Dynamics GP user reading this, you may have heard about Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft’s next-generation business management software, and may be considering migrating to it in the future.
In all honesty, Microsoft Dynamics GP is a complete ERP, and you can keep it for as long as you want since it is part of Microsoft’s product maintenance policy (Modern Lifecycle Policy) that guarantees support and improvements for many years. Coming. However, Business Central has been built from the ground up on the cloud, allowing you to run your business anytime, anywhere, with greater ease while requiring less maintenance than any on-premises ERP.
Microsoft is continually adding functionality to this product, and more and more third-party products are bringing their additional functionality to this new platform. In the end, it is not a matter of whether you have to migrate from GP to Business Central, but that you will want to migrate from GP to Business Central.
That said, consider migrating from Microsoft Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central at some point. At that point, it’s smart to research how much that move will cost.
Costs to consider when migrating
The following are the main factors that affect the costs of migrating from Dynamics GP to Business Central.
Migration of current data
While it’s natural to think you want to bring all your data to the new system, the reality is different. Only some things need to be migrated. At a minimum, it is recommended that you migrate all master records and all “open” documents to operate your business. But when it comes to historical data, you must consider how much history you want to bring to the new system. The answer can have a significant impact on the cost of the project. We recommend migrating a summary of the last few years from your general ledger but not migrating transactional data from the auxiliaries, as this tends to increase costs significantly.
Process changes
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central offers functionality similar to other modern ERPs. Its process flows are also similar to other ERPs, but of course, it differs from Dynamics GP in how some functions work. This happens because the implementation of such functions is tied to the (excellent) web interface, or they include automation functions not found in other systems.
In most cases, deals coming from Dynamics GP can be quickly adapted to the way transactions are done in Business Central. However, for those businesses that use vertical applications or many customizations, there can be a lot of additional work and significantly higher costs.
You must be realistic and honest about how unique your business processes are. Are you willing to adapt to a new user interface and slightly different processes? The more complex or unique your processes are, the more expensive migration to the new system will be.
Ongoing training and support
Any system change will require user training, and this is to be expected. Business Central’s modern web interface radically differs from Dynamics GP’s menu and screen interface, so training is a big part of getting users comfortable with the new system. But how much does this affect your final cost?
In principle, the more users you have in your company, the higher the cost of training them. It is important to plan enough training so users can get used to the new way of doing things and plan enough support time to help them climb the initial learning curve.
We recommend: Embracing change.
If you want to save money, we recommend that you make an effort to simply absorb the new processes and functionality in Business Central. It would be best if you didn’t insist that the new system work like Dynamics GP — that would be a costly mistake. Accept the new system as it is, with its good points and shortcomings, and help your users adapt as much as possible. The more you adapt to the processes of the new system, the cheaper the migration process will be.
The final words
So how much will it cost you to migrate from Microsoft Dynamics GP to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central? For companies that use the basic financial modules and with more or less standard processes, you can expect to pay around 15 to 20 thousand dollars/pounds. For larger companies with highly customized processes or vertical solutions like manufacturing or warehouse management, for example, the cost can be as much as a full implementation of the new system, which can exceed £75,000.
Ask the Experts System migrations can be notoriously difficult. But you don’t have to do it alone. We can help you estimate and execute a successful migration as efficiently and economically as possible.
With over 12+ years of offering services in the Microsoft Dynamics ecosystem, we at Dynamics Square offer you our experience and knowledge to lead your company to success. To learn more about how we can help grow your business, contact us at infoatrateofdynamicssquare.co.uk.
