As the end of support for Microsoft Dynamics GP approaches, it becomes essential for companies to ensure that their infrastructure is ready to meet future requirements. The absence of technical support and security updates presents significant risks. This article guides you through the steps involved in assessing the current state of your Dynamics GP solution.
Step 1: Assess compatibility with modern technologies
Technical compatibility is essential to ensure that Dynamics GP works seamlessly with the rest of your technology infrastructure. Over time, versions of Dynamics GP may become obsolete and pose integration challenges with certain modern systems and applications.
Goal: Ensure that Dynamics GP is compatible with current technologies and systems.
Points to consider:
- Does your current version of Dynamics GP work well with other software and systems in use (CRM, BI, payroll solutions, etc.)?
- Are there any compatibility limitations holding back your innovation?
- Do you need workarounds or special configurations to integrate GP with other tools?
Step 2: Analyze system performance and reliability
Performance and reliability are at the heart of day-to-day productivity. A slow or unstable system not only slows down employees, it can also lead to errors and a loss of confidence. As the end of support approaches, the stability of Dynamics GP may be deteriorating, making this assessment all the more critical.
Goal: Verify the stability, response times and overall performance of Dynamics GP.
Points to consider:
- Is your GP solution subject to regular breakdowns or slowdowns?
- How much time do you spend resolving bugs or errors in the system?
- Do users often complain about system slowness or inaccessibility?
- Are your Dynamics GP servers and environments safe from Ransomware attacks?
- Do you have external backups of your servers in the event of a hacking or virus attack?
- Would you be able to quickly restart your operations in the event of an incident or issue such as a fire or sudden shutdown of your local servers?
Tip: For this step, gathering feedback from day-to-day users and validating with your IT department can give you a realistic idea of the system’s reliability.
Step 3: Evaluate maintenance and support costs
As Dynamics GP ages, support and maintenance costs are likely to rise. In the absence of updates from Microsoft, consultants or workarounds become necessary, which can add to costs. Understanding this cost today allows you to compare it with the cost of migration.
Goal: Measure the current costs of keeping GP up and running.
Points to consider:
- How much do you spend, annually, to maintain Dynamics GP (consultants, licenses, external technical support)?
- Are costs increasing as the software ages?
- Does maintaining Dynamics GP require more time and resources than in the past?
Step 4: Compliance and regulatory updates
Compliance is essential to avoid penalties and legal risks. Microsoft will no longer provide regulatory updates for GP after its end-of-life, which could lead to problems for sectors with strict requirements (e.g. finance, retail). The purpose of this step is to assess your GP’s risk of non-compliance and the potential impact of end-of-support.
Goal: Check whether your version of Dynamics GP still meets tax and legal requirements.
Points to consider:
- Are you still receiving regulatory updates (taxes, VAT, etc.) for Dynamics GP?
- Does your GP system meet the latest compliance standards for your operations?
- Are you at risk of non-compliance in the absence of tax updates after 2029?
Tip: Conducting a compliance audit with a regulatory expert can help identify risks specific to your sector.
Step 5: Assess your company’s future needs
Business needs are changing, and Dynamics GP may no longer meet all modern requirements, especially in terms of automation and analytics. Understanding your growth objectives, desired new features, and GP’s current limitations can help you decide whether a change to a newer technology solution is necessary.
Goal: Understand whether Dynamics GP can evolve with your future needs.
Points to consider:
- Have your business processes evolved since the implementation of Dynamics GP? Is the software still fit for purpose?
- Is your company planning to grow or diversify? Can GP support this evolution?
- Are there functionalities or automations that could make your operations easier, but that GP can’t offer?
Tip: This assessment could include a look at the new ERP solutions available (such as Dynamics 365 Business Central or Finance) to compare the additional functionalities they offer.
Why is an assessment important?
Assessing the current state of your Dynamics GP infrastructure is a crucial first step in ensuring the sustainability of your operations. By identifying weaknesses, upgrade needs or incompatibilities, you can plan the evolution of your ERP to modern solutions like Dynamics 365 ERPs with peace of mind. Contact us if you’d like to find out more about the solutions available to you and define the best strategy for your business.
