Microsoft provides detailed licensing guides for download on the Dynamics web page. These were designed to help you determine what licenses you need. There is a separate guide for Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management (F&SCM) and Business Central (BC). There is also a special guide targeted at existing Microsoft clients using GP, NAV, BC and AX, which addresses the migration discounts available. The licensing guides are quite difficult to navigate but are worth reading through at least once.
Both BC and F&SCM are based on NAMED USERS. This is a different basis than GP and NAV were sold and new user counts will need to be determined. The licensing for AX2012 and F&SCM is similar (named users) but now, clients will need to determine whether their users need access to the Finance suite, the Supply Chain suite, or both.
For clients that buy their MSFT licenses directly from their partner, there is a program that provides for a “trade in” discount on the licenses you already own. For those who buy through an Enterprise Agreement (Finance & Supply Chain Management only), prices are supplied directly from Microsoft.
To work out your licenses, we recommend starting off by cracking open a spreadsheet!
A note on Multiplexing: Take special note of the multiplexing rules in the licensing guide if you are using integrated third-party (or custom built) integrated applications. The rules are the same for BC and F&SCM. Users of an integrated third-party WMS system, for example, may also need Dynamics licenses.