Moving Dynamics GP to the Cloud: Frequently Asked Questions

So, you’ve been using GP happily for years and you get an email from your Partner or Microsoft that your Dynamics version is now end-of-life. As the ominous name implies, end-of-life is an acknowledgement by Microsoft that your product version is being phased out and you either need to upgrade to continue receiving Microsoft support or risk major operational issues. For GP2015 users, that time is coming up on April 14^th, 2020. Keep reading to learn about your options for using end-of-life GP versions.

 

What Does This Mean for You?

When your GP is no longer supported, you will not receive year-end or tax updates and in the case of your product becoming inoperable, you will be unable to open a ticket with Microsoft. This has major implications for day to day operations.

Another consideration is data security. As versions become unsupported your data and your customers are at risk. Some industries that are compliance heavy will also face regulatory issues if their GP version is out of date, as Microsoft stops releasing patches.

The good news is there are three options available for companies who want to move to a supported version of GP.

 

Option 1. Upgrade and Keep On-Premise

Ostensibly the easiest solution is keeping GP on premise and upgrading. An important consideration with this option is evaluating hardware and software capabilities. To successfully upgrade, the servers will need to be able to handle the newer version and corresponding software. If not, new servers may be needed. Updates to SQL or Windows servers are also a possibility, as well as upgrades to operating systems and applications. Disruptions to workflow should be expected as GP will need to be offline during these improvements.

Another option is moving GP to a cloud server.

 

Option 2. Upgrade and Move GP to a Cloud Server

By moving GP online, you remove the need for a physical server as data is now stored in the cloud. Your existing hardware can be repurposed or recycled, if end of life. Once in the cloud, your most valuable data is secured in an enterprise-level data center, like Amazon’s AWS or Microsoft’s Azure. While hardware maintenance or procurement is no longer needed, server maintenance is. As well, all the same costs still apply such as annual fees to Microsoft, Technical Support, Functional Support, GP upgrades and maintenance.

 

Option 3. Upgrade and Move GP to a SaaS Product

Moving to a SaaS product like GP365 gives you the security of a cloud server with subscription-based pricing and services. One inclusive monthly fee makes budgeting simple as there are no surprises, so you know exactly what GP is going to cost. With GP365, not only will you receive a free upgrade to GP2018, but you won’t have to pay for enhancement fees, server maintenance, or IT issues anymore. By moving GP online, you can modernize your existing GP interface and benefit from the improvements we’ve made like removing stuck batches and SQL errors due to connectivity issues. GP365 is also releasing products that bridge the gap of native GP functionalities, like, Expense Center which will allow employees to easily enter expenses using their mobile phone to post directly into GP. By letting us take care of the technical issues, so you can get back to business without workflow interruptions. GP365 also shares frequent updates on the latest in the Dynamics GP world and offers training sessions monthly to ensure you get the most out of GP.

 

The Cost of Upgrading

Price plays a major role when deciding on whether to upgrade or not. The cost can vary greatly depending on what version you’re coming from as you need to upgrade through all the versions to the latest. For example, if you want to upgrade from GP 2013 to GP 2018 R2, you must upgrade through the versions in between first. For a simple upgrade, the average cost is between $2500-5000. If there are multiple environments, companies, or integrations, the cost can quickly reach upwards of $25,000.

Option One and Two will need to factor in the above GP upgrade costs plus server equipment and other software upgrades when determining their project budget in addition to enhancement and/or partner fees. With Option Three, there is one monthly cost that includes everything including technical support.

As a special offer, GP365 is offering a FREE upgrade to the latest version of GP, regardless of what version you’re on. If you pay a deposit by August 31^st, you can move to GP365 anytime in 2020.