Microsoft has announced that Business Connectivity Services, commonly known as BCS, will be fully retired in all tenants as of September 30, 2024. Starting this month (January 2024), all BCS features in any new Microsoft 365 tenants have already been blocked by default. There is no impact currently for BCS in SharePoint Server, however, the end is quickly approaching for Microsoft 365 customers.
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| October 2, 2023 | BCS Retirement announced |
| October 30, 2023 | BCS features blocked in Microsoft 365 can be blocked via property |
| January 8, 2024 | BCS features are blocked in Microsoft 365 by default |
| September 30, 2024 | BCS is fully retired in Microsoft 365 for all customers |
Business Connectivity Services are used to enable users to work with external data within SharePoint. SharePoint Online in Microsoft 365 features/scenarios that will be affected by the retirement include:
- External lists
- External columns
- External content types
- Business Connectivity Services hybrid solutions
Microsoft recommends Power Apps as the technology replacement for BCS. Power Apps is a modern, cloud-based technology that integrates with various Microsoft services and external data sources through a large catalog of connectors. There is no direct migration path, however, and these services will need to be rebuilt using Power Apps and may have a licensing impact. The time to plan and replace these services is now. Read the full Business Connectivity Services Retirement announcement.
Get help moving from Business Connectivity Services to Power Apps
If you are using BCS currently and seeking a path forward, Compass365 can help. Our team of SharePoint and Power Platform experts will ensure that business-critical operations are not affected by retirement in October 2024. Reach out today to Cathy Ashbaugh, cashbaugh@compass365.com to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Compass365, a Microsoft Gold Partner, delivers SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, and Power Platform solutions that help IT and Business leaders improve the way their organizations operate and how their employees work.
