Microsoft Announces End of Support for Dynamics GP
While not unexpected, it’s still significant—Microsoft has officially announced the end of support for Dynamics GP, a system many users still fondly refer to as “Great Plains.” For businesses currently using Microsoft Dynamics GP, the September 30, 2029 deadline may seem distant, but it’s closer than you think.
At JourneyTeam, we have deep roots in the history of GP. With 30 years’ experience helping customers implement Microsoft business applications, and myself having been a part of the Great Plains Software team, we truly understand why so many businesses have remained dedicated to Dynamics GP over the years—it has been an outstanding business application.
But today, in 2024, business challenges are more complex than GP functionality can provide. ERP solutions must now address needs that were unimaginable just a decade ago— things like enhanced data security, empowering users with low-code tools, supporting remote work, maximizing efficiency with real-time BI reporting, and leveraging artificial intelligence to optimize day-to-day operations.
Navigating the Transition from Dynamics GP
So, how do you move from Dynamics GP to a solution that positions your business to take full advantage of the latest advancements—all while staying within budget and minimizing disruption?
That’s where JourneyTeam comes in. Being named Microsoft’s 2024 Partner of the Year for Dynamics 365 Business Central is proven testament to our success helping customers transition to Business Central— each with its own unique success story.
- Allied Global Marketing transitioned from GP to Business Central, reclaiming 2,000 hours per year spent manually entering data.
- Marketing Architects cut operational and licensing costs by 22 percent per user.
- SmartFlower Solar innovated their entire business model with Business Central and achieved 50 percent time savings processing orders.
We invite you to explore these stories and more to see how partnering with JourneyTeam can be your best next step.
Why Move to Dynamics 365 Business Central?
The question isn’t whether you should stay with Dynamics GP; it’s when you’ll migrate to Dynamics 365 Business Central. And some companies need to determine if Business Central is the right fit for their next big ERP decision. It’s a decision that needs to be made carefully and thoughtfully by understanding the benefits of a truly cloud-based solution.
Although GP could be hosted in the cloud, its architecture does not support a true-cloud ERP like Business Central because it was designed for local server installations that severely limited the application’s cloud capabilities.
Business Central, on the other hand, was built from the ground up as a cloud-native ERP platform. What you get is a comprehensive suite of tools for financial management, supply chain optimization, and customer relationship management, all within a single platform.
But there’s more. Business Central’s flexible analytics tools and capabilities drive data-driven decision making. Whether you need a quick and easy way to view and explore your data, or a powerful and popular tool to analyze and visualize your data (Power BI), Business Central has you covered. On top of that, you can integrate your data and insights with other Microsoft products, like Teams and Outlook, to collaborate and communicate more effectively with your coworkers.
Additionally, Microsoft technologies like the Power Platform offer even more opportunities to enhance business processes in Business Central. For example, check out our customer story on Centro de la Familia, a nonprofit that partnered with JourneyTeam to overhaul its data management and reporting systems with a custom Power App that has completely revolutionized their internal efficiency.
It’s not just a platform change but a strategic investment in your digital transformation.
Addressing Cost Concerns and Migration Challenges
We’ve heard from many Dynamics GP users that two factors have kept them from migrating: 1) Dynamics GP still works, and 2) the perceived cost of migration.
With over 30 years of experience supporting Microsoft technologies, we understand these concerns. That’s why we developed the JourneyTeam Sherpa Program, combining our vast expertise with customer feedback to create a proven, cost-effective approach to implementation.
We’ve taken what we’ve learned from multiple migrations to create a fast-tracked, streamlined, and structured deployment process with predefined templates, workflows, and recorded training sessions— all designed to speed up your implementation, boost user adoption, and reduce overall costs.
Let’s Start Your Migration Today
Now is the time to start planning your migration. JourneyTeam’s Microsoft-certified experts are here to guide you every step of the way, providing the tools, knowledge, and support to ensure your long-term success with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Want to learn more about Business Central? Watch the Move to Cloud with Dynamics 365 Business Central video or contact us today to start your journey from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central.
