Western Computer, a premier Microsoft Dynamics partner, has teamed up with Microsoft to host an exclusive event titled “Navigate Forward: Business Central & The AI Advantage.” The half-day session will take place on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Microsoft’s Downers Grove, Illinois office. Doors open at 8:30 AM, with the program running from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM CT. This in-person gathering targets C-level executives, IT leaders, and finance professionals ready to harness AI for modern ERP.

The announcement, made on June 9, 2026, underscores a pivotal moment for organizations still relying on legacy Dynamics NAV or outdated on-premises systems. With Microsoft ending mainstream support for Dynamics NAV, the urgency to migrate has never been stronger. “Navigate Forward” promises to demystify the journey to Dynamics 365 Business Central—Microsoft’s cloud-native ERP—while spotlighting Copilot, the generative AI assistant now woven into the platform.

The Ticking Clock for Dynamics NAV Users

Dynamics NAV has been the backbone of countless SMBs for over two decades. However, Microsoft’s lifecycle policy means NAV 2018 and earlier are already out of extended support, and NAV 2013 R2 waved goodbye in January 2023. Even more modern versions lack the AI integrations and cloud agility that define today’s competitive landscape. Business Central isn’t just a successor; it’s a complete reimagining—built for Azure, constantly updated, and enriched with intelligent automation.

The pressure isn’t theoretical. Businesses clinging to NAV face security vulnerabilities, compliance risks, and escalating maintenance costs. Worse, they’re shut out of innovations like real-time analytics, flexible deployment, and the Copilot features that analysts predict will separate winners from losers in the 2026 economy. Western Computer’s event arrives at exactly this inflection point.

Why Business Central and Copilot Now?

Dynamics 365 Business Central launched in 2018 and has matured into a robust solution for finance, sales, service, and operations. It unifies data from across the business, enabling a single source of truth. The 2024 release waves introduced deeper integration with Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Teams. Now, Copilot takes center stage.

Copilot in Business Central isn’t a bolt-on chatbot. It’s embedded directly into workflows. Need a cash flow forecast? Ask Copilot. Want to generate a collection letter for a past-due customer? Copilot drafts it. Struggling to reconcile a complex bank statement? Copilot suggests matches and flags anomalies. During the event, live demos will show how these capabilities shrink the gap between insight and action.

Microsoft’s vision for “responsible AI by design” means Copilot respects role-based permissions and data boundaries. It learns from your business context without exposing proprietary information outside the tenant. Western Computer’s consultants will address common concerns—data governance, AI ethics, and customizability—during the Q&A.

Event Highlights and Agenda

The Downers Grove Microsoft office at 3025 Highland Parkway will transform into a hub of ERP innovation. Registration and a networking breakfast kick off at 8:30 AM. The formal agenda begins at 9:00 AM:

  • Keynote: The Imperative of Modernization – Western Computer’s CEO, Linda Collins, will frame the stakes. She’ll share data on ROI for cloud ERP migrations, including a recent Forrester study showing that businesses moving to Business Central recouped costs in under 13 months.
  • Copilot Deep Dive – Microsoft Cloud Solution Architect, David Simmons, will demo real-world Copilot scenarios: auto-generating inventory reorder proposals, drafting variance analyses in Excel, and summarizing overdue A/P insights in Teams.
  • Migration Roadmap – Western Computer’s VP of Technical Services, Mark Ellison, will outline a proven three-phase methodology: Assess, Migrate, Optimize. Attendees will see a live migration of a sample NAV database to Business Central online in under 30 minutes.
  • Customer Success Stories – Two local Illinois manufacturers will share their migration journeys. One reduced month-end close from five days to six hours using Copilot-assisted reconciliation. Another integrated supply chain alerts with Power Automate to cut stockouts by 45%.
  • Panel Discussion & Ask the Experts – An open forum where attendees can grill the speakers on licensing, custom add-ons, hybrid cloud scenarios, and Microsoft’s AI roadmap through 2027.

A light lunch will be served at noon, providing further networking opportunities. All registered attendees receive a complimentary “Migration Readiness Assessment” workbook and access to Western Computer’s exclusive Copilot enablement workshops.

Western Computer’s Unique Value

Western Computer isn’t a generic reseller. As a 2025 Microsoft Partner of the Year finalist for Dynamics 365 Business Central, they bring deep industry expertise in manufacturing, distribution, and professional services. Their team has completed over 600 NAV-to-Business Central upgrades, many for mid-market firms with highly customized environments. This event is a rare chance to interact directly with architects who have solved your exact challenges.

“We’re not selling software; we’re selling outcomes,” says Collins. “In 2026, the ERP conversation has shifted from ‘can we afford it?’ to ‘can we afford to wait?’ Copilot erases the artificial divide between back-office and front-office intelligence. Our goal is for every attendee to leave with a personalized business case.”

The Broader AI Landscape in ERP

The timing of this event aligns with Gartner’s prediction that by 2027, 75% of ERP users will interact with an AI agent daily. Copilot for Business Central already automates tasks that once required hours of manual effort. But the roadmap extends much further. Microsoft is experimenting with autonomous agents that can renegotiate supplier contracts or optimize multi-warehouse fulfillment without human intervention. While those capabilities are still in private preview, “Navigate Forward” will offer a glimpse into the near-future.

For Windows enthusiasts, the connection is obvious. Business Central runs seamlessly on Windows 11, leveraging Edge’s enterprise-grade security and Windows Hello for instant, password-less authentication. The entire Microsoft stack—from Windows endpoints to Azure data centers—has been optimized to deliver low-latency AI experiences. When you use Copilot in Business Central, the heavy lifting happens in Azure, but the responsive interface you trust lives on your Windows device.

How to Register and What to Expect

Seats are strictly limited to 40 attendees to ensure an interactive experience. Registration is handled through Western Computer’s website, with a simple form that asks for company size, current ERP, and key modernization goals. A confirmation email arrives within hours, including a parking pass and a digital agenda. Microsoft NDA guidelines apply for any roadmap discussions, so attendees should be prepared to sign a non-disclosure agreement on-site.

Can’t make it to Downers Grove? Western Computer plans to livestream the keynote and Copilot demo via Microsoft Teams, with a recorded version available the following week. However, the hands-on lab, one-on-one consulting slots, and networking lunch are exclusive to in-person participants. Given the rapid evolution of AI, face-to-face time with experts could be worth months of independent research.

A Regional Hub for Tech Innovation

Downers Grove, a western suburb of Chicago, has quietly become a nexus for Midwest technology. Microsoft’s office there regularly hosts Azure bootcamps, Power Platform hackathons, and now this ERP-focused event. It’s a 30-minute drive from O’Hare International Airport, with ample free parking and nearby hotels. For Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan businesses, the location minimizes travel headaches while offering a modern, well-equipped venue.

Microsoft’s local leadership is invested in the area, having expanded the Downers Grove office in 2024 to accommodate growing cloud and AI teams. Holding the event here signals that Western Computer and Microsoft see the Midwest as a priority market for Business Central adoption. Manufacturing and distribution—two sectors heavily reliant on NAV—form the backbone of the regional economy, making the message particularly resonant.

What Comes Next

Post-event, Western Computer’s blog will publish a recap with key takeaways and presentation slides. They’ve also teased a virtual “AI for Finance” mini-series starting in July 2026, which will delve deeper into Copilot’s FP&A capabilities. For those who attend the June 17 event, early access to beta Copilot features and a pilot migration program will be offered.

The ERP world is moving faster than ever. Western Computer’s “Navigate Forward” is more than a seminar—it’s a strategic decision point for leaders who understand that AI isn’t a future consideration; it’s a present necessity. As Linda Collins puts it: “The best time to modernize was yesterday. The next best time is June 17.”