Is MicroSoft Great Plains going away?

Microsoft announced in October 2019 that it would sunset Dynamics GP, its midmarket business and accounting offering, with support ending by 2028. Now, the company promises to keep the support going through 2028.

There are some older versions of Dynamics GP governed by a fixed lifecycle, and support for these versions has already ended, or will, by 2028.

But these versions will continue to be supported beyond 2028:

The products above are governed by Microsoft Modern Lifecycle policy, which covers products and services that are serviced and supported continuously. Click Here for more on this policy and product support.

Thinking About Replacing Your ERP System?

In many ways, an ERP system acts as a living, breathing entity within an organization. These systems require a certain level of attention to function successfully, even after implementation is complete. While many consider ERP software to be a worthwhile investment, it is, by no means, an immortal solution. At some point, aging systems become a hassle to support and must be replaced, leaving ERP providers the choice to continue supporting legacy products or establish an “end-of-life” plan in hopes customers transition to the latest version.

When the time comes, many businesses are ready to move to the next chapter. For others, the transition can feel like a surprise eviction. The Great Plains system itself is considered a giant in the industry and has delivered a reliable ERP and accounting solution for decades. This “end-of-life” news left many small and medium-sized businesses feeling uncertain. If you’re a current Dynamics GP user, there’s no need to panic. ProNexus is here to help you navigate this latest industry news. As you start to think about the future, here are a few options for you to consider as you look ahead.

Option 1: Transition to Microsoft Dynamics 365

Microsoft is a leader in the software space for a reason, and they’re not going to leave their clients high and dry. Microsoft will work with existing clients to transition to their cloud-based platform: Microsoft Dynamics 365. And there are a few good reasons why you should hear them out. First, because you are a current Dynamics GP user, the transition to Dynamics 365 will be familiar. Much like switching to the latest iPhone from an older model, there will be some new features you will have to learn, but you’ll still have that Microsoft look and feel. You won’t have as much of an uphill organizational change management battle having to onboard employees or figure out how your hardware will adjust to something new. Both Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations and Microsoft Business Central are significant upgrades.

Option 2: Work with an after-market support team

Obsolescence is an inevitability in ERP, especially as it comes to software packages that either cannot be supported on the cloud or were acquired as a larger company. Oracle has been trying to end of life JD Edwards for 20 years since it acquired Peoplesoft. Infor has a wide variety of greenscreen systems that have been out of support for just as long. When one door closes, the market opens a window and smaller tech companies pop up to offer support services. While these companies are not likely to expand the functionality available in Microsoft GP, they will allow you to stay on the system for quite a lot longer than 2025. You would get to keep your ERP, but it will continue to get older and more out of date as time goes on. There is a better way.

Option 3: Find an ERP system that’s a better fit

There’s a good chance that your business has changed, even significantly, since you first implemented Microsoft GP. You should know what your options are, even if you end up deciding Microsoft still fits best. In this light, the loss of GP may actually turn into a great opportunity for your business. Microsoft is essentially forcing your hand, making you choose between upgrading to Dynamics 365, paying for an out-of-date model, or jumping ship to something new. Because of this, there’s never been a better time to shop around for an ERP system that truly fits your needs. There are a number of excellent offerings on the market, from well-known software solutions to smaller ERP companies you may have never heard of.

The first step is to do your research and really understand the current and future needs of your organization.

In fact, ProNexus will even provide a free consultation, or you can take our free ERP modernization assessment to help plan out your next steps. ProNexus is the only UPNY Re-Seller of NetSuite, but we also are agnostic and are able to give you the assistance and advice you need to get the most from your system at every phase of its life cycle – from implementation to development to optimization. We also have helpful comparison guides that details the pros and cons of the most popular ERP systems side by side.

ProNexus is happy to be an informal sounding board for your organization as you begin 

Learn more about NetSuite Planning and Budgeting.