Microsoft Dynamics GP community veterans react to news of the ERP’s end dates

This week’s news that Microsoft will end support of Dynamics GP within the next six years was met with a mix of disappointment and acceptance from familiar voices in the community, but also some notes of determination.

The decision to end product support and updates on September 30, 2029 and end extended support on April 30 2031 follows a well-documented series of decisions over several years that have progressively weakened the product’s future prospects, even as it has continued to serve tens of thousands of customers. 

Most discussions in the GP community at this point will lead to long-term planning, including potential options for ERP replacement. In the Microsoft ecosystem, that ERP option for most GP users is Dynamics 365 Business Central, but some will likely want to consider D365 Finance and Supply Chain Management, too. And competing ERPs are likely bringing renewed campaigns to their GP-using prospects. 

The community of current and former GP bloggers have already offered varying reactions to the news that reflect a range of sentiments and perspectives on the future. Let’s review some of them here.

“Sad but expected”

Microsoft MVP Jen Kuntz: 

Today is a sad day for those of us in the Microsoft Dynamics GP ecosystem, though we all knew it would come eventually.

Microsoft MVP David Musgrave: 

Sadly, the day has finally arrived. We knew it was coming for many years. Since the premature (since retracted) announcement by Mike Morton at Community Summit 2022, it has been expected sooner rather than later.

Ian Grieve: 

In an announcement which cannot be a surprise to anyone, Microsoft have announced that Microsoft Dynamics GP is coming to the end of its life.

Beat Bucher: 

We all knew this was coming one day… but I wasn’t expecting it that soon.

Microsoft’s Terry Healy: 

It is with mixed emotions that we announce the end-of-life for Microsoft Dynamics GP, a product that has been a cornerstone of our community for over 20 years. This decision was not made lightly, and we understand the impact it may have on you.

Evaluating the impact of “end of support”

Jen Kuntz: 

Customers have a 5-year window to plan their next steps. That's a lot of time, but it will move quickly, no doubt about it.

David Musgrave: 

The bottom line is that if you want to stay on a supported ERP platform you will need to move off Microsoft Dynamics GP in the next five years. There is no need to rush immediately to change platform, but you need to plan for the future and do your research.

Several Microsoft partners with serious GP practices have also released statements on the news. Enavate, which has a team of over forty GP engineers, encouraged customers to start evaluating their options to “ensure a smooth transition to a cloud-based solution when the right time arrives.”

Another major player in the GP space, njevity, is making the case for why partners should consider selling njevity their GP practices to give their GP customers a committed partner that can onboard them smoothly. And the company’s message to GP customers: “We are Dynamics GP’s ride or die partner”. They wrote:

The fact is, businesses can and do continue to use their ERP systems well beyond their official “end of life” dates. Just look at how long Great Plains Accounting and Dynamics SL have stuck around—long after Microsoft officially stopped supporting them. 

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