Business Central for retail and ecommerce businesses selling in store and online

One stock picture for retail and ecommerce in Business Central

Every store, back room and warehouse is a location in Business Central. Transfer orders move stock between them. Buyers see sales and stock by location. So they can rebalance slow and fast sellers before a store runs out.

Item variants handle sizes, colors and styles. You do not need a separate item for each mix. So the catalog stays easy to manage as ranges grow.

Point of sale connected for retail and ecommerce

Business Central has no point of sale screen of its own. Stores use a POS system that connects to it. That can be a retail POS app built for Business Central. Or it can be your current till, linked through its own tools. Either way, daily sales, payments and stock moves post without typing.

First we look at how many stores and tills you run. Then we check your payment providers and whether staff need offline selling. After that we suggest the link that fits. We do not pick the one with the longest feature list.

Web orders for retail and ecommerce fulfilled from one stock

The Shopify connector from Microsoft syncs products, prices, stock and orders with Business Central. Orders arrive as sales documents, ready to pick and ship. Stock levels flow back. So the shop does not sell what you do not have.

Other platforms and marketplaces connect through apps or the Business Central APIs. We plan the flow of orders, refunds and payouts. So finance can match each channel without a spreadsheet.

Retail and ecommerce returns handled in Business Central

Sales return orders bring goods back into stock. Or they send goods to a returns location for a check. A credit memo then reverses the revenue the right way. Reason codes show why customers send things back. That is useful feedback for buyers.

For online returns, you can match refunds made in the shop to the credit in Business Central. So the customer balance and the bank agree.

Dated prices and promotions for retail and ecommerce in Business Central

In Business Central, price lists carry start and end dates for both retail and ecommerce channels. So a seasonal price or a sale is set up early and ends by itself. Customer groups let loyalty or trade buyers see different prices from the public.

Margin reports then show how each promotion changed profit. They do not show sales volume alone. So you plan the next promotion on facts.

Questions from retailers and online sellers

Is Business Central for retail and ecommerce a good fit for a store group?

Yes, as the back office for stock, buying, pricing and finance. Stores connect a POS system to it, since Business Central has no POS of its own. Then sales, payments and stock moves post to one ledger. So the head office sees every store in one place, and buyers plan from the same facts.

Does Business Central connect to Shopify?

Yes. Microsoft gives you a Shopify connector. It syncs products, prices, stock and orders between the two systems. So web orders arrive ready to ship, and stock counts flow back to the shop. We set up the mapping and test it with real orders before you go live.

Can Business Central handle sizes and colors?

Yes. Item variants show sizes, colors or styles under one item. Each variant has its own stock. So a buyer can see which size is low without scanning a long list. Reports can still roll the variants up to the main item when you need the big picture.

How does Business Central handle marketplace sales?

Marketplaces connect through apps or the Business Central APIs. Orders, fees and payouts post to the ledger. So each channel can be matched to its bank deposits. We plan the accounts for fees and refunds first. Then finance can see true margin for each channel.

Can we run retail and ecommerce promotions in Business Central?

Yes. Price lists and line discounts with start and end dates handle most promotions. They end on their own. For more complex retail offers, such as bundles, you add a retail app. We look at your plans for the year first. Then we say which tool fits.

Related pages for retailers

Retail and ecommerce projects on Business Central depend on good links and tight stock control. These pages explain the integrations, the inventory tools and the way a project runs. The contact page reaches our consultants, who can look at your channels. For the product detail, see Microsoft's guide to the Shopify connector.