Is 2021 the right time to make a move from Dynamics GP?

Is 2021 the right time to make a move from Dynamics GP?

Part 2 of a 3 part blog series discussing the Dynamics GP Long-term Strategy. 

 

This article discusses Microsoft’s Bridge to Cloud program which makes moving from Dynamics GP to Business Central much easier financially. But there are other reasons to consider a move that we will discuss.

 

At some point, every company needs to evaluate if the business system that got them where they are today, is going to continue getting them where they want to go into the future.

 

That’s normal. Technology and its adoption move quickly. Our beloved Dynamics GP is no exception. While Microsoft recently announced that this workhorse has an extended product roadmap for at least another eight years into the future, your business may be facing other pressures and may need to consider if Dynamics GP is the product to grow with their business?

 

 

3 Reasons why now might be the time to consider a move from GP.

 

1) Hybrid work

 

The pandemic has taught us a few lessons in business. But one lesson that will forever change our work patterns is how important it is to support our employee’s ability to work from anywhere. Not being able to do so will have an impact on our ability to recruit, and we ensure our employees are productive. A recent McKinsey study illustrates this. While nearly 99% of all work was done in the office prior to the pandemic, post-pandemic only 10% will be in office, at least according to this survey. Maybe this is the case for your business too.

Source: McKinsey

 

Dynamics GP was architected over 20 years ago. As an on-premise accounting system – one that sits on a server supporting people within the four walls of a business. It was never envisioned that people would need to access sensitive information from remote. Sure there are ways around it with remote desktop capability and lifting your server into the cloud, but this isn’t the same as a cloud-based architecture, a fact that most of us can recently attest to.

 

Microsoft’s more modern accounting and ERP platform, Business Central, was architected for the cloud from birth. It is tightly integrated into productivity tools like Office 365, MS Teams, and Power BI reporting with native hooks and integration. It’s built to run on any device from any location without impediment. It’s built with a security-first architecture so there is no risk of malware or ransomware intrusion which is on the rise in small to mid-sized businesses.

 

Bottom line, if a hybrid-work policy is in your future, now might be the time to think about a transition.

 

2) How we do business has changed

 

Go back 20 years, are you doing business the same way? Meaning, do you offer the same products, sell to the same customer segments, distribute through the same channels, support customers the same way? Odds are, no. It is likely your business has faced pressures in how it does business. Did your internal processes keep up with it?

 

There is a possibility you may have done what you could do over the years to stitch things together as new challenges come up. Examples could include e-commerce, or how you distribute, or how you support customers. Well, these days, your accounting systems do a lot more than accounting. They are intricately tied to every part of the business, no matter your industry. How you manage supply chain, purchase goods, process sales orders, manage inventory. Or if you are in a service delivery industry, how you contract, schedule resources, and invoice customers. Workers are now knowledge workers and need good insights to make data-driven decisions. This information needs to happen in real-time on-demand. Cloud architecture supports all of this.

 

In the coming year, you have a chance to rethink some of these operating constraints and address them with a modern platform.

 

3) Bridge to Cloud: Microsoft is making it financially easy to shift

 

On September 1, 2021, Microsoft is announcing the ‘Bridge to Cloud’ promotion. Existing Dynamics GP customers can renew their Enhancement on a monthly basis and receive Dynamics 365 Business Central online licenses at a 60% discounted price for up to four years. Customers who enroll in this promotion can continue to use their on-premises product in parallel with Business Central online while maintaining Enhancement benefits on their on-premises license throughout the promo term.

Conclusion

 

With the convergence of this pricing incentive, business change, and technology advancement; now might be the right time to put a Dynamics GP Migration on the radar for 2021 or 2022.

 

Speak to one of SMB Suite’s experts on how to plan for migration the right way. Many of our customers do this as a two-step strategy. Moving Dynamics GP to the cloud, and then planning for GP to Business Central migration on their terms. Our next blog will cover the top considerations when migrating from Dynamics GP to Business Central. Stay tuned!

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Steve’s been with SMB Suite since 1998 and has been involved with nearly every aspects of the Company’s business as a strategist, professional services executive, cloud solutions architect, and senior consultant. In his current role, Steve is responsible for SMB Suite’s revenue and oversees the execution of ERP, CRM and BI projects for customers across a broad range of industries. Steve combines his expertise in MS Dynamics GP, CRM and other Microsoft products with a strong foundation in accounting and business to identify gaps and streamline customers’ processes. Prior to co-founding SMB Suite, Steve was previously Corporate Controller for MEHLE Behr and, prior to that, Audit Senior for Ernst & Young. Steve holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Jeremy is responsible for SMB Suite’s technology vision, strategy and implementation and is the architect of the Company’s Dynamics Cloud Platform. Highly adept in every facet of managed services, ERP systems and e-commerce platforms, Jeremy’s expertise spans the implementation and support of business and financial software solutions, as well as the customization and integration of SMB Suite’s cloud ERP technology stack. He holds numerous Microsoft and industry-related certifications, and was primarily responsible for designing the Company’s progressive business services platform in the early days of the Cloud. Prior to SMB Suite, Jeremy served as the financial analyst, systems administrator, and information systems liaison for a $2 billion financial services corporation.

Monty is responsible for SMB Suite’s day-to-day operation and, most importantly, its customers. As a leader, motivator and mentor, Monty creates loyal high performance teams willing to “walk through walls” to accomplish their goals. Prior to SMB Suite, Monty served as President of The Bradshaw Group (TBG), a global distributor, manufacturer, and repair facility for digital printers. In this role, he was the Company’s ambassador to its most important domestic, European and Latin American customers and TBG achieved a best-in-class Net Promoter Score of 74 for its superb customer satisfaction. Prior to TBG, Monty served as the General Manager of Sam’s Clubs three highest grossing U.S. stores and was named Regional Operator of the Year in 1999. Monty holds a BBA in Marketing from Texas Tech University and is an active member of Business Navigators. He has been active in Vistage International, Executives in Action, the Dallas/Fort Worth Retail Executives Association, as well as, A.P.I.C.S., the leading professional association for supply chain and operations management. Monty also volunteers with Hunger Busters and ManeGait, a therapeutic horsemanship organization.

David is a proven financial and information technology professional with expertise in providing business accounting software and computing solutions. He began his career by starting and managing a successful independent consulting practice for several years. He then launched the local systems consulting unit of Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurial Services Group, leading the office into the hi-tech consulting arena. After successfully developing the unit for Ernst & Young, David founded NextCorp (which became SMB Suite in 2013) to serve the business software needs of clients throughout the US. David has made SMB Suite one of the best cloud ERP providers in the industry. In addition to being a successful entrepreneur and leader, he is a software and technology specialist, holding certifications in various Microsoft and other technologies.