6 Microsoft Dynamics GP Predictions for 2017

It's that time of year again, time for my new year prognostications on Microsoft Dynamics GP. I feel like I got 4 out of 6 mostly right last year and completely whiffed on one. You can judge for yourself with last year's predictions here.

Here is what I think 2017 will look like:

1. GP Apps are dead.

I mentioned last year that there are a few GP mobile apps available for iPad only. It's is a pretty thin selection, essentially Business Analyzer, Timesheets, and Power BI, plus they're a challenge to get running. Power BI and Business Analyzer are shared among the Dynamics ERP products making Timesheets the only true GP app. No new apps were released with GP 2016 and I'm not hearing any buzz about anything new coming. I think Microsoft is missing a huge opportunity to provide a paid service to connect apps to on premise GP as bridge to the cloud. Microsoft is leaving it to users and partners to setup and connect the plumbing, even as they build some of the best internet plumbing available.

2. New Rocks will be incremental.

GP refers to new features as rocks. Big rocks are big features. Little rocks are smaller features that fill in around the big rocks. At this point it seems like most of the new features are being driven by suggestions on Microsoft Connect. This means that we'll get some overdue features, but it also means that we're unlikely to be wowed by something new.

3. Partner consolidation will continue.

This has already started, but I expect partner consolidation into larger organizations to continue. There are a couple of trends driving this. Lifestyle partners have reached a point ...