As announced previously, support for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016 and 2016 R2 will end in July. Our clients often ask us whether they should migrate to the new version of Dynamics GP or consider a new implementation and move to the cloud with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. To help you make your decision, here are 5 questions to ask yourself before choosing between Dynamics GP and Business Central.
How to choose between Dynamics GP or Business Central?
What issues are you facing with your current system?
If your current system still meets your needs, it may not be necessary for you to migrate to Business Central in the short term. Migrating to the most recent version of Dynamics GP may very well be the best decision for your organization. Indeed, a new implementation requires a lot of time and effort from your team. Your organization has to have time and energy to dedicate to such a project before starting.
Is the cloud what your organization needs?
With remote work now more widespread than ever, a cloud-based solution like Business Central can provide your firm with tons of benefits. As such, it’s important to determine if your organization will benefit from Business Central’s cloud features, or if it may be better to keep your system on premises with Dynamics GP for the time being. Ask your various teams about their needs and pain points to properly weigh the pros and cons.
Do you have to update your infrastructure?
If it’s time for your organization to invest in new infrastructure, two options are available to you depending on what best fits your firm’s IT strategy. These options will let you avoid acquiring new servers:
- You can opt for having your GP solution hosted in a private cloud. You would have to migrate to the latest version, without having to implement a new system.
- You may also choose to implement Business Central within your firm. You will then benefit from a fully cloud-based solution.
Is it time to redefine your processes?
A Business Central implementation can be completed relatively quickly, but it is indeed a new implementation and not simply a migration. This means it’s necessary to evaluate the strategic value of reengineering your processes before making the transition to the cloud. If your system does not meet your current needs anymore, it may be the right time. You can then continue your digital transformation from a flexible, fully cloud-based platform.
What are your specific needs and how to meet them?
More and more features and applications are available for Business Central, but a mature solution like Dynamics GP benefits from a large ecosystem of third-party products. If your organization has specific needs requiring third-party products or custom developments, you should validate whether the new solution can meet them. On the other hand, new Business Central features may have made some developments and products obsolete.
What are the steps after choosing between Dynamics GP or Business Central?
If you decide to stay with Dynamics GP, you can simply contact your partner to schedule your migration to the latest version. If you decide to switch to Business Central, we recommend contacting a Microsoft Dynamics 365 partner such as JOVACO. This partner will be able to analyze the business processes, reports, and invoices that were customized over the years. They will also be responsible for configuring your new solution and migrating your data, as well as training your end-users, as Business Central is completely different from Dynamics GP. Afterwards, you will be able to launch your new solution and take advantage of the cloud!
Of course, your Dynamics partner can also answer your more advanced questions and help you make a decision. For more information regarding the differences between these two solutions, read our article Microsoft Dynamics GP or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: Which is Right for Your Organization? You may also want to read our eBook .
By JOVACO Solutions,
About JOVACO Solutions
JOVACO Solutions is a leading ERP and CRM solution provider operating for over 35 years. As a specialist of Microsoft Dynamics business management solutions, we offer a wide range of products and services to meet all the needs of professional services firms and project-based organizations. We also offer specialized project management tools and timesheet add-ons fully integrated to Microsoft Dynamics solutions. Visit or for more information.
