As Microsoft Dynamics GP approaches its end of support in 2029, when Microsoft will stop providing general technical help, organizations relying on it face increasing risks of technical debt, escalating maintenance costs, and limited scalability. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central presents a strategic path forward. Business Central is a modern, cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution that unifies finance, operations, and sales while leveraging artificial intelligence (AI)-driven automation for real-time insights and improved decision making. Migrating now can help businesses future-proof their technology stack, enhance operational resilience, and position themselves for long-term growth in an increasingly digital landscape.
In our recent webinar, “Modernizing ERP: Why Business Central Is GP’s Next Step,” we shared details on the transition. Here are the top three takeaways from the discussion.
Urgency of Migration
The clock is ticking for Dynamics GP users as 2029 is the target date to complete an ERP migration. While some options may exist for extending security support beyond this date, organizations are strongly advised to act sooner rather than later to help avoid technical debt, security risks, and implementation partner backlogs. Waiting until 2028 or 2029 could create a significant bottleneck, as the number of available Microsoft partners may not be sufficient to handle a last-minute rush of migration projects. In addition, delaying the move may increase exposure to cybersecurity risks associated with end-of-life software vulnerabilities. Companies should begin developing a migration road map within the next one to two years to help preclude complications.
Strategic Advantages of Business Central
Business Central is a fully developed, cloud-based platform that offers significant advantages over on-premise systems, like Dynamics GP. It provides in-depth functionality across finance, accounting, sales, supply chain, and inventory management. A key difference is its licensing model, which is based on named users rather than the concurrent licensing of GP. The platform’s primary strength lies in its deep integration capabilities. Business Central connects seamlessly with Office 365, the Power Platform, APIs, and AI-powered tools such as Copilot, allowing users to generate insights directly from their data. It features role-specific “role centers” that customize the user interface to show relevant information and tasks. This tailored experience, combined with Business Central’s broad operational capabilities, can help position organizations for long-term growth.
Practical Migration Guidance
A successful transition from GP to Business Central requires careful planning and execution. The process should begin with a detailed assessment to define business requirements, identify functional gaps, and calculate the total cost of ownership. This initial phase is also the time to plan for integrations with other essential systems, such as payroll. Forward planning is crucial and includes cleaning up master data in the existing GP system to help ensure accuracy and consistency before migration. The implementation itself involves several steps: data preparation, system setup, data migration, validation, training, and user acceptance testing. Microsoft provides a data migration tool, but custom integrations or configuration packages can also be used. A typical project timeline ranges from nine to 18 months. After the go-live event, ongoing post-launch support is crucial to address any remaining issues and help ensure long-term success.
How Forvis Mazars Can Help Simplify the Migration From GP to Business Central
If you’re looking to modernize your organization’s ERP system, Forvis Mazars can help. Request a complimentary GP assessment today and connect with our certified Microsoft consultants to ask any questions you may have. For additional insights, be sure to watch “Modernizing ERP: Why Business Central Is GP’s Next Step,” on demand anytime.