Challenges in ERP System Transitions from On premises to cloud: Migrating from Unibis to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Abstract

This thesis investigates the organizational, technical, and process-related implications of migrating from the legacy Unibis system to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. While ERP projects are often perceived as technical endeavors, the findings of this study demonstrate that successful migration requires a broader organizational transformation involving governance structures, business process redesign, user readiness, and knowledge management. Through a qualitative case study supported by semi-structured interviews and a review of ERP implementation literature, the research identifies key challenges associated with the migration, including limited end-user involvement, insufficient top-management support, inadequate organizational readiness, and a lack of structured change-management practices. The study also identifies several critical success factors that influence migration outcomes. These include active end-user participation, strong managerial commitment, effective team composition, cross-functional cooperation, robust testing and start-up environments, and early attention to data analysis and conversion. Based on these insights, the thesis proposes five preparation actions to support the transition from Unibis to Business Central: establishing change management and governance early, evaluating and standardizing business processes, prioritizing knowledge transfer and training, conducting early data and integration assessments, and utilizing phased implementation and pilot projects to reduce risk. Overall, the research concludes that the Unibis–Business Central migration should be understood not as a technical upgrade but as a comprehensive modernization initiative. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of ERP migration in SMEs by highlighting the interplay between organizational readiness, legacy system dependencies, and cloud-based ERP adoption. The thesis also outlines research limitations and suggests directions for future studies, including ERP governance in cloud environments, knowledge-transfer practices in legacy contexts, and comparative analyses of migration strategies across organizations.