Updated · Originally published
We have been Dynamics GP Partners for decades and we have found that businesses often make similar mistakes when choosing a GP Consultant. This article reviews some of the issues our clients have had before they came to us.
Mistake #1 – Choosing Someone Who is Too Famous
There are Microsoft Dynamics GP consultants that try to be LinkedIn-famous, or they try to be a very established name in the industry. They often do a lot of free help for random users online.
There is nothing wrong with that per se. But I know that when I interview consultants to work for my firm, I want the Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant to be famous with the client, not with the industry or the competition. I want all their energy and time spent on our clients. I think that is what you should expect too.
Mistake #2 – Choosing a Microsoft Dynamics GP Consultant With The Lowest Rate
Everyone wants to save money. But some consultants will bid the lowest hourly rate to win the deal, then take ten times longer to complete the project. Shopping for a good Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant is like shopping for a good business lawyer. I recently chose a lawyer with a higher rate than anyone else, but he's more efficient in 15 minutes than my previous lawyer was in 20 hours.
My team works on many projects where the client is paying us to fix mistakes made by the inexpensive Microsoft Dynamics GP consultants.
It can be difficult to know this in the beginning. This is another reason to get a referral from other users and specifically ask about billing.
Sometimes, if a client is hesitant about working with Dexpro Dynamics, I will give them an introductory rate so we can prove our value, with the understanding that we will charge the normal rate after the initial period. We do this because we are confident we can deliver.
Mistake #3 – Choosing A Consultant That is Too Detailed
Some consulting firms will bring 15 guys in suits and do a very beautiful presentation. It can be impressive, and you may feel that they will use all that energy to complete a perfect project. However, I see it as overkill, and a dollar sign is always associated with that.
If you see a PowerPoint presentation that took a massive amount of work and was overkill for your project, that is a sign that this is how they will work. Likely everything will be overproduced, and you are the one that is going to be paying for it. This can apply to a small consulting firm too. Are they spending their billable time on things that really matter?
Mistake #4 – Choosing A Consultant That is Not Detailed Enough
If the answer is "no problem" to every single question you ask and no one gets really specific with you, that is a bad sign. There is no ERP project that has zero issues or can fit it at all. As much as I want to stay positive, a reality check needs to happen. A good consultant will be honest with you about that upfront and explain the pros and cons, so you have the information you need to make the right decisions.
How to utilize your Microsoft Dynamics GP Consultant to maximize your profits
Once you find the best Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant, what can they do for your company? Here are three examples of ways they can help you save money, which means more profits.
Use The Dynamics GP Features That You Already Own
A good Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant will show you how to use the tools you already own. I find that many companies do not even realize they have certain modules. Especially with the recent changes from Microsoft, it is important to confirm you are on the latest version of Microsoft Dynamics GP and know what is included. You may be able to avoid paying licensing fees for third-party tools if you use what you own.
Read: Valuable Free Tools Every Microsoft Dynamics GP User Needs to Know About
Focus on Reporting
Reporting in Microsoft Dynamics GP has always been overlooked by many consultants. With the post-COVID growth of many businesses, reporting is the number one thing that is requested by our clients.
Microsoft Dynamics GP comes with nearly unlimited reporting capabilities. A good Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant can start with what you have out of the box, such as SQL reports, Excel Live reports, and even Power BI. Then, they can train you to add custom reports to take you a step further.
With proper reporting, you can spend less time on data entry and make meetings more productive. It is even possible that you can avoid expensive customization or integration projects when you have the right reports to consolidate data.
Evaluate All Cloud Options
Today, companies often want to eliminate on-premises servers. However, they are confused and don't know if they need to switch ERP systems.
Lately, the most common questions I get are:
- Can you still use Microsoft Dynamics GP in the cloud?
- Is it better to move to Dynamics 365 Business Central?
I will just say that Microsoft Dynamics GP is here to stay. Although it is an on-premises solution, we have many clients moving Microsoft Dynamics GP to Azure, AWS, or cloud servers. Today, close to half of our clients have Microsoft Dynamics GP installed on a cloud server.
Some clients do decide to move to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. But this is not an upgrade; it is an entirely new implementation. We help clients evaluate both options.
We review the situation of each client and provide an objective analysis of what is a better fit for their scenario. With so many businesses being understaffed today, it is hard to justify a new system implementation.
However, if the system used today does not support all of the client's needs, it may be the right time to consider Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Microsoft and other third-party vendors have improved tools that allow an easier transition of historical data from Microsoft Dynamics GP to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC). This can significantly lower the implementation cost.
By choosing to stay within the Microsoft Solution product line, you will find that the training required for Microsoft Dynamics 365 BC is less time-consuming. We regularly see users successfully transition from Microsoft Dynamics GP to Microsoft Dynamics 365 BC. It is also important to know that Microsoft offers dual license ownership for all GP clients – you can own Microsoft Dynamics 365 BC licenses under your current Microsoft Dynamics GP renewal.
Also read:
Next Steps
We know that choosing the best Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant can seem overwhelming. Most of our clients today came to us from a positive referral. We have clients that we have supported for decades. Our focus is to have long-term relationships with clients, and we want to ensure that our clients see the value in the work we deliver. Our goal is to get our clients the most value for their money and empower them to use the system to its fullest potential.
If you are evaluating ERP systems, let's start a conversation.
If you already use Microsoft Dynamics GP, I invite you to take advantage of a to discuss your current pressing issue that other consultants could not resolve. Then, if we both feel it is a fit, we will provide a free high-level Microsoft Dynamics GP system assessment.
We now offer a "Microsoft Dynamics GP System Health Check" to evaluate your system's general stability. During this assessment, we will spend up to 4 hours reviewing your current Microsoft Dynamics GP system configuration, your servers' setup, and your general business processes. This will give you a good understanding of the modules and reports you own, including some you may not know that are there but should be using. Most importantly, this review will show you what it will take to make your system more efficient. Finally, you will receive a summarized report of our findings with an action plan that you can use as a roadmap to make the most of your investment in Microsoft Dynamics GP.
For more complex systems and clients who are facing important system decisions, we suggest a full "Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Process Review." The value of understanding current system design, combined with a vision for the future, can save a lot of money on selecting and implementing solutions that will not need to be quickly replaced.
You will never get a sales pitch, just honest answers, from the actual people who are responsible for delivering the results.
We want to make sure you don't make the mistakes above and work with the best Microsoft Dynamics GP consultants in the business.
at (855) 703-4300 or [email protected].
You can also register for our complementary 30 minute .
By Marlena Stark, President, Dexpro Dynamics, Microsoft Dynamics GP Silver Competency Partner,