Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains)
Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly known as Great Plains) is a trusted on-premises Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution that has supported the financial and operational management of small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) across North America for decades.
As of now, Dynamics GP is officially in End of Life (EOL) status. Current MS Dynamics GP customers are strongly encouraged to evaluate their options and begin planning for a transition to modern cloud ERP solutions, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, to ensure continued support, innovation, and compliance.
Dynamics GP End of Life Status and Next Steps
Dynamics GP is in a defined phase-out period, with Microsoft shifting its focus entirely to cloud-native platforms. Current versions (October 2019 release and later) are governed by the Modern Lifecycle Policy, which requires organizations to adopt at least one of the three yearly releases to remain current and supported.
MS Dynamics GP End of Life
Gain clarity on what Dynamics GP’s End of Life means - and how to confidently plan your next move.
Dynamics GP to Business Central
Understand the transition from Dynamics GP to Business Central—and how it can future-proof your business with modern cloud capabilities.
Business Impact Assessment
Evaluate your ERP options with confidence—this assessment helps you understand the business impact of Dynamics GP’s End of Life and plan a clear path forward.
The 360 Visibility Difference: Confidently Transition from Dynamics GP
As Dynamics GP reaches end-of-life, 360 Visibility provides trusted guidance to help you understand what this change means for your business, evaluate your options, and confidently plan your next steps. Through expert-led assessments and a transparent migration process to Dynamics 365 Business Central, we ensure you’re supported every step of the way. Our focus is on clarity, trust, and tailored solutions—so you can make informed decisions and future-proof your Microsoft investment without surprises or unnecessary complexity.
Real success stories from businesses like yours
ATTA Elevators
ATTA Elevators, a rapidly growing elevator service company, partnered with 360 Visibility to implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, transforming their operations and enabling scalable growth.
Heart and Stroke Foundation
360 Visibility upgraded Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central to address foundational challenges in a hybrid work environment at Heart & Stroke
Process Fusion
Tasked with modernizing Process Fusion Inc's financial systems, 360 Visibility leveraged Dynamics 365 Business Central to enhance profitability reporting, remote accessibility, and automation.
United Church of Canada
With the advisory and mentorship support of 360 Visibility, the United Church of Canada was able to transition to Dynamics 365 Business Central from an older on-premises version of Dynamics NAV.
Community Living
Community Living upgrades from Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central and moves to the cloud, while dropping no longer used legacy customizations.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft Dynamics GP
Q: What is Dynamics GP?
Dynamics GP software is a comprehensive business management solution providing core ERP capabilities. It utilizes Microsoft SQL Server to store and manage data, offering excellent data security, recovery, and high performance.
- Key functionalities of MS Dynamics GP include:
- Financial Management: Covering core modules like General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Fixed Assets.
- Operations: Including inventory management, purchasing, and sales order processing.
- Workforce Management: Offering built-in modules for payroll and human capital management (HCM).
- Deployment Flexibility: Historically an on-premise solution, Dynamics GP can also be deployed via Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) in the cloud, such as Microsoft Azure, or as a hybrid solution.
- Dynamics GP supports extensions, add-ons, and third-party integrations, allowing businesses to tailor the system to their specific needs.
Q: How do I stay current on the Dynamics GP Modern Lifecycle?
Staying current on Dynamics GP is essential because it ensures:
- Compatibility: Your ERP remains compatible with other vital business software, such as Windows Server, SQL, and Exchange.
- Compliance: Regular updates ensure compliance with regulatory needs, including Canadian payroll and 1099 formats.
- Support: Remaining on the Modern Lifecycle reduces overall downtime and cost compared to older GP upgrades.
- While Microsoft Dynamics GP remains functional, Microsoft is no longer developing new product features or enhancements for the system.
Q: What is replacing MS Dynamics GP?
The strategic successor to Microsoft Dynamics GP is Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC). Business Central is an ERP solution targeting the same SMB market, but it was designed specifically for the cloud (Software as a Service or SaaS).
Q: How can my business migrate to D365 Business Central?
The transition from Dynamics GP to Business Central is a necessary strategic move for long-term business continuity. This process is best viewed as a re-implementation rather than a simple upgrade, involving the strategic migration of essential data and processes into the modern D365 BC environment. This approach ensures the new system is optimized for current business needs, avoiding the transfer of outdated legacy structures. A typical migration project may take between 3 to 9 months, depending on the complexity of the business and its customizations.
Q: What are the critical dates for Microsoft Dynamics GP End of Life?
- Microsoft has established firm deadlines outlining the end of sales, support, and services for Dynamics GP (Great Plains).
- Key Dates and Milestones:
- Oct 1, 2024 – Subscription Price Increase: Subscription pricing for a Dynamics GP Standard User increases by 6% to 10%.
- Oct 3, 2024 – Enhancement Plan Rate Increase: Enhancement Plan rates increase by 1%.
- Oct 1, 2025 – Enhancement Plan Rate Increase: Enhancement Plan rates increase by 1% again.
- Apr 1, 2026 – End of New License Sales: Microsoft will stop selling new Dynamics GP licenses and subscriptions. Existing customers can continue to purchase new licenses and modules.
- Dec 31, 2029 – End of Life (Product Support Ends): Microsoft will cease all product support, enhancements, service packs, regulatory updates, and technical assistance for all versions of Dynamics GP.
- Apr 30, 2031 – Final End of Service: Final security patch updates cease. Subscription licenses will no longer be renewable, meaning subscription users will lose access to the software.
- Mainstream and Extended Support Deadlines:
- Dynamics GP 2013 and 2013 R2: Mainstream and Extended support ended.
- Dynamics GP 2015 and 2015 R2: Mainstream and Extended support ended.
- Dynamics GP 2016 and 2016 R2: Mainstream support ended July 13, 2021 and Extended support ends July 14, 2026.
- Dynamics GP 2018 and 2018 R2: Mainstream support ended January 10, 2023 and Extended support ends January 11, 2028.
Q: What are the latest updates on Dynamics GP Licensing, Enhancements, and Costs?
- Licensing: Dynamics GP offers two primary licensing models:
- Perpetual: You own the license and pay annual maintenance.
- Subscription: Monthly fee with added flexibility.
- Enhancements: New feature development for Dynamics GP has stopped. Updates under the Modern Lifecycle are limited to:
- Tax table updates
- Security fixes
- Year-end changes to maintain compliance and stability
- Costs and Risks of Delaying: While your Dynamics GP system will continue to function after support ends, maintaining a legacy solution exposes your business to significant risks:
- Increased security vulnerability due to the end of patches after April 2031
- Potential non-compliance with tax laws due to lack of regulatory updates
- Diminishing ecosystem of knowledgeable Dynamics GP support partners
Q: What are my options if I want to stay on Dynamics GP or Migrate to Business Central?
- Every Dynamics GP customer has a unique business situation and must evaluate their technology future.
- Staying on GP:
- If you plan to remain on MS Dynamics GP for the short term, ensure you are on a version governed by the Modern Lifecycle Policy to receive available support and critical regulatory updates.
- Migrating to Business Central:
- For long-term stability and growth, migrating to Dynamics 365 Business Central is the recommended path.
- 360 Visibility offers a complimentary on-premise to cloud ERP assessment to provide a baseline technical and functional overview, assisting in the evaluation process.
Q: What are the benefits of moving to Dynamics 365 Business Central?
- Migrating from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central (D365 Business Central) is a strategic investment that provides immediate and long-term advantages over maintaining a legacy, on-premise solution.
- Core Benefits of Moving to Business Central:
- Predictable, Scalable Costs: Business Central operates on a subscription model, eliminating capital expenditure on servers and hardware maintenance, leading to a reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
- Automated Updates: Microsoft manages all updates, enhancements, and bug fixes automatically (typically twice per year), ensuring the system is always current without business disruption or the cost of manual upgrades.
- Enhanced Security: Data is hosted in highly secure Microsoft Azure data centers, providing state-of-the-art security and disaster recovery capabilities.
- Modern Capabilities: BC includes built-in generative AI with Microsoft Copilot for enhanced productivity and offers seamless native integration with the broader Microsoft ecosystem, including Microsoft 365 and the Power Platform.
- Operational Efficiency: Finance teams often experience a 25% faster financial close cycle time. BC replaces manual processes (like bank reconciliation) in GP Dynamics with automated workflows and AI-powered suggestions.
- Proven Financial Impact of Migration: According to a Forrester Total Economic Impact™ study, companies migrating to Business Central reported compelling returns:
- 265% ROI over three years
- Less than 6 months to achieve payback
- 100% reduction in server maintenance costs
- 87% reported improved cash flow management
- 86% reported a reduction in IT support costs
Q: Can I host Dynamics GP in the Cloud?
Although Dynamics GP is an on-premise solution, it can be hosted in the cloud using Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), often utilizing Microsoft Azure. Hosting Dynamics GP in a cloud environment provides benefits such as superior security, easier remote work options, and savings on the cost and risk associated with upgrading physical on-premise servers every few years. However, this is still a temporary measure, often used as a last resort to maintain Dynamics GP on modern IaaS cloud hosting instead of investing in additional hardware, while a full migration to Dynamics 365 Business Central is being performed.
Q: Are there any migration offers or promotions from Microsoft?
- Migration Offers and Promotions: Customers evaluating the shift from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central should explore available incentives:
- Complimentary Assessments: Offered by partners like 360 Visibility to provide a technical and functional overview for moving from an on-premise solution to the cloud.
- Bridge2Cloud migration Promotion: A multi-year Microsoft offer providing discounted licenses and dual-access rights to both the existing on-premise ERP and the new cloud solution.
- Deployment Offers: Credits (up to $4,500) may be available against partner services for Business Central deployment.
Q: How does a Dynamics GP Partner like 360 Visibility help?
Partners like 360 Visibility, drawing on expertise as a Microsoft Dynamics Partner for over 20 years, guide businesses through the complexities of the Dynamics GP to Business Central migration. They employ a structured, phased approach—including Start-up/Assessment, Structure definition, Configuration, Deployment (Go-Live), and ongoing Support—to ensure a successful transition with minimal business disruption. 360 Visibility offers services ranging from initial Business Impact Assessments to full implementation and configuration, helping businesses maximize efficiency and ROI across the entire Microsoft ecosystem.