Compare Options to Move Microsoft Dynamics GP to the Cloud

We constantly have people saying, "I want to move Dynamics GP to cloud. That means I need to upgrade to Dynamics 365 Business Central, right?" No, not right. I feel it is important to answer this question honestly.

Sadly, many Dynamics GP Partners are spreading this untruth to sell a Dynamics 365 BC project. At Dexpro Dynamics, we use the proper English word.

Moving from Dynamics GP to Dynamics BC is not an upgrade; it is a re-implementation.

If you move from Microsoft Dynamics GP to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC) you will be implementing an entirely new ERP system. They just happen to be sold by the same company, Microsoft.

With the "Great Resignation" and other things that are putting a strain on resources, who has the time or money to reimplement a new ERP system?

If you want to move Dynamics GP to the cloud, of course, you CAN move to Dynamics 365 BC. You could also move to Acumatica, Sage Intacct, or any other Cloud ERP system. But do not believe that this is your ONLY choice. You do not have to move off of Dynamics GP at all.

Microsoft has committed to supporting Microsoft Dynamics GP at least until 2028, with no end date ever discussed. Twenty years ago, there were rumors that Microsoft would get rid of Microsoft Dynamics GP soon, yet here we are today. The same conversation, twenty years later.

If Dynamics GP does what you need it to do or can be fixed to make it do what you want it to do, there is no need for such drastic measures.  

Often, even if a company has issues with Dynamics GP, it can work perfectly well after just a few changes. We just worked with a small company that was ready to give up on Dynamics GP and buy Acumatica. The reality was that their Dynamics GP had been poorly implemented. We were able to save them $50,000 on a new ERP system by fixing the issues and setting up the right Microsoft reporting tools. I invite anyone running Dynamics GP to book a system audit with us at no charge. If you can stay on Dynamics GP, I will tell you. If you genuinely need a new system, I will tell you that too.

Two Options to Move Dynamics GP to the Cloud

What if Dynamics GP works well for you, but you are ready to move to the cloud?

Moving to the cloud is an excellent idea for most Dynamics GP users. It eliminates the on-premises maintenance and the cost of buying new servers and hardware every three to five years. As far as the end-user experience, moving to the cloud will not cause any dramatic changes; there is no learning curve. Likely the end-users will not even realize a change has been made.

You have multiple options to move Dynamics GP to the cloud without moving to a new system.

1)    Move Dynamics GP to Azure

When you move Dynamics GP to Azure, you are basically renting server space. Your internal IT team is still the one to fix a printer, add a new user etc.



2)    Move Dynamics GP to a Hosting Provider

When you move Dynamics GP to a full-service hosting provider, they provide a higher level of 24/7 support.

The average Dynamics GP user has someone in IT who can support the basic technical needs of the system. The person who used to support Dynamics GP on-premises will now support Dynamics GP running from a different location.  

We generally follow the best practices for the Azure environment, which includes a SQL server, a domain server, and an application RDC server. If you do decide to host your own system in Azure your team should educate themselves on Azure security, just like they should for On-Premises security.

Again, the user experience is really not that different from a local on-premises installation of Dynamics GP because most users today already use terminal services or Citrix to connect to Dynamics GP while working from home.

In the second option, you are also moving Dynamics GP to the cloud, but you are paying someone else to do the technical support for you.

Does Dynamics GP work in the cloud?

Many people will use the argument, "Dynamics GP is old technology; it wasn't built for the cloud."

This is true. Dynamics GP was not originally built to work in the cloud. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't work in the cloud.

I like to look at a client's business as a whole. If the client moves everything to the cloud, and Dynamics GP is the only dinosaur left on-premises, then moving to a cloud server like Azure fixes the issue for the least cost and effort.

You can move Dynamics GP to the cloud at the same time as you do a system upgrade for minimal disruption.

We worked with a large non-for-profit in Chicago that was running everything in the cloud except Microsoft Dynamics GP. They were considering moving to another ERP system. Instead, Dexpro Dynamics moved their Dynamics GP system to the Azure cloud. Instead of spending the money on a new implementation, we used some of that money to enhance Dynamics GP with additional reporting and budgeting solutions. As a result, they spent less than 50% of what they would have spent on a new implementation, and now they have zero desire to change. Their Dynamics GP system is running smoothly in the cloud. 

If you are thinking of moving from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central, ask yourself:

• Is there a real justification in place to switch ERP systems?
•  Do we have enough staff to do a new ERP implementation right now, which will include a substantial amount of our people's time for   migration, testing, and user training?
• If we switch, is Dynamics Business Central even the right fit, or do we need to invest the time to do a full-scale discovery process of other ERP systems?

I think people should switch ERP systems if the current environment is not, and can not, support their business model. However, this is not a decision to take lightly.

If you want to move Microsoft Dynamics GP to the cloud, you have multiple options that do not include a re-implementation.

Contact us at Dexpro Dynamics  at 855-703-4300 or info@dexprodynamics.com to have an honest conversation about your options.

By Dexpro Dynamics, Microsoft Dynamics GP Silver Competency Partner, www.dexprodynamics.com