What a whirlwind! Just seven days ago, I was on stage in Antwerp, and before the applause faded, I was already airborne to Denmark to huddle with the Business Central product group. (Stay tuned – those behind-the-scenes conversations deserve their post.) Today, though, I want to capture the magic of BC TechDays 2025 – the biggest, boldest, and, let’s be honest, most coveted stage in our ecosystem.
Why BC TechDays Still Feels Like the Olympics of BC
Every Business Central technical speaker dreams of BC TechDays. Only a handful of sessions are cut each year, so when the email arrives with a subject line that starts “Congratulations…,” you know you’re holding a golden ticket. This was my third time wearing the speaker badge in Antwerp, and the mixture of pride and responsibility never gets old.
Our Session: “Integration Without Aggravation: Best Practices for Business Central”
My partner-in-crime this year was the brilliant Vlad. Coordinating across time zones, hotel Wi-Fi, and wildly different coffee preferences was hectic, but we got there! And it was worth it!
The structure: We framed integration around two paradigms – classic AL-only and the modern event-driven approach. Each paradigm broke down into five bite-sized blocks:
- Setup
- Trigger
- Mapping
- Request
- Response
From there, we jump into demos, live coding, and enough network traffic to make the demo gods sweat a bit. Thankfully, they smiled at us as usual. The audience engaged us with thoughtful questions, and the 90 minutes flew by.
Highlights:
- Traditional AL Integration is still powerful, but we explored its scaling pains.
- Webhooks in BC – the “raw” v1 implementation and where it shines.
- Business Events v2.0 – Microsoft’s polished, secure, metadata-rich answer to modern integration.
A special shout-out to Jesper (Jesper Schulz-Wedde) and Anders (Anders Larsen) for feedback loops that helped us smooth the rough edges before the session.
The Speaker Dinner: Rum, Ships, and Stories
There’s something poetic about dining while gazing at Antwerp’s port – the engine that once powered the city’s golden age. Luc, thank you for arranging a night that will be in our minds forever. And for the rum bottle shaped like the iconic Antwerp Central Station: it survived the long haul back home and now sits – still sealed – on my display shelf. How long will it stay unopened? Place your bets.
Gratitude Corner
I can’t wrap up this blog without expressing heartfelt thanks to the people and organisations who made this journey not just possible, but truly meaningful.
First, a massive thank you to Theta. They’ve been more than just an employer for nine years – they’ve been a launchpad. From day one, I’ve been free to pursue my passion for Business Central, supported by two incredible managers who never stood in the way of a crazy idea, a last-minute travel plan, or a late-night coding session. Their leadership is the kind that empowers, not directs. They’ve created a culture where innovation is not just encouraged, it’s expected. And behind the scenes, a team is always ready to step up, whether covering for someone heading to a conference, brainstorming solutions, or testing a demo the night before a session. You all make this journey worthwhile.
To the BC TechDays organising crew – what a phenomenal job you do year after year. From flawless logistics and crystal-clear communication to one of the best AV setups I’ve ever encountered, you make sure speakers can focus on what matters: delivering value. Presenting live demos can be nerve-wracking, but your support and attention to detail made it seamless. Walking into the venue, you immediately feel this isn’t just another conference – it’s the conference. Thank you for setting the gold standard.
And last but not least, to the community, you are the heartbeat of all of this. Whether you attended the session, came up to chat afterwards, sent a message online, or sat and absorbed, thank you. Your curiosity, questions, and willingness to explore new ideas make this ecosystem thrive. Every conversation during the coffee break, every LinkedIn message, every piece of feedback helps me grow and shapes the topics I choose to dive into next. You’re not just the audience; you’re co-creators in this journey.
So, thank you for the encouragement, the challenges, and for being part of something much bigger than any single session.
Want to Build Cool Stuff in Paradise?
If you’re reading this and fancy joining an ever-growing Business Central powerhouse in New Zealand – slide into my LinkedIn DMs. We’re hiring.
Stay tuned if you want to read more about our discussions during the MVP Summit. I must say, it is exciting, and BC’s future is bright!
Regards,
Tharanga Chandrasekara