BC Tip #7 - Customer Templates

Hello everyone, my name is Ben Cole and this is my seventh video in a series of weekly tips for D365 Business Central. In this quick video I will walk you through how to utilize Customer Templates in order to speed up data entry and improve accuracy when creating new customer records in Business Central.

If you find yourself repeatedly entering the same data on certain fields over and over again, then this post is for you. We will explore how it works with customers in this post, however, it also works with other popular data records like Vendors and Customers.

Table of Contents

• Why use customer templates

• Quick example

• How to create a customer template

• Using templates when creating a customer

• Key behaviors to know

• Best practices

• Will a single template automatically apply to all new customers?

• Wrap up

Why use customer templates

Customer templates save time and improve consistency. By predefining values such as document sending profile, posting groups, and payment terms, you reduce the chance of human error and speed up onboarding for new customers. Templates are especially useful when you have recurring configurations for specific customer types.

Quick example

In this example I set up a template that defaults the following values for new customers:

• Document Sending Profile = Email

• General Business Posting Group = Domestic

• Customer Posting Group = Domestic

• Payment Terms = Net 15

How to create a customer template

1. Search for Customer Templates in the Business Central search bar.

2. Click New to create a template.

3. Fill out the fields you want to default for new customers. Common defaults include document sending profile, posting groups, and payment terms.

4. Save the template and give it a clear, descriptive name so users can pick the right one when creating customers.

Using templates when creating a customer

When you create a new customer, Business Central will prompt you to select from the available templates. Choose the appropriate template and the predefined values will populate the new customer card automatically.

After selecting the template, you will see the defaults applied immediately. In the example template above, the document sending profile is set to email, the posting groups are set to domestic, and the payment terms are set to net 15.

Key behaviors to know

• If you only have one template, Business Central will not prompt you to select a template. That single template is applied automatically to all new customers.

• Users can override the template defaults on the customer card after the record is created. Templates do not lock fields; they simply provide default values.

• Templates are not limited to customers. The same approach works for other master data records like vendors and items.

  
  

Best practices

• Keep template names clear and role-specific, for example "ISD - Domestic Customers" or "Retail - Net 30".

• Limit defaults to fields that truly need consistency. Overloading templates with too many preset values can reduce flexibility.

• Review templates periodically to ensure they reflect current business rules and posting requirements.

• Train users on how to select the correct template and how to override values when exceptions occur.

FAQ

Will a single template automatically apply to all new customers?

Yes. If there is only one customer template in the system, Business Central will apply it automatically without prompting the user to select a template.

Can users change the values set by a template after the customer is created?

Yes. Users can override any template default on the customer card once the customer record has been created from the template.

Do templates work for other master data like vendors and items?

Yes. The template concept also applies to other master data records such as vendors and items, allowing the same time savings and consistency benefits.

What fields are commonly set in a customer template?

Common fields include document sending profile (for example email), general business posting group, customer posting group, payment terms (for example Net 15), prices and currency settings, and default dimensions.

How should I name templates to avoid confusion?

Use descriptive names that indicate the template purpose, such as customer type, region, or payment profile. Example names: "ISD - Domestic Net 15" or "Wholesale - Net 30 Domestic".

Wrap up

Customer templates are a simple but powerful feature in Business Central. They speed up record creation, maintain consistent configuration, and reduce data entry errors. Whether you manage a handful of customers or thousands, take a few minutes to create templates for common scenarios and save yourself time every time you add a customer.

Ready to optimize your Business Central environment with guidance from a BC expert?

Contact Ben Cole at Ben@BenColeBC.com or (214) 433-0923.

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Ben Cole is passionate about making Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central work smarter for real people—users and partners alike. With roots in public accounting, Ben’s seen firsthand how automation and clever solutions can transform the Business Central experience. He’s known for breaking down complex topics with a dash of wit and plenty of practical advice. If you want to get more out of Business Central (and maybe even enjoy the process), Ben’s your go-to guide.

Ben@BenColeBC.com 

(214) 433-0923