Thinking about a GP to BC migration but feeling unsure? You’re in good company—many businesses are grappling with the decision to leave Dynamics GP - a trusted system - behind.
For years, Nick, the CFO of a mid-sized manufacturing company, has trusted Dynamics GP to keep his business running smoothly. He knows every corner of the system, from processing invoices to running reports. In fact, Nick described Dynamics GP as “...like an old friend—I know its quirks, and we work well together.”
But lately, this old friend has been struggling to keep up. The demands of remote work, modern analytics, and seamless integration with other tools have revealed GP’s age. Nick is torn—he knows GP has served him well, but he’s beginning to see it might not be the best step forward for his business.
Why GP to BC Migration Makes Sense Now
For years, Microsoft Dynamics GP has been a solid and reliable ERP solution for businesses.
But with technology evolving at breakneck speed, companies relying on an on-premise ERP are feeling the strain. From increasing maintenance costs to limited remote access, the challenges of staying with GP are becoming harder to ignore.
Adding to the urgency is Microsoft Dynamics GP end of life, which means fewer updates, less support, and greater risk exposure. While GP has served businesses well, the reality is that cloud-based solutions like Dynamics 365 Business Central offer more of what today’s businesses need – scalability, flexibility, and long-term sustainability.
On-premise systems simply can’t match that.
The Strategic Advantages of Moving to the Cloud
Scalability
One of the biggest advantages of moving from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 BC is scalability. The cloud eliminates infrastructure limitations, allowing businesses to grow without investing in expensive servers and IT maintenance.
Whether you need to scale up during busy seasons or streamline during slower periods, with cloud ERP your company can adjust resources as needed without major disruptions.
For Nick, this was a game-changing epiphany. His business was expanding, but his on-premise GP system was holding him back. Going from Dynamics GP to D365 Business Central was exactly what he needed, empowering his company to evolve and remain competitive.
Flexibility
Flexibility is more than a perk—it’s the key to workforce sanity.
With a cloud-based solution, your teams can access data and business systems from anywhere, which is great news for all (especially IT teams who no longer have to hear “I forgot to save it to the shared drive”).
Business Central integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 tools like Outlook, Teams, Power BI, and Power Automate, so it’s easier than ever to collaborate without playing email tag.
For companies still running Dynamics GP, integration challenges can be painful. Moving to the cloud eliminates those hurdles, for a unified, connected experience.
Modernization Benefits
Regular Updates and Security Enhancements
One of the biggest concerns around sticking with Dynamics GP is security. As GP nears end of life, security patches and updates will become less frequent, leaving businesses vulnerable to cyber threats and compliance issues.
With Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 migration, automatic updates ensure your business stays up to date with the latest security protocols and features—without IT headaches.
Advanced Features and AI-Powered Insights
In addition to maintaining functionality, Business Central offers powerful new features like real-time analytics and AI-driven insights through Microsoft Copilot.
These tools help businesses make data-driven decisions faster and more accurately. From predictive analytics to financial forecasting or AI-powered automation of routine tasks, these upgrades can translate to a major competitive advantage.
For more about the benefits of cloud ERP, check out our article on the 7 key benefits of Dynamics 365 Business Central.
The Cost Perspective
Cost Savings
Like streaming subscriptions that seem to mysteriously multiply, maintaining an on-premise ERP system can quickly become a financial drain.
Between server maintenance, IT labor, and expensive version upgrades, organizations spend significant resources just keeping their systems running.
GP to D365 BC migration shifts costs from capital expenditures (CAPEX) to operational expenditures (OPEX), eliminating the need for expensive infrastructure, all while offering predictable monthly pricing.
Hidden Costs of Staying On-Premises
Beyond direct expenses, outdated systems carry hidden costs – a lot like that free trial you forgot to cancel 3 months ago. Aging infrastructure can slow down operations, create inefficiencies, and lead to costly downtime. And businesses that fail to modernize risk falling behind competitors leveraging AI-driven automation and advanced analytics.
According to Forbes, by 2028, cloud computing will no longer be a disruptive trend but an essential component for business competitiveness. Companies that don’t adapt risk falling behind their cloud-enabled competitors, both in scalability and efficiency.
Risks of Staying On-Premises
Familiarity and fear of change are two of the biggest reasons businesses hesitate to migrate.
But the risks of not moving from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 BC are growing:
Lack of future support: As Microsoft shifts focus to cloud ERP, there will be fewer updates and declining support for businesses still relying on GP.
Integration challenges: On-premise systems struggle to connect with modern business applications, limiting efficiency.
Competitive disadvantage: Businesses that stick with outdated technology will have a harder time keeping up with cloud-enabled competitors.
For a deeper dive into how Dynamics 365 Business Central keeps businesses competitive, check out our analysis here.
A GP to BC migration isn’t just a technical upgrade—it’s a strategic decision that ensures long-term growth, scalability, and flexibility. By making the move now, businesses can eliminate infrastructure limitations, improve collaboration, and take advantage of cutting-edge AI and analytics tools.
The Knaster Technology Group offers a tailored approach to implementing Dynamics 365 Business Central, customized to your company’s unique needs. Through customized strategies and workflows, we can help you optimize your processes and maximize efficiency.
Ready to explore the next chapter for your business?
Reach out to us anytime to learn how Dynamics 365 Business Central can help you succeed.
Want to learn more? Join our upcoming webinar to see how Dynamics 365 Business Central
About the Author
With a background as a CPA and Certified Information Technology Professional, Barry Knaster has made it his mission to provide customers with innovative, effective solutions that redefine the way they manage their finances.
Knaster Technology Group provides expertise in leveraging top-notch platforms like Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Dynamics GP.
You can find Barry on LinkedIn.
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