Dynamics GP is not dead.

Part 1 of a 3 part blog series discussing the Dynamics GP Long-term Strategy.  Microsoft has recently announced continued support and upgrade path and Dynamics GP Product Roadmap to 2028.

Despite what many Microsoft partners are trying to sell you, Dynamics GP is not dead.

There is no shortage of misinformation out there amongst the Microsoft partner community telling Dynamics GP customers that their beloved accounting system is dead in the water.  Well, Microsoft recently published a product roadmap that has Dynamics GP supported well into 2028 and beyond.  That provides GP users an additional seven or more years of continued upgrades, features, and support.

 

In the world of software applications, that’s basically a lifetime. So why is there misinformation out there? We can only speculate, but we think that’s for those other partners to answer.

Here at SMB Suite, we have been implementing and supporting Dynamics GP (or Great Plains as it was once known) for 20 years. We have helped hundreds of companies achieve their business goals on this rugged, adaptable, and much-lauded platform. Now that Microsoft has definitively put a stake in the ground, extending GP into the future, it means that companies no longer have pressure to consider a migration for the sole reason of business continuity. Certainly, there are many companies that simply outgrow GP, and that’s fine. The good news is that you have no shortage of options to go within the Microsoft ecosystem or with another vendor, but if you are happy with the functionality that is currently provided by the GP platform, let’s be clear, you are in no rush to move.

 

Establishing a Long-Term Dynamics GP Strategy

 

That said, there are a few things we always recommend our clients to think about. In today’s business environment, companies will want to have a plan to address key topics:

 

Security Vulnerabilities

 

If your Dynamics GP is deployed on-premise, meaning it is sitting on a server in your office, it could be vulnerable to modern security hacks like malware or ransomware. This is true of any enterprise application, but those sitting on an on-premise environment, and those systems that store critical information are especially vulnerable because the servers are not monitored or patched frequently enough to stave off attacks, and the data housed is highly valued. Small and mid-sized businesses are especially exposed because they often lack the sophistication required to keep up with cyber security. There has been a reported increase in attacks over the past year, targeting smaller businesses. Businesses need to have resilience and ensure vulnerabilities are prioritized and fixed as quickly as they are identified.

Empowering Employees Remotely

 

The recent year has put an emphasis on the importance of remote access to your organization’s most important information. While you were probably able to adapt and get through the year’s challenges (both technical and cultural adoption), it’s likely your organization is adopting a more modern policy for ‘work from wherever. Your employees are probably enjoying the luxury of getting access to systems or information whenever they want it. So why not encourage it? Your on-premise deployment of GP can be enhanced to enable this more fully.

 

Backups & Disaster Recovery

 

With on-premise deployments of Dynamics GP, you are reliant on your IT team for regular and routine backups. It’s not unlikely that these backup policies and disaster recovery (DR) procedures are insufficient.  Most IT teams are overly taxed on ‘break-fix’ demands and don’t have the opportunity to put in place important business continuity concepts that include DR.

 

Application Support

 

Like any financial system, your Dynamics GP deployment needs watering and sunlight.  Tax table changes, new configurations, technical issues, access issues.  Your organization should have on-call access to certified professionals that have experience dealing with issues as they pop up.  It’s possible to put in an ‘insurance policy that is cost-effective and provides the elastic capacity you may need in this area.

 

Upgrades

 

As Microsoft has published their roadmap until 2028, there are going to be new versions of Dynamics GP available.  These products will introduce new features, support the latest browsers and devices, and integrate to other components of Microsoft’s ecosystem, namely tighter integration to Microsoft 365 (Office 365).  Since you are paying for annual maintenance, why not take advantage of the fruits of your investment.  Put in a plan for annual or bi-annual upgrades so that your system’s deployment is up to date and stays modern to address the needs and expectations of your employees.

 

In Conclusion

 

• The system has a long product roadmap ahead of it, extending past 2028
• Microsoft is making a continual investment in the product
• In addition to this roadmap, your organization should consider a plan to bolster Security, Remote Access, Disaster Recovery, Application Support, and Upgrades in order to get the most from your existing investment.

How does SMB Suite help companies that are running Dynamics GP today?

 

SMB Suite has been implementing and supporting clients running Dynamics GP for over 20 years.  We are a Microsoft partner that is certified across a number of business applications including Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics GP, and Microsoft 365.

SMB Suite’s Dynamics GP Long-term Strategy Offering

 

We offer clients a Dynamics GP Long-term Strategy that addresses important considerations like cloud deployment of Dynamics GP, support, and upgrades.  Our Long-term Strategy includes a number of components:

• Moving Dynamics GP to SMB Cloud
• Providing Dynamics GP Application Support
• Putting in a long term Dynamics GP Upgrade Plan
• Providing additional IT Managed Services
• Providing clients with an on-ramp to Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, including data migration, if and when they are ready

SMB Suite’s Difference from other partners is that:

• Our “All-in-One” pricing model provides these services as a monthly fee, without lumpy upfront investments. Our approach is outcome-based without surprises.
• As your independent advisor, we can put in a long-term plan for all of your technology needs.
• SMB Suite has over 30 years of experience as a Microsoft partner and has been deploying in the Cloud for almost 20 years.

If you are interested in learning more about SMB Suite’s Dynamics GP Long-Term Strategy offering, give us a call.  In fact, if you want to put us to the test, take advantage of our free Dynamics GP support by emailing support@SMBSuite.com.  We are offering new clients access to our amazing support team.  While our SLAs are not as good as they would be for clients, we’ll be sure to try and help you out.