An ERP for the oil and gas industry: Dynamics 365 Business Central

Run your oil and gas operations on a connected ERP system. Dynamics 365 Business Central helps you control costs, manage assets, and keep projects on track across upstream, midstream and downstream activities.

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Why oil and gas businesses need Dynamics 365 Business Central

Oil and gas operations are complex when data sits in separate systems. Dynamics 365 Business Central brings together finance, projects, supply chain and field operations, so leaders can plan with confidence using one version of the truth. 

Dynamics 365 Business Central is a comprehensive ERP system for the oil and gas industry. It brings together financial management, project accounting, asset and equipment control, procurement, inventory and reporting in one connected platform. 
With it, you can replace multiple disconnected tools with a single system that supports better decisions, stronger cost control and clearer visibility of performance. If you want to see what an ERP built around the realities of oil and gas can do for your business, keep reading. 

Meet Business Central: an ERP for the oil and gas industry 

An ERP system designed for oil and gas will help you manage complex operations, high‑value assets and regulatory demands. Here is how Dynamics 365 Business Central supports that. 

Connected operations from wellhead to back office

Oil and gas organisations often run separate systems for finance, production, maintenance and supply chain. Business Central connects these core areas into a single ERP platform. This gives leaders and managers a clear view of costs, volumes, utilisation and profitability, all in one place. When everyone is working from the same data, it becomes easier to plan, prioritise and respond quickly when conditions change. 

Better cost control and project visibility

Capital projects, exploration work, maintenance campaigns and shutdowns all carry significant cost and risk. Business Central gives you detailed visibility of budgets, commitments and actuals, so you can see where money is being spent and where savings are possible. Project and cost centre reporting helps finance teams and operational leaders track spend against plan, keep projects on budget and protect margins. 

Stronger asset and maintenance management

Equipment downtime is expensive in oil and gas. Business Central helps you plan and track maintenance work, manage work orders and ensure the right parts are available when needed. By linking maintenance activities, inventory and costs, you can understand the real cost of keeping assets running and support decisions about repair, replacement or investment in new equipment. 

Improved decision making with real-time data

When data is delayed or stored in spreadsheets, it is hard to make timely decisions. Business Central offers dashboards, alerts and reporting that update in near real-time. Finance and operations teams can monitor key metrics such as production costs, project performance, cash flow and inventory levels. This helps you spot issues earlier, respond faster and make better decisions based on data, not guesswork.

Compliance, audit and security support

Oil and gas businesses operate in a heavily regulated environment. Business Central supports compliance with strong access controls, audit trails and structured financial processes. Standardised workflows, approvals and reporting reduce the risk of errors, help you prepare for audits and support your wider governance and risk management efforts. Built on the Microsoft cloud, it also benefits from enterprise‑grade security and regular updates. 

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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 oil and gas businesses 

Oil and gas organisations deal with fluctuating prices, high capital costs and complex operations across multiple locations and entities. Dynamics 365 Business Central is designed to help you handle these challenges, giving finance and operations teams the tools they need to manage projects, assets and supply chains more effectively. Its flexibility means it can support organisations focused on upstream, midstream, downstream or a mix of all three. 

Financial management and cost control

Business Central gives finance leaders a clear view of income, expenditure and profitability across assets, fields, projects and business units. You can manage general ledger, payables, receivables, fixed assets and cash flow in one system, with reporting that reflects your business structure. This helps you control operating expenditure and capital expenditure, improve forecasting and support more confident investment decisions. 

Project and capital expenditure management

Exploration projects, drilling programmes, pipeline work and facility upgrades all require careful management. With Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, you can set up projects, track budgets and monitor actual costs in detail. Project managers and finance teams can see how spend is tracking against plan, understand the impact of variations and make adjustments before small issues become costly overruns. 

Supply chain, inventory and field operations 

From spare parts and consumables to specialist equipment, oil and gas supply chains are complex. Business Central helps you manage purchasing, approvals, supplier relationships and inventory levels in one place. You can keep the right stock available for field teams, reduce rush orders and gain better visibility of what is held where. This supports smoother field operations and helps reduce both downtime and waste. 

Why oil and gas businesses choose Dynamics 365 Business Central

Oil and gas financial management  

Finance teams in oil and gas need accurate, timely information to manage cash flow, investments and ongoing costs. Business Central supports day‑to‑day financial operations, from invoicing and payments to fixed asset depreciation and period end close. With a single source of financial data, you can consolidate results, analyse performance and provide leadership with clear, reliable reports. 

Project and shutdown planning

Planned shutdowns, turnarounds and major maintenance events demand tight planning and control. Business Central allows you to set up dedicated projects with defined budgets, tasks and timelines. You can allocate resources, track progress and monitor costs in real time. This gives project managers and operations leaders the information they need to keep activities on schedule and within budget. 

Field service and maintenance coordination

Field teams need clear work orders, accurate asset information and access to the right parts. Business Central helps you coordinate maintenance activities, allocate jobs and track completion. Integrated inventory and purchasing means you can ensure required parts are available before work begins. This reduces delays, supports safer operations and helps extend asset life. 

Procurement and supplier management

Oil and gas businesses often work with a wide range of suppliers, from global manufacturers to local service providers. Business Central centralises purchasing processes, supplier data and contract information. Standardised approvals and workflows help you control spend, while better visibility of purchasing data supports stronger supplier negotiations and more effective cost management. 

Multi-entity and multi-site operations

Many oil and gas organisations operate across multiple entities, regions and sites. Business Central can support multi‑company structures, helping you manage inter-company transactions, shared services and consolidated reporting. This makes it easier to understand performance across the whole organisation while still giving local teams the tools they need to run day‑to‑day operations. 

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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.

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Supercharge your operations with an ERP made for oil and gas

In oil and gas, control and visibility matter. Business Central is an ERP for the oil and gas industry that connects your finance, projects, assets and supply chain in one system. This helps your organisation manage costs, protect margins and respond more quickly to operational and market changes. 

To learn more about Business Central, or to see what an ERP for oil and gas could look like for your organisation, get in touch via this short form.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central for oil and gas businesses?

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is an ERP system that brings together finance, projects, supply chain, asset management and reporting in one integrated platform. For oil and gas businesses, it helps manage complex operations, high‑value assets and multi‑site activities while giving leadership clear visibility of costs and performance.

Is Dynamics 365 Business Central suitable for upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas?

Yes. Business Central is flexible enough to support organisations focused on upstream exploration and production, midstream transportation and storage, and downstream refining and distribution. It can be configured around your specific processes and reporting needs, whether you operate in one area of the value chain or across all three.

How does Business Central help oil and gas finance teams?

Business Central gives finance teams a single source of truth for financial data. It supports general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets and cash flow in one system. With built‑in reporting and analytics, finance leaders can analyse costs by asset, project, location or business unit, improve forecasting and support more informed investment decisions.

Can Dynamics 365 Business Central manage project and capital expenditure in oil and gas?

Yes. Business Central includes strong project and job management capabilities. You can set up projects for exploration work, drilling programmes, shutdowns or facility upgrades, assign budgets and track costs in detail. This helps you monitor capital expenditure, understand variances and keep projects within agreed limits.

How does Business Central support field service and maintenance in oil and gas?

Business Central helps you plan and manage maintenance work by linking assets, work orders, inventory and costs. Field teams can receive clear job information, while planners can see which parts are needed and whether they are available. This supports more efficient maintenance, reduces unplanned downtime and helps extend asset life.

Does Business Central support multi-entity oil and gas organisations?

Business Central can support multi‑company and multi‑entity structures. It allows you to manage inter-company transactions, share data where needed and produce consolidated reports. This is particularly valuable for oil and gas groups that operate through joint ventures, subsidiaries or separate legal entities across different regions.

Is Dynamics 365 Business Central cloud based and secure enough for oil and gas data?

Business Central is typically delivered as a cloud solution on the Microsoft platform, which includes strong security, compliance and data protection features. This means your organisation benefits from regular updates, resilience and built‑in security capabilities, helping you protect sensitive operational and financial data.

How does Business Central integrate with other systems used in oil and gas?

Business Central is part of the wider Microsoft ecosystem, which makes integration with other Microsoft tools, such as Power BI and Microsoft 365, straightforward. It can also be connected to third‑party systems, such as industry‑specific tools or field data capture solutions, so you can build a connected landscape rather than adding yet another isolated system.

How long does it take to implement Business Central for an oil and gas organisation?

Implementation times vary depending on the size of your organisation, the complexity of your processes and the scope of the project. A focused implementation that targets core finance and operations will usually be quicker than a programme that covers multiple entities and extensive customisation. The right partner will help you define a realistic scope and roadmap that fits your priorities.

What is the difference between Dynamics 365 Business Central and other Dynamics ERP options for oil and gas?

Dynamics 365 Business Central is designed for small and medium‑sized organisations that want a connected ERP system for finance and operations. Other Dynamics ERP products, such as Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management, are aimed at larger enterprises with more complex requirements. Many oil and gas businesses find that Business Central offers the right balance of capability, flexibility and cost for their needs.