Some direction...

Yes, you replace the bump workflow you got in v-ray etc with normal maps. What you want to get into is how the PBR-workflow works. So a couple of more things here to study for you.

https://www.allegorithmic.com/system/files/software/download/build/PBR_Guide_Vol.1.pdf
https://www.allegorithmic.com/system/files/software/download/build/PBR_volume_02_rev05.pdf