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Dynamics 365 Community / Forums / Small and medium business | Business Central, N... / Small College or Unive...
Small and medium business | Business Central, N...
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Small College or University BC Add-On

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Posted on by SL_GP_BC_123 1,106
Any recommendations for a Student Information System (SIS) that would work well with Business Central we are looking at a College with roughly 4000 students?  Please note, I've already browsed app source, instead I am seeking advice from consultants who may have implemented BC in higher learning environments. 
 
Look forward to a response.  
 
JG
Categories:
Dynamics 365 Business Central
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  • Suggested answer
    Dr Gomathi MVP, MCT Community lead, MLE Profile Picture
    Dr Gomathi MVP, MCT... 395 Moderator on at
    Hi JG,
     

    There aren’t many out-of-the-box Student Information Systems (SIS) that integrate seamlessly with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC), but there are a few approaches and options based on real-world implementations in higher education settings:

    1. Tailored Business Central Customization

    • Given BC’s flexibility, some colleges/universities opt for a custom-built extension within Business Central that manages student records, course registration, tuition, and financial aid.
    • You can leverage Power Apps + Dataverse for student-related workflows while using BC for financial and operational data.

    2. Higher Education-Focused Solutions with BC Integrations

    Some institutions have implemented third-party SIS systems with BC integration using APIs, middleware (like Power Automate, Azure Functions, or custom connectors). Here are some SIS platforms that could work:

    • Unit4 Student Management – Modern cloud-based SIS with financials integration capabilities for BC.
    • Anthology Student (formerly Campus Management) – While primarily built for Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations, it can be integrated with BC for finance.
    • Jenzabar One – Higher education ERP with APIs that allow financial integration with BC.
    • Ellucian Colleague or Banner – Requires custom connectors for BC, but institutions have successfully linked finance modules.

    3. Middleware/Integration for Standalone SIS & BC

    If you have a preferred SIS that lacks BC integration, you can use middleware such as:

    • Boomi, KingswaySoft (SSIS), Azure Logic Apps, or Power Automate to sync financial data between BC and the SIS.
    • Dynamics 365 Sales/Customer Service (CRM) as a bridge for student engagement and record tracking.

    4. Open Source & Alternative SIS with BC Integration Potential

    • Odoo Education + BC Integration – Can be linked via APIs.
    • OpenSIS or Fedena – Lower-cost alternatives that require custom BC integration.

    Points to consider

    • If financials are the key focus, integrating an existing SIS with BC’s financial module might be the best option.
    • If a fully BC-native approach is preferred, a custom extension leveraging Power Platform could be the best way forward.

    Would love to know if you're leaning towards a specific approach—do you already have an SIS in mind, or are you looking to build something directly within BC?

    Regards,

    Dr. Gomathi S

  • Suggested answer
    Saif Ali Sabri Profile Picture
    Saif Ali Sabri 2,354 Moderator on at

    For a Student Information System (SIS) that integrates well with Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC) for a college with ~4,000 students, here are some recommended solutions based on real-world implementations:

    1. Jenzabar One

    • A well-known SIS designed for higher education.
    • Can integrate with Dynamics 365 Business Central for financials, payroll, and budgeting.
    • Offers student billing, course management, and financial aid tracking.

    2. Anthology (formerly Campus Management)

    • A robust SIS with strong finance, student engagement, and learning management capabilities.
    • Can be integrated with BC for finance, student billing, and HR functions.
    • Used by many mid-sized universities and colleges.

    3. Populi

    • A cloud-based SIS suited for small to mid-sized colleges.
    • Offers admissions, course scheduling, billing, and compliance tracking.
    • Can integrate with BC for financial and accounting functions through custom connectors.

    4. Unit4 Student Management

    • A modern SIS built for flexibility and scalability.
    • Strong financial aid, student lifecycle, and enrollment features.
    • Can integrate with BC through APIs for seamless financial management.

    5. Custom Power Platform Integration

    If an off-the-shelf SIS doesn’t fully meet your needs, some institutions build custom integrations between Business Central and an SIS using:

    • Power Automate for automated workflows.
    • Dataverse to centralize student and financial data.
    • Custom APIs to sync student billing, payments, and finance-related data.

    Recommendation Based on Size and Complexity

    • If you want an out-of-the-box solution, Jenzabar One or Anthology would be top choices.
    • If you prefer a lightweight cloud-based system, Populi is a strong option.
    • If you need scalability with strong finance integration, Unit4 Student Management is worth considering.
    • If you have specific requirements, a custom Power Platform integration might be the best path
  • Suggested answer
    Khushbu Rajvi. Profile Picture
    Khushbu Rajvi. 22,128 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at
  • Stella Glennon Profile Picture
    Stella Glennon 71 on at
    We recently helped a small college (~3.5k students) integrate BC with a lightweight SIS, and let’s just say—it was smoother than a Monday morning with no classes. 😄 One underrated trick? Before diving deep into systems, draft a solid research proposal to outline what your college actually needs—trust me, it saves headaches later.  I found this gem helpful: https://samedaypapers.com/research-proposal. It keeps your planning focused so you’re not juggling 12 demos and a caffeine addiction.
  • Suggested answer
    YUN ZHU Profile Picture
    YUN ZHU 99,055 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at
  • Suggested answer
    Khushbu Rajvi. Profile Picture
    Khushbu Rajvi. 22,128 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at
  • Suggested answer
    Sohail Ahmed Profile Picture
    Sohail Ahmed 11,169 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at
    Business Central doesn’t have a built-in SIS, but you can integrate with systems like Anthology or Jenzabar using APIs. Many schools also build lightweight SIS features using Power Apps + Dataverse, with BC handling finance.
     
    You can also consider a custom extension for tuition billing and student receivables. For best results, work with a Microsoft education partner who has experience in higher ed deployments.
     
    Mark below checkbox to make this answer Verified if it helps you.
     
     
  • HBH Profile Picture
    HBH 174 on at
    We have a full student information system engineered completely on the Microsoft Power Platform which can natively integrate with Business Central and F&O. Our solution is OneWorldSIS and our web site is as follows. Know this was a late response but wanted to provide this if no decisions have been made. We are also on the MS Marketplace as both a SaaS and PaaS certified listings. 
     
    www.oneworldsis.com

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