What to Consider When Moving from Dynamics GP to D365 Business Central
In recent years, the shift towards cloud-based solutions has prompted many businesses using Dynamics GP to consider migrating to Dynamics 365 Business Central.
EthoTech has a unique insight into the concerns of customers considering the transition to D365 Business Central. A common theme among these customers is their inquiries about the potential consequences of not transitioning, as well post-transition surprise at losing certain functionalities. To enhance the understanding and decision-making process for our organizations considering moving to D365 BC, it’s crucial to address these concerns proactively, ensuring they are fully informed about what the move entails, including any changes or loss of functionalities they might experience.
While the allure of modern features and enhanced capabilities is undeniable, rushing into this transition may not always be the optimal choice. Let’s take a look at why a measured approach might be more beneficial.
Familiarity Breeds Efficiency
Dynamics GP users have likely become accustomed to its interface, workflows, and functionalities over the years. Switching to Business Central entails a learning curve for users, potentially impacting productivity and efficiency, especially if the transition is rushed. Taking the time to train employees adequately and ensuring a smooth transition process can mitigate these challenges.
Customization and Integration Considerations
Many businesses have customized their Dynamics GP implementations to suit their unique requirements. Moving to Business Central may necessitate re-evaluating these customizations and ensuring compatibility with the new platform. Rushing through this process can lead to overlooked dependencies or functionality gaps, resulting in disruptions to critical business processes.
Data Migration Complexity
Data migration is often one of the most daunting aspects of transitioning between ERP systems. Rushing this crucial step can result in data integrity issues, incomplete migrations, or even data loss. Thorough planning, testing, and validation are essential to ensure a seamless transfer of data from Dynamics GP to Business Central.
Business Impact Assessment
Before making the leap to Business Central, businesses must conduct a comprehensive assessment of the potential impact on their operations. Moving to BC without fully understanding how it will affect various aspects of the business, such as finance, inventory management, and reporting, can lead to unforeseen challenges and setbacks.
Long-Term Strategic Alignment
It’s crucial to consider whether migrating to Dynamics 365 Business Central aligns with your organization’s long-term strategic goals. Rushing into the transition without a clear understanding of how it fits into your broader business strategy can lead to misalignment and missed opportunities for leveraging the full potential of the new platform.
Functionality
When considering a transition, there are two other factors to keep in mind. First, for users of GP Payroll, it’s important to plan for a change before 2028, as Microsoft will discontinue tax updates for GP at that point. Second, if you rely on GP’s email feature to send statements and notices, be aware that modifications by Microsoft to applications like Word or Outlook could disrupt this service. However, if you’re not using GP Payroll, and you do not use GP’s email capabilities, then there’s no need to rush the decision-making process. You have ample time to carefully strategize your next steps while BC matures as a product.
The Bottomline
Dynamics 365 Business Central, while a powerful tool, is a young, immature product that does not currently match the comprehensive core functionality built on decades of development nor the extensive Independent Software Vendor (ISV) network that Dynamics GP offers.
Conclusion
While Dynamics 365 Business Central offers a host of compelling features and benefits, rushing to migrate from Dynamics GP may not be the best course of action for every organization.
Taking the time to assess the implications, plan thoroughly, and execute the transition methodically can help ensure a successful migration with minimal disruptions to your business operations.
Take your time and make the right decision for your business. Now more than ever, the need for proof of concept consulting is crystal clear.
Since 2002, companies across every sector have relied on EthoTech for the right tool for tracking, calculating, and paying variable compensation. We provide solutions, integration, and support that is focused solely on integrated variable compensation software for Microsoft Dynamics GP. It’s all we do, and we do it better than anyone. Contact EthoTech to learn more.