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Top considerations when migrating from Dynamics GP to Business Central

22 Nov

Top considerations when migrating from Dynamics GP to Business Central

by Monty Milliner
in Dynamics GP Long Term Strategy, Managed IT
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So, you’re thinking about moving to a new business system like Dynamics 365 Business Central. This could be because your business has either outgrown current tools, or you have been forced to think about a change, and for either reason, there is no cause for alarm. If you are running Dynamics GP, you might be thinking of the right time to plan and budget for a move – the good news is you can do this on your own timetable.

 

If you are planning to make a move, here are some things you need to consider:

 

Take a good look at where you are now.

First, step back and assess the current processes currently in place. And take a good, long and honest look at them – just because you’re using them, doesn’t necessarily mean that they are working well or are the best for your business. Ask the people who are using Dynamics GP day-in and day-out, and what their favorite features are, and what would be on their wish list to help them do their job better.  Put those items on a list and evaluate your future alternatives against those features. Understanding the requirements and obtaining their buy-in at the start can remove unnecessary obstacles later on.

 

Consider where you want to be

If you don’t have a plan for your business in the next five years, this is the time to make one. After all, when was the last time you purchased an ERP system? 5-10 years ago? That’s likely how long you’re going to be using the next one. Your new ERP system needs to provide the features your future business needs and have the flexibility to change as you do. You ideally want your new system to provide more automation, better reporting, stronger security and ultimately increased productivity.

 

Image credit: Microsoft

 

Realize what will change and what will stay the same

Especially when moving from GP to Business Central, it is important to understand that it’s not a basic upgrade, GP and Business Central are completely different products. As they utilize different terminology and provide different functionalities, you need to determine how your business processes will be handled in Business Central. It is also good practice to involve the key individuals who will be using the new system in the project to ensure its success.

 

Cloud deployment

Business Central is a cloud solution that connects sales, service, finance, and operations teams to help them adapt faster and deliver results. It is tightly integrated to productivity tools like Office 365, MS Teams, and provides full capabilities on desktop, tablet, or mobile, on-premises or in the cloud, across Windows, Android, and iOS devices.

 

Reporting

Business Central also includes built-in business intelligence with Power BI when and where you need it, with real-time dashboards and KPIs for each user role. These powerful features allow you to improve outcomes and productivity with real-time system suggestions, based on historical data, to help make better-informed business decisions.

 

Updates

Like Dynamics GP, Dynamics 365 Business Central has regular major updates. However, Business Central provides a sandbox environment so you can safely test, train, or troubleshoot without disturbing your company’s work processes or business data.

 

Grows with you

With flexible pricing based on your level of need, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can help your business take a step towards smarter, technology-driven growth. This allows you to adopt new business models faster with the reliability, security, and adaptability that you need.

 

Business Central

Image credit: Microsoft

 

 

Cost

As of 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.

 

Functionalities

You may be used with your current Dynamics GP situation to provide the features you need. Those functions may be covered by base functionality in BC, or be further customized with extensions. Also, many of the companies on Dynamics GP are moving (if they haven’t already) to Business Central – be sure to evaluate all the processes and systems that are connected to GP to ensure they work with BC as well.

 

Scaling your business with Business Central – watch the demo

 

Making the switch

If you’ve done this before, you know that moving from one system to another isn’t as easy as it sounds on the surface. And even though you are moving from one Microsoft product to another, you’re going between two completely different platforms. Thus, you may not necessarily be able to shift your data across in a simple click, and the process may turn out to be more complicated than it seemed at the surface.

 

Partner with the Experts

Customers have countless options when evaluating which partner to work with on their BC implementation. As indicated, BC is a rich and deep ecosystem, and you may want to consider a partner who has experience migrating GP to BC, implementing BC, and providing support, as well as their pricing models.

Our one-price approach means there are no upfront fees, and not only does it include the hardware, but we are also responsible for the backups, data management security, emergency services, product upgrades. And don’t forget unlimited support, if you ever have any questions or concerns at all, we’re just a phone call away. Read more about our All-in-One price offering.

 

SMB Suite has over 30 years of experience as a Microsoft partner and has been deploying in the cloud for 20 years. We offer Microsoft ERP solutions so that our customers can grow with us using the best software on the market.

 

At SMB Suite we’re committed to growing with you. As your business expands, we’ll help you uncover the solutions best suited to your business needs. We support Business Central with our trademark customer-first, a problem-solving attitude that has made us the partner of choice for growing businesses across the country.

 

To learn more about Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, give us a call at 866-956-1636 or reach out to our sales team.

 

This is the final article of a 3-part blog series discussing the Dynamics GP Long-term Strategy. 

Part 1: Despite what many Microsoft partners are trying to sell you, Dynamics GP is not dead. 

Part 2: Is 2021 the right time to make a move from Dynamics GP?

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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.