The Top 5 Benefits of Using Microsoft Dynamics GP for Small Businesses

What is New in GP Releases 18.8

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 21:35:56 GMT

Microsoft Dynamics GP Latest Updates

Microsoft Dynamics GP (Dynamics GP October 2025) – the following items are fixed with Version 18.8

Distribution

When you try to receive a purchase order that had line items linked with a cost category that is an inventory type, the distribution account for the contra account is no longer missing.

In the Purchase Requisition Entry window, the scrolling window is no longer missing a check for required function.

Financials
You will not receive the following error when trying to drill down on a posted transaction: A get/change operation on table 'PM_Transaction_WORK' could not find a record.

Payroll
Reprint Payroll Checks was fixed and no longer causes the Payee name on all voids in Safe Pay to show up as the last employee in the pay run.

System/Install/Upgrade
TLS 1.3
.NET 4.7.2
Visual Studio 2019

Wor kflow
Deleted attachments will not continue to be e-mailed from Workflow.

You will no longer receive the message “This record has been deleted since you opened this window” when clicking the Workflow history button.

For full details, please click the link below.

Microsoft Dynamics GP 18.8

Microsoft Dynamic GP System Check Up

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:47:32 GMT

What do you need to stay on Microsoft Dynamics GP

Microsoft Dynamic GP System Check Up

Microsoft will continue to enhance Microsoft Dynamics GP until 2029 and continue security updates until 2031. Dexpro plans to continue to support GP clients pass those dates or we will help you to transition to Dynamics 365 Business Central – all on your terms!

If you're planning to stay on GP, we want to reduce your risk when choosing a new Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner. As an introduction to our business, we offer a fixed fee Microsoft Dynamics GP System Check Up to new clients. We realize that the reason you are looking for a new Partner is likely because you need more – more attention, more expertise, more efficiency. You want to feel confident that the new Partner you choose can give you all that, and more. At Dexpro Dynamics we invest the time to prove to you, in advance, that we can give you what you need before you spend money or make major commitments.

After a brief conversation to confirm that we are a potential fit for your business, we follow these steps.

Microsoft Dynamics GP Check Up Process:

Step 1: We ask you to fill out a questionnaire about your system basics.

Step 2: We will schedule up to 2-hour meeting with your key financial and IT users. During a live demo, we look “under the hood” at your Dynamics GP system and SQL server.

We will check things such as:

· Are you default settings configured properly?

· Are SQL maintenance and backups being performed regularly?

· Which modules do you own that you are not using?

· Which out of the box reports have not been deployed?

· Are you using add on products that are no longer necessary?

· What processes are time consuming and manual that can be automated?

· Server performance – Using out DexWatch tool may be critical to monitor your servers.

Step 3: We will deliver a summary of our findings along with a prioritized list of action items with cost estimates. You are free to do whatever you like with this information, no strings attached.

Does your Dynamics GP system need a check up?

In our experience, companies that have been using Microsoft Dynamics GP for many years just settle for what they are used to. Often they don’t realize that they now have access to new features that would dramatically improve their processes. Or they have gotten used to labor intensive workarounds that are no longer necessary. Most of the time, the things that will be the most “life changing” for your users, and the least expensive.

We will do all of this for a fixed price of $600.

What is New in GP Releases 18.5, 18.6, and 18.7

pola@dexprodynamics.com (Pola .) — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:42:46 GMT

Microsoft Dynamics GP Latest Updates

Microsoft Dynamics GP (Dynamics GP October 2024) – the following items are fixed with Version 18.7

Distribution

You may notice performance issue when you open the Purchase Order Generator from the PO Navigation Home Page.
You may see the percent/amount field display incorrectly in Sales Line Item Tax Detail Entry when posting a transaction after the date change from the Date Effective Tax Rates window.

Financials

Receipts from Cashbook have blank Tax date in TX30000 and may cause issues with VAT reporting.
You may notice with a long-Fixed Asset ID in some windows the display does not show the full Asset ID.
Print & Email cash Receipts did not populate customized fields in the message ID.
Credit Card Payments set up as Check Cards in Payables may miss Multicurrency information when posted to Bank Reconciliation.
Drill back on Historical JEs in the Journal Entry Inquiry drill back to the wrong document, if Revenue Expense Deferral is loaded.

System/Install/Upgrade

Ability to mass email reports from the Navigation List.
If you have a SmartList Favorite Reminder using the Prior Period, it will not show in To Do / Reminder’s window on GP Home Page.
With the 18.6 release and format workflow emails feature, trailing zeroes were trimmed from the amounts and quantities in the email details.

Workflow

You may receive an error message ‘This record has been deleted since you opened this window’ when you click Workflow history button.

Modern Auth (MFA) – Multi Factor Authentication and GP

Email may fail when the TO and BCC are populated but CC is left blank with MSGraphEmailSendEmail error message after 18.6 upgrade.
Email Address Based on Document Type pulls default emails from Customer or Vendor on transaction when opening Email detail on a transaction.

Developer

Form level function Defaults_ReadBoolean() of form syVisualStudioHelper renamed to Dex_Defaults_ReadBoolean.

For full details, please click the link below.

Microsoft Dynamics GP 18.7

Microsoft Dynamics GP (Dynamics GP October 2023) – the following items are fixed with Version 18.6

Distribution

The Historical Received/Not Invoiced SRS report includes items where the quantity is matched, but the extended cost is different.
The Sales All-In-One view may encounter an error when accessing a document with an 001-extension created from SOP, and it does not display the original RM document with the same number.
The SOP Blank Picking Ticket Bin Sequenced and SOP Blank Picking Ticket Order Entered will not print the template when "Print Separate Picking Ticket Per Site" is checked and sent to the printer.
On the SOP Blank Return form, the totals section table does not remain together (splits) when there isn't enough room on a page for the entire table.
"The budget does not exist for this PO." error occurs when attempting to process a shipment on a Purchase Order with Project Accounting data that originated from a Requisition.
The Unit of Measure (UofM) does not flow from Requisition to Purchase Order, although it works for PO from Sales Order. Additionally, it is not possible to drill back to Project Accounting transactions from the Purchase Receipts Quantity Sold Details window.

Financials

When you email a reprint of vendor remittances, the customized fields added from the email message setup are not included
You may encounter an error when attaching a document to the Deposit Entry window: "You cannot post. The fiscal period that contains this posting date has not been set up"
The Letter Writing Assistant Collections Letters Final Notice for Collection letter for <<InvoiceDetails>> never prints
The Financial Summary Inquiry window is missing the redisplay option
The Cash Receipt feature is missing from the Mass Customer E-mail settings window
Fixed Asset information may be incorrect when you transfer an asset twice with a Transfer Date prior to its Depreciated To Date

Payroll and Human Resources

The Letter Writing Assistant will not print Human Resource Test information
The Payroll Recreate Pay stub prints VOIDED for all paystubs when printing a group of paystubs
When you restrict the Payroll SmartList Employee Summary to a year, it does not return all the employees for that year
When you inactivate an employee's OVERTIME code through the Quick Assignment window, only the pay factor increases incorrectly

System/Install/Upgrade

The Letter Writing Assistant prints symbols when using data such as ééééààààà for customer, vendor, and employee name fields
The SmartList Designer encounters an error stating, "You do not have access to the selected series" for non-power users

Workflow

Workflow notification emails are not sent when more than one user is CC'd and MFA is enabled
Duplicate Final Approval completion emails are being sent when MFA is enabled

Modern Auth (MFA) – Multi-Factor Authentication and GP

The ability for a shared mailbox with MFA in Dynamics GP is now available
MFA is not compatible with the Single Tenant authentication option in Azure App Registration
An invalid email address on a customer with multiple addresses causes no email to be sent

Web Client

SOP Document Inquiry display issues

For full details, please click the link below.

Microsoft Dynamics GP 18.6

Microsoft Dynamics GP (Dynamics GP October 2022) – the following items are fixed with Version 18.5

Distribution

When Manufacturing is installed, there is no validation performed when deactivating item/site combinations.

Financials

When you automatically deposit sales receipts, the Bank Deposit Posting journal may print only the header, leaving the rest of the journal blank

Payroll and Human Resources

The EFW2 file may have an incorrect format for the Kind of Employer field for State/Local 501c

System/Install/Upgrade

Dynamics GP may crash if a user leaves the document attach window open while viewing many other windows, and then tries to close the document attach window
The Financial Dashboard may display an error message, "Excel was unable to open the file by repairing or removing the unreadable content." The connection string on the Excel refreshable reports has been updated for TLS compliance

Workflow

Since version 18.3, reminder emails for Workflow are no longer being sent. Similarly, escalation emails for Workflow are also not being sent
Workflow approval emails are missing the Word template edit list attachment when MFA is enabled
A save operation on the 'MSGraphEmailTemp' table may fail due to the number of attachments
If you have a large number of workflow steps, your workflow history window may crash upon opening

Modern Auth (MFA) – Multi Factor Authentication and GP

The "Have Replies Sent To" functionality is not working with MFA

Web Client

Enable Modern Authentication for Web Client users

For full details, please click the link below.

Microsoft Dynamics GP 18.5

Dexpro March Newsletter

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 18:46:31 GMT

Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM

Pivot to digital selling - adapting to the new normal.

We are happy to share that our Dexpro team is expanding into the Customer Relationship Management space and growing our Dynamics 365 Sales Professional practice.

Dynamics 365 Sales enables salespeople to build strong relationships with their customers, take actions based on insights, and close deals faster. Use Dynamics 365 Sales to keep track of your accounts and contacts, nurture your sales from lead to order, and create sales collateral.

Schedule a call with us to learn more from a certified Microsoft Silver Partner that supports Dynamics 365 Sales, Dynamics 365 Business Central, and Dynamics GP. We can help you understand your options and take advantage of the best Microsoft promotions.

Take Advantage of Business Central Promotions up to 40% Off

Dynamics 365 BC 10% offer for Modern Work Customers

Promotion available until June 30, 2024
Microsoft 365 customers are eligible for a 10% discount on Business Central Essentials and Premium licenses.
Learn more about how Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Microsoft 365 apps including Outlook, Excel, and Teams can work together to eliminate data silos and improve your employees' productivity

Bridge to the Cloud 2 Promotion

Promotion available until December 31, 2024
Ability to waive GP enhancement renewal fee throughout 3-year term
Offers eligible Dynamics on-premises commercial customers a 40% discount during a 3-year non-cancellable term when migrating to most Dynamics 365 online products

Contact Dexpro today to learn more about the Microsoft promotions available to you.

The Pitfalls of Patching and Over-Customization in Dynamics 365 Business Central

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 16:42:16 GMT

This company embarked on its ERP journey with high hopes after a successful implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM.

Encouraged by the initial success, they decided to add Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central for their financial operations.

That is when things started to go wrong.

Their story serves as a valuable lesson in choosing a Partner with the right skill set and the dangers of going overboard with customization and trying to patch up a system with a weak foundation.

What went wrong with this Business Central project?

This company was working with a Microsoft Dynamics CRM partner. When they said they wanted to expand the engagement and add Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central , this CRM Partner was out of its depth. CRM and ERP are different skill sets.

However, instead of being honest with the customer and working in cooperation with an ERP partner, they took a gamble. The Partner outsourced the development overseas to a team that had technical expertise but did not have experience with the ins and outs of Business Central or knowledge of American accounting standards.

What ensued was a series of headaches. The ERP system they hoped would streamline operations turned into a money pit, requiring constant fixes and development to maintain basic core functionality.

As a distribution company heavily reliant on e-commerce, their ERP system was critical to maintaining operations.

The problem? They rushed into customization without really understanding how it would impact their business processes and overall system functionality.

Imagine you ask a developer to tweak how your invoices look. This seems simple. The developer will say yes because “developers love to develop.” But behind that request are layers of complexity. Before making a change, you must understand accounting principles and how each part of the ERP system works together.

If a developer doesn't consider how a change affects other parts of your ERP system, chaos can ensue. Integrations might break, important data might get lost in the shuffle, and suddenly, your whole system feels like it's held together with duct tape.

They were spending more and more money just trying to patch over the problems without getting down to the root of the issue.

In this case, the development was not based on a properly scoped business process.

It was more reactive to client needs. They said, “We want to send this order that way.” The developer said, “We can customize the system to do that.” But you can't just develop one thing and not think through how that will affect the other areas of the ERP system. It is a domino effect.

That is why system architecture is so important. It is the foundation.

This company eventually realized they were spinning their wheels. After months of frustration and mounting costs, they decided to hit the brakes and reassess.

They reached out to our team at Dexpro Dynamics.

We suggested to take a hard look at their business processes and system design, realizing that a fresh start would be the only way forward.

Think of it this way: your ERP system is like a house. If it was built on shaky ground, no amount of fixes and patching up holes will keep it standing. You've got to start with a solid foundation. That means thinking through your system architecture and making sure it's sturdy enough to support the changes you want to make.

This is just one example of the type of company that contacts Dexpro Dynamics looking for help with their Microsoft Dynamics system. We see many implementations that have not been successful because they did not include all of the critical business processes. Having a system architect involved and spending time planning the design before initial implementation always pays off and eliminates issues after go-live.

How can you avoid a situation like this?

3 Lessons to Avoid Bad Dynamics 365 Business Central Projects

Choose a Partner that knows the specific product. Working with a partner Microsoft Dynamics Partner who knows “Microsoft Dynamics 365” is not enough. They need to specifically work with the product or products you want. Despite the confusing way Microsoft has decided to brand its product line – Microsoft Dynamics 365 is not just one project. And someone who knows CRM processes does not necessarily mean they know ERP processes. Do your homework on their specialty and experience.
Beware of Over-Development. If your consultant tells you they need to do customization or custom development, don’t just dive in without asking questions.
Is this change really necessary or just a “nice to have”?
Is there out-of-the-box functionality that would accomplish the same or nearly the same thing if we are flexible?
Will this change add more headaches down the line when we are ready to upgrade?
Will the change impact other areas of the system that I have not considered?
Should I get a second opinion before authorizing this expensive development project?
Don’t Keep Patching a System with a Poor Foundation. If you find that you are constantly paying to fix problems, you need to be willing to take a step back and analyze the foundation of your system. Was it set up correctly in the first place? Do you need a fresh start? The answer might be painful, but it is the only way forward.

The Dexpro Dynamics Difference

At Dexpro Dynamics, we're here to help you navigate the twists and turns of ERP implementation. Every hand-picked individual on our team has extensive knowledge and experience that covers the functional as well as the technical parts of the system, allowing us to provide solutions specific to your organization's business needs. We work with the full range of Microsoft Dynamics 365 products, both ERP and CRM , so we know how they work together.

Our consultants work closely with you to gain a deep understanding of your organization's processes, challenges, and goals. This way, we can correctly implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 solutions to drive productivity, efficiency, and growth.

Read testimonials from Dexpro Dynamics customers.

If you find yourself grappling with an over-customized Business Central system, Dexpro Dynamics is here to help. Together, we can build a stronger, more efficient foundation for your business.

Contact our team to start the conversation.

By Dexpro Dynamics, Microsoft Dynamics Silver Certified Partner, www.dexprodynamics.com

Dexpro February Newsletter

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Sun, 11 Feb 2024 18:09:29 GMT

Are You Ready for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central?

Get a grasp of what the transition would be like to move from Dynamics GP to D365 Business Central. These 5-minute videos compare everything from Financial Reporting tools to entering Receivables Transactions.

Compare Cloud Scenarios: When Should I Move Dynamics GP to Azure versus Move to Dynamics 365 BC

Discover the ultimate guide to cloud migration for Dynamics GP in our latest blog post! Whether you're considering migrating to Azure or making the leap to Dynamics 365 BC, our comprehensive comparison provides invaluable insights to help you make an informed choice. From cost considerations to functionality and scalability, we cover it all, ensuring you're equipped with the knowledge needed to optimize your ERP solution.

Comparing Cloud Scenarios: Determining the Right Time to Transition Dynamics GP to Azure or Dynamics 365 BC

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 18:29:41 GMT

Business software has transitioned to the cloud, prompting many clients to reconsider their Dynamics GP setup. While they own Dynamics GP, their IT departments are increasingly hesitant to maintain on-premise servers. The question arises: should they migrate Dynamics GP to Azure or make the shift to Dynamics 365? There's no one-size-fits-all answer. My role is to assist companies in weighing their options for current and future planning.

Both avenues come with their associated costs:

Transitioning Dynamics GP to Azure incurs monthly Azure hosting charges along with regular upgrades.
Shifting from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central isn't just an upgrade; it entails a completely new ERP system implementation.

Moving to Dynamics 365 BC involves a higher initial cost, followed by a predictable monthly fee to Microsoft. Azure migration, on the other hand, involves ongoing expenses for licensing, upgrades, server migrations, or additional server space, albeit with less disruption to business operations.

Consider whether you presently have the budget and workforce to execute a BC implementation or prefer to delay it while covering Azure fees. Some opt for a three to five-year ERP system plan, while others have already committed to change.

Let's delve into various scenarios to ascertain the ideal timing for transitioning Dynamics GP to Azure or migrating to Dynamics 365 Business Central.

4 Scenarios for Comparing the Move from Dynamics GP to Azure versus Business Central

Scenario 1: "I have everything I need with Dynamics GP. I simply want it in the cloud. We're struggling to find skilled workers, and I'm managing with a small team that's already stretched thin."

Suggestion: Transition to Azure

Scenario 2: "I appreciate Dynamics GP; we just require these three specific functionalities."

Suggestion: We can address those three issues within half a day. You can continue utilizing your current Dynamics GP setup while simultaneously devising a plan for the future.

Scenario 3: "I require additional functionality in Dynamics GP, and I'm prepared to invest in a significant third-party add-on tool (e.g., AP Automation)."

Suggestion: This is an opportune moment to explore transitioning to Dynamics 365 Business Central. It may already offer the desired functionality, potentially saving you the expense of additional add-ons. Additionally, investing in add-ons for Dynamics GP now may not be compatible with the system you migrate to in the future.

Scenario 4: "I'm currently using Dynamics GP and now I'm interested in integrating CRM functionality, specifically Dynamics 365 Sales."

Suggestion: Dexpro Dynamics specializes in implementing Microsoft CRM and facilitating the connection between Dynamics GP and Dynamics 365 Sales. This allows you to continue utilizing Dynamics GP for the time being. However, there's an integration services fee associated with this, which you'll need to pay again upon transitioning to Dynamics 365 BC later. Therefore, it might be more cost-effective to first migrate to Dynamics 365 BC and then incorporate Sales. Before proceeding, we would need to delve deeper into the following questions:

Does Dynamics GP currently fulfill all your requirements?
Are additional add-ons or separate systems necessary to address any existing issues?
Is your team equipped to handle a new ERP implementation at this juncture? A "lite" version of CRM is included within Dynamics 365 BC, and current promotions offer the opportunity to add the full CRM functionality to Business Central at a minimal cost. Many clients opt for a combined or phased implementation of Business Central and CRM.

Looking Beyond the Costs

I understand that change can be daunting. People tend to stick with what they know, and Dynamics GP is familiar. However, it's essential to consider not just the expenses but also the benefits of transitioning.

When you migrate to Dynamics 365 Business Central:

You gain access to an application fully integrated with Microsoft Office.
You can effortlessly access sales orders from your email on your phone without navigating through multiple platforms.
Business Central is continuously evolving with new features.
The reporting capabilities of Dynamics 365 Business Central surpass those of Dynamics GP, thanks to the power of Power BI and AI.
You no longer need to invest in new servers.
Your team can conveniently access the system remotely.
Say goodbye to costly and time-consuming system upgrades.

And that's just scratching the surface.

However, it's crucial to recognize that Business Central is a different product. If you've been using Dynamics GP for years, there will be a learning curve. While some aspects may exceed Dynamics GP, others may initially be missing.

At Dexpro Dynamics, we specialize in Dynamics GP and understand the needs of its users. That's why we include custom adjustments and customizations when transitioning to Business Central, making the process smoother. This level of support is only achievable when partnering with a team familiar with both systems.

Summary: Comparing Cloud Scenarios

Making a decision regarding cloud scenarios can be complex. If your needs are fully met with Dynamics GP, you don't require additional products, and you're not prepared to invest significant time and money into a new implementation, sticking with Dynamics GP and transitioning to Azure may be the best option.

However, in my experience, only a small percentage of clients fall into this category. When clients express dissatisfaction with Dynamics GP or express the need for additional functionality, it's crucial to consider transitioning to Dynamics 365 BC.

At Dexpro Dynamics, we support all the systems mentioned above. However, our focus is always on what's best for our clients at any given time. We aim to provide clear and honest evaluations of your options so that you can make the most informed decisions for your business.

Dexpro is proud to be a Dynamics GP Partner , a Dynamics 365 Business Central Partner , and a Dynamics 365 Sales Partner.

Schedule a free 30-minute consultation so we can start the conversation and give you the information you need to make the right decision for your specific business scenario.

By Marlena Stark, President, Dexpro Dynamics, Microsoft Silver Partner

Dexpro January Newsletter

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 18:59:33 GMT

It's Time for Q1 Planning - Dexpro is Here to Help Meet Your Business Goals in 2024

As we enter 2024, we are scheduling Q1 check-in meetings to align with your goals. The Q1 Check-in agenda will cover:

ERP System Planning: Review and adjust high-level plans.
System Capabilities: Identify desired features for implementation.
Feedback on Our Services: Share thoughts and suggest improvements.
Microsoft Updates: Discuss the latest from Microsoft and its implications.
Records Updates: Ensure accuracy and currency of mutual records.

How Much Does it Cost to Move Dynamics GP to Microsoft Azure?

Explore the cost considerations and steps involved in moving Dynamics GP to Microsoft Azure for enhanced flexibility and efficiency. Learn how to optimize Azure licensing, save on memory usage, and strategically plan the transition to minimize overall expenses.

How Much Does it Cost to Move Dynamics GP to Microsoft Azure?

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 22:15:45 GMT

“We have Dynamics GP. Everything is working. But we don’t want to keep it on-premises.”

I hear this often because many IT departments no longer want to maintain an on-premises physical server; the only application left in-house is Microsoft Dynamics GP.

Of course, moving to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, a 100% cloud-based application, is an option. But it is NOT the ONLY option. When a company comes to me with this question, “Should I move Dynamics GP to Azure or implement Business Central?” the best thing to do is to evaluate their circumstances and compare the choice.

As a first step, you need to know how much it will cost to move Dynamics GP to Microsoft Azure.

To get a price quote for Microsoft Azure, you need to consider specifications as if you were buying a physical server.

Space
Power/Processors
Memory

I always recommend that people start as low as possible and “stress test” because you can always upgrade or downgrade what you have in Azure. That is what makes it such a flexible choice.

The Cost of Azure Licensing for Dynamics GP

To save money on Dynamics GP in Microsoft Azure, you must look for anything in your current Dynamics GP system that drains memory. Management Reporter is the most “memory-hungry” application. And some third-party applications can also be a drain. It is a good time to evaluate what you are actually using.

I had a client who thought he needed 64 gigs of memory, and we helped him to see he only required 16 gigs. That is a substantial cost savings.

Your IT department can get a quote for Azure on their own, but you will likely save money if you consult with a company like Dexpro Dynamics first so we can help you find ways to reduce the cost.

When you purchase Microsoft Azure through Dexpro Dynamics, you will pay the same price, but you will get an added layer of Azure technical support included.

On average, I see our Dynamics GP clients paying $600 monthly for Azure licensing to host Dynamics GP in Azure, but the cost is purely dictated by usage.

The Cost to Move Dynamics GP to Microsoft Azure

When you move Dynamics GP to Azure, you move from one server to another. Generally, a physical server move can be done in a day. But since we are going to the cloud, that could be a bit more complex because now we have to set up terminal servers for end users and work with IT to ensure the tunneling for printers and files is established.

Your end user who opened the laptop or PC and had a local installation of GP, a local printer, and local files will need a new setup because now they will be working in the terminal server. This will make accessing GP easier from remote locations. Also, there will be only one install on each terminal server so it is easy to make installation changes for all users. Most small companies will be able to operate with one Terminal Server.

When we move a Dynamics GP client from on-premises to Azure, we try to make the system more efficient BEFORE the move to reduce the total cost.

It is ideal to combine the move with the application of the latest service packs to Dynamics GP
Evaluate the modules they own but are not using and determine if they might need to use them in the future and install those on Azure.

This way, everything is done at once, and we don’t have to come back in three months and bill you again for a service pack or a module installation. This type of strategic planning could save 10 or 20 hours, translating to significant cost savings.

The consulting cost to move Dynamics GP to Azure is not set in stone. Some clients have 20 databases or one huge one. This will dictate the amount of time needed for backups, transfers, and restores.

One Dynamics GP user we worked with was never told that using attachments in Dynamics GP will junk up your database. His database was over 50 gigabytes. So, a backup and restoration would take much longer than usual. And more time equals a higher cost.

The process is:

Backup Dynamics GP
Restore Dynamics GP on Azure
Install SQL server
Install Dynamics GP
Install 3 ^rd party solutions and other software
Configure backups and SQL maintenance plans

How much does the consulting services cost to move Dynamics GP to Azure?

This process requires in-depth knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics GP and is not recommended to be completed by the client without the Microsoft Partner involved. The costs could range from a minimum of $1,000 for a simple company without a large database up to $10,000 for a very complex system. The average price to move Dynamics GP to Azure is plus or minus $5,000.

Is it cheaper to move Dynamics GP to Azure or switch to Business Central?

Usually, there is some sticker shock when people receive a quote for the cost of Azure. Companies spend thousands of dollars for an on-premises server, but it is a “buy it once and forget it” cost. It doesn’t “hurt” every month like it does when you see the Azure fees. However, when you combine the cost of physical server maintenance and the cost of maintaining security and compliance, actually Azure is more compatible. But I find that most clients don’t seem to compare the cost that way.

If you move to Dynamics 365 Business Central, you must pay a lump sum once for the implementation, but you never have to pay for an upgrade or servers. So it can be more cost-effective in the long run.

But when evaluating a move from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central cost should not be the only factor you consider. New software implementation requires time, focus, and willingness to change.

In my next post, I will look into the other points we tell people to consider when going from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central.

If you are at the stage where you are not sure of the next step with your Microsoft Dynamics GP, Dexpro Dynamics can help. Book a free 30-minute Microsoft Dynamics consultation.

By Marlena Stark, Dexpro Dynamics, Silver Microsoft Dynamics Partner, www.dexprodynamics.com

Dexpro December Newsletter

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 21:36:42 GMT

Prepare for Year-End and Processing 1099s in Dynamics GP

Contact Dexpro for assistance with year-end close in Dynamics GP as well as understanding all of your options for processing compliant 1099 forms.

The latest release of Dynamics GP is version 18.6 YE and includes the following:

Blank Paper Printing: Print all Payables 1099 forms on blank paper for easier verification and vendor deliveries.
Improved Formatting: Year-End Wage Report now includes commas for better readability.
Streamlined 1099-NEC Printing: Continue printing 1099-NEC forms with boxes and lines on blank paper.

Don't Miss the Best Prices of the Year!

If you were considering purchasing a third-party software solution, this is the best time to get the shopping done!

eOne Solutions: 30-50% off SmartList Builder and SmartConnect for existing customers
Rockton: Lock in 2023 Pricing; Product prices increase January 1st, 2024
Gorilla Expense: New customers receive a 50% discount
on one-time setup & training fee
...and many more!

If you are interested in any of the offers listed above, contact Dexpro today! All sales must be processed by 12/29/2023 to receive the listed promotion.

How Dexpro Dynamics Saved a Business Paralyzed by a Neglected Dynamics GP System

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 17:56:55 GMT

Are you familiar with instances where an ERP implementation takes a disastrous turn? It's not uncommon to encounter such stories. Numerous ERP projects face challenges that lead to a failure in delivering the anticipated return on investment (ROI) for the organizations undertaking them. These are often referred to as ERP Horror Stories. By being mindful of the pitfalls and obstacles that have derailed implementation projects in the past, both partners and customers can take proactive measures to avert such disasters in future endeavors. Based on my experience, dedicating time upfront and making investments in business process evaluation and meticulous analysis can effectively mitigate surprises, ultimately saving both money and time.

Allow me to share my journey with Microsoft Dynamics GP and recount a cautionary tale that highlights how we managed to stabilize and rescue a GP customer.

My association with Dynamics GP commenced from a user's perspective when I served as a controller in the accounting department. When we could not get support, I started to fix some of the issues. I started to create new reports and troubleshoot some support issues. Drawing upon my background and degree in computer science, I was eventually recruited by a Microsoft Partner.

The partner I joined was initially a small boutique firm located in Chicago, later acquired by one of the prominent gold Microsoft Partners. This transition afforded me the unique experience of working with both small-scale partners and a large Gold-certified partner. I had the opportunity to support hundreds of users and collaborate across various industries utilizing GP.

Then, I ventured into starting my consulting firm, Dexpro Dynamics, which has now achieved Silver certification as a Microsoft Dynamics Partner.

Our focus shifted towards assisting clients who had encountered challenges with Microsoft Dynamics and required a turnaround. This niche soon became our expertise.

Dexpro Dynamics received an inquiry from an Accounts Payable clerk with past experience at another company. Having positive memories of our services, she inquired about our complimentary on-demand Dynamics GP training program and recommended us to her current employer. A group of users from her workplace participated in multiple training sessions we offered, expressing satisfaction with the insights gained. Eventually, the company's management reached out to us for further assistance.

The Challenge

This company was in a tricky situation because their Dynamics GP system was highly customized, but the changes weren't documented. Their system was not stable, and it was outdated because they hadn't updated it for over ten years, missing out on Microsoft's improvements. They had skipped necessary upgrades, and none of the Dynamics partners they talked to were willing to help.

Their system and the way they did business depended a lot on custom integrations, and they had many manual processes in an unstable environment.

Many of the issues this company faced stemmed from the initial setup of their Dynamics GP system. The Chart of Accounts wasn't set up following best practices—it was lengthy and inconsistent. Since they had more than one company, users had to constantly log in and out, and the Charts of Accounts differed between companies, making financial reporting a manual and time-consuming task.

Within each company, they were working with improperly designed parts of the system. However, the major trouble arose when they hired a Dynamics GP consultant for custom development without checking if the system already had the needed features. Instead of aligning their business processes with Dynamics GP, the consultant customized the system. In simple terms, the developer didn't know GP well enough to realize that some functionality was already present. Additionally, when you customize an on-premises system, it's crucial to document the changes for future upgrades, and unfortunately, this step was overlooked, causing further complications for the company.

The company faced serious consequences. Employees, eager to do their jobs, worried daily about whether the system and integrations would function. If there were issues, they weren't sure if someone could fix them.

Instead of the system making work easier, employees felt like they were working for the system. This led to a lot of frustration.

The toughest part was when they had turnover—bringing in new hires took a long time due to the complex custom processes. Training employees was challenging since standard Microsoft training didn't apply, and they were missing out on the improvements made in the last ten years.

How Dexpro Dynamics Helped Identify a Path Forward

We began by having an open conversation with the client. We had to decide whether to invest in fixing their current setup, stabilizing Dynamics GP by upgrading and removing unnecessary software, or if it was time to start fresh with a new implementation of Dynamics 365 Business Central.

However, they faced challenges – they didn't have the capacity to handle a new system implementation, and they had multiple systems connected to Dynamics GP. Replacing these systems or rebuilding integrations for Business Central wasn't feasible at that time. Additionally, Business Central was relatively new, with limited add-on applications.

After discussing the options, we collectively agreed that the best course of action was to upgrade Dynamics GP. Once we brought them up to the latest version and stabilized the system, the next step involved creating a 3- to 5-year plan to determine the system's future direction.

After stabilizing the system, we noticed numerous recurring support tickets. To address this, we identified areas for improvement, such as deactivating unused integrations and unnecessary processes. We focused on user training and established best practices while preparing for the GP upgrade.

We strongly recommended setting up a test environment, especially crucial for systems with customizations. A test environment provides a safe space to test, modify, fix, and update before implementing changes in the live system. Implementing a change management process was emphasized to ensure a smooth transition and avoid unforeseen issues.

We took steps to enhance system performance, starting by removing unnecessary third-party solutions that were slowing things down. Cleaning up the test environment allowed us to streamline the system further. Modules were removed, and we proceeded with the GP upgrade.

In the test environment, we provided end users with clear test scripts, guiding them on which parts of the system to test. During the upgrade, our focus shifted to customizations. Instead of migrating all customizations, we carefully selected and moved only the essential ones, discarding the rest.

These strategies played a key role in stabilizing the Dynamics GP system.

Top Tips for Microsoft Dynamics Implementations

1. Choose the right system carefully.

Don't rush the decision or take too long. Evaluate what system suits your business needs, make the decision, and implement it promptly. This way, your company can start benefiting from the system's capabilities and efficiency gains without unnecessary delays.

2. Choose the right partner for your system implementation.

It's a good idea to match partner size with your company size. Larger partners might give less attention to smaller clients, while very small partners might have limited expertise with just one or two consultants. Find a balance that ensures you have a reliable team for support.

3. Take time to talk about customizations and options.

For on-premises products, upgrading can be a concern, but with cloud products like Business Central, well-designed customizations are easily upgradable. The software can be configured as you need, and updates are smooth and automatic. The company mentioned in this article stuck with Dynamics GP for over 20 years, choosing to stabilize and stay with it. However, other companies in similar situations have opted to switch to Business Central instead of sticking with GP.

At Dexpro Dynamics, we're uniquely positioned to provide clients with unbiased opinions since we support both systems. We regularly sit down with our clients for quarterly check-in sessions, and we don't charge for this time. During these sessions, we discuss Microsoft updates, assess their system based on interactions, and encourage open discussions about their concerns.

We also explore unused functionalities and address repetitive support tickets, finding ways to eliminate them through training or system adjustments. Despite the regular fears associated with ERP deployment, we believe that with accurate information, expert guidance, and open dialogue, it doesn't have to be a horror story for small to mid-sized businesses.

Dexpro November Newsletter

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 16:50:54 GMT

Year End in Dynamics GP is Coming Soon. Have You Scheduled Your YE Update?

We know most clients only do year-end close once each year, so if you need help remembering the process or would prefer to have Dexpro perform YE close for you, we are happy to help. Contact us today if you need help with year-end close in GP. Spaces are available but limited.

Keep an eye out for Microsoft's Dynamics GP Year-End Update coming soon.

Just Released: New Features in Dynamics 365 Business Central

Take a look at the Dynamics 365 Business Central features that are planned to be released from October 2023 through March 2024. Adapt faster with Power Platform, Copilot and AI innovation, and more in this October release.

Dexpro October Newsletter

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 16:59:37 GMT

Just Released: Full List of New Features in Dynamics GP Version 2018.6

Microsoft has just shared the full list of new features and item fixes in the Dynamics GP 18.6 release. The October 2023 update incorporates new features requested by GP customers throughout the system. Check out our latest blog to review the additional functionality included in this release.

Preparing for Year-End in Microsoft Dynamics GP

As we are quickly approaching the fourth quarter, it is time to start planning for Year End. Read our latest blog for helpful tips and recent changes to help you prepare for Year-End in GP. Be ready for 1099 Payroll, IRS electronic Filing changes, and more.

What's New in Microsoft Dynamics GP 18.6 October Release

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 15:04:40 GMT

Microsoft Dynamics GP 18.6 (October Release) Fixed Items

Distribution

The Historical Received/Not Invoiced SRS report now includes items where the quantity is matched but the extended cost is different.
The Sales All-In-One view might encounter errors when viewing a document with a 001-extension created from SOP, failing to display the original RM document with the same number.
Sales Order Processing (SOP) Blank Picking Ticket Bin Sequenced and SOP Blank Picking Ticket Order Entered templates will not print when the "Print Separate Picking Ticket Per Site" option is selected and sent to the printer.
On the Sales Order Processing (SOP) Blank Return form, the totals section table now remains intact and does not split when there isn't enough room on a page for the entire table.
Users will no longer encounter the error message, "The budget does not exist for this PO," when processing a shipment on a Purchase Order with Project Accounting data originating from a Requisition.
The Unit of Measure (UofM) now seamlessly flows from Requestion to Purchase Order and functions correctly for POs originating from Sales Orders.
Users can now drill back to Project Accounting transactions directly from the Purchase Receipts Quantity Sold Details window, streamlining the workflow and improving efficiency.

Financials

When emailing a reprint of vendor remittances, customized fields added from the email message setup are not included.
An error occurs when attaching a document to the Deposit Entry window: "You cannot post. The fiscal period that contains this posting date has not been set up."
The Final Notice for Collection letter for <<InvoiceDetails>> does not print. There is an issue with the Letter Writing Assistant where the Collection Letters Final Notice is not generated as expected.
The Financial Summary Inquiry window is missing the redisplay option, affecting the user's ability to access this function within the window.
The Cash Receipt feature is missing from the Mass Customer E-mail settings window, creating an inconsistency in the options available to users.
Fixed Asset information might be incorrect when transferring an asset twice with a Transfer Date prior to its Depreciated To Date. This results in discrepancies in the asset details after the transfer process.

Payroll and Human Resources

Letter Writing Assistant fails to print Human Resource Test information.
Payroll Recreate Pay stub prints VOIDED for all paystubs when printing a group of paystubs.
Restricting Payroll SmartList Employee Summary to a specific year does not return all employees for that year.
Inactivating an employee OVERTIME code through Quick Assignment window ONLY results in incorrect pay factor increase.

System/Install/Upgrade

Letter Writing Assistant prints symbols when using special characters (such as ééééààààà) for customer, vendor, and employee name fields.
SmartList Designer displays an error message: "You do not have access to the selected series for non-power user."

Workflow

Workflow notification emails fail to send when more than one user is CC'd and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is enabled.
Duplicate Final Approval completion emails are being sent in Workflow when Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is enabled.

Web Client

Display issues in SOP Document Inquiry.

Modern Auth (MFA) – Multi Factor Authentication and GP

Implemented the ability for a shared mailbox with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) support in Dynamics GP.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is not compatible with the Single Tenant authentication option in Azure App Registration.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) fails to send emails when there is an invalid email address associated with a Customer having multiple addresses.

Microsoft Dynamics GP 18.6 (October Release) New Features

Microsoft has scheduled dates through November when details of each new feature will be released. You can view feature blogs and the upcoming schedule here. We encourage you to review the benefits in the 18.6 release:

Financial Summary Inquiry Redisplay
Reverse Fiscal year end close by Company
Customer Statements display open items
Email/Reprint Vendor Remittance with customized message fields
ALL Payables 1099 forms print with LINES and BOXES!!
Print Cash Receipts and email - enhanced
Drop Down List Selection for Batch Source Navigation Lists
Print Sales Order Processing blank picking ticket template
Set Unit of Measure from the PO Requisition to the Purchase Order
Format Workflow emails with item decimals
Project Time and Expense Workflow My Expenses/ Delegates List
Project Time Expense Workflow my Timesheets List
Payroll Year-End Wage Report Formatting
Letter Writing Assistant Expiring Test in Human Resource
Letter Writing Assistant Final Notice Collection Letter
Completely Delete Document Attachments
Shared Mailbox with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Modern Authentication - Single Tenant App Registration

Prepare for Microsoft Dynamics GP Year-End 2023

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 14:34:59 GMT

Get GP Year-End Support

Be Ready for 1099 Payroll, IRS Electronic Filing Changes, and More

If you need help with year-end close in Dynamics GP contact Dexpro today

Microsoft Dynamics GP Year-End Key Highlights

Once 1099 changes are known, the Microsoft pages will be updated and communicated through our Dexpro newsletters.
U.S Year-End target date: November 17, 2023
No changes to Payroll for Secure Act 2.0
Use this blog to help you with the IRS electronic filing changes for this year
Microsoft Dynamics GP: 1099 Changes to expect -Get ready for Year-end 2023!!

Microsoft Dynamics GP Year-End Update

Estimated Release Date November 17th, 2023

It's time to start planning for Year End! We will communicate new features and enhancements included in the Dynamics GP Year-End Update as we receive updates from Microsoft. Be sure to sign up for our Dexpro newsletters to catch all of the latest Microsoft announcements.

Clients printing Payables 1099 forms in Microsoft Dynamics GP. October 18.6 release all Payables 1099 forms (DIV, INT, MISC and NEC) will print with lines. You no longer need to purchase forms at year end!!
View 1099 information in a SmartList, ability to verify amounts and base to complete electronic filing. 2023 changes will be released soon.
Clients wanting to file electronically, W-2, 1099, etc. Dynamics GP does not file Payables 1099's electronically.
IRS FREE 1099 e-filing option- E-file Forms 1099 With IRIS | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)
There will be no changes to Payroll for Secure Act 2.0. If this is functionality you need in the product for automatically tracking of catch-up contributions for employees.
Fixed Assets - luxury auto depreciation changes

IRS Electronic Filing Changes

Microsoft took a survey from several Microsoft Partners to inquire about what solutions they are using to provide electronic 1099 capability for their Dynamics GP customers. Feel free to check the list of options below to find one that is a good fit for you. Hopefully, the links below will provide you with more details about these products to get you started along with contact information so you can reach out to them for additional information on functionality, requirements, cost, or even to request a demo. (NOTE: This list is in no particular order, is provided as suggestions only for you to investigate on your own and are not included under Microsoft Dynamics GP Support. You much reach out to each product for Support. Microsoft Corp does not assume any liability.)

Microsoft Dynamics GP 3rd party solution - Greenshades: https://go.greenshades.com/platform/tax-and-compliance/year-end-forms

Additional solutions popular among Dynamics GP users:

1099 Pro: https://www.1099pro.com/prod1099pro.asp

1099 Etc: https://1099-etc.com/

Tax 1099: https://www.tax1099.com/integrations/1099-excel-template

eSmart Payroll: https://www.esmartpayroll.com/excel_form_1099misc.asp

W2 Mate: https://www.realtaxtools.com/1099software/1099software.html

Aatrix - www.aatrix.com

and more....

1099 'SQL VIEW' FOR SMARTLIST

Microsoft partners have been asking for a 'SQL View' for 1099 forms so users can view 1099 information in a Smartlist. Linked below is a script provided by Microsoft for a "SQL VIEW" of the 1099 table (PM00204), that will sum 1099 amounts and can be linked to Smartlist Designer, so users can verify 1099 amounts from a Smartlist. This information can be used for verification purposes, as well as a base to make an Excel file if you use any electronic filing options above and need to generate the 1099 data to a file. Note that the IRS makes changes to the 1099 forms each year, so the below script is written for the '2022' forms. (Please check back at the end of the year as the script will be updated for the 2023 forms, as soon as the IRS changes are made available.) In the meantime, go ahead and run it, play with it, and test linking it to a Smartlist.

KB 4014658 --How to create a smartlist designer report using a SQL View

1099 Script for "SQL VIEW": (currently for the 2022 year forms)

What’s New - Dynamics GP Features 18.2 to 18.4

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 21:33:08 GMT

Companies that are active on their enhancement plan receive these releases at no extra license cost. In some cases, new features can replace additional tools you have added with their own license costs.

We encourage you to review the benefits in this new release:

18.4 (AKA GP 2022) New Features

Financials

Update account descriptions using Mass Modify
Summary Post Accounts Receivables Cash Receipt through Bank Reconciliation
Scroll through Account Segments
Payables 1099 Default to Single Feed (USA)
Payables 1096 form print email address (USA)
Default Inquiry sort Options (AP, AR, BR)

Distribution Features

Update Project and Contract Numbers
Save Filter Settings for All-In-One
Use GOTO from SOP Inquiry to SOP Trx Entry
Human Resource & Payroll (USA-only)
SafePay - employee name from check (USA)
Masking Employee Social Security Number on W2 (USA)
Copy and Paste Payroll Transactions from Excel (US Payroll)
Saving Payroll Batch default in Transaction Entry (US Payroll)

New System & Workflow

Auto Post Workflow for complete end to end process
Visibility for Table Changes
Workflow Maintenance Remove Carbon Copy
Workflow Approver Count
Reminder 18.3 included updated security to support 2FA (two-factor authentication) and the new 'MORE-Secure' TLS 1.2 standards for connecting Dynamics GP to Office 365 for email and other functions

Version 18.3.xx (AKA GP 2021) New Features

Bug fixes and feature changes requested by GP customers.
Maximize GP Report on "print to screen" rather than resizing.
Add User-Defined field to Payables Transaction Entry
Reconcile GL option: Reconcile all years at once
Limit Excel Copy/Paste Decimals Places to Currency Setup controls
Add DBA Name field on Vendor Maintenance and 1099 MISC form updates. (Cool, can be rolled back to GP 2016 via table change)
Copy/Paste into Payables Transactions
Mask SSN on HR reports
Full resolution for the Office update causing fall 2020 Word template errors

Version 18.2 (AKA GP 2020) New Features

Financials

LONG DESCRIPTIONS FOR PAYABLES - There is a new option in Payables Setup for very long descriptions of up to 200 characters.
EXPAND THE VIEW OF FISCAL PERIODS - The window display length of the fiscal periods window is extended to give you an expanded view of the fiscal periods.
SHOW USER WHO POSTED FOR JOURNAL ENTRY INQUIRY - The Journal Entry Inquiry window now has a new field that shows the user who posted the entry.
ADD CLASS ID TO FIXED ASSETS TRANSFER - The Class ID is now part of the scrolling window.
DOCUMENT ATTACH AVAILABLE IN BANK RECONCILIATION
VISUAL CUE FOR EFT VENDOR ON EDIT PAYMENT BATCH
SHOW CHECK NUMBER IN APPLY SALES DOCUMENT WINDOW

Payroll

PAYROLL OPTION TO NOT INCLUDE ADDITIONAL WITHHOLDING
PAYABLES INTEGRATION TO PAYROLL ENHANCEMENT - You can specify a remittance address ID for vendors for use when creating the invoice from Payroll.
A NEW PAYROLL INTEGRATION TO PAYABLES EDIT LIST REPORT IS NOW AVAILABLE FROM POSTING SETUP. This includes Deduction/Benefit Quick Assignment functionality.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY REASON FOR CHANGE FOR ALL DATES - The Reason field now captures the reason for the change to an employee’s information when the hire date, adjusted hire date, or last day worked fields are entered or edited in the Employee Maintenance window.
PAYROLL REPRINT PAY STATEMENTS BY AUDIT CODE - You can now reprint pay statements for an entire check run.

Workflow

USER SECURITY WORKFLOW - You can now set up a workflow for editing or adding user security.
USER WORKFLOW - You can now set up a workflow for editing or adding users.
SECURITY ROLES WORKFLOW - You can now set up a workflow for modifying security roles.
SECURITY TASKS WORKFLOW - You can now set up a workflow for modifying security tasks.
EXPORT AND IMPORT WORKFLOWS - You can now export a workflow to a .json file. Then you can copy that to another workflow or another company.
CHANGE APPROVER FOR ACTIVE WORKFLOW TASKS - In the new Edit Workflow Approver window, the manager of that workflow can modify who a task is assigned to.
VENDOR APPROVAL ENHANCEMENTS - The vendor approval workflow has changed for you to submit to workflow if the vendor hold status changes, or when the document attaches status updates for the vendor.

System Enhancements

DATE OPTIONS IN SMARTLISTS - Users do not need to change dates in search criteria. You can now view by:
Prior Month
Prior Period
Next Month
Next Period
SORT COMPANIES IN USER ACCESS SETUP - In the User Access Setup window, you can change the sort order of the companies that the user can access by company name or company ID.
FILTER INACTIVE USERS IN USER ACCESS SETUP - Specify if you want to include inactive users in the User Access Setup window.

Top Features Requests

COPY REPORT OPTION - You can now copy report options from another report to a current report, make changes, and save changes.
FILTER ITEM STOCK INQUIRY BY DATE - You can set date filters in the Item Stock Inquiry window to restrict the view. Choose Redisplay to filter data based on the From and To dates.
EXCLUDE INACTIVE ITEMS ON ITEM PRICE LIST - You can now specify if you want to exclude inactive items from the Item Price list.
MINIMIZE TRANSACTION WHEN GO TO IS SELECTED FOR PO - The transactions window is minimized when you choose Go To for a PO when you receive a warning that a PO exists for that vendor.
SAVE SETTING FOR HOW TO SHOW NEW POS - You can now specify what happens when a new PO is created with the following three options:
Show the message that new purchase orders have been created so the user can open the Purchase Order list,
Not show the message and just open the Purchase Order list, or
Not show the message and not display the Purchase Order list.
INACTIVE FIELD ADDED TO ITEM SMARTLIST - A new field, Inactive, is added to the default Item SmartList. You can add it as an available column to other SmartLists that are based on the Item list.
SHOW THE USER ID IN THE ITEM MASTER TABLE - Write the User ID to the item record when added or updated. You can add the field as a column in Item SmartList query.

4 Things Dynamics GP Users Must Do Now to Prepare to Move to Dynamics 365 Business Central Later

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 15:30:33 GMT

Dynamics 365 Business Central is here to stay. All Dynamics GP users know about it and realize that eventually, it will make sense to move to this new cloud-based ERP system. You certainly do not need to rush, but you should be prepared.

At Dexpro Dynamics, we encourage all our Microsoft Dynamics GP customers to have a three-to-five-year plan for their ERP system. You have the freedom to choose when moving to Business Central makes the most sense for your business. However, even if you are not making any changes now, you should still be discussing your options and laying the groundwork.

How can you prepare in advance to move From Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central?

Here are four things your company can do now to prepare for a Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 BC transition later:

1) Get your free Dynamics 365 BC licenses

As a Microsoft Dynamics GP user, you are able to take advantage of Microsoft's Bridge to Cloud 2 Promotion which includes a 40% discount on Dynamics 365 BC Licenses. Microsoft will also waive your Dynamics GP Enhancement Plan if your current Business Central subscription is equal to or greater than your current GP annual renewal cost.

In other words, you own licenses to both ERP systems at no extra cost. This promotion can be applied for up to three years, allowing time to gradually transition to Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Microsoft treats their clients very well with this promotion, and we advise all our clients to take advantage of it. If you are interested in learning more about this promotion, contact us.

2) Clean up your data

You have heard the expression, “Garbage in, garbage out.”

If you have had Dynamics GP for 20 years, there are likely old vendors, old accounts, and other outdated information silently “junking up” the system. Moving from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central is an opportunity for the team to review their system, identify necessary, accurate data, and start fresh in the new system. This will help to improve the speed and quality of reporting, saving you time in money.

Sometimes you must slow down and address issues to speed up.

Many people do not realize that you already own tools within Dynamics GP that will help you with this data cleanup. For example, the Professional Services Tools Library (PSTL) allows you to merge master records and not lose historical data.

Not sure of what you own in Dynamics GP? Take the quiz.

3) Review your business processes

Implementing a new system is a great time to address processes that are manual or cumbersome. We recommend, identifying processes that are holding you back and implementing process changes in your new system.

For example, likely your Chart of Accounts was set up decades ago. Perhaps it was never set up correctly, but everyone got used to it that way. Or it was set up for the business model at the time, but the model has evolved. Trying to mimic that in your new system defies all logic and best practices. (Plus, Business Central has a new Dimensional Chart of Accounts that you don’t want to miss out on using.)

Ask your team:

What processes are manual that can be automated?
What processes are not working, but you have compensated with a workaround?
Which processes take too many steps to complete?
What is on your user wish lists?
Do we need extra security measures in place?
How about reports?

This is a chance for a fresh start.

Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. Having another set of experienced eyes evaluate your processes can be extremely valuable. Dexpro Dynamics offers professional system and business process evaluations based on decades of experience with hundreds of organizations.

Some companies do not want to spend the extra money upfront for a “process evaluation” or “discovery.” However, a detailed business process review before any new implementation is critical to success. Having a clear vision saves money and time.

The team at Dexpro Dynamics can evaluate your business needs today and help you think about where your business will go in the future.

4) Choose the right timeframe

Any ERP implementation will be time-consuming for your team; there is no way around that, especially when it comes to testing and training.

Of course, when you move between Microsoft products, the training will be less time intensive because there is some familiarity and connections with other Microsoft products. But it will still take time.

This can be a challenge, especially if you already feel understaffed.

Here are a few tips:

Don't plan an implementation when you have several other internal project deadlines.
Don't plan your implementation when several staff members will be on vacation.
Don’t plan an implementation during your busiest season.

One client I am working with wants a yearlong implementation instead of the typical three to six months. Of course, this is not on our side, but it is best for them because of their busy seasons and staff levels. As long as we are all clear on that, we can work with their schedule.

Plus, the promotion I mentioned at the start allows companies to take a little longer and not worry about paying for two ERP systems.

Be sure you know this before moving from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 BC:

To be clear, I want to set the expectation that switching from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central is still a NEW implementation. It is not an upgrade. There are tools that can be used to transfer data from GP to BC or connect data from GP to BC but all it will do; it will help to speed up the process.

Of course, the change will not be as severe or drastic as going to another non-Microsoft ERP system. There is a resemblance between the products and coordination between Microsoft Office suites. And there are data tools that allow you to push some historical data from Dynamics GP into Dynamics 365 Business Central.

With BC, you have full blown cloud experience. So, you are no longer worrying about, or paying for, upgrades of any kind. BC also has a stronger collaboration with the Office Suite, and Microsoft constantly enhances the product.

So cost-wise, when you are ready to move off on-premises Dynamics GP, we believe that Dynamics 365 Business Central is more cost efficient choice for most companies.

But good preparation is vital.

Dexpro Dynamics can help.

If you want to stay on-premises for as long as possible, or you are ready to move to the cloud right away, Dexpro Dynamics can help you evaluate your options, get your free licenses, clean your data, review your processes, and choose the right timeline.

Contact Dexpro Dynamics to get started.

By Dexpro Dynamics, Microsoft Silver Certified Business Applications Partner.

Decoding Microsoft's Confusing Email: A Dynamics GP Users' Freedom To Choose When to Move to Dynamics 365 Business Central

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 16:20:41 GMT

As a Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) user, you have undoubtedly heard about the buzz surrounding Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC). A recent email from Microsoft caused some uncertainty and fear among customers, so taking a closer look at the situation is essential.

In this blog post, Dexpro Dynamics, as a trusted reseller of both Dynamics GP and Dynamics 365 Business Central , aims to provide clarity and guidance to help Dynamics GP users make an informed decision about transitioning to Business Central.

And we will tell you what the email actually said and what it means for Dynamics GP users.

What is the background?

Microsoft offers a few distinct accounting software solutions. We will focus on Dynamics GP (Great Plains) and Dynamics 365 Business Central.

While Dynamics GP has been a reliable and proven solution for many years, Microsoft's strategic focus has shifted towards its cloud-based offerings, including Business Central.

What did the email from Microsoft say?

A recent email from Microsoft made some people think, and others spread the rumor that you can no longer use Dynamics GP after 2026. Or that you can't add new licenses to your existing system after 2026.

That is not true.

The email from Microsoft was about NEW license sales. It applies to new customers and does NOT impact existing users of Dynamics GP.

Here are the key points from the email:

As of April 1, 2026 (three years from now), there will be no NEW customer sales of Dynamics GP.
As a stepping stone to this, as of April 1, 2025, there will be no new sales of GP Perpetual licenses. Subscription sales can still happen for the additional year.
This has NO implications for existing customers as they can continue to purchase new licenses and modules beyond 2026.

It was also announced that:

The price of subscription and perpetual licenses are going up as of October 2023.
Enhancement plan rates are increasing from 17% to 18%, and Advantage plan from 19% to 20%.
There will still be tax and other product updates for Dynamics GP, including some awesome features already planned for 18.6, due to release in October 2023.
The Dynamics GP support life cycle remains as is posted today (and has not changed) – "2028 & beyond".

Dynamics GP has a loyal community, and Microsoft is fully committed to supporting existing customers and partners. Nothing has changed on the support side or with people working on Dynamics GP.

Where does the confusion come from?

There have been reports of some Microsoft Gold Certified Partners prioritizing the sale of Business Central licenses and using the email announcement to create a sense of urgency and fear among Dynamics GP users.

That is wrong.

Dexpro Dynamics believes this approach is misleading and not in customers' best interest. Changing your accounting system is a big decision. This decision should be driven by YOUR business's specific needs and timeline rather than external pressures.

Gold Partners have a quota to fill, which is why we believe it is better to be a Silver Partner so that we can prioritize our customers over our quotas.

Read: Does it Matter if You Choose a Silver or Gold Competency Dynamics GP Partner?

How long can you keep using Dynamics GP?

Contrary to the fearmongering, Dynamics GP remains a viable product with a well-defined roadmap for future support and updates. Microsoft has committed to maintaining and supporting Dynamics GP for at least the next five years, following its standard support lifecycle. As a result, you can rely on Microsoft to provide regular regulatory updates, security patches, and hotfixes to ensure your Dynamics GP system remains up to date.

Read: Microsoft Dynamics GP Lifecycle

In fact, we know that Microsoft has some excellent items coming in 18.6 that existing customers have wanted in the product, and that will continue on to 18.7, 18.8, etc. These enhancements will justify the expense of the annual enhancement fee.

When should you move?

Eventually, it will make sense for you to move from Dynamics GP to a new system. Dynamics GP is an old product and will need to be replaced at some point. But you get to choose when that will be.

You should evaluate your company's needs, budget, and available resources to determine the optimal time to make the move. Dexpro Dynamics can assist in this evaluation process and provide guidance based on their expertise in both systems.

What are some factors to consider:

When assessing the need for an ERP system change, there are several factors to consider.

These include:

System Fit: It is essential to objectively evaluate whether Dynamics GP still meets your business's current requirements. In our experience, perhaps 40% of the Dynamics GP users we talk to feel that their current system does everything they need. We can show them how to utilize even a bit more of what they already own, and they can easily continue with Dynamics GP for five-plus years. This is a valid business decision.
New Requirements: If you require complex features or extensive investments in your Dynamics GP system and are considering adding third-party solutions, it may be better to move to Business Central. Dexpro Dynamics can help you analyze the costs and benefits of each option.
Budget and Resources: Implementing a new ERP system requires financial investment and dedicated resources. You need to honestly assess whether your organization has the necessary budget and capacity to handle the transition effectively right now. Dexpro Dynamics can provide guidance on budget planning and resource allocation.
Future Growth and Scalability: We suggest you consider your business's growth plans and predict if your current Dynamics GP system can accommodate future expansion. Business Central offers the advantages of cloud-based scalability, but Dynamics GP can still meet the needs of many businesses for years to come. The decision comes down to when a system transition will cause the least disruption to your growth.
Ongoing Costs: Is it time to upgrade your current system and replace your hardware? Before you invest, you should evaluate your options. Moving to Dynamics 365 BC could be more cost-effective. While Dynamics 365 BC includes an initial investment, the ongoing monthly subscription costs can be lower and more predictable than your current system. And you will no longer have the expense of hardware and upgrades.

What is the next step?

The transition from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central should not be driven solely by external pressures or marketing tactics.

You can transition to Business Central when it aligns with your strategic goals and makes the most sense for your circumstances. There is no rush.

But it does make sense to evaluate.

Eventually, a move to the cloud, with Dynamics 365 BC, will be the right choice. So if your Dynamics GP system today does not fit your business needs, this may be a great moment to evaluate Business Central.

Dexpro Dynamics, a trusted reseller of both systems, can help you to evaluate your unique needs, budget, and timeline to make the best decision for your business.

Contact our team now to answer any additional questions and discuss your best strategy and timeline.

By Dexpro Dynamics , Silver Certified Microsoft Dynamics Partner, www.dexprodynamics.com

My Microsoft Dynamics GP System is Slow – 10 Common SQL Server Performance Issues

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 21:12:31 GMT

The most common issue in our industry Dynamics GP partner hears is performance. Nobody likes it when their Microsoft Dynamics GP system is “slow”.

Usually, the answer to the problem requires an understanding of Microsoft SQL, Microsoft Dynamics GP and the customer’s environment. If you call Microsoft and tell them, “My Dynamics GP system is slow” they are most likely going to tell you to read a white paper on performance issues and follow the 50 or so recommended steps. They hope that you won’t call again because they know it is not an exact science with one clear answer. It is extremely difficult to diagnose a complex problem with very little background information. Slow performance can be caused by so many different issues, sometimes a combination of issues with subtle, nuanced differences.

An experienced Dynamics GP Partner , with expertise in both the financial and technical side of Microsoft Dynamics GP, is much more likely to give you an accurate diagnosis. Our team at Dexpro Dynamics loves this type of challenge. We are like the “Dr. House” of Dynamics GP diagnosis, if you will.

If you tell us that your “Dynamics GP system is slow” we will start by checking the most common causes related to Microsoft SQL Server.

10 SQL Server Points to Check to Improve your Dynamics GP Performance

Confirm latest SQL service pack is applied.
Confirm you have sufficient space on C drive, this alone can cause performance problems, especially in VM environment.
Server hardware should be a least a quad processor with 16-32GB memory. Note: This gets very client specific. It is best to observe the performance of the server.
Shrink database jobs are considered a bad practice for Dynamics GP databases and we do not recommend doing this.
Confirm database maintenance plans are scheduled (excluding shrink).
Check SQL Jobs for errors or for jobs known to cause issues.
DBCC checkdb and DBCC checkcatalog should zero issues.
Dynamics GP database owner should be DYNSA and each database should match SQL version.
Management Reporter can be very resource hungry application. Best if it doesn reside on SQL server.
Remember that SQL Server 2012 and above allocates memory differently than SQL 2008 and if other applications are on the same server it may need to be capped at 75%-85%. If none of these points solves the issue, we will move on to another set up of best practices.

As an introduction to our business, we offer one free 30-minute consultation to our new clients.

We are a Dynamics GP partner with a strong focus and skillset on the technical side with several of our team members being experienced SQL DBAs and IT professionals. If your Dynamics GP system is running slow or if you have encountered an issue that nobody could resolve, we will either find a solution or let you know where you can turn to get your issue resolved.

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

Microsoft Dynamics GP Lifecycle and Licensing Changes

Thu, 11 May 2023 21:29:26 GMT

Microsoft Dynamics GP Licensing and Pricing Changes

Microsoft announced GP licensing changes and price increases.

NEW CUSTOMER SALES Microsoft will be stopping new customer license sales starting April 1, 2026. This has no implications for existing customers as they can continue to purchase new licenses and modules beyond 2026.
NEXT GP RELEASE There will be tax and other product updates for Dynamics GP, including some awesome features already planned for 18.6 due to release October 2023.
SUPPORT The support life cycle remains as is posted today (and has not changed) – “2028 & beyond” (Please note that all Microsoft products shows only 5 year long roadmap)
LICENSING PRICING The price of subscription and perpetual licenses are going up as of October 2023. If you need additional GP user licenses, this is the time to take advantage of lower price.
ENHANCEMENT PLAN RATES Enhancement plan rates are increasing from 17% to 18% and Advantage plan from 19% to 20%.

We remain committed to GP and to helping our clients get the most out of their Microsoft environment. If you would like to explore adding modules, adding more user licenses, or switching to Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dexpro consultants are here to help. Our team recently expanded and we are now actively implementing Dynamics 365 BC and CRM. We can help you evaluate your options. Give us a call!

Microsoft Dynamics GP Lifecycle

Microsoft's recently published Lifecycle Roadmap indicates Dynamics GP is not going anywhere anytime soon. With the roadmap extending to at least 2028, we can see there is active development and support planned for many years to come. You can read more about the lifecycle policies for Dynamics GP on Microsoft's Support for Microsoft Dynamics GP Document.

The Top 5 Benefits of Using Microsoft Dynamics GP for Small Businesses

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 22:05:36 GMT

As a small business owner, managing your finances and resources can be a challenging task. This is where Microsoft Dynamics GP comes into play. It is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solution designed to help small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) streamline their financial and operational processes. In this article, we’ll explore the top five benefits of using Microsoft Dynamics GP for small businesses.

1. Improved Financial Management

One of the primary benefits of Microsoft Dynamics GP is its financial management capabilities. The software allows businesses to track and manage their finances efficiently. It provides a comprehensive view of your financial health, including cash flow, revenue, expenses, and profit margins. With Dynamics GP, you can automate your financial processes, such as accounts payable and accounts receivable, reducing the risk of errors and enabling real-time financial reporting.

According to Forbes , “Microsoft Dynamics GP provides a range of tools that help small businesses with everything from financial reporting and inventory management to customer relationship management and e-commerce.” Dexpro Dynamics also adds that Dynamics GP is highly customizable, so you can tailor the solution to fit your unique business needs.

2. Enhanced Business Intelligence

Microsoft Dynamics GP provides business intelligence tools to help small businesses make informed decisions. With its built-in reporting and analytics capabilities, you can quickly access key data insights and better understand your business’s performance. Dynamics GP’s advanced reporting features enable businesses to create custom reports, dashboards, and KPIs (key performance indicators) to track their progress against business goals.

Dexpro Dynamics notes that Dynamics GP integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products, such as SSRS Excel and Power BI. This integration allows businesses to leverage these tools’ powerful data analysis capabilities to gain even deeper insights into their business performance.

3. Streamlined Operations

Managing day-to-day operations can be time-consuming, especially for small businesses with limited resources. Dynamics GP automates many of these processes, saving businesses time and reducing errors. For example, the software can automate purchasing and inventory management, simplifying the supply chain process. It can also streamline sales order processing and invoicing, reducing the time and effort required to manage customer orders and payments.

According to Microsoft , “Microsoft Dynamics GP can help automate and streamline key business processes, such as financial management, supply chain management, project management, and human resources management.” This automation frees up time for businesses to focus on other critical tasks, such as growing their customer base and developing new products or services.

4. Increased Collaboration

Effective collaboration is essential for small businesses to succeed. Dynamics GP offers a range of collaboration tools, including a centralized database and integration tools , to help businesses work more efficiently. The software’s centralized database ensures everyone has access to the same information, reducing the risk of errors and miscommunications. Additionally, integration tools allow team members to easily bring data from other systems.

Dexpro Dynamics notes that Dynamics GP’s collaboration tools can help businesses improve their productivity and teamwork. With everyone on the same page, teams can work together more effectively, resulting in better outcomes for SMBs.

5. Scalability

Small businesses need software that can grow with them. Microsoft Dynamics GP is a scalable solution that can adapt to the changing needs of your business. As your business grows and expands, Dynamics GP can accommodate the increased demands and complexity of your operations.

The software offers a range of add-ons and customization options to help businesses tailor the solution to their specific needs.

Microsoft Dynamics GP is a flexible and scalable solution that can grow with your business. This scalability ensures that small businesses can continue to use Dynamics GP as their operations evolve and expand.

Benefits of Using Dynamics GP

Microsoft Dynamics GP offers a range of benefits for small businesses, from improved financial management to enhanced business intelligence and streamlined operations. Its collaboration tools and scalability make it a valuable investment for small businesses looking to grow and expand. With Dynamics GP, small businesses can streamline operations, reduce errors, and make informed decisions to drive growth and success.

For more information about Microsoft Dynamics GP and how it can benefit your small business, contact Dexpro Dynamics .

References

How to Avoid Data Loss with SQL Maintenance and Backups for GP Clients

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 17:14:11 GMT

Are you sure that your SQL maintenance and backup plans are set up correctly in your Microsoft Dynamics GP system?

It is scary how many times we have done a system evaluation on Dynamics GP and found that there is an incorrect configuration to SQL. Or how often we heard from companies that have lost their data because they do not have the appropriate backups.

This could happen because the maintenance plans were originally set up by someone who did not understand how SQL and Dynamics GP run together, and then they were never checked again.

I started working with a Dynamics GP client that had not had any database maintenance done for more than ten years. I found that there were inconsistency errors in the database. A backup will not run on databases that have consistency issues. The previous Dynamics GP consultant he worked with either never found this or was not able to figure out to resolve it, so he just left it this way.

Once we corrected this database inconsistency and the database maintenance was run, we could finally do a proper backup and secure his data. As a bonus, this improved the overall performance and speed of his Dynamics GP system.

We often see people taking shortcuts when it comes to configuring SQL or moving databases to SQL. This may be because they have financial expertise, but not the SQL/technical expertise. It is important for your Dynamics GP consultant to have both skill sets. (Hint: Look for SQL Server Certifications when choosing a Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner).

Our team has a SQL Maintenance and Backup Best Practices Checklist that we have developed over time. For example, here are a few suggestions:

Do a full backup of the database, separate from any other maintenance. This is very important because if a maintenance process causes any issues or glitches, you have a full backup to use for recovery.
We recommend that SQL maintenance and system database backups are run weekly, depending on the client scenario. This would include all the maintenance steps, except shrinking the database. We avoid this, unless there is some unusual exception, because it can cause performance issues for Dynamics GP users.
The master database and the SQL databases should also get a backup. The transaction log backups allow you to recover to a point in time. Usually, depending on the client data and server capabilities, I would schedule hourly backups. However, if the client has a high volume of transactions it can be done more often.

Do you need help with your SQL Server configuration and backup plan for Dynamics GP?

DexPro Dynamics can answer that question. As an introduction to our business, we offer one free 30-minute consultation. During this check-up we will determine what you are doing now, and make recommendations for the future.

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

9 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Microsoft Dynamics GP Consultant

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 22:20:17 GMT

Choosing the best Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant can be done if you avoid these mistakes. The right choice will have a dramatic impact on your success and your budget. It also plays a role in how much value you will get out of your ERP investment and how happy your end users will be with the system.

The goal is for your team to take ownership of the system and have a few power users so that you do not need to rely on a billable GP consultant for everyday tasks. Instead, you can reserve the consulting time for system enhancements and strategic projects.

Mistake #1 – Choosing a Dynamics GP Trainer versus a Consultant

I have observed that people gravitate towards the most popular trainers when they go to Microsoft Dynamics ERP conferences. Then they ask if the trainer can be their Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant.

I do not believe the best trainers make the best Microsoft Dynamics GP consultants. It is a different skill set. People usually have a passion for one or the other and excel at it. In my experience, the people who genuinely have a "consulting mindset" are not those you can easily find teaching or even attending seminars. They usually have a low online presence and are harder to find.

A good consultant has the ability to meet a client and assess their needs across a wide area. Typically, someone who does training is very specialized. They do training on payroll, and they are an expert at it. But they can lack the full-blown understanding that an experienced implementation consultant will have. An implementation consultant must be able to fully assess the Microsoft Dynamics GP system and see the big picture. On top of that, the consultant should know how Microsoft Dynamics GP interacts with other systems.

When you implement an entire Microsoft Dynamics GP system, again and again, you find what works and what doesn't. And that is critical knowledge for clients to gain. Also, those consultants are able to make key decisions for the client. It is fine to present a few options for a project. However, presenting all of the available options often creates chaos. Clients like to pay for a consultant to take the lead and are happy when they do not have to constantly make all the decisions.

Enjoy the excellent training sessions at events, and even hire them for training in person. But do more evaluation before you make them your Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant.

Mistake #2 – Choosing Reactive Versus Proactive

I recommend you attend a Microsoft Dynamics GP local event or national conference and ask other users how happy they are with their Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant. I think a key phrase to focus on when shopping around for a consultant should be "proactive versus reactive."

A lot of people are trained to react to an issue. But you will save money and have a more efficient Microsoft Dynamics GP system with a proactive approach. A reactive Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant is an expensive Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant because the issue has to be fixed NOW, no matter what. If you are proactive, your system will be stable and not have these "fire alarm" issues.

Read: Our Proactive Strategy to Reduce Microsoft Dynamics GP Consulting Costs

So, ask other users if their Microsoft Dynamics GP consultants are proactive. Ask for specific examples. Do they do regular check-ins? Are you notified about changes?

Many clients who switch to Dexpro tell us they never knew they needed an upgrade. They did not realize what they already owned and were not using. This falls into the category of "proactive approach". Upgrades will eliminate risks presented by unsupported systems, and using modules you already own can bring efficiency and eliminate unnecessary support costs.

For example, on October 1, 2022, Microsoft plans to make a massive change to email settings that will dramatically impact Microsoft Dynamics GP users. Yet very few companies, or consultants, are proactively warning and preparing their clients for this. Current workarounds for this issue may no longer be available after October 1. We suspect that many clients will realize too late that their systems are not working properly. Then, they will need to face the costs related to restoring the system to full functionality.

Read: Microsoft Email Security Change Impacting Microsoft Dynamics GP Users October 1, 2022

Check a consulting firm's website, read their customer newsletters, and see if they are proactive about giving their clients information and advice.

Mistake #3 – Choosing a "Know It All"

You don't want a Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant that seems to know everything all the time. Instead, a good consultant should be able to step away from their own opinions and say, "I think we need to bring in an expert in this, I think you need this third party solution, or you need a business process review to give you a comprehensive view."

The definition of a good consultant is to not only focus their services on what they know.

Mistake #4 – Choosing a Copy Cat

Some Microsoft Dynamics GP consultants look very impressive online and have blog sites full of tips. Some write those tips based on their experience, and others just copy, paste, and share tips from other people. They spend a lot of time online doing it. It is helpful to the community, but it doesn't mean they actually know the answers themselves. In my opinion, quality counts more than quantity.

Do a little digging and talk to the person directly to ask if that Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant writes their own content or just shares content from other, better, consultants.

Mistake #5 – Choosing a Firm That is Too Large or Too Small

To find the best Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant, I would recommend that you look for a midsize consulting firm. To me, this means a firm with six to twenty Dynamics ERP consultants.

With that choice, you can have the personal touch and not be lost in the mix, especially if you are a small company. The truth is that larger partners have a tendency to ignore small businesses, whereas a midsize partner will not.

But don't go too small, either. I would stay away from a one-person Microsoft Dynamics GP partner, a partner that does not have an office address, and a team. When you rely on just one person's skill set, this puts your system at risk.

Mistake #6 – 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 #7 – 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 #8 – 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 #9 – 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.

1) Use What You 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

2) 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.

3) 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: Compare options to move Microsoft Dynamics GP to the cloud

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 free 30-minute Microsoft Dynamics GP consultation 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.

You can also register for our complementary 30 minute Dynamics GP consultation .

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

Does it Matter if You Choose a Silver or Gold Competency Dynamics GP Partner?

Thu, 05 May 2022 21:43:16 GMT

Dexpro Dynamics once again earned Microsoft Enterprise Resource Planning Silver competency in 2022. If you are evaluating a Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner, here are some things you should know to compare Partners with No Competency, Silver Competency and Gold Competency.

Gold and Silver have, for most of history, been the standard of value, hence the term gold standard. If asked which metal is more valuable, many would say Gold. But one thing experts acknowledge is that Silver has extensive practical value in many industries is often preferred over Gold.

What does this have to do with choosing a Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner? Just that when it comes to competency levels, there are times when Silver might be a better choice than Gold.

Our team at Dexpro Dynamics is proud to have earned Microsoft ERP Silver competency. For a small, woman-owned organization, this is a pretty significant achievement. But we want you to know how our Silver competency benefits our Dynamics GP clients and why we think it might be every bit as valuable as Gold.

In setting its standards, Microsoft states that Silver level competency demonstrates consistent capability, expertise, and commitment. What that means for our clients is that they can feel confident that choosing us, they are selecting a Partner that is legitimate, dependable, and recognized by Microsoft. You’re not just getting a lone consultant calling themself a Microsoft Partner; the designation has been earned. In addition, companies with Silver or Gold competency have established a closer relationship with Microsoft and have access to more direct channels of communication. This relationship with Microsoft means that when it comes to troubleshooting challenging issues, response times will be much faster.

But there is more to it than that.

Skill levels vs. sales levels

Your first thought might be Microsoft’s designation of Gold or Silver is a reflection of the Partner’s skill level. But that is not what the Gold or Silver is based on. In reality, the competency level is more about the company’s ability to sell to new customers. An organization might have a very high skill level. But, if they work only with existing customers and are not continually onboarding new clients, they will never earn the higher competency rankings.

So the question is: if you are selecting a Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner , how much does the competency level matter? Let’s review your options:

No Competency

You may employ a single consultant to support and troubleshoot your Dynamics GP system. There are many out there, and some are highly knowledgeable. These solo consultants often will not sell Dynamics GP to new customers. Rather, they work with clients who were unhappy with the level of support they were receiving or who needed to be rescued from failed implementations. They probably do not have a relationship with Microsoft, and if you work with the solo consultant, you depend on the skills of one person, not on the combined talents of a team.

Silver Competency

Silver competency indicates that the Partner has a relationship with Microsoft so they can power through difficult issues and get the support they need with a quicker response time. Silver Partners are allotted advisory hours each year from Microsoft that they can use as they wish. When a particularly complex system issue arises, they can offer this additional Microsoft support to a client that needs it, and they can choose to do this at no extra charge to the client.

To attain Silver competency, a Partner must sell a certain amount of new Dynamics GP solutions every year. We could easily keep our Dexpro Dynamics team busy just serving our present Dynamics GP users. But we realize there are advantages to selling to new customers, too. Being in the marketplace keeps our knowledge of the product up to date. And we are more aware of the competitive landscape, the other technology available, and how it compares with our offerings. Microsoft Dynamics is innovating, and we want to keep up.

I am a technical engineer, not a salesperson. The sales levels required of a Microsoft Silver Partner are manageable for us, and we can still focus on supporting our existing clients. Our Dexpro Dynamics team of technical and functional consultants have at least 15 years of hands-on experience supporting Microsoft products.

Gold Competency

To achieve Microsoft Gold competency, a Partner must be larger and more sales-focused. Generally speaking, Gold Partners are large companies that have sales teams, pipelines, and quotas.

I once worked with a large Gold Microsoft Partner as a consultant. It was frustrating because I wasn’t allowed even to suggest add-on solutions for our clients; that was the responsibility of the sales team. I was the only worker that crossed between the functional consulting team and the technical consulting team. The functional consultants could not assist clients with technical needs, so clients had to pay for internal communication between the sales, functional, and technical teams, even if they were simply asking for system advice.

Microsoft might give Gold Partners a bit more personal attention and slightly faster support. But our Microsoft Silver competency team still has very fast support time with Microsoft, and we can charge less because we don’t have to pass questions between several separate internal teams.

The Advantage of Silver

As a Silver Partner, we can operate leaner and maintain lower costs. We have a team with a very impressive skill set, and I know we can give more personal attention to our clients than any Gold Partner can deliver.

We know that you want to choose the best software solutions and the best Microsoft Partner to implement and support them. But when it comes to Microsoft ERP competencies and working with a Partner that can focus on your business needs, Silver may just set the standard.

At Dexpro Dynamics, we offer all new or prospective customers a free half-hour Dynamics GP consultation to let you see if our approach and expertise are a match for your business. If you have a question or have encountered an issue that nobody could resolve, contact our Silver competency team at Dexpro.

By Dexpro Dynamics, www.dexprodynamics.com

What's New - Dynamics GP Features 18 RTM to 18.4

Mon, 02 May 2022 22:07:49 GMT

We encourage you to review the benefits in this new release:

18.4 (aka GP 2022) New Features

Financials

Update account descriptions using Mass Modify
Summary Post Accounts Receivables Cash Receipt through Bank Reconciliation
Scroll through Account Segments
Payables 1099 Default to Single Feed (USA)
Payables 1096 form print email address (USA)
Default Inquiry sort Options (AP, AR, BR)

Distribution Features

Update Project and Contract Numbers
Save Filter Settings for All-In-One
Use GOTO from SOP Inquiry to SOP Trx Entry
Human Resource & Payroll (USA-only)
SafePay - employee name from check (USA)
Masking Employee Social Security Number on W2 (USA)
Copy and Paste Payroll Transactions from Excel (US Payroll)
Saving Payroll Batch default in Transaction Entry (US Payroll)

New System & Workflow

Auto Post Workflow for complete end to end process
Visibility for Table Changes
Workflow Maintenance Remove Carbon Copy
Workflow Approver Count
Reminder 18.3 included updated security to support 2FA (two-factor authentication) and the new 'MORE-Secure' TLS 1.2 standards for connecting Dynamics GP to Office 365 for email and other functions

Version 18.3.xx (aka GP 2021) New Features

Bug fixes and feature changes requested by GP customers.
Maximize GP Report on "print to screen" rather than resizing.
Add User-Defined field to Payables Transaction Entry
Reconcile GL option: Reconcile all years at once
Limit Excel Copy/Paste Decimals Places to Currency Setup controls
Add DBA Name field on Vendor Maintenance and 1099 MISC form updates. (Cool, can be rolled back to GP 2016 via table change)
Copy/Paste into Payables Transactions
Mask SSN on HR reports
Full resolution for the Office update causing fall 2020 Word template errors

Version 18.2 (aka GP 2020)

Financials

LONG DESCRIPTIONS FOR PAYABLES - There is a new option in Payables Setup for very long descriptions of up to 200 characters.
EXPAND THE VIEW OF FISCAL PERIODS - The window display length of the fiscal periods window is extended to give you an expanded view of the fiscal periods.
SHOW USER WHO POSTED FOR JOURNAL ENTRY INQUIRY - The Journal Entry Inquiry window now has a new field that shows the user who posted the entry.
ADD CLASS ID TO FIXED ASSETS TRANSFER - The Class ID is now part of the scrolling window.
DOCUMENT ATTACH AVAILABLE IN BANK RECONCILIATION
VISUAL CUE FOR EFT VENDOR ON EDIT PAYMENT BATCH
SHOW CHECK NUMBER IN APPLY SALES DOCUMENT WINDOW

Payroll

PAYROLL OPTION TO NOT INCLUDE ADDITIONAL WITHHOLDING
PAYABLES INTEGRATION TO PAYROLL ENHANCEMENT - You can specify a remittance address ID for vendors for use when creating the invoice from Payroll.
A NEW PAYROLL INTEGRATION TO PAYABLES EDIT LIST REPORT IS NOW AVAILABLE FROM POSTING SETUP. This includes Deduction/Benefit Quick Assignment functionality.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY REASON FOR CHANGE FOR ALL DATES - The Reason field now captures the reason for the change to an employee’s information when the hire date, adjusted hire date, or last day worked fields are entered or edited in the Employee Maintenance window.
PAYROLL REPRINT PAY STATEMENTS BY AUDIT CODE - You can now reprint pay statements for an entire check run.

Workflow

Several updates have been made to the workflow area in Dynamics GP.

USER SECURITY WORKFLOW - You can now set up a workflow for editing or adding user security.
USER WORKFLOW - You can now set up a workflow for editing or adding users.
SECURITY ROLES WORKFLOW - You can now set up a workflow for modifying security roles.
SECURITY TASKS WORKFLOW - You can now set up a workflow for modifying security tasks.
EXPORT AND IMPORT WORKFLOWS - You can now export a workflow to a .json file. Then you can copy that to another workflow or another company.
CHANGE APPROVER FOR ACTIVE WORKFLOW TASKS - In the new Edit Workflow Approver window, the manager of that workflow can modify who a task is assigned to.
VENDOR APPROVAL ENHANCEMENTS - The vendor approval workflow has changed for you to submit to workflow if the vendor hold status changes, or when the document attach status updates for the vendor.

System Enhancements

DATE OPTIONS IN SMARTLISTS - Users do not need to change dates in search criteria. You can now view by:
Prior Month
Prior Period
Next Month
Next Period
SORT COMPANIES IN USER ACCESS SETUP - In the User Access Setup window, you can change the sort order of the companies that the user can access by company name or company ID.
FILTER INACTIVE USERS IN USER ACCESS SETUP - Specify if you want to include inactive users in the User Access Setup window.

Top Features Requests

COPY REPORT OPTION - You can now copy report options from another report to a current report, make changes, and save changes.
FILTER ITEM STOCK INQUIRY BY DATE - You can set date filters in the Item Stock Inquiry window to restrict the view. Choose Redisplay to filter data based on the From and To dates.
EXCLUDE INACTIVE ITEMS ON ITEM PRICE LIST - You can now specify if you want to exclude inactive items from the Item Price list.
MINIMIZE TRANSACTION WHEN GO TO IS SELECTED FOR PO - The transactions window is minimized when you choose Go To for a PO when you receive a warning that a PO exists for that vendor.
SAVE SETTING FOR HOW TO SHOW NEW POS - You can now specify what happens when a new PO is created with the following three options:
Show the message that new purchase orders have been created so the user can open the Purchase Order list,
Not show the message and just open the Purchase Order list, or
Not show the message and not display the Purchase Order list.
INACTIVE FIELD ADDED TO ITEM SMARTLIST - A new field, Inactive, is added to the default Item SmartList. You can add it as an available column to other SmartLists that are based on the Item list.
SHOW THE USER ID IN THE ITEM MASTER TABLE - Write the User ID to the item record when added or updated. You can add the field as a column in Item SmartList query.

Going forward, Microsoft will continue to add new features and improvements to the system based on feedback from users. To make sure your company continues to benefit from the new features we strongly encourage you to keep up to date on upgrades and always use the latest version of Microsoft Dynamics GP.

Read: Why Should I Upgrade My Dynamics GP System?

DexPro Dynamics is here to help.

Compare Options to Move Microsoft Dynamics GP to the Cloud

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 22:27:36 GMT

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 i nfo@dexprodynamics.com to have an honest conversation about your options.

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

Why Should I Upgrade My Microsoft Dynamics GP System?

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 00:28:08 GMT

Is your Microsoft Dynamics GP system working well for you? Great.

You should still consider an upgrade.

We know it is tempting to stay with what you have as long as there are no significant problems. But it is smart to ask yourself:

Are we making the most of our GP investment?
Could we optimize our resources to be more efficient?
Will our decision not to upgrade cause issues in the future?

As a Dynamics GP user, you should know that you are entitled to system upgrades from Microsoft if you already pay for annual GP maintenance (through the Enhancement Plan, Advantage Plan, or Advantage Plus Plan). However, you still need to budget for the cost of the upgrade services from your Dynamics GP Partner . So we understand that it is still an important decision.

Here are a few of the reasons why we feel it makes smart business sense to upgrade your Dynamics GP solution:

1. Remain compliant with critical regulatory updates

The latest version of Dynamics GP gives you access to critical regulatory updates, including payroll tax table changes. The latest updates with those changes are only available for supported versions of Dynamics GP.

2. Get support and upgraded security

After five years, each version of Dynamics GP moves to Microsoft’s Extended Support plan. At this time, Microsoft is no longer testing if this version of GP is compatible with new releases of Windows or SQL Server.

While you will get security updates, your software may be at risk if you haven’t installed the latest product releases and service packs. You are less likely to experience a security breach or software corruption on a GP version under Mainstream Support. You’ll get more support for less money with a current version.

Example: Last year, there was a critical template issue and black box printing error due to a Microsoft Windows update. This is out of the control of the Dynamics team, even though it impacts their users. Plus, there were new requirements for 1099-NEC. If Microsoft does a Windows update (usually due to security), that can impact Dynamics GP in a negative way. To solve the problem, they have to release a fix or an update. If you are running on Dynamics GP 2016 or older, you will not get that update.

More about Mainstream support: Fixed Lifecycle Policy - Microsoft Lifecycle | Microsoft Docs

This is the current lifecycle: Software lifecycle policy - Dynamics GP | Microsoft Docs

3. Future savings

Skipping regular GP upgrades will not save you money. Indeed, it will probably cost you more in the long run. It’s less complicated (and therefore less expensive) to make small, regular upgrades between versions than to jump two or three versions at once. For instance, going from GP 2013 to GP 2015 is simple. But jumping from GP 2013 to GP 2018 is more complex. It could be tempting to skip an upgrade or two, but it will cost more overall. Because smaller upgrades are faster, with fewer changes for users to adapt to, your staff can get back to their critical tasks sooner, with less training required.

Make the most of your Microsoft Dynamics GP investment. Allow the software to serve you to the best of its ability.

4. Take advantage of new features and functionality

Each new Microsoft Dynamics GP release includes new features that will enhance your user experience with the software. New functionality might eliminate tedious steps and allow users to work faster and more efficiently.

Also, an upgraded Dynamics GP system means access to upgraded 3 ^rd party solutions and all their new functionality.

To reinforce the point, here is an outline of the risks of not upgrading.

Risks of NOT Upgrading Microsoft Dynamics GP

Microsoft does not test new Windows updates with unsupported versions of Dynamics GP; they can’t guarantee compatibility.
No hotfix, tax update, 1099-NEC available for an unsupported version of Dynamics GP.
Older version of hardware and software including Windows and SQL Server needs to be maintained to work with unsupported versions of Dynamics GP. New versions come with stronger security and more robust functionality.
System stability – with an unsupported version a company may be forced to upgrade without proper testing and planning.
Outdated software may have performance issues that cannot be resolved.

Are those risks that you are willing to take when a system is so important to your business?

As a reminder, here are a few of the benefits.

Benefits of Upgrading Microsoft Dynamics GP

Access to all the features that you pay for in your enhancement plan to make the system easier for end users.
Better security - with constant improvements done to operating system software as well as SQL server, you can take advantage of all the latest and greatest functionality.
When you are on a fully supported version you have access to all new GP features and security.
You can update your 3 ^rd party solutions and take advantage of their latest functionality.

Next Steps:

If you want to discuss a Dynamics GP upgrade, contact our team at Dexpro Dynamics today. You won’t get a sales pitch; you’ll just get honest answers from the actual people responsible for delivering the results. We can make your Microsoft Dynamics GP upgrade a painless and productive experience.

By Dexpro Dynamics, www.dexprodynamics.com

Microsoft Email Security Change Impacting Dynamics GP Users October 1, 2022

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 21:25:39 GMT

Microsoft is planning an important change to email security on October 1, 2022. The changes involve changing from ‘basic authentication’ to a more secure method to communicate with your mail server involving Multifactor Authentication (MFA).

This article explains how this will impact Microsoft Dynamics GP users and why it important for some clients to schedule an upgrade to the latest GP version as soon as possible.

Which Microsoft Dynamics GP users will be impacted by the Microsoft email security change?

These changes will impact all Microsoft Dynamics GP users that are not using the latest version of the product.

On October 1, 2022, companies running an older version of Microsoft Dynamics GP will not be able to use the email and workflow functionality in the system. This could interrupt the way you currently use the system.

Before October 1, 2022, companies not on the latest version of Dynamics GP will likely experience disruptive email outages, similar to what occurred in the October/November 2021 timeframe. Microsoft may temporarily disable ‘basic authentication’ on a client’s Office 365 to provide a notification that this change is coming later this year. We can assist you with a few workarounds available until the October deadline.

What is the latest version of Microsoft Dynamics GP?

The current version of Dynamics GP is 18.4 (aka GP 2022) and was released October 1, 2021. The previous version was Dynamics GP 18.3 (aka GP 2021), which was released October 5, 2021.

Support for Multifactor Authentication (MFA) was added to Dynamics GP version 18.3 and enhanced in Dynamics GP version 18.4.

How can I check my current version of Microsoft Dynamics GP?

Follow these instructions to find out what version of Microsoft Dynamics GP you are currently running, or ask your Microsoft Dynamics Partner for assistance.

Option 1:

Take note of the version number that shows on the bottom left of your login screen to Dynamics GP.

Option 2:
Click the help menu in Dynamics GP (the blue question mark icon on the top right corner), then click on “About Microsoft Dynamics GP” in the dropdown navigation. Your version number will show on the top of the second column of the pop-up box.

Why is Microsoft making these email security changes?

Microsoft has millions of customers who have Basic Authentication enabled in their tenant but only use Modern Authentication. Unfortunately, many of them don’t know Basic is enabled and the risks it presents, so Microsoft will help secure their data by turning it off.

During the next few months, Microsoft may temporarily (less than one day) disable ‘basic authentication’ on your system if you are using Office 365 for your mail. This is also known as Exchange in the cloud.

The intent of this temporary interruption to the mail system is to provide a notification that this change is coming on October 1, 2022, so that all clients can be warned in advance and take steps to be prepared. Here are some helpful articles for you to review you with your IT team.

We are working closely with Microsoft to fully understand the potential areas that may not function correctly on October 1, 2022. We are also in the process of compiling a list of third-party ISV add-on solutions that will be impacted by these changes. We will be updating this blog as we get more details from Microsoft on this important update.

The Dexpro Dynamics team is scheduling upgrades immediately, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please note that the average upgrade takes two to three months to complete, including the test upgrade. However, this can vary based on the complexity of your system.

It is important to contact us as soon as possible to schedule your Dynamics GP upgrade and start planning for these changes as our schedule is already beginning to be booked.

Contact Dexpro Dynamics online , call 312-801-5070 or email info@dexprodynamics.com.

Microsoft Dynamics GP Year-End Update 2021

Haley@dexprodynamics.com (Haley .) — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 04:14:49 GMT

Get GP Year-End Support

Be Ready for 1099 Payroll, MFA Email Functionality, and More

Contact Dexpro for Amber Bell's GP Year-End Workbook

Dynamics GP Year-End Update Key Highlights

Dynamics GP 2016 will not receive a year-end update
2021 year-end will be inclusive of the October 2021 release
Upgrade path is 1 year back / tested and supported
Fall Release Upgrade path
2016 .814 (year-end) or later
2018 .0496 (2018 mid-year) or later
GP 2018 RTM, GP 2018 R2 customers do not get year end they need to upgrade to 18.4.

Released 11/15/2021

Payables NEC, 1099-MISC, 1099-DIV form changes
Payables 1096 form changes
Fixed Assets - luxury auto depreciation changes
Payroll 1099-R form changes
(No Payroll W2 changes nor EFW2!!)

1099 Dividend Form

2020 2021

1099 NEC Form – 3 Part Form

2020 2021

1099 Miscellaneous Form

2020 2021

Important Update on Filing W-2’s

The Taxpayer First Act mandates electronic filing of IRS forms including W-2s
2021 filing deadline to SSA is 2/1/2022
Beginning in 2022, if you send 100 or more W-2s you must send them electronically.
In 2023 that limit is lowered to 10!!!!

Latest updates on Microsoft Dynamics GP year-end update

Payables 1099 NEC form is included in Year End update .
No W2 payroll changes but ACA form (there are changes and new selectable codes in the drop down) came out late and will be included in the January Hot Fix. Microsoft will be releasing new blog this week - follow the YEAR END BLOG SERIES for all modules .
Canadian Payroll is pending the T4127 to be published from CRA, and is running late this year as they are usually available in mid-November.
Once final 2022 tax tables changes are published they will be included in the release of Round 1 taxes, all changes will be noted on Microsoft's tax page .
There are no table changes in the US Year end update review this blog of 18.4 table and parameter changes.

Amber Bell 2021 Year-End Summary

It’s that time of year again…in addition to changing from Pumpkin Spiced Lattes to Peppermint Mochas, late fall also signals the time that Microsoft drops new features and fixes for Microsoft Dynamics GP. This year, they have fixes for the latest IRS changes to 1099 Forms. If you print your 1099s out of GP, you will need to schedule your update to GP for as soon as possible. We know there will be some clients that might wait for the last minute, but don’t let that be you! If you schedule now, you will have more dates and times available and we can make sure to work with you to get this done before the forms are due.

We recently had some support cases with clients that were unable to email out of GP due to conflicts with MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication). We are happy to announce that the 2021 Year-End release has a fix for this issue. It also includes the fix that was released last year for Microsoft Word templates/forms. If you use GP along with Microsoft Office 365, you need to keep up to date with the GP releases. As Microsoft adds security features behind the scenes for their Office products, GP is keeping up by including code in the yearly updates.

As more and more companies transition to Office 365, the need for yearly GP updates has become more important. This means that updating GP should be part of your planning for each year-end. The good news is that if you keep up with these yearly updates, the installation and testing will be much more simple than the old days of major upgrades with multiple table changes. We always recommend testing and reviewing these updates, but we are happy to report that for most clients, this process has become quicker and easier!

We look forward to helping you update your system. Please contact support@dexprodynamics.com or your project manager to get the update installation scheduled.

If you have any questions, please let us know.

The 5 phases of a MS Dynamics GP Implementation that avoid costly mistakes

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 19:22:16 GMT

When implementing an ERP software, such as the MS Dynamics GP, it’s important to put forth effort to properly prepare, define clear goals, set priorities and ensure your team is on the same page, for a smooth implementation process. This is a vital step to set your business up for success, avoid costly and time consuming mistakes and maximize your MS Dynamics GP investment to increase efficiency and productivity.

Here are the 5 phases of a MS Dynamics GP Implem entation and what to avoid for a successful operation.

Phase 1 - Discover and Diagnose

The first phase of a MS Dynamic GP implementation involves identifying what work has to be done, what business processes are necessary in your current system and what should be changed or improved. It’s a good idea to approach the implementation with an open mind. A new ERP system can offer advanced and improved solutions for your business and the implementation team and MS Dynamics GP consultants, come with a fresh perspective and experience that can aid in taking your business to the next level. However, don’t be afraid to ask questions, vocalize your business needs and even challenge suggestions. While a professional MS Dynamics GP implementation partner will have a project plan template created based on the success they’ve seen other clients have with the system, it’s no secret that every project is different and has their unique needs. While certain solutions may work for one business, they may not be the right fit for you and at the end of the day you need to be happy with the result. For this exact reason it’s important to define what success means to you and what you hope to achieve with the implementation process.

Don’t put off making important business decisions during this phase, as doing so later will result in backtracking the process, re-training staff and potentially delaying your launch date.

This should be the most important and involved phase; discovery and design should fit what your system needs today as well as have a vision for where your business will need in the future.

Phase 2 - Installation and Set Up

The second phase of the MS Dynamic GP implementation involves actually installing and setting up the software on your server or workstation. This involves inputting your systems core data such as bank accounts, customers, vendors, general ledgers, usernames and financial history.

Setting up the MS Dynamics GP will allow for plenty of customizations to fit your business model and needs. However, some vendors may offer custom changes to the actual source code. It’s a good idea to avoid making any code modification at the vendor level as doing so will not only cost you extra money upfront, it will cost you more for training and the inevitable, ongoing technical support once the software is in place. There are many 3rd party software solutions that can be used instead of customizations.

Phase 3 - Training

A very crucial part of the MS Dynamic GP implementation is the actual hands on training to ensure all your team members are familiar and comfortable with the new system. When your team has been doing something a particular way for a very long time, it can be difficult to convince them right away of the value a new ERP system, such as MS Dynamic GP, brings to the table.

Taking the time and effort to ease them, and yourself, into the change and address any questions and concerns, will be another step in the direction of a successful implementation.

Phase 4 - Testing

Phase 4 of the MS Dynamic GP implementation is testing. This is an important process that will allow you to identify and solve any issues, check for proper configuration, eliminate any conversion errors, test run unique transactions and check the overall quality of the new setup. A thorough testing phase results with you and your team feeling more confident with your new system and pinpoints and potential areas where more training could be implemented.

Ignoring the testing phase in your MS Dynamic GP implementation will essentially mean that your testing is done while your system is live. This can cause severe back tracking and wasted time, efforts and resources to solve any issues found on the live system.

Phase 5 - Launch

The final stage is the launch of the MS Dynamic GP system! This sets your previous, legacy system as inactive and allows for the new system to kick in. With a successful testing phase, you can rest assured that the new system will run a smooth course so that you can move forward with your business.

Though by this phase the implementation process is complete you can rely on your MS Dynamic GP consultants for any ongoing support, trouble shooting that may occur with more unusual transactions or any updates and tweaks that can be implemented with time.

Best practice for SQL maintenance and backups for GP clients

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 21:33:00 GMT

1. Nightly backup

o Schedule daily at midnight

o Only Full backup and Maintenance clean up task selected

o Only user databases are selected

o Maintenance cl ean up pointed to the backup folder, file extension bak and to include first-level subfolders. Usually set up for 2 weeks.

2. Transaction Log backup

o Make sure all GP databases are set up Full recovery mode (database properties, options, recovery mode)

o Create transaction logs as Daily, most common approach is to do either every 15 min or 1 hour depending on client’s needs and capabilities of the server and only during business hours

3. Select only Backup Transaction Log and Maintenance Task

Select All databases (this list will only include database that are set up to have full recovery mode)

4. Point Maintenance Clean up to backup folder, enter TRN for file extension and select to Include first-level subfolders

5. Most common approach is to set to delete files every 2 days.

System Database backup

- Schedule it weekly over the weekend

- Select only Full backup and Maintenance Cleanup Task

- Select System database

- Point Maintenance Cleanup Task to backup folder

- Enter file extension bak

- Mark to include first-level subfolders

- Delete files every 2-4 weeks

Database maintenance plan

- Schedule it weekly after nightly backup (for example Saturday at 2am)

- Select:

o Check Database Integrity

o Reorganize Index

o Rebuild Index

o Update Statistics

Do not include backup. The idea is to recover to midnight backup in case something goes wrong with maintenance plan.

Select all user databases and accept the defaults. You can exclude individual DBs if needed.

Note: If you do not select to make a backup to include first-level sub folders, the clean up maintenance will fail.

Other SQL best practices:

Make sure that SQL memory allocation is capped at 80% of server memory

Make sure that owner for Dynamics and other GP companies is DYNSA

Make sure that SQL version for each individual DB reflects correct Compatibility Level

For clients with many GP companies use for example:

sp_msforeachdb ' USE [?] IF ''?'' <> ''master'' AND ''?'' <> ''model'' AND ''?'' <> ''msdb'' AND ''?'' <> ''tempdb''

BEGIN ALTER DATABASE [?] SET COMPATIBILITY_LEVEL = 130; END

Our Proactive Strategy to Reduce Microsoft Dynamics GP Consulting Costs

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 21:16:21 GMT

"How much does Microsoft Dynamics GP support cost?"

When we talk to prospective clients using Dynamics GP, they almost always ask us about our support costs. Typically, this has been a big part of their budget, and they want to know what to expect.

My honest answer is that typically our Dynamics GP clients don't need support.

Of course, this is not the case if Dexpro Dynamics was not the Partner that did their initial installation, upgrade and training. However, with our proactive approach, we can get them there. Once they start working with our team, we do the upgrade, and we set best practices in place, the amount of support cases decreases to almost zero.

Existing Dynamics GP users who start working with us sometimes come in with the habit of just opening ten or more support tickets per week. My response is always, "No, that's not how we do it. This is reactive, not proactive. So let's get to the bottom of this. Why do you need ten tickets per week? What is really happening there?"

Support Cases are The Symptoms.

If a client has a lot of support cases, it is an indication that something is wrong in the underlying system.

Some Microsoft Dynamics GP Partners are like medical doctors that only treat the symptoms. At Dexpro Dynamics, we take a more holistic approach. We look at the entire Dynamics GP system to fix the root cause. Then the problems stop.

For example, we show clients all the tools they already own , such as the Professional Library tools or modules they were not aware of. Often these tools will answer their questions.

We look at how the SQL server is set up and make sure every single detail is correct. Basically, if you do things right and do them once, we see that the need to fix things later tremendously decreases.

Proper training can also reduce support calls. If a user needs training, we can bring Amber Bell to train them individually, or they can take Dynamics GP training classes that we have posted online.

Companies also tend to submit support requests when they are tired of some sort of inconvenient business practice. When we see this, we do a hard stop and say, "Instead of opening multiple support tickets about things you see that are not flowing, let's have a meeting. Let's analyze the tickets you opened. Let's do a business process review where we look at your system, see what you're doing in circles, and review what you can clear up and change. Or perhaps you need a specific module or set up changed."

We really pay attention to all support tickets and use it as an opportunity to get down to the real cause so that it doesn't happen again. Often, it is not a software issue but a process issue. We can make the software do what you want, but it won't fix the broken process, and the problem will come up again.

It may be that big companies give this type of attention to big clients, but I do not think it is often done for small clients. So the companies we start working with are amazed.

Make the Symptoms Stop

When someone goes to a doctor and is still sick, you feel sorry for them because they wasted so much time, money, and hope. When they find the right doctor, who asks the right questions and makes the right diagnosis, the symptoms stop.

The same is true of Microsoft Dynamics GP support.

When your Dynamics GP system is set up and maintained properly, you don't need to budget for expensive support costs.

DexPro Dynamics is here to help.

If you have a Dynamics GP question or unresolved issues, we will either find a solution or let you know where you can turn to get your problems resolved.

Book a free 30-minute Dynamics GP consulting services consultation

By Marlena Stark, President, DexPro Dynamics, Microsoft Dynamics GP Silver Competency Partner, www.dexprodynamics.com

Microsoft Great Plains Support

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 17:17:21 GMT

Microsoft Dynamics GP is a robust ERP platform that manages many various aspects of your business - from accounting, inventory management, human resources or simple manufacturing processes. Microsoft GP is known for its financial management that helps business owners be proactive about their finances, increase their margins, improve cash flow, fix problems and prevent future ones from occurring. But with so many modules and tools at their disposal, many clients end up using Microsoft GP and only utilize a portion of what this system has to offer. At Dexpro, we start with an in depth review of your current system so we can provide you with the Microsoft Great Plains Support needed to optimize your business process for maximal efficiency.

Here’s a few ways how we do it.

GP System Upgrades

Microsoft is constantly rolling out new, exciting features and releases to improve Dynamics GP, which are available at no cost as part of the Business Ready Enhancement Maintenance Plan. Although with each new version of Microsoft GP upgrades can seem more complicated, not upgrading leaves your data at a security risk and exposed to potential loss in productivity, cost savings and overall value to your business. By keeping your system up to date, the transition to a new version is much smoother, more cost-effective and keeps your business compliant with federal and state tax laws, new rates and updated forms.

At Dexpro we ensure these upgrades are fast, easy, reliable and seamless, avoiding workflow interruptions. Complex system upgrades that involve upgrades from older versions, third party modules, system integrations and customizations, financial reporting software, and SQL servers upgrades, are our specialty!

Business Process Improvements

Our top of the line Microsoft Great Plains support doesn’t stop with upgrading your current system to the latest version but expands into improving your business for optimal efficiency by enhancing manual and time consuming processes. This can include better utilizing existing modules included in the Microsoft Dynamics GP package. With over 50 such modules available, many clients aren’t tapping into the full potential GP has in store.

Another process improvement is the utilization of the professional services tools library, which is now free to all Microsoft Great Plains customers. Having this tool library installed and readily available is a best practice we strongly believe in, here at Dexpro and we encourage all our clients to make full use of it, while educating them on how they can personally benefit from specific tools in their business.

Training

As part of our Microsoft Great Plains support, we offer ongoing training by some of the best trainers in the industry. This includes guided tutorials, demonstrations, one-on-one sessions to address your specific business needs, troubleshooting, phone consultations and full access to our online resources. Our goal is to provide you with everything you need to feel confident that your company uses Dynamics GP to its fullest extent.

Power BI Hands-On Training

Along with Dynamics GP training, we also offer training for Power BI. Our Hands-On Introduction to Power BI is a live and interactive 3-day course (12 hours total) where Microsoft MVP Belinda Allen will walk you through some fundamentals in Power BI using GP Data. This course will create an Aged Trial Balance, Customer Analysis and more!

FREE 1-Hour Training Courses

Visualize your General Ledger Dynamics GP Data in Power BI. In this session one of our Microsoft Dynamics MVPs, Belinda Allen, will show you how to create General Ledgers that can be analyzed in a more simple and efficient manner.

Use What You've Got: SmartList Designer. Our Microsoft Dynamics GP professional trainer, Amber Bell will teach you how to make use of the free SmartList Designer to create simple reports.

Monitor and Manage Cash Flow in GP Data Using Power BI . This free course is designed to improve the management and monitoring of cash in and cash out, to help you make better business decisions in the future.

Microsoft Dynamics GP includes a variety of powerful business intelligence tools, reporting capabilities, integrations with your favorite Microsoft products, 3rd party developers and many useful functionalities that are overlooked by users, all too often, leaving money on the table. Here at Dexpro Dynamics, we are ready to provide you with personalized attention and the Microsoft Great Plains support you need to make the most out of your investment, increase efficiency and productivity.

Start today by asking us anything! Get one free support call (up to 30 minutes) to see how we can solve your toughest Dynamics GP challenges.

Dynamics GP SmartList – System Preferences and SmartList Options

Wed, 19 May 2021 20:44:17 GMT

Dynamics GP SmartList – System Preferences and SmartList Options

This month’s tip will help you with System level settings that can improve SmartList. You will learn how to change the default SmartList Visibility, and how to update Dynamics GP SmartList Options for Maximum Records, Password, and Default Columns. These changes affect all users in ALL companies!

Administration > Setup > System > System Preferences

(I had trouble finding this at first. I assumed it would be under “SmartList Options”…but it is not)

What Does This Change Do?

When you save a new SmartList Favorite, it will change the default “Visible To”

Why does it seem to not work?

When you click on an existing SmartList Favorite, the Visible To option will show from that existing Favorite. You are essentially clicking “Save As” so it defaults to that existing Favorite’s settings.

Note: GP2016 R2 added Password Protect at the system level: Administration > Setup > System > SmartList Options

GP2018 added the ability to Password Protect individual SmartList Favorites as shown above.

Reasons for Making Your Dynamics GP SmartLists Visible to “User ID”

This will keep your list of SmartList Favorites clean!
We often work with clients that have hundreds of SmartList Favorites that have been created over time.
Having hundreds of old wacky SmartLists makes finding the important ones nearly impossible.
If your SmartList is just visible to your User ID, no one else can edit or delete it!
If you want to share later, you can always click on Favorites > Change the Visible To option > Modify.
If you want to give other people a copy of your SmartList Favorite, change the Visible to. Then, click Favorites > Type in a New Name (I suggest adding your name or initials to the end of the name) > Add > Add Favorite.
When you make the Visible To equal “User ID”, the SmartList Favorite is automatically added to your My Reports!

Changing SmartList Options

The SmartList Options window allows you to change the default Columns, Maximum Records, Search Defaults, and Password to Modify.

The Search Defaults affect ALL SmartLists in ALL Companies. This password is the default, remember that individual SmartLists can have their own passwords.

Note: We do not recommend making the Maximum Records a giant number on all SmartLists. This can affect your system performance.

The Maximum Records and Columns can be set on each SmartList Favorite. This change is what will show when you click on the Folder Name or Favorite * of each SmartList Option vs. clicking on a Favorite.

If you have a Microsoft Dynamics GP question or unresolved issues, we will either find a solution or let you know where you can turn to get your problems resolved.

Contact Dexpro Dynamics at 312-801-5070 or info@dexprodynamics.com .

Insider Tip: Don’t Buy Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains from a Sales Rep

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Thu, 13 May 2021 22:39:02 GMT

Insider Tip: Don’t Buy Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains from a Sales Rep

If you are in the market for an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution, I’d like to give you an insider tip. Don’t rely solely on advice from a professional sales rep. Instead, listen to a technical engineer, one who really knows the software inside and out and can answer your questions.

This is why that is so important.

I am not primarily a salesperson; I’m a tech engineer. However, in our company, I’m also in charge of Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains (GP) sales. Because I’m a technical engineer first and a salesperson second, I believe that I have earned the confidence of our customers. And because I am the owner of the company and know that loyal customers are our lifeline, I’m not going to sell them a solution that is any less than the best fit for their business. I’m also not going to make promises that our team and our software can’t deliver. I know the features and limitations of the technology we offer, and I’m honest about what it can do.

We maintain our Microsoft Silver Competency level by actively selling new Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains software packages. Sometimes, I know I could sell a system I don’t wholly believe in, but I won’t. However, I genuinely feel that clients trust me because they know I’ll only sell them a solution that meets their needs.

I have competed with larger Microsoft Dynamics Gold Partners. Their salespeople have the fancy fluorescent PowerPoint presentations and say all the right sales lines. Then I come in, maybe with one other tech team member. Rather than giving a sales pitch, we go right to the heart of the issue – will this solution benefit your company or not. I think clients are tired of typical sales presentations. They want factual information, not bells and whistles.

When clients ask tough questions, salespeople may have to go back and ask the technical team. Or worse, they might make up an answer and trust that the tech team will deliver a solution after the contract is signed. As a hands-on implementation consultant, I don’t dodge the tough technical questions; I answer them at the sales table.

I never want to have to tell a client that we sold them a system that didn’t work for them.

At Dexpro Dynamics, we implement and know Dynamics 365 Business Central, and we often compare it to Dynamics Great Plains. We also implement and know Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (CRM) to assist clients that are already users. However, based on market demand, our strength and focus is Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains.

If you are a Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains user, I invite you to take advantage of our free 30-minute consultation . First, let’s discuss your current pressing issue that other consultants have not been able to resolve. Then, if appropriate, we’ll provide a free high-level Dynamics Great Plains system assessment.

During the assessment, we will spend up to 4 hours, without charge, reviewing your current Dynamics Great Plains system setup and configuration, the health of your servers, and your general business processes. We’ll help you understand your modules and reports, including some you may not be aware of but that could benefit your business. The review will reveal what it will take to make your system more efficient and effective. We’ll give you a summarized report of our findings and a plan of action that you can use as a roadmap to making the most of your Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains investment.

We won’t give you a sales pitch, just honest answers from the technicians responsible for delivering results.

Contact our Dynamics Great Plains team at Dexpro Dynamics

By Dexpro Dynamics, www.dexprodynamics.com

The Art of Selling The New Great Plains Dynamics ERP System to Your Users Not Just Your CFO

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:34:38 GMT

The Art of Selling The New Great Plains Dynamics ERP System to Your Users Not Just Your CFO

When implementing a new system, there will be some users that are resistant to change. So, when you budget for a Great Plains Dynamics ERP implementation, you have to calculate this into your planning.

I feel it is part of our job as a Partner to sell the system to the user that is struggling, just the way we sold the system to the CFO and the company as a whole. When we can show someone how much easier their job is going to be because of this change, usually this is all it takes to get them on board.

Remove Risk

For example, a user that is responsible for forecasting and reporting that works in Excel all day. They know that if they type one formula wrong, the whole company will be calling them to complain. We can show them that this risk is removed when the new system does the calculations automatically, flawlessly. That is a very real way that the system is going to make their life better.

Get to Core Issue

Another example that comes to mind is one of our Microsoft Great Plains clients that had a person on staff that spent eight hours a week building a dashboard report in Excel. Our Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics consultant reported that he opposed the new system because he was worried that it would make his job obsolete. Once the core concern was identified, and management assured him that there were plenty of other jobs for him to do when this report was automated, he was supportive. Identifying his issue and having the support of management was key.

Find Ways to Automate

Automation makes people happy. When you can reduce the number of steps it takes to do a task, or eliminate a task altogether, it's very hard to find someone who is unhappy about that. If your users are struggling, find ways to automate. In Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics, there are many ways for GP consultant to easily add automation and efficiency.

The key is to help users to see how the new ERP system will make their daily lives easier.

At Dexpro Dynamics, a go to GP partner , we spend a lot of time upfront on planning and strategy. When end users see that, they feel more confident that the project will be successful and it is easier to get their support. Partners that rush make users feel uncomfortable.

Getting your users to feel comfortable with change, and embrace the new ERP system is an art.

Get more tips in the eBook: “19 Brilliant Ways to Promote ERP User Adoption.”

If you are evaluating ERP systems, let’s start a conversation. If you use Microsoft Dynamics GP, I invite you to take advantage of a free 30-minute consultation about your current setup.

You will never get a sales pitch, just honest answers, from the actual people who are responsible for delivering the results.

By Marlena Stark, Dexpro Dynamics, www.dexprodynamics.com

The Free Tools Every Dynamics GP User Usually Doesn’t Know About But Should

marlena@dexprodynamics.com (Marlena Stark) — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 02:23:14 GMT

Microsoft Dynamics GP customers used to spend thousands of dollars on it. Now it is free, but it is still just as valuable. What is it?

It is the Professional Services Tools Library (PSTL).

In Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013R2, Microsoft decided that the Professional Services Tools Library would be free to all customers. I admit I am shocked that more companies do not use it. In many cases, it was never installed, or they just don’t know it is there.

Every single Dynamics GP customer has access to these PSTL tools:

Microsoft Dynamics GP PSTL Tools:

System Tools:

Shortcuts Copy
Toolkit
Menu Inquiry Utility
Update User Data

Financial Tools:

Account Modifier/Combiner
Checkbook Modifier
Fiscal Period Modifier
GL Master Triggers

Purchasing Tools:

1099 Modifier
PM Master Triggers
PM Minimum Check
Select Checks Combiner
Vendor Name Modifier
Minimum PO/Receipt #
POP Cost Defaulter

Sales Tools:

Customer Name Modifier
RM Master Triggers
RM Transaction Unapply
Salesperson Modifier
SOP Customer Item Lookup
Territory Modifier
Territory Combiner
SOP PO Number Check

Payroll Tools:

Certified Payroll Report
Employee Modifier

Inventory Tools:

Inventory Site Combiner
Inventory Site Modifier
Item Description Modifier
Item Number Combiner
Item Number Modifier
Item Reconciler
Misc. Tools:
Fixed Asset Modifier
Default Add Item POP/SOP
Document Date Verify
Decimal Place Tool
Company Copy

We consider it a best practice to install PSTL for every single one of our clients because we think they can all benefit from these tools. Here are a few specific examples:

Find and merge duplicate master record

You have two GL accounts, both containing history, and it is cluttering up your account list. You can’t just delete one of the accounts because they both contain history. With PSTL, you can merge the accounts while still retaining the history for both. The only exception to this is if you have third-party solutions that will not accept the change.

I have only worked with one client who never had duplicate vendors, duplicate accounts, or duplicate customer cards. They had the cleanest system I’ve ever seen. It was such an anomaly that it still stands out in my memory after having worked with hundreds of Dynamics GP systems. I’ve also seen a company that had 200 duplicate vendors. PSTL can find and merge duplicates.

Populate recurring master records

Many clients run multiple companies in Dynamics GP. If you use PSTL when you create a new company, you don’t have to do the setups all over again. For example, what if you create a new GL account, and you want this account in seven or eight other companies? Without PSTL, you would need to log into each company separately and create the same master record. With PSTL, you can just set up a trigger to have it done automatically for only the companies you select.

PSTL tools help keep your data consistent and enhance the entire experience inside Dynamics GP.

When we do a Dynamics GP installation or an upgrade, we always make sure PSTL is included, just in case, even if the client does not explicitly request it. Then if we get a call asking, “Can you help us merge existing duplicate records” we can tell them the functionality is already there. The client does not need to pay us to go back into the system a second time to install it. And honestly, we feel pretty confident that eventually, they will need and appreciate the PSTL tools.

Is PSTL installed in your Microsoft Dynamics GP system? Dexpro Dynamics can do a free 30-minute system assessment to find out.

If you have a Microsoft Dynamics GP question or unresolved issues, we will either find a solution or let you know where you can turn to get your problems resolved.

How to Quickly Access MR Financial Reports with the Dynamics GP Web Client

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 15:40:42 GMT

Many Microsoft Dynamics GP users would benefit from opening specific financial reports from their home screen.

Management Reporter version CU14 and up comes with web viewer functionality.

This means that once report is generated the link to this report can be copied and distributed to users.

Click copy Link in Management Reporter Viewer.

The link will look like this:

http://servername:4712/Report.svc/report/64f321cb-24ba-45c1-9bf6-f601660b44d3/00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000

This is a powerful solution as it allows users to rerun those reports for specific period selected from the bottom ribbon under report options. It allows to rerun report for specific report tree unit.

The links goes to last generated version of this report. So, if last user generates this report in report designer for only one of the units all of the links will no longer offer full tree selection. To avoid this issue change the following settings for all reports:

Now we will add this link to GP navigation pane shortcuts:

For Web Client users there were issues with shortcuts so I add those links to quick links area of home page. In my client’s case they used web client and many users needed links to many reports. It can be a lot of work to copy those links for each user. So I used the following script:

//* To Review current Quicklinks for specifc user */

select * from SY08140 where userid ='Chris'

//* To Review current Quicklinks for specifc user */

delete SY08140 where userid ='Chris'

INSERT INTO DYNAMICS..SY08140 VALUES ('Chris', 1, 2, 0, 0, 0, 'Balance Sheet', ‘http://servername:4712/Report.svc/report/64f321cb-24ba-45c1-9bf6-f601660b44d3/00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000’, '', '', '', '', '', '', '')

INSERT INTO DYNAMICS..SY08140 VALUES ('Chris', 2, 2, 0, 0, 0, 'Income Statement', ‘http://servername:4712/Report.svc/report/87a321cb-24ba-45c1-9bf6-f601660b44d3/00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000’, '', '', '', '', '', '', '')

INSERT INTO DYNAMICS..SY08140 VALUES ('Chris', 3, 2, 0, 0, 0, 'Statement of Cash Flows', ‘http://servername:4712/Report.svc/report/754f321cb-24ba-45c1-9bf6-f601660b44d3/00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000’, '', '', '', '', '', '', '')

INSERT INTO DYNAMICS..SY08140 VALUES ('Chris', 4, 2, 0, 0, 0, 'Balance Sheet-Rolling Quarter', ‘http://servername:4712/Report.svc/report/64f341cb-34ba-45c1-9bf6-f601660b44d3/00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000’, '', '', '', '', '', '', '')

What Is A Microsoft Dynamics GP Orphan?

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 15:38:01 GMT

A Dynamics GP orphan is a customer left without guidance and support.

Around 2016, Microsoft made a big push to encourage all Dynamics partners to focus on their new Cloud ERP product, Dynamics 365 . We observed that, sadly, there were a lot of existing Dynamics GP clients that were abandoned during this transition.

These companies had spent the money on Dynamics GP, and they still needed guidance and support to make the most of their investment. The problem was, there were few senior consultants left to help them.

So, many of these companies became Microsoft Dynamics GP orphans.

Some of the companies lost their Dynamics partners altogether because small partners were often acquired by larger companies. To stay compliant with Microsoft, many of the large Dynamics ERP partners moved their focus to Dynamics 365. If they kept a small Dynamics GP practice, it was usually restructured, and they reprioritized how they supported their Dynamics GP customers.

We noted that often the experienced Dynamics GP consultants were assigned to support Dynamics 365, and junior consultants were given the Dynamics GP accounts. I have heard Dynamics GP customers say, “my new GP consultant from my existing partner knows less about GP than I do.” I have heard that line so many times that I know it is true.

As a consequence, the Dynamics GP users were left to fend for themselves. Many of them are active on the GP User Group forums. GPUG is a fantastic community, full of resources, and we love clients that like to take ownership of their systems. However, supporting yourself on your own will still leave some gaps. You need a partner with the big-picture vision and the advanced skillset to instruct you. An expert will not only fix individual problems but look at your system as a whole and tell you how it could work better for your organization.

At Dexpro Dynamics, we always offer a Dynamics GP system review at no charge. To me, that is only fair. And the truth is, at least 80% of the orphaned clients that we review are not using Dynamics GP properly, or they are not even using all the modules that they own.

There will always be companies that want their ERP system on-premises. And some companies want to stay on Dynamics GP. When we realized that so many Dynamics GP customers were in the position of “orphans,” we decided to go against the trend and keep our primary focus on Dynamics GP.

We continue to sell Dynamics GP to new customers when it is the right fit, but our primary focus is to help companies that have already invested in Dynamics GP.

You never need to be a Dynamics GP orphan. Dexpro Dynamics is here to help.

If you have a Dynamics GP question or unresolved issues, we will either find a solution or let you know where you can turn to get your problems resolved.

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

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What is the next step?

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﻿ Microsoft Dynamics GP Lifecycle

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﻿ 1. Improved Financial Management

2. Enhanced Business Intelligence

3. Streamlined Operations

4. Increased Collaboration

5. Scalability

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Mistake #2 – Choosing Reactive Versus Proactive

Mistake #3 – Choosing a "Know It All"

Mistake #4 – Choosing a Copy Cat

Mistake #5 – Choosing a Firm That is Too Large or Too Small

Mistake #6 – Choosing Someone Who is Too Famous

Mistake #7 – Choosing a Microsoft Dynamics GP Consultant With The Lowest Rate

Mistake #8 – Choosing A Consultant That is Too Detailed

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1. Improved Financial Management

Why is Microsoft making these email security changes?

1099 NEC Form – 3 Part Form