As you maybe already know, since April 2023, Microsoft announced that Dynamics Great Plains (Dynamics GP) sales will end in 2026 and the support will end in 2028.
So this news sparks for many longtime GP users the question about what to do next. As mentioned Microsoft will support GP until 2028, so there is still time to decide on future steps. Of course transitionen from GP to another ERP can be challenging, especially if you’ve used the software for a long time and might have customised it to your specific needs.
However, If you after Microsoft's first announcement of stopping their support of Great Plains have already decided to switch to another ERP system, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC) - cloud-based or on-premise version, Rapidi got you covered. Rapidi has throughout the years done many data migration projects - especially migrating data from earlier GP Dynamics versions to the "revamped" Dynamics 365 product suite.
Rapidi offers professional services in assisting you with earlier Microsoft Dynamics GP versions to transition and upgrade to for example Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC). Especially, for users of earlier Dynamics GP versions, the transition isn't as direct as being advertised.
Rapidi can help make this transition as smooth as possible, without you loosing any data along the way.
Contact us for more information on how Rapidi can help you with your Dynamics GP Migration Project.
However if you want to learn more about Dynamics GPs end of life, the different options to consider about the Dynamics GP sunset and how to handle your Rapidi integration if you would like to switch ERP system, then read on.
Let's dive in...
What does the Future look like for Dynamics GP?
To get everyone on the same page, here are the details of Microsoft’s announcement:
- New sales of GP perpetual licenses will end on April 1, 2025. New customers can still purchase GP subscription licenses.
- All new customer sales of GP will end on April 1, 2026. Existing customers may still purchase licenses and modules.
- Microsoft will provide tax updates, security updates, and hotfixes three times a year until at least 2028.
- Customer support will be provided under the Microsoft Modern Lifecycle policy until at least 2028.
In short, while GP isn't disappearing anytime soon, Microsoft has decided to step back from developing new features or enhancements for it. However, they will keep providing support for GP users and will still roll out regular updates that include important features, tax adjustments, regulatory changes, and hotfixes.
The following illustration shows the lifecycle of the various versions of Dynamics GP:
Source: Microsoft's Modern Life Cycle
Will Microsoft still support older versions of GP?
Microsoft will continue to provide support for older (Pre-2019) versions of Dynamics GP under their Fixed Lifecycle support policy. Fixed Lifecycle offers a three-phase support model:
- Mainstream support: Offered for five years after the product release date.
- Extended support: Offered for five years after Mainstream support expires. During Extended support, Microsoft only releases updates for security vulnerabilities. It doesn’t fix bugs unless they cause a security issue.
- End of life: Microsoft no longer updates the product, and users won’t be able to open support tickets.
All Pre-2019 versions of GP are under Extended support and will reach their end of life by January 11, 2028.
So, how could the Dynamics GP end of life affect your business? Well, in the short term, the end of life for GP may not have a major impact on your business. Microsoft will continue to provide bug fixes and updates so the software will still work.
Now, what should GP users do next? What are your options for your business to move forward with Dynamics GP? For the majority of GP users, an end-of-life strategy should be built around your unique business requirements and ensuring continuity, no matter which direction you choose to pursue. However, there are some options to consider for your business on how to move forward with Dynamics GP.
options To move forward with Dynamics GP
Let's have look at your options, that will not necessarily exclude themselves.
- Stay on GP for as long as possible
- Move GP to the cloud - deploy Dynamics GP on Azure
- Migrate to another ERP system
Option 1: Stay on Dynamics GP as long as possible
You may choose to stick with Dynamics GP for the medium or long term. Maybe you have invested in this ERP system for quite some yearsAfter all, GP is a robust ERP solution that has done a brilliant job for many years! If you don't have the budget and ressources for now to transition to another ERP, staying on this trusted platform is definitely a practical choice.
If you choose to stay with GP (especially if you are using a version of GP from before 2019), we would recommend first of all to upgrade to the latest version in order still to be able to receive support and software updates under Microsoft’s Modern Lifecycle policy.
If you are using the current version of GP, you will receive continuous support until at least 2028.
Option 2: Move Gp to the cloud - Deploy Dynamics GP on Azure
Microsoft provides a deployment of Dynamics GP on Azure as a cloud-hosted system. Microsoft claims that this gives you numerous advantages over the on-premises GP solution.
- Scalability: Add processing capacity without buying new physical servers.
- Risk management: Store data in the Azure cloud rather than managing it onsite.
- Business continuity: Azure Backup automatically backs up and recovers your system data.
- Greater security: Automatic security measures ensure your business is protected.
- Remote access: Users can securely access GP from remote desktops.
Option 3: Migrate to another ERP System
Migrate to a another ERP inside the Microsoft Ecosystem
Dynamics GP customers who want to stay in the Microsoft ecosystem can consider migrating GP to Business Central (BC), or 365 Finance and Operations. For the most part Microsoft is often recommending Dynamics 365 Business Central as a appropriate system to migrate to for GP users.
Migrate to a new ERP out side the Microsoft Ecosystem
If you want to migrate from GP but don’t want to stay in the Microsoft ecosystem, consider migrating to a new ERP system, don't worry Rapidi will also be able to support you in your GP data migration project, as we support many different ERP systems and databases and not to mention via can also integrate to other ERP via our REST API. In any case which option you might choose Rapidi can help you in all scenarios. Please contact us to find out about your possibilities
How to plan for business continuity transitioning from GP to your new ERP
Now if you plan to go with either option 2 or 3, we recommend you start planning your migration from Dynamics GP to your new ERP system soon. One might say there is plenty of time, but migration takes time, and you wouldn’t want to avoid unnecessary stress and possible business disruptions.
There are 2 important aspects to consider :
1) Choose the right system - in this case, our recommendation is Dynamics 365 Business Central
2) Planning to ensure that your business is ready to go through the migration
Let’s chat a bit about the first point, which is choosing the right system:
Choosing the right ERP System
One of the primary advantages of migrating to Business Central is the shift to a modern, cloud-based infrastructure. This means that it offers the benefits of scalability, flexibility, and accessibility.
Regarding updates and maintenance, Business Central receives regular updates and maintenance directly from Microsoft, so your system will always be up to date.
Enhanced reporting and analytics are other benefits of using Dynamics 365 Business Central. You will get better insights into the business operations.
Last but not least, integration-wise, Business Central can integrate with any Microsoft Dynamics products but also with 3rd party applications.
Sounds good, right?
Now, moving to the second aspect - planning, planning…
Migrating from GP: Set a migration schedule
You need to start planning to have a smooth transition from Dynamics GP to Business Central.
First, early planning consists of a full assessment of your current and future business needs, so you have a clear picture of how things will look in the new system. Yes, this part is a bit daunting, but the outcome will benefit everybody.
Second, you will need to move from assessment to the actual migration process: plan the steps that are required, make sure that all users experience a smooth transition and that you have a project timeline in place. It’s important to have resources available for your D365 Business Central - Salesforce integration and train end users to be comfortable with the new system.
Work with Rapidi to migrate your Dynamics GP and adapt your integration setup
Yes, a migration takes time and effort, but our team of consultants is here to help you and guide you through the migration process. We have extensive experience with Dynamics D365 to Salesforce integrations, and we can provide you with our recommendations and best practices to ensure a smooth transition and make sure that there are no bumps in the road.
UPGRADE FROM MICROSOFT DYNAMICS GREAT PLAINS TO MICROSOFT DYNAMICS 365 BUSINESS CENTRAL (BC)
Should you have already made the decision to transition to another ERP system following Microsoft's initial announcement to discontinue support for Great Plains, such as opting for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC) - either opting for the cloud-based or on-premise, Rapidi is well-prepared to support you. Over the years, Rapidi has successfully completed numerous data migration projects, particularly transferring data from older Dynamics versions to the updated Dynamics 365 product suite.
At Rapidi, we're here to help you smoothly transition from earlier versions of Microsoft Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC). We understand that moving to a new system might seem a bit daunting, especially if you've been using an older version of GP. Don't worry, though! Our professional services are designed to guide you every step of the way, making the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
Rapidi can help make this transition as smooth as possible, without you loosing any data along the way. So, contact us and let's get started on your GP migration project.
Get in Touch - Rapidi Can Help!
Interested in learning more about moving from GP to BC or any other ERP? Then contact the migration experts at Rapidi t to discuss your questions and concerns about transitioning to another ERP and what consider in terms of your Rapidi integration.
Contact us today to learn more how Rapidi can support you in your migration project.
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