Navigating the future of Dynamics GP: Insights from Community Summit 2024

This article is sponsored by Enavate.

For companies worried about life after Microsoft Dynamics GP, the future can seem overwhelming. 

With choices such as optimizing existing on-premises systems, transitioning to the cloud, or migrating to Dynamics 365 Business Central, figuring out the next steps requires clear thinking and good planning.

At October's Community Summit North America 2024, experts, including Microsoft leadership, provided valuable guidance for Dynamics GP customers, offering insights into the future of their ERP systems as well as Microsoft's broader strategy for business applications. 

In a recent webcast produced by MSDW and Enavate, Chad Sogge, the EVP of technology at Enavate, explored key takeaways from the Community Summit for GP users.

Sogge explained how businesses can prepare for the changes ahead as Dynamics GP officially reaches its end of life in 2029. His presentation highlighted the critical factors that GP customers should focus on, including the three options that Enavate presents to its clients when they're considering the next steps in their ERP journeys.

Life After Dynamics GP End of Life

Microsoft has announced that mainstream support for Dynamics GP will end on September 30, 2029, with security updates continuing until April 30, 2031. While the system will still work after these dates, Sogge warned about the risks of running unsupported software, especially when it comes to enhancements, regulatory updates, or security fixes.

Sogge also addressed some misinformation circulating in the market regarding sharing the application's source code in some way.

"We actually have talked to Microsoft about that, and that will not happen," he said. "The source code and the timelines that have been given are locked down and it will not be available for anyone to modify after those end-of-life messages. So, if you hear anybody say that, be alert to that not being a factual statement."

To help Dynamics GP users plan for the future, Sogge outlined the three main options his company offers to its clients. The first option is to move to Dynamics 365 Business Central (D365BC). 

Sogge described D365BC as a solution designed for the future, explaining that it's flexible and scalable for businesses of all sizes. He added that it works across industries with native support for multi-entity and multi-currency operations.

"If you are starting to grow and you need more of a multinational presence, Business Central is set up and it's natively built to do just that for you," he said.

For those not ready to move to D365BC, Sogge recommended lifting and shifting Dynamics GP to Microsoft Azure. This option lets companies keep using Dynamics GP in the cloud, removing the need for on-premises servers while improving security and accessibility. 

The third option is to optimize your current on-premises Dynamics GP system. For businesses that prefer to stay on-premises, Sogge said that Enavate provides tools and upgrades to make GP more efficient and capable.

"We can do a number of things to optimize what you do with GP as you look and investigate what your forward path options are," he said.

Benefits of Migrating to Business Central

For businesses thinking about moving to D365BC, the benefits are clear, according to Sogge. Enavate's clients that have already made the switch report smoother workflows, fewer manual processes, and real-time visibility into their business data. 

Security is another major advantage, as Azure is backed by Microsoft's massive investments in cloud security. 

"Microsoft spends over a billion dollars a year just troubleshooting, testing, trying to hack into Azure," Sogge said. "Your data is in the Microsoft cloud, in the Azure cloud, and you can rest assured that your critical business information is protected."

Integration is also a big concern for many Dynamics GP users. But with D365BC, integration isn't a problem, Sogge said. 

There are more than 5,000 ISV apps available in AppSource for D365BC, according to Sogge. And Enavate has worked closely with ISV providers to ensure their solutions are ready for D365BC so companies' existing apps and integrations will work seamlessly, he said.

D365BC also comes with built-in artificial intelligence features through Microsoft Copilot that accelerate and automate tasks to help teams focus on meaningful work, Sogge said.

"Copilot with Business Central is one of the advantages that you will get by moving to Business Central," Sogge explained. "[According to the studies] that Microsoft has done, nine out of 10 workers that use it and find a simpler way to do their tasks, don't want to give it back."

Companies That Have Successfully Migrated to D365BC

Sogge said that Enavate offers a simple process to help businesses transition to D365BC. This process starts with a free health check that assesses how companies are currently using Dynamics GP and maps out what their paths to D365BC might look like. He shared real-world examples of businesses that have successfully worked with Enavate to transition to D365BC. For example, GolTV, a media company focused on soccer, moved to D365BC to simplify operations and replace outdated server infrastructure. 

"GP was too old [and] the structure behind it was too old," said Rodrigo Lombello, CEO of GolTV, in a video testimonial Sogge played for webcast attendees. 

"The transition from GP to BC with [Enavate] was easy," Lombello said. "Even though it was a lot of work, [the Enavate] team guided us and gave us time to do things, according to our time and our resources. You understand that people are working at the same time that they have to do the migration. And it's not that simple of a process, but Enavate managed that perfectly."

Sogge said that Towne Park, a tech-enabled, multi-service hospitality company and another Enavate client, opted to host Dynamics GP on Azure, gaining cost efficiency and scalability. 

"They wanted better server maintenance, lower cost, and better uptime with a 99.95% guaranteed uptime," Sogge said. "And they have realized that through moving Dynamics GP to Azure."

Similarly, Sogge said that Easter Seals Goodwill of North Dakota moved to Azure after overcoming initial concerns about security. Although the organization's board was hesitant, Enavate showed them how Azure's security measures are far better than anything an on-premises system can offer.

Start Planning Your Next Steps Now

Sogge encouraged businesses to act now to plan their next steps. Whether you're migrating to D365BC, moving Dynamics GP to Azure, or optimizing your current on-premises system, the key is to be proactive. Start with a health check, understand your options, and build a roadmap that aligns with your goals.

"So complete that health check then let's talk about what you're doing today, where you want to go in the next year, the next three years, or the next five years," he said. "And let's build a plan so that you know where you're going to take your business as you look to the future and what you want to accomplish."

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Photo by Jay Mantri on Unsplash