Copilots and Agents for Dynamics 365 Business Central

Build production-ready AI agents for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central using AL, Copilot Toolkit, Copilot Studio, Azure, .NET, and MCP to automate workflows and create intelligent ERP solutionsKey FeaturesExplore Business Central’s native AI features, including copilots and built-in agentsFollow the hands-on Cronus Events journey to build copilots and agents with AL, Copilot Studio, Azure, MCP, and .NETTest, govern, secure, and optimize AI solutions with Microsoft Foundry, semantic search, and human-in-the-loop controlsBook DescriptionAgentic AI is transforming enterprise resource planning, moving ERP beyond transaction processing to systems that can reason, act, automate processes, and support better decisions. This practical book shows you how to design, build, test, and govern AI-powered solutions for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.The book follows the fictional Cronus Events company as it implements AI solutions across its business lifecycle. You’ll begin with LLM and agent fundamentals, build conversational experiences with Copilot Studio, and create AL copilots with the AI Development Toolkit. You’ll then test them using data-driven evaluations and the Business Central AI Test Toolkit.You’ll explore Business Central’s built-in AI capabilities and design custom agents that work with its data and user interface. You’ll apply semantic search, evaluate agent behavior, and move from prototyping to production. Finally, you’ll connect external AI clients through the Business Central MCP server and build advanced .NET solutions with Microsoft Agent Framework and Azure AI Search.By the end, you’ll be able to build secure, testable, and cost-aware agentic ERP solutions that deliver real business value.What you will learnUnderstand LLMs and how agentic AI differs from traditional automationExplore Business Central's native AI features, copilots, and agentsBuild AI solutions using AL and the AI Development ToolkitTest AI solutions with the AI Test Toolkit and Microsoft FoundryCreate agents with Copilot Studio grounded in Business Central dataOptimize custom agents with semantic searchBuild multi-agent solutions with Azure Logic Apps and Microsoft Agent FrameworkConnect AI clients through the Business Central MCP serverWho this book is forThis book is for Dynamics 365 Business Central developers, consultants, solution architects, implementation partners, and other technical professionals who want to build practical AI-powered solutions and agents for Business Central. Functional consultants who want to prototype agents, understand the available options, and collaborate with development teams will also find it useful. Knowledge of Business Central and basic AL development is recommended. Familiarity with .NET is helpful for the final chapter, but no previous experience with LLMs or AI agents is required.

Stefano Demiliani is a Microsoft MVP in Business Applications and Azure and an MCT. He worked for Lodestar spa and his main activity is architecting and developing enterprise solutions based on the entire stack of Microsoft technologies (mainly focused on ERP, AI, and serverless applications). He has worked with Packt Publishing on many IT books related to Azure cloud applications and Dynamics 365 Business Central, and he is a frequent speaker at IT conferences across Europe. In his free time, Stefano is also a runner and a cyclist. In his free time, Stefano is a runner and a cyclist. Dmitry Katson is a Microsoft MVP focused on AI and Business Applications, and the founder of CentralQ, the first AI assistant for Dynamics 365 Business Central. A decade ago, he began a mission to make Business Central smarter with AI, long before copilots were mainstream. Since then, he has helped shape Microsoft's own AI roadmap, contributing to innovations such as Semantic Search, Copilot Chat, the Developer Toolkit, and the Number Series Copilot. Dmitry brings deep experience in multi-agent architectures, ERP data reasoning, and applied generative AI. Dmitry received the Microsoft Contribution Hero Award and is also a frequent speaker and workshop leader at Business Central conferences worldwide. At home, he is a proud husband and father of two curious copilots, David and Teona. Roberto Corella has over 25 years of experience as a developer and consultant specializing in enterprise solutions based on Navision, Dynamics NAV, and Business Central. He has led international implementations in Mexico, India, Slovenia, and Spain, bringing a strong global perspective to technology project management. Since 2022, he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP in Business Applications (Business Central category) and, since 2010, as an MCT, delivering training in Power Platform, Artificial Intelligence, Power BI, Copilot Studio, and Business Central. He also holds more than 20 official Microsoft certifications. As an international speaker, he regularly presents at conferences and organizes workshops around the world, sharing his expertise with the Business Central community. Javier Armesto González is a Microsoft MVP in Dynamics 365 Business Central, focused on putting artificial intelligence to work in real business and personal processes. As Head of R&D and AI at VS Sistemas, he leads initiatives that merge business applications with emerging AI technologies. With multiple Microsoft certifications, including Azure AI Engineer Associate, he focuses on Copilot, multi-agent architectures, and MCP servers to modernize ERP systems. Javier is recognized for translating complex AI concepts into practical, enterprise-ready solutions that drive digital transformation.