Preparing Business Central for Agentic AI: Governance Before Automation

In Dynamics 365 Business Central, new capabilities are starting to do more than assist users. They can generate reports, update records, move data between systems, and trigger steps in a workflow automatically. Instead of answering questions, the software begins to take action.

That’s where the real productivity gains show up. Routine tasks take less time. Reporting cycles shrink. Teams spend less effort on manual updates. At the same time, this shift changes the risk profile of the ERP environment.

When automation is allowed to act directly on live data, underlying weaknesses tend to surface quickly. Access rules that were never reviewed, overly broad permissions, unclear ownership of processes, or limited traceability can suddenly become real operational issues. Things that felt manageable when work was manual become harder to control when software starts executing steps at scale.

Governance Before Automation: Getting ERP Ready for AI

This is one of the main reasons many AI pilots struggle to move beyond proof of concept. The tools work as expected, but the surrounding processes and governance aren’t ready for them.

In practice, successful rollouts usually start with preparation rather than new features. Teams clean up role-based access, clarify who is responsible for automated outcomes, introduce logging and approvals where needed, and make sure data structures are consistent enough to support reliable automation. They also agree upfront on how value will be measured — typically time saved or cycle time reduced, not just usage statistics.

None of this is particularly exciting, but it’s what allows AI to deliver steady results instead of surprises.

Automation tends to amplify whatever foundation already exists. Well-structured environments get faster and more efficient. Disorganized ones feel the strain.

For organizations considering AI inside Business Central, governance and data quality are often the most important starting points.

Data Courage works with teams to strengthen that foundation first, so AI and analytics initiatives can scale safely and produce measurable business value.

For a deeper dive into AI and ERP strategy, Kamil Karbowiak, CEO at Data Courage, covers these topics regularly in his LinkedIn newsletter. Subscribe here.