A Limited-Time Discount Is Changing How Businesses Move to Microsoft Dynamics 365

For many organizations still running on legacy, on-premises ERP or CRM systems, modernization has felt inevitable, but expensive, disruptive, and risky.

That’s starting to change.

Microsoft has introduced a limited-time discount program designed to help businesses transition from older Dynamics platforms to the cloud at a significantly reduced cost. This is a structured incentive meant to accelerate cloud adoption while reducing financial and operational pressure.

For companies considering a move to Dynamics 365, this program represents one of the most practical opportunities we’ve seen in years.

Why Microsoft Is Offering This Discount Now

Microsoft has been very clear about its long-term strategy: cloud-based platforms are the future of business operations. Legacy systems require more maintenance, create more security exposure, and slow down innovation.

By offering a multi-year discount, Microsoft is encouraging organizations to modernize sooner rather than later, while giving them breathing room to plan the transition properly.

This incentive is particularly relevant for organizations still using Dynamics GP, NAV, SL, AX, or other on-premises solutions that are becoming harder to support and integrate with modern tools.

What the Discount Actually Covers

The program provides up to 30% off licensing for a three-year term when eligible organizations migrate from on-premises Dynamics products to Dynamics 365 cloud licenses.

Key elements of the discount include:

• A locked-in reduced rate for 36 months
• Eligibility tied to existing on-prem Dynamics licenses
• Coverage for core modules such as finance, operations, sales, and service
• Flexibility to add users during the discounted term

Unlike short promotional offers, this program is designed to support a thoughtful, phased migration, not a rushed cutover.

Who Is Eligible and Who Isn’t

Eligibility is specific, and that’s where many organizations get tripped up.

In general, businesses qualify if they:

• Currently run a supported on-prem Dynamics product
• Transition to eligible Dynamics 365 cloud SKUs
• Commit to a three-year subscription term
• Enroll during Microsoft’s defined promo window

What’s important to understand is that eligibility isn’t automatic. License history, product type, and migration path all matter. Purchasing the wrong SKU or migrating in the wrong order, can disqualify an organization from the discount entirely.

This is one of the reasons working with a Microsoft partner is critical.

Why This Is More Than a Licensing Conversation

It’s tempting to view this offer as “just a discount,” but that misses the bigger picture.

A move to Dynamics 365 isn’t only about lower licensing costs. It’s about modernizing how finance, operations, customer data, and reporting work together. The cloud platform enables:

• Better integration with Microsoft 365 and Power BI
• Improved security and compliance controls
• More flexibility for remote and hybrid teams
• Faster access to updates and new capabilities

The discount simply makes it easier to justify the investment.

The Risk of Waiting Too Long

Microsoft has already reduced incentives compared to earlier programs, and there’s no indication that future discounts will be more generous.

Organizations that delay risk:

• Paying full cloud licensing costs later
• Running unsupported or lightly supported on-prem systems
• Facing higher security and compliance exposure
• Missing opportunities to modernize alongside other Microsoft initiatives

For businesses that know a move to Dynamics 365 is inevitable, waiting often increases cost rather than reducing it.

How the Migration is Done with CSE

One of the most misunderstood aspects of this program is the migration process itself.

Microsoft allows dual-use rights during the transition period, meaning organizations can continue operating their on-prem system while preparing their cloud environment. This enables:

• Phased data migration
• Parallel testing and validation
• User training before full cutover
• Reduced operational disruption

A well-planned migration to Dynamics 365 should feel controlled and deliberate.

Why a Microsoft Partner Matters More Than Ever

This discount program is not something most organizations should attempt to navigate alone.

Between eligibility rules, SKU selection, data migration planning, and security considerations, there are many ways to get it wrong.

At CSE, our role is to help businesses:

• Confirm eligibility before any commitment is made
• Design the most cost-effective licensing strategy
• Plan a migration timeline that minimizes risk
• Align the move to Dynamics 365 with broader IT and security goals
• Support adoption and optimization after go-live

The difference between a successful modernization and an expensive mistake often comes down to planning.

Cost Savings Are Only Part of the ROI

Yes, the discount can generate substantial savings over three years. But the real return comes from what the platform enables.

Organizations that move to Dynamics 365 often see improvements in:

• Financial visibility and reporting
• Process automation
• Data accuracy across departments
• Scalability without new infrastructure investments

When paired with modern security and cloud governance, the platform becomes a foundation for growth, not just a replacement system.

What This Means Going Into 2026

Microsoft is clearly signaling where it wants customers to be headed over the next several years: cloud-based, integrated, and secure.

This discount program is one of the last large-scale incentives designed to ease that transition.

For organizations evaluating their 2026 technology roadmap, Dynamics 365 should be part of the conversation.

FAQs about this Promotion

Q1: What are the key differences between Bridge to the Cloud 2 and Bridge to Cloud 3?

A: Bridge to Cloud 3 provides less discount (30% vs 40%) and a reduced duration for $0 user benefits (2
years vs 3 years).

Q2: Can customers who previously licensed Bridge to the Cloud 1 (BTTC), Bridge to the Cloud 2
(BTTC2), or any other migration offer use this promotion?

A: No, customers of existing/prior migration promotions are ineligible for BTC3.

Q3: Can customers who licensed a small quantity of Dynamics 365 online licenses for testing enroll in this promotion?

A: Use of a free trial offer (prior to BTC3 enrollment) does not impact eligibility for this BTC3 promotion.
Although customers with prior paid online licenses of same product are normally ineligible for this
promotion, as an exception such customer is not excluded if their peak number of paid Dynamics 365
online full users to date does not exceed 10% of the number of full users that will be licensed at BTC3
enrollment.

Q4: Can customers with lapsed EP enroll in this promotion?

A: Customer must have active EP to enroll. However, as an exception, customers whose EP lapsed for 30
days or less may enroll without facing lapsed fees.
Customers with EP lapsed for more than 30 days must pay for the lapsed period to enroll in the
promotion. Lapsed fees are capped at 3 years’ backpay, except for customers licensed on Dynamics NAV
2009, Dynamics GP 2010, Dynamics AX 2009 or Dynamics AX 2012 which are capped at 1 year’s backpay
(provided this capped value is requested when the renewal order is submitted). Once enrolled, renewal EP
cost for the forthcoming year will be waived.

Q5: Can this promotion be combined with other transition offers or promotions?

A: No, this promotion cannot be combined with other offers or promotions.

Conclusion

Discount programs like this don’t last forever, and they’re rarely repeated at the same scale.

For businesses already thinking about modernization, this is less about chasing a deal and more about choosing the right moment.

With the right planning and guidance, a transition to Dynamics 365 can be both financially and operationally smart, especially while Microsoft is still helping to offset the cost.