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.
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.
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?