense processing, asset tracking and financial reporting. Grants and expenditure processes can be streamlined using Business Central's structured workflows.

Compliance and audit-readiness

Research organisations must meet strict regulatory, ethical and financial compliance requirements. Business Central supports compliance with clear audit trails, controlled permissions and documented financial and project histories.

ERP stats

Why your research organisation needs an ERP

Data taken from a survey we commissioned in December 2024. Click here to view

0%

of businesses are utilising an ERP

0 in 0

businesses are dissatisfied with their current ERP

0%

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

Capabilities

ERP designed for labs, research centres and funding-driven institutions

With Business Central, research organisations can manage both the scientific and administrative sides of their work more efficiently.

01

Grant and funding management

Track grants from application to award, through drawdowns, spending and closeout. Monitor budgets, allocations and restrictions in real time. Business Central supports grant-management processes and helps users manage complex funding responsibilities.

Research organisations need clear visibility, structured workflows and dependable financial management to deliver meaningful outcomes. Business Central unifies grants, projects, procurement, financials and reporting so teams can work more efficiently and focus more time on research itself.

Business Central for research organisations
Why choose us

Why research organisations choose Business Central

Improve grant-funding accuracy and reporting

Business Central ensures grant rules and restrictions are applied consistently, helping organisations avoid overspending and ensuring transparent reporting. ERP-based grant management supports accurate lifetime expenditure tracking.

Reduce administrative overhead

Automated workflows minimise manual data entry and reduce delays in approvals, purchasing and reporting. ERP platforms designed for mission-driven organisations remove bottlenecks and simplify operations.

Strengthen collaboration across research teams

Shared data allows finance, administration and research teams to coordinate better across projects, institutes or departments. Centralised ERP helps teams track budgets and generate real-time reports.

Enhance project and R&D cost monitoring

Detailed tracking of R&D activity, including formulas, experiments, materials and effort, helps organisations improve planning and resource allocation. Business Central can support R&D cost modelling and detailed project management.

Support digital transformation

As research organisations modernise, Business Central provides a secure, cloud-based ERP foundation that integrates with Microsoft 365, Power BI and external research tools. It is sold via Microsoft's global partner network and benefits from continuous evolution and support.

Watch

Discover how Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central works

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.

Download report
The Dynamics of Success report cover
Enquiry form

Strengthen your research operations with an ERP built for scientific and mission-driven work

To learn more about Business Central for research organisations, or to book an assessment, get in touch using the short form below.

TD SYNNEX and its elite Dynamics partner network need the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

It is an ERP system that centralises grants, projects, procurement, financials and compliance processes for institutes and scientific organisations.

Yes. It supports grant budgeting, expenditure tracking, restrictions and reporting.

Yes. Business Central handles multiple research units, departments or institutes with consolidated reporting.

Yes. It supports detailed R&D cost modelling and project planning with enhancements.

Yes. Business Central integrates with Microsoft 365, Power Platform tools and third-party systems.

Automation reduces manual tasks in financials, procurement, approvals and reporting.

Yes. It supports asset tracking and lifecycle management for research equipment.

Yes. It is a secure cloud-based platform supported by Microsoft's global partner network.

Yes. It is used by research bodies including Alzheimer's Research UK to modernise operations.

Many benefit once grants, projects and financials are centralised into one system with consistent data.