As an IT manager, you are responsible for the stability, manageability, and ongoing development of Business Central. At the same time, pressure from the business is increasing: users want more, processes are changing faster, and expectations around Microsoft 365 integration are high.
The classic reflex, building custom solution, is expensive, difficult to maintain, and risky with every new Business Central update. There is an alternative that can help: apps from Microsoft AppSource.
This article explains what that means in practice, the advantages it offers, and what you as an IT manager should critically evaluate.
Microsoft AppSource is the official marketplace for applications built on top of the Microsoft platform, including Dynamics 365 Business Central. Apps are developed by external parties (ISVs, such as Q-Team Solutions) using the same AL programming language as Business Central itself.
The technical distinctions that matter for you as an IT manager:
Apps are installed as extensions, meaning they do not modify the base code of Business Central.
They are included in Microsoft’s standard update process; with every major release, apps are automatically validated.
They run both in the cloud (SaaS) and on-premises, depending on the provider’s certification.
Installation and management are handled through the Business Central Admin Center.
IT managers who have worked with custom development for years know the common pain points: updates that fail because a modification is incompatible, dependency on a single developer, and documentation that is rarely complete. Apps address some of these issues structurally.
Custom development doesn’t only cost money during the build phase, the real costs are in maintenance. Every Business Central update requires revalidation of custom code. With an AppSource app, the provider carries that responsibility.
Installing an app takes minutes. You don’t need to write detailed specifications, manage a development project, or go through a full UAT cycle. Proper implementation still requires functional testing and configuration, but the overall time investment is significantly lower.
Microsoft requires ISVs to certify their apps through AppSource. This means that with every Business Central update, the app must pass validation again. Potential issues are detected before they reach your production environment.
If your organization grows, an app grows with it. If you decide to stop using it, you simply remove the extension. You are not tied to a specific developer or to proprietary code that is difficult to transfer.
As an example: Q-Team Solutions develops apps for Business Central that address practical management challenges. Two of them are particularly relevant for IT managers.
One of the most common user complaints is that documents, emails, and tasks are scattered across Outlook, SharePoint, and Business Central without a clear connection to a customer, project, or transaction.
Dynamics Dossier creates structure by linking documents, emails, appointments, and tasks to the relevant Business Central records. The result is a consolidated dossier per entity, accessible directly from Business Central.
Relevant for IT managers:
No additional infrastructure or synchronization required; the app works on top of the existing Microsoft 365 environment.
Dossiers are visible to the correct users based on existing Business Central authorizations.
Less reliance on informal workarounds such as shared Outlook folders or ad-hoc SharePoint structures.
View the app here: Dynamics Dossier
Business Central allows users to send emails by default, but the built-in editor is limited and does not match how users typically work. The Edit in Outlook app solves this by allowing users to open and format an email from Business Central directly in the full Outlook client.
Benefits include:
Users work in a familiar environment, requiring no additional training.
Emails are stored in Business Central—not only in Outlook—improving audit trails and documentation.
Integration runs through the existing Microsoft 365 connection; no separate API configuration is required.
View the app here: Edit In Outlook
Apps are not a silver bullet. There are real risks that should be considered before adopting a Business Central app.
Not every app on AppSource is equally well maintained. Check update frequency, number of installations, and reviews. An app that hasn’t been updated in two years is a risk, even if it is Microsoft-certified.
Even certified apps can conflict with other extensions or specific configurations in your environment. Always test in a sandbox environment before installing in production. This is standard practice, not an exception.
Some apps store data in their own tables outside the standard Business Central data structure. Ask the vendor how data is stored and how it can be exported if you decide to remove the app.
With custom development you usually have a contract. With an app you have a subscription—but not always clear SLAs. Make sure you know who to contact when problems occur and what the expected response time is.
A pragmatic framework for evaluating an AppSource app:
Does the app solve a specific, recurring problem affecting multiple users?
Is the vendor actively maintaining the product and responding to feedback?
Can the app be tested without financial commitment (trial or free version)?
Are there references from similar organizations, ideally in your region?
What are the total costs: license, implementation, maintenance, and potential exit costs?
Only when these questions are clearly answered should an app move into serious evaluation.
Apps from Microsoft AppSource are a mature alternative to custom development and align well with the way Business Central is designed. For IT managers who want to keep their ERP environment manageable, updatable, and future-proof, carefully selected apps can be a strategic tool.
The benefits go beyond functionality: lower maintenance overhead, greater update reliability, and reduced dependency on individual developers. But as always, proper evaluation and a disciplined testing process remain essential.
Would you like to receive practical articles about Business Central apps? Subscribe to the Q-Team Solutions newsletter and receive updates directly in your inbox.
Subscribe via q-teamsolutions.com
View other articles
