How to migrate from Dynamics NAV to Sage Intacct
To migrate a client from Dynamics NAV to Sage Intacct with superglue's AI agent, connect the client's NAV database, and give superglue access to the client's Sage Intacct account. superglue assesses the data in minutes, plans every phase, recommends an answer to each decision, and runs a trial load that reconciles to the cent before cutover. You review, decide and sign off with the client.
Microsoft's extended support for NAV 2018, the last NAV version, ends in January 2028, so most NAV clients plan their move now.
What are the steps to migrate from Dynamics NAV to Sage Intacct?
Migrating from Dynamics NAV to Sage Intacct takes six steps: connect both systems, assess the data, plan every phase, decide the mapping, run a trial load and cut over. Each load repeats exactly what you tested, and every write waits for your approval.
- 01
Connect Dynamics NAV and Sage Intacct
Connect the NAV database on SQL Server read-only. superglue writes nothing. The client then gives superglue access to Sage Intacct.
- 02
Assess the Dynamics NAV data
In minutes, superglue counts every record, finds the open items and lists the data issues with examples. You know the size of the migration before you quote it.
- 03
Plan every phase
superglue drafts the plan from discovery to cutover, with tasks, owners and the Dynamics NAV specifics already in it.
- 04
Decide the mapping
superglue brings each decision below with a recommendation from the client's own data. You confirm or change each answer, and the client signs the mapping.
- 05
Run the trial load
superglue loads a Sage Intacct sandbox or implementation company and compares it with Dynamics NAV: the trial balance per period, the open receivables and payables per customer and vendor, and the inventory value. superglue explains every difference before cutover.
- 06
Cut over
At cutover, superglue loads the final data with the same steps as the trial load, and you sign the reconciliation with the client.
How do you get the data out of Dynamics NAV?
- The client's IT creates a read-only SQL Server login for the NAV database, and the superglue gateway reaches the server on the client's network.
- NAV versions before NAV 2013 may run on the native database, which needs a move to SQL Server or an export first.
- Each company has its own tables, so list every company in scope.
- Ask whether the client ran date compression. Compressed years keep only one entry per period, so their detail cannot move.
The client installs the superglue gateway once: Connecting to on-prem systems
What needs to be configured in Sage Intacct?
The client authorizes the superglue sender ID in Sage Intacct and adds a user for superglue. superglue configures Sage Intacct and loads the data through that access, in a Sage Intacct sandbox or implementation company first, in this order:
- 01
Multi-entity, the base currencies and the first fiscal month. Base currencies and the first fiscal month can change only before transactions exist.
- 02
The configuration of each module, such as General Ledger, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, and the names of terms and dimensions.
- 03
Entities, locations, departments and the other dimensions.
- 04
The chart of accounts and the journals.
- 05
Customers, vendors and items, then the opening balances and the open items.
Access setup for the client: Sage Intacct configuration guide
What moves from Dynamics NAV to Sage Intacct?
| In Dynamics NAV | In Sage Intacct |
|---|---|
| Chart of accounts | GL accounts |
| Dimensions and dimension values | Dimensions such as departments, locations and classes |
| Customers | Customers |
| Jobs | Projects |
| Vendors | Vendors |
| Items | Items |
| Bank accounts | Checking and credit card accounts |
Open items
Open customer and vendor ledger entries, open sales and purchase documents, and item ledger entries with their remaining quantity and cost.
Open items load as AR invoices and AP bills with their original numbers, dates and due dates, so the aging in Sage Intacct matches on day one.
History
NAV keeps every ledger entry since the first posting unless someone ran date compression, which keeps only one entry per period. superglue reads the entries per company and per fiscal year.
History loads as summary journal entries per month, account and dimension.
Which decisions do you make when you migrate from Dynamics NAV to Sage Intacct?
- 01
Where do NAV dimensions go?
NAV dimensions map well to Sage Intacct dimensions. The global dimensions usually become departments or locations.
superglue maps each NAV dimension in use to a standard or user-defined dimension in Sage Intacct.
- 02
How do NAV posting groups become Sage Intacct accounts?
Sage Intacct sets the accounts of items through item GL groups, and those of customers and vendors through customer and vendor GL groups.
superglue proposes item GL groups from the general product and inventory posting groups, so the same items post to the same accounts.
- 03
Which companies become entities, and which become locations?
In Sage Intacct, an entity has its own books, tax and bank accounts. A location only adds a reporting value.
superglue recommends one entity for each legal company in Dynamics NAV, and locations for the sites inside a company.
- 04
Which records are shared across entities?
Customers, vendors and items can live at the top level and be shared, or belong to one entity.
superglue recommends shared customers and vendors, so each company appears once and intercompany reporting stays clean.
- 05
How much history moves?
Most clients need the open items plus one to two years of monthly balances in Sage Intacct, and older years as yearly balances. The client keeps the older detail in an archive.
superglue recommends two years of monthly balances per account, and full transaction detail only where the client needs to look into single transactions.
What are the common challenges when you migrate from Dynamics NAV to Sage Intacct?
Customizations live in the database code
NAV customizations are written in C/AL inside the database, and they do not carry over to a new system. superglue lists the custom fields and tables that hold data, so you decide what moves.
Posting groups decide the accounts of documents
General, customer, vendor and inventory posting groups decide which accounts each sales, purchase and inventory entry hits. superglue maps each combination in use to the account defaults in the new system.
Retire old dimension values before the mapping
Years of projects and campaigns leave thousands of NAV dimension values, many of them blocked. Agree with the client which ones still matter, because every value that moves needs a mapping. superglue counts how often each value was used.
Multi-company clients need an intercompany plan
Clients with several companies keep one set of tables for each, with intercompany balances between them. Agree early which companies merge, which become entities, and how the intercompany balances settle. superglue reads every company and matches the intercompany balances.
Plan module configuration as its own workstream
In Sage Intacct, the settings of General Ledger, Accounts Payable and the other modules cannot be imported like data. Unless the partner starts from a template company, they are set by hand, screen by screen. superglue sets them and checks every value, so the configuration is ready when the data is.
Agree user-defined dimensions with the person who reports on them
A user-defined dimension stays in Sage Intacct once it holds data. Add only the ones the client will report on, and get each one agreed before the first load.
superglue also runs the rest of the Sage Intacct project. See the Sage Intacct implementation
Frequently asked questions
Which data moves from Dynamics NAV to Sage Intacct?
The chart of accounts, customers, vendors and items, the open items, and as much history as the client needs. The mapping table on this page shows where each record lands in Sage Intacct.
Does superglue write to Sage Intacct without my approval?
No. superglue only reads Dynamics NAV. Before any write to Sage Intacct, it shows the target, the connection and a transformed sample, and waits for your approval.
How do I know the migration is complete?
superglue reconciles the trial load and the final load against Dynamics NAV: the trial balance per period, the open receivables and payables per customer and vendor, and the inventory value. You get a reconciliation report to sign with the client.
What happens when I start this migration?
You sign up and connect the client's systems. If you want to see a full migration run first, superglue can set up Pinecrest Supply, a sample client.
Start your Dynamics NAV to Sage Intacct migration
Sign up and connect the client's systems, or let superglue set up Pinecrest Supply, a sample client, to see a full migration run first.