Copilot tools helped businesses manage ERP. Now, Agentic AI is changing everything for UK SMBs. It can automate up to 80% of finance work. In Business Central, this is a major shift.
Businesses face inflation and staff shortages. They also need to grow without hiring more people. Agentic AI helps solve all three problems.
Tools like the Payables Agent and Sales Order Agent run full workflows. They reduce manual work and errors. Teams can focus on higher-value tasks. This improves speed and profitability.
The Shift from Copilot to Autonomous AI
The concept of AI as a “copilot” has been around for a while. Copilot tools are designed to assist users in making decisions or carrying out tasks with minimal human intervention. While helpful, they still require oversight and action from the user. This was especially true in the realm of Accounts Payable and Sales Order processing in the ERP ecosystem. But now, in 2026, the focus has shifted. We’re no longer just talking about AI that offers suggestions , we’re talking about Agentic AI that can handle finance workflows end-to-end with minimal human intervention.
Gone are the days when your finance team had to manually review invoices, validate orders, or sort through emails for payments. With Agentic AI in Business Central, tasks like 3-way automated matching, confidence-based prioritization, and autonomous Inbox-to-Order processing are carried out by intelligent agents that work independently. They don’t just assist; they autonomously execute decisions, freeing up your team to focus on high-value strategic activities.
The Power of Agentic AI for Businesss
1. AI That Works for You, Not With You
The primary distinction between Copilot AI and Agentic AI is autonomy. While Copilot tools support human decision-making, Agentic AI in Business Central acts as a true partner, taking charge of time-consuming tasks with minimal human oversight. Consider how your Accounts Payable process works. Traditionally, invoices arrive, and a human must verify them, match them with purchase orders, and ensure they align with receipts before payment is issued. It’s tedious, error-prone, and time-consuming.
Enter the Payables Agent. This intelligent tool can:
- Automatically match invoices to their corresponding purchase orders and receipts (3-way matching),
- Prioritize tasks based on confidence levels (confidence-based prioritization),
- Process payments autonomously once conditions are met.
This means your finance team spends less time on data entry and more time on decision-making, while the Agent handles the heavy lifting. This process isn’t just quicker,it’s also far more accurate, reducing human error and ensuring your financials are always up-to-date.
2. Scaling Without Increasing Headcount
In the UK, rising inflation and talent shortages in finance have placed immense pressure on SMBs to achieve more with fewer resources. The cost of recruiting and retaining skilled talent has skyrocketed, and many companies are struggling to meet the demands of an ever-more complex financial landscape.
Here’s where Agentic AI really shines. The ability to automate 80% of finance workflows in Business Central allows you to scale operations without increasing headcount. For example, the Sales Order Agent can automatically process incoming sales orders, matching them to inventory levels, approving them, and initiating invoicing without manual intervention. This reduction in manual oversight frees up your finance and sales teams to focus on other areas of the business that directly drive growth and revenue.
3. Tackling the UK Economic Challenges
UK businesses, particularly SMBs, are facing a unique set of challenges in 2026. Inflation remains high, leading to increased operational costs. At the same time, talent shortages in finance and other critical business functions mean that SMBs are struggling to fill key positions. For many businesses, this has created a gap between the need to scale and the inability to hire enough qualified professionals.
With the rise of Agentic AI, UK SMBs can effectively bridge this gap. Automation solutions like Business Central’s Payables Agent and Sales Order Agent ensure that crucial financial processes are handled autonomously, reducing the pressure on existing staff and mitigating the effects of workforce shortages.
Instead of hiring new team members to handle increased workload, SMBs can integrate Agentic AI into their ERP systems, freeing up their human workforce for more strategic, revenue-generating tasks. In essence, automation becomes a tool for business continuity, even in uncertain economic times.
Real-World Impact of Agentic AI
The proof of the pudding is in the results. Companies using Agentic AI in Business Central have reported transformative outcomes. Let’s break down some key statistics that illustrate the power of automation:
- 80% Reduction in Manual Tasks: Companies have automated 80% of routine finance tasks, such as matching invoices, processing payments, and managing orders, leading to substantial time savings.
- 30% Reduction in Errors: Automated workflows lead to fewer human errors in accounts payable and sales order processing, improving data accuracy and reducing costly mistakes.
- 40% Faster Order-to-Cash Cycle: Sales orders are processed automatically, allowing for faster invoicing and quicker cash flow, critical for SMBs in a high-inflation environment.
- 30% Cost Savings in Finance Departments: By reducing the need for additional finance hires and improving process efficiency, businesses are seeing significant cost reductions.
Ready to Make the Leap to Autonomous AI
The era of Agentic AI in Business Central is upon us, and UK business that embrace this shift will position themselves at the forefront of business efficiency and profitability.
At Direction Software Solutions, we specialize in helping businesses bridge the gap from traditional, manual workflows to fully autonomous ERP systems powered by Agentic AI. We offer an Agentic Readiness Audit a tailored assessment to evaluate your current processes and identify opportunities to leverage AI to automate up to 80% of your finance workflows.
In 2026, Agentic AI is not just a buzzword; it’s a necessity for UK SMBs seeking to remain competitive. With automation tools like the Payables Agent and Sales Order Agent, you can scale your business without increasing headcount, reduce operational costs, and future-proof your financial processes.
👉 Book a free demo with Direction Software Solutions today to see how Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can transform your finance and operations.
For more information on how we can help your business, contact us today.
About the author:
Biju Kurup – Principal Functional Consultant
Biju Kurup is the Head of Dynamics 365 Business Central and Dynamics Navision at Direction Software. With over 25 years of experience in the tech industry, he has been a part of Direction Software for more than 17 years. Biju excels at assisting clients in solving real-life problems and overcoming daily challenges by developing effective, technology-driven solutions