Business Central Release Wave: How to Prepare for Microsoft Updates
Updates to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central are an integral part of the platform’s evolution. Every year, Microsoft rolls out new features, performance improvements, and security patches through what are known as Release Waves.
For companies using Business Central, fully understanding these updates—and, above all, preparing for them—is essential to avoid disruptions, regressions, or unpleasant surprises.
What is a Release Wave in Business Central?
Business Central Release Waves are major waves of updates scheduled by Microsoft.
There are two per year:
- Release Wave 1: in the spring (April to September)
- Release Wave 2: in the fall (October to March)
These updates apply to all Business Central environments, including production environments.
The Business Central update cycle explained
Each Release Wave follows a specific update cycle. Understanding it helps you maintain control over your environments.
- Preview period
This phase allows you to test the new version in a sandbox environment. It is the ideal stage to validate new features and verify the compatibility of your extensions and customizations.
- Update period
The new version becomes officially available. You can schedule the update date for your existing environments within a specific window.
- Grace Period
At this stage, it is no longer possible to postpone the update. If the update fails, Microsoft automatically reschedules the attempt.
- Forced Update
If the update has not been performed, it is applied automatically. Certain incompatible extensions may be temporarily uninstalled to ensure the upgrade.
Why plan ahead for a Business Central update?
A Business Central update doesn’t just affect the standard platform. It can also impact:
- Third-party extensions
- Custom developments
- Integrations with other systems
Without prior testing, these elements can cause:
- Operational errors
- Service interruptions
- Urgent and costly adjustments
Preparing for Release Waves helps reduce risks and allows you to take advantage of new features more quickly.
Best Practices for Successful Business Central Updates
For a stress-free update, Microsoft and Inmind recommend several key best practices:
- Test each new version in a sandbox
- Copy the production environment to a sandbox
- Perform regression testing on critical processes
- Schedule the update within the authorized window
- Verify that Business Central notifications are properly configured
These steps help turn updates into opportunities for continuous improvement.
In conclusion
Business Central Release Waves are part of the normal evolution cycle of Microsoft Dynamics 365.
By planning ahead and adopting best practices, you can protect your environment while benefiting from the latest innovations.
Wondering if your Business Central environment is ready for the next Release Wave?
Contact the Inmind team to assess your readiness.
