Business Central for marketing agencies: A modern ERP for creative and digital teams

Marketing agencies rely on accurate forecasting, tight budget control and smooth project delivery. Business Central brings these together in one connected system built to help agencies scale without chaos. 

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Why marketing agencies need Dynamics 365 Business Central

Marketing activity spans many moving parts. Retainers, projects, freelancers, media spend and client reporting can become messy when information sits in different systems. Dynamics 365 Business Central unifies finance, project delivery and operational visibility in one place.

Dynamics 365 Business Central is a complete ERP system for marketing agencies. It helps you manage finances, projects, purchasing, billing, approvals and reporting from one platform.
With it, you can replace disconnected apps with a centralised system designed to improve planning and support confident decision making. If you want to see what a purpose‑built ERP for marketing agencies can achieve, keep reading.

Meet Business Central: An ERP made for marketing agencies 

A connected system helps agencies stay profitable, deliver projects on time and maintain healthy client relationships. Business Central supports this with features built for teams that juggle multiple clients and deadlines. 

Unified business operations

Business Central brings together finance, project management, resource planning and billing. This helps teams stay aligned and removes the need to jump between spreadsheets, time‑tracking tools and scheduling apps. 

Improved decision making 

Real‑time dashboards show agency leaders how budgets, utilisation and profitability are tracking. With instant insight, you can act earlier to prevent overservicing and protect margins. 

Scalability 

Agencies grow fast. Business Central adapts with you, whether you are expanding your team, offering new services or managing larger retainers. Deployment options include cloud, on‑premises or hybrid models. 

Cost efficiency 

Automated processes reduce time spent on admin, approvals and manual reporting. This allows more time for client work while cutting operational waste. 

Regulatory compliance 

Agencies handle large volumes of client data. Business Central includes strong data protection measures, controlled user permissions and accurate audit trails, supporting compliance with data privacy regulations. 

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Discover how Microsoft Dynamics 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 marketing agencies 

Marketing agencies face unique challenges, from managing creative workflows to tracking billable time and ensuring projects stay within budget. Business Central supports these needs with tools that simplify day‑to‑day work and keep financial performance on track. Its customisable features can support agencies of all sizes, from boutique studios to full‑service digital teams. 

Project management  

Plan, manage and deliver projects with clear timelines, task planning and progress tracking. This helps teams deliver work on time and keep clients informed.

Budgeting and cost control 

Monitor budgets in real time and track expenses as they occur. This helps agencies stay profitable, reduce over-servicing and maintain financial control. 

Resource optimisation 

Ensure the right people are assigned to the right work. Business Central helps you manage capacity, track utilisation and avoid bottlenecks that slow delivery.

Why marketing agencies choose Dynamics 365 Business Central 

Time and expense tracking 

Capture billable hours and expenses in a single system. This improves billing accuracy and reduces revenue leakage, especially for agencies with large project portfolios. 

Media spend management 

Track budgets allocated for paid media across platforms. With real‑time visibility, campaign managers can adjust spending before a budget is exceeded. 

Retainer management 

Retainers involve repeated cycles of planning, delivery and reporting. Business Central helps agencies track forecasts, scope and deliverables to maintain strong client relationships. 

Client and supplier management 

Manage contracts, briefings, approvals and procurement from one place. This helps agencies collaborate better with suppliers such as freelancers, production companies and media partners. 

Reporting and insights 

Agency owners can see which clients, services or campaigns are most profitable. With data‑driven insights, you can make confident decisions about resource allocation, pricing and growth.

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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.

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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

Boost your agency operations with an ERP built for marketing

In marketing, the ability to plan ahead and respond to change is essential. Business Central brings your financial, operational and project data together, making it the ideal ERP for agencies that want tighter control, smoother delivery and better margins. 

If you want to understand how Business Central supports marketing agencies or explore what a modern ERP looks like, get in touch using the short form below. 

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Frequently asked questions

What is Dynamics 365 Business Central for marketing agencies?

It is a complete ERP system that helps marketing agencies manage finances, projects, resources and reporting in one place.

How does Business Central help marketing agencies improve profitability?

It provides real‑time visibility over budgets, time tracking, utilisation and project performance to help agencies prevent overservicing and protect margins.

Does Business Central support time and expense tracking for agencies?

Yes. It helps teams capture billable time and expenses accurately, improving revenue recovery and reducing manual admin.

Can Business Central manage retainers for marketing agencies?

Yes. Agencies can track retainer budgets, deliverables, scopes and reporting cycles through one connected system.

How does Business Central help agencies manage resources?

It shows capacity and utilisation so you can allocate people effectively, avoid bottlenecks and maintain delivery standards.

Is Business Central suitable for creative and digital agencies of any size?

Yes. The platform scales with your agency, from small creative studios to large multi‑discipline digital teams.

Does Business Central integrate with other Microsoft tools used by agencies?

Yes. It integrates with Microsoft 365, Teams, Power BI and Power Automate, helping agencies streamline workflows.

How does Business Central support agency finance teams?

It provides tools for budgeting, credit control, invoicing, forecasting and reporting, all in a single ERP.

Does Business Central help track media spend for marketing agencies?

Yes. Agencies can monitor campaign budgets, track spend in real time and reduce the risk of overspending.

How long does it take for a marketing agency to see value from Business Central?

Agencies usually see value once processes become centralised, reporting improves and teams spend less time on manual admin.