If you have Dynamics NAV, GP or SL running on your own servers, Microsoft may be offering you more than just «you'll have to migrate sooner or later»: in recent years it has run several incentive programmes to make the jump to Business Central in the cloud cheaper if you do it within a set window. At AXPA365 we know this as Bridge to the Cloud.

Here's what it is, who it tends to apply to, and why it's worth checking whether your company qualifies before deciding when to migrate.

What Bridge to the Cloud is

It's a Microsoft programme aimed at customers who already hold an on-premises licence for Dynamics NAV, GP or SL with an active maintenance plan. Instead of paying the full cost of a cloud Business Central licence from day one, the programme recognises that existing contract and folds it into the cost of the new subscription for a set period.

[CONFIRM CURRENT TERMS]: the exact terms of the current version of the programme go here (duration, size of the incentive, eligibility requirements).

Who tends to be eligible

Generally speaking, these programmes tend to require:

  • An active on-premises licence for Dynamics NAV, GP or SL.
  • An active, uninterrupted maintenance contract (Enhancement Plan).
  • Completing the migration to Business Central in the cloud within the window set by the current version of the programme.

If your maintenance contract has already lapsed or hasn't been renewed for a while, you'll often be excluded. It's worth checking as soon as possible: every renewal of this programme has its own time window, and once it closes it doesn't come back with the same terms.

Why this changes the «when» of your migration

In our article on the end of support for Dynamics NAV we explain that migrating calmly, before your version loses support, is the sensible option. An incentive programme like this one adds another reason not to wait: if you're eligible, every month you delay the decision is a month you're leaving money on the table that Microsoft is willing to put in.

How to find out if your company qualifies

Start by locating your current maintenance contract number (Enhancement Plan) and confirming it's active. With that in hand, you can check directly with Microsoft or with a partner — like us — whether your specific case falls under the current version of the programme and exactly what terms would apply to you.

Frequently asked questions

Does the incentive cover implementation too?

No, and this is the most common confusion about this programme: it covers only the cost of the Business Central licence in the cloud for as long as the current version of the incentive runs, not the implementation work. Data migration, building the extensions that replace your custom development, training your team and support during go-live are a separate project, with its own budget independent of whatever Microsoft contributes on the licence side. This means that even if you fully qualify for the incentive and get a real saving on the licence, you still need to budget for implementation separately — we cover this in detail in our article on how much it costs to migrate from NAV to Business Central.

Can I still apply if my maintenance has already lapsed?

It depends on the exact terms of the current version of the programme at the time you check, so there's no single answer that holds forever. Some versions of the programme have included a window to reinstate a recently lapsed maintenance contract and regain eligibility; other versions haven't offered that option, requiring maintenance to have stayed active with no interruptions. Because the terms change with every renewal of the programme, the most reliable approach is to check your specific case directly with Microsoft or with a partner before assuming you're in or out, rather than relying on another company's experience with a different maintenance history.

What if my NAV version has already lost support — can I still qualify?

Yes, in principle you can: the programme looks at the state of your maintenance contract (Enhancement Plan), not at whether your specific NAV version is still technically supported by Microsoft. It's entirely possible to have an older version already out of its official lifecycle — as we explain in our article on the end of support for Dynamics NAV — and still keep an active, uninterrupted maintenance contract, which is what really determines your eligibility for this incentive. That's why it's worth checking even if your version has been unsupported for a while: maintenance and version support are two different things, and one doesn't depend on the other.

In summary

If you have NAV, GP or SL with active maintenance, don't assume migrating «whenever it's due» is the cheapest option: there may be a Microsoft incentive right now that makes migrating sooner cheaper than waiting.

Tell us what maintenance contract you hold and we'll check with you whether your company qualifies for the current programme, no strings attached.