How to modernize accounts payable without replacing Dynamics GP

Note: This article is sponsored by Yooz.

Microsoft Dynamics GP users have been hearing for years that they need to migrate to a modern cloud ERP, but many remain unconvinced. As GP progresses toward its end of support, the future can feel uncertain. But the real story, some experts say, is that GP customers can get many more years of value from their ERP investments by making them future-ready with smart planning and the use of new solutions to modernize key processes and functions. 

In a recent webcast, now available on-demand, Endeavor4's Scott Jorgens and Yooz's Liz Hysell explained how finance teams can update and improve their operations by adding automation, fixing inefficient workflows, and getting more value out of their current investment in GP.

"GP 2026 (version 18.8) now supports SQL Server 2025 and Windows Server 2025," said Jorgens, senior director of marketing and strategic partnerships at Endeavor4. "That gives you roughly another 10 years of infrastructure support, extending planning windows to around 2035." As a software product, GP’s support by Microsoft is set to officially end on Dec. 31, 2029, with extended security updates continuing through April 2031. 

Rather than replacing Dynamics GP, the speakers recommended a modernize-around-it strategy. This means keeping GP as the system of record while adding cloud apps, workflows, and tools to improve how work gets done. As Jorgens put it, companies should focus on building their future ERP mindset today.

But what does a “modernize around GP” model look like in practice? For many customers, it can look like a hybrid model using GP on‑prem together with cloud apps. AP automation is the top modernization entry point because it automates and simplifies one of the core tasks often performed by GP end-users. 

With cloud tools, GP customers can extend capabilities with greater integration and modernization. By taking this approach, customers can extend GP to non-finance users. After all, users outside the finance department are often the ones tasked to review and approve invoices. These users can benefit from the increased integration, visibility, and automation that cloud tools provide. 

By implementing AP automation and cloud tools, GP customers can buy time, the presenters explained, extending the service life of their implementation by three, five, or even 10 years without disrupting their operations. This approach results in a strategy that is actionable rather than theoretical.

Tips for digital transformation with Dynamics GP

GP customers need a VAR committed to a “last man standing” approach, Jorgens believes. Endeavor4 is one of the largest GP VARs in North America, actively acquiring GP books of business. The company has over 650 GP clients. To support GP customers at every step along the way, Endeavor4 offers a 10-year support pledge and is building the GP Revolution community. 

Jorgens offered attendees six tips that they can use to make measurable business improvements while staying on GP.

Tip 1: Review your business processes

"Look at workflows, approvals, paper usage, bottlenecks, spreadsheets, and emails," he said. "Ask: Is business knowledge embedded in systems or individuals?"

Tip 2: Automate processes

Automation is the next step, especially in finance. Jorgens pointed to accounts payable as a great place to start because for companies relying on GP it often involves manual data entry and repetitive tasks. 

Automating AP processes can reduce errors and free up time for more strategic work. As Jorgens explained, the goal is to "reduce manual data entry" and allow teams to focus on higher-value work and analytics.

Tip 3: Design better business metrics

Better data and visibility also play a key role, according to Jorgens. Regardless of the specific ERP, executives, finance teams and other departments are well-served by investments in better dashboards, KPIs, and reporting that give clearer insight into performance. 

Tip 4: Extend systems to additional users

"Use portals, approvals, and workflows so people beyond finance can interact with GP-driven processes without using GP directly," Jorgens noted.

Tip 5: Improve communication across teams

Automation and self-service tools can reduce the volume of routine questions finance teams receive, according to Jorgens. This improves efficiency and allows finance to take on a more strategic role within the organization. 

Tip 6: Keep your system up to date

GP may have a support end date in 2029, but the ongoing updates are essential to provide your organization with a trusted system today, Jorgens said. "Ensure security, compatibility, and infrastructure alignment with newer GP releases," he advised.

How Yooz supports GP customers     

"Yooz aligns with lean financial operations, not just AP automation," Hysell said. "Our goals are to help companies accelerate growth, fight waste, and defeat fraud." She noted that Yooz has been building proprietary cloud AI for years and now supports more than 7,000 clients and 600,000 users worldwide.

The Yooz platform is built on Microsoft Azure and integrates directly with GP, she explained. This model reduces IT overhead and allows Dynamics GP to remain the "source of truth" for master data, such as vendors, chart of accounts, and items. 

Yooz customers eliminate manual entry because the solution captures invoices, routes them for approval, and then syncs them back into GP as accounts payable batches. Images and identifiers are linked directly to GP, according to Hysell. The system also logs errors clearly and allows retries, so no additional middleware, such as eConnect or SmartConnect, is necessary.

"Inside GP, users can drill back to the Yooz invoice image, eliminating document storage concerns," Hysell added.

In a demonstration, Hysell highlighted some of the ways that Yooz helps to achieve customer outcomes. AI extraction eliminates manual entry, while multi‑level approvals help to resolve bottlenecks. Fraud detection reduces risks. YoozPay helps customers to accelerate payments.

By avoiding middleware, Yooz reduces IT overhead. Drill‑back images capabilities, in turn, eliminate document storage issues. 

AI-based tools can extract invoice data in "10 to 15 seconds" and "understand context, not just OCR text." She noted that additional capabilities include duplicate checks, metadata analysis, anomaly detection, tampering alerts, and AI-powered three-way matching for purchase orders, all designed to reduce risk and improve accuracy.

The platform also simplifies payments and reconciliation, according to Hysell. With Yooz Pay, users can process payments and sync confirmations back to Dynamics GP. And she noted that vendor statement reconciliation happens in seconds instead of days.

GP’s future may seem limited, but the platform still has 10 years of runway ahead, Jorgens and Hysell said. That means now is the time to modernize, not migrate. AP automation offers a fast, low‑risk modernization path that improves a company’s performance by adding automation, reducing IT overhead, and streamlining operations, all without the disruption of switching to a new system.