It’s Not You, It’s Your GP

Is It Time To Move On From Microsoft Dynamics GP?

Sonny and Cher… Charles and Diana… Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow. Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. (Okay, Brad Pitt and basically every relationship he’s ever been in.) Is the next tragic love story your business and Microsoft Dynamics GP?

GP is great software – no one can argue that it has wonderful qualities. You love spending time with it. But lately, you’ve been having this niggling feeling that your values aren’t so aligned anymore. While you were once in perfect sync, now your ambitions are growing and GP may not have all the qualities you’re looking for in a partner— er, software.

We all know that you can’t change other people. Luckily, GP isn’t actually a person, so you can make some adjustments. But upgrades can only take you so far.

Should you try to make it work, or is it time to set GP free and move on?

We’ve broken down the different choices. Consider us your technology-focused agony aunt.

Moving On: Changing to Another ERP

There are several signs that you may have outgrown GP. These include:

• You have more than 20 users.
• You've recently gone through an acquisition and your team/process have grown.
• You have increasingly complex business flows.
• You have increasingly complex reporting requirements.
• You're working with multiple countries and currencies (for instance, if your business operates globally).
• You want cloud access that enables your team to use your ERP remotely.
• You want automatic software upgrades.

GP is scalable, but at a certain point you may have reached the end of the scale. If you are only staying with the software out of comfort, that may not be a good enough reason. 

While changing ERP systems is a big commitment, you may be doing your business more harm than good by staying with a system that is no longer working for you. At a certain point, you have to decide to cut the cord. Just like a relationship break-up, the issues won’t resolve themselves, especially if they’ve been simmering for a while.

Other applications give more functionality in certain areas and enable you to stay with the Microsoft family. These include:

• Migrating from GP to Business Central

While this is not necessarily a straight-line migration, Business Central gives more flexibility with cloud technology and Microsoft connectivity (it integrates with Office 365 applications, such as Outlook and Excel, for instance).

We recently wrote an in-depth post about this migration and the reasons why you might make the switch. 

• Migrating to Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management (F&SCM)

For larger companies, F&SCM could be a better choice for your ERP needs. The system offers much more customization abilities, including cloud access and Office 365 integration. It also supports e-commerce through D365 Commerce.

If your business processes have significantly expanded - or are poised to (such as through an acquisition - D365 F&FCM may be the answer. 

Like Business Central, D365 is a cloud-based, infrastructure-free, multi-platform, and upgraded periodically by Microsoft. 

Staying Put: Upgrading GP

If the previous section had you throwing your arms around your computer and yelling, “I’ll never let go,” a la Rose in Titanic, you may be looking for an alternative: staying with GP.

Your business may be heavily invested in the GP infrastructure and communities. It can be familiar — your team knows the interface and likes using it. All your data is there, so you don’t have to worry about migration.

If this is you, we understand — we love GP, too! And there may be a good reason for you to stay with GP, especially if your business scope, size, and processes are relatively unchanged.

However, you may still want different capabilities than what GP currently provides. For example, we’ve recently had many GP clients approaching us for assistance with Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) integration.

If you’re not currently leveraging the full power of GP, you may have room to continue to scale.

Should You Stay or Should You Go?

As with a romantic relationship, deciding whether to stay with Microsoft Dynamics GP or move to a new ERP system can depend on many factors, including the size of your organization, your processes, and your long-term strategic vision.

However, one thing is certain: if you are growing, or intend to grow, you need to know that your ERP can grow with you. Don’t just accept limitations as the status quo – look for a solution, and perhaps a partner to help you find that solution.

The key here is to select a software partner who will be honest with you about your business needs and potential solutions. For instance, at SHEA Global, we approach every decision with the problem-first and build a solution around your business.

We have experience migrating GP to both Business Central and D365 F&SCM, but we have also worked with Dynamics GP since 1994. Because we have an original GP mindset, we won’t recommend migrating to another ERP just because, but if it’s no longer meeting your business needs, or you’re growing your business, we can help you find a solution that will grow with you — whether that’s GP or otherwise.

Don’t stay stuck in relationship limbo. Reach out today for help making your decision.

What has your experience been with Dynamics GP? Are you looking to hold on or move on? Share with us on social media. SHEA Global is on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.