Should I stay or should I go now?

A song title, but also a question regarding your Microsoft Dynamics GP and Dynamics 365 Business Central options.

Should I stay with Dynamics GP or should I go to Business Central now?

Like many Dynamics GP users, you are very happy with the product that has been a workhorse for more than 30 years.

Microsoft has committed to supporting Dynamics GP with Microsoft Modern Lifecycle Policy, with the benefit of two releases every year through to 2028, and it is likely they will continue to support the product beyond that. These releases will consist of security enhancements, additional features, Intelligent Edge enhancements, and top features requested by users.

Dynamics GP can be hosted in the cloud and accessed with a web server. However , that does not mean it is designed to be run in the cloud nor is it offered as a Software as a Service platform—and there are no plans to do so. The longer you stay on Dynamics GP, the longer you miss out on the advantages of using a true cloud ERP solution. These advantages include:

Better security, including protection from ransomware attacks; if you are hit, your data is safe.
24/7 access from anywhere, on any device.
Lower IT costs, as you no longer need to buy, maintain, or upgrade servers.
Scalability to resize quickly based on changing needs; you only pay for what you need, when you need it.
Flexibility to meet your changing requirements, including growth.
Ease of working anywhere, any place, any time.
Easier, and easier, upgrades.

However, if you are contemplating and researching making the move, before you commit you should consider:

When was the last time you purchased an ERP? Five years ago? Ten? Twenty? At the time you probably had a requirements checklist of features (GL, AP, AR, inventory, warehouse, etc.). You had a checklist then, so make sure you have a checklist now. Technology has improved and whilst the focus may previously have been on features, it now leans towards integration so you need to consider this in your checklist.
It is especially important NOT to assume anything at this point. Don’t assume that a particular process is working well; it could be that the process has been adjusted over time to fit outdated software.
Do you have a company roadmap that outlines the milestones and goals you want to achieve over the next 3 to 5 years and beyond?

The goal here is to determine whether Dynamics GP can accommodate these milestones and goals. For example, if one of your goals is to increase mobility of your workforce, Dynamics GP may become a hinderance because it is not designed to be a cloud-based product.
If you have been considering Business Central as an option for your organisation, Microsoft have created a program to allow for migration from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central called “Road to the Cloud”.

Some of our clients have already taken advantage of this offer whereby they gained Business Central user licenses to enable evaluation of the solution with the assistance of Professional Advantage.