Microsoft Dynamics GP, formerly known as Great Plains, is a stand-alone ERP system developed for small- to medium-sized organizations. Its essential components include accounting and financial management, inventory management, operations, sales, and service, as well as payroll and reporting and HR functions. Dynamics GP is a well-known and reliable enterprise resource planning tool that may support businesses’ long-term expansion. Many customers have started to question what the future of Dynamics GP will look like and if this dependable solution would be discontinued because of Microsoft’s new concentration on Dynamics 365.

What Is Microsoft Dynamics GP Modern Lifecycle?

Microsoft changed GP to its Modern Lifecycle Policy in October 2019. Dynamics GP users will receive ongoing support, including bug patches, feature updates, and tax updates, thanks to the new lifecycle policy. Users just need to take one update per year to stay current; updates are released three times a year. In contrast to the fixed lifecycle model of earlier versions, the continuous current lifecycle essentially removes the version year from the product. The product support for earlier versions has a shelf life due to its predetermined lifespan.

This table indicates the date on which support for your version will stop if you are using an earlier version.

How To Stay Up To Date

You can visit the Microsoft Dynamics GP product download site if you are using one of the versions listed above and don’t want to wait until support expires to update your system.

We can assist, but it’s a complicated procedure. In order to upgrade your Dynamics GP system and bring it into the future, Evincible Solutions can assist you with moving it to a hosted cloud environment. We may collaborate with your Dynamics GP VAR partner to make sure that your system is updated with your changes and configurations.

You can upgrade Dynamics GP 2018 to version 18.2 (which enables the Modern Lifecycle Policy) by installing updates or fixes.

How Should I Move Forward With Dynamics GP?

Users of Dynamics GP now have a few options after Microsoft announced that it will no longer sell new copies of the software.

1) Transform To A New ERP System

You could be interested in switching to a new ERP system if Dynamics GP is nearing the end of its useful life or if it is no longer a good fit for your organization. By switching to an ERP like NetSuite, Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations, or Dynamics 365 Business Central, you can guarantee ongoing product upgrades, gain access to new features and capabilities, and take advantage of a cloud-based system.

2) Keep Using Dynamics GP

Many GP users have a strong sense of loyalty to the software and wish to use Dynamics GP for as long as they can. There are several things you can do to ensure you can stay on GP as long as possible if it applies to you. It is advised to upgrade your system to the most recent version if you are using one of the versions of Dynamics GP that are indicated in the table earlier in this blog post before support expires. You can access any new features and functionalities as well as the fixing of any system bugs by upgrading your Dynamics GP system. By doing this, Microsoft will be able to provide you with extended product support as well as crucial year-end upgrades.

Microsoft offers customers the option to host Dynamics GP in the cloud on Azure so they may enjoy some of the benefits of a cloud-based solution even if they want to stick with Dynamics GP and want to take advantage of the cloud’s advantages. With some of the security and accessibility of a cloud-based solution without sacrificing the adaptability of an on-premises deployment, Dynamics GP hosted in the cloud offers a compromise between a standard on-premises deployment and a fully cloud-based solution.

Make Contact With Us !!

Do you need help deciding between sticking with Dynamics GP and switching to a new platform? Evincible Solutions, an experienced Microsoft partner has helped businesses achieve their organizational objectives and ensure the health of their systems for the past two decades. We can help you, whether you are prepared to switch systems or prefer to stay with GP. Make an expert team contact us right away.