App strategy for Business Central partners: Why best-of-breed beats custom development

Custom development solves specific needs – apps solve repeated ones

Customizations are often created to solve problems that are not unique. The same functionality is built again and again:

• Process structure
• Data visibility
• User guidance
• Operational control

Each time:

• Time is spent
• Risk is introduced
• Maintenance responsibility increases

Best-of-breed apps, on the other hand:

• Are designed to solve well-defined problems
• Are continuously improved by ISVs
• Are tested across many customers and industries

For partners, this means less reinvention – and more consistency.

Upgradeability is no longer optional

With Microsoft’s rapid release cycle, upgradeability has become critical.
Custom code:

• Must be tested every release
• Can block upgrades
• Creates long-term technical debt

Certified apps:

• Follow Microsoft’s standards
• Are updated continuously
• Reduce upgrade risk for both partner and customer

A strong app strategy protects not only the customer’s system – but also the partner’s delivery model.

Best-of-breed apps support standardization and scale

Scalability is one of the biggest challenges for growing partners. Custom-heavy projects often lead to:

• High dependency on specific consultants
• Inconsistent delivery quality
• Difficult onboarding of new team members

Best-of-breed apps enable partners to:

• Standardize solution components
• Reuse proven setups
• Deliver consistent value across customers

This makes it possible to scale without increasing complexity.

Customers want faster time to value

Modern customers expect results – quickly.
Long custom development cycles:

• Delay go-live
• Increase project costs
• Create uncertainty

Apps accelerate delivery by:

• Providing ready-made functionality
• Supporting best-practice processes
• Reducing project risk

From a customer perspective, best-of-breed apps are not a limitation – they are an accelerator.

From technical delivery to commercial differentiation

An app strategy is not just a technical decision.
It is a commercial one. Partners who rely on custom development often compete on:

• Hourly rates
• Scope negotiations
• Technical complexity

Partners who build solutions with apps compete on:

• Outcomes
• Speed
• Predictability
• Value

This shift changes the sales conversation – and strengthens the partner’s position.

Best-of-breed does not mean one-size-fits-all

A best-of-breed strategy does not mean abandoning flexibility. It means:

• Using apps where problems are common and repeatable
• Reserving custom development for true differentiators
• Building solutions that are structured, but adaptable

The goal is not to eliminate custom development – but to use it deliberately.

Apps like Eagle help partners build repeatable solutions

Solution-oriented partners use apps as building blocks. Apps like Eagle help partners:

• Add structure without customization
• Package value into a repeatable offering
• Reduce delivery risk while increasing customer value

Instead of building everything themselves, partners can focus on what matters most: delivering outcomes.

The strongest partners build on ecosystems, not isolated code

Business Central is no longer just an ERP – it’s a platform. Partners who embrace a best-of-breed app strategy:

• Deliver more stable solutions
• Scale more efficiently
• Future-proof their business

Custom development will always have a place. But the future belongs to partners who know when not to use it.