The Microsoft Dynamics GP “Announcement” Thoughts, Ideas, and Plans
Hello everybody!
By now, many of you have heard the news that Microsoft announced on September 25, 2024 that Microsoft Dynamics GP product development will cease completely in 2031 with new feature development and product support stopping a little earlier.
For more information on the changes, read David Musgraves blog. (He put in the work to link to lots of resources and articles from Microsoft, MVPs, Partners, and ISVs)
I thought I would take a minute and give my thoughts, my history, and my future plans with Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains. I have worked with GP since around 1999…here is a picture of me on my first day:
Before I go on any further, it is important to know that there will still be partners and consultants that can support you and help you if you continue on using GP even past the 2029/2031 dates. I work closely with many partners that are committed to continuing to support GP! Many ISVs (the people that create add-on programs that work with GP) have also committed to continuing to develop and support Microsoft Dynamics GP. If you want any recommendations, reach out to me!
I put together 2 documents to help you review your system. I hope they will help you as you decide what is best for your business! I love GP! I will continue to train and support people using GP! I do not have a GP Training/Support “End Date”. I have had training on Microsoft Dynamics BC (I am doing another deep-dive training later this month). I am moving my small business from QuickBooks to BC. I setup and used QuickBooks so that I could help people that moved from QuickBooks to GP…and I am doing it again to prepare for helping people if they decide to move to BC. I have some amazing friends/GP Partners that I can recommend if you are looking for a GP Partner that will continue to support your GP system who can also help you if you decide to move to BC (several support other systems as well).
Microsoft Dynamics GP - Recommendations from Training Dynamo.docx
Training Dynamo - GP Module List with Descriptions.xlsx
I spent the day working on these 2 documents. I plan on editing if I get suggestions or feedback.
I have to admit that I have gone through the “stages of grief” with the official announcement.
Denial - I really did hope that GP would continue to be offered by Microsoft. With over 30,000 companies using GP around the world, I do think that there could be minor updates to the timelines…but that is just speculation. It is time to do your research and make your plans. If you are planning on staying with GP, you need to download my recommendation worksheet. You need to talk to your partner and find out what add-on software you are using so that you can ensure that they will continue to be supported. Many ISVs and partners are committing to continuing to support GP, but there will be some that simply won’t. You need to find out now.
Anger - I think this one is pretty straight forward. I understand that this is frustrating for both companies that rely on GP…and for the people that sell and support it. If you go back to David’s blog, you will see that there are companies that are going to continue to support GP. I am planning to not only help people continue to use GP…but be ready to help them if they decide to move to BC. The biggest antidote for all that anger for me was when I realized I needed stop and be grateful. Oh my goodness…if I could go back and talk to my younger self about all the places I have been able to go and the amazing people I have met because I learned GP. I have found a career that lets me help people! I also get to nerd out and find needle in a haystack problems, fix them, and show people how to avoid making that mistake again. The skills I have learned working with GP are the foundation for what I will learn and teach in BC. If you know GP, you can help clients navigate and succeed as they decide what they will be doing next.
I did a quick search and found this article on the ERP Software Blog (the ERP Software Blog was started by one of my best friends Anya Ciecierski when she and I worked together at CAL Business Solutions). The article was written in 2012. It is called: Comparison of The Top ERP Software Vendors of 1999. Where are they now? (Anya: Let me know if you have an update…or like you always say “That would make a great blog post”. If you update it, I will link it here.) If you look at that article, you will have some empathy for all the people that were experts in software that doesn’t even exist anymore. GP is not disappearing in 2029…or 2031! There will be opportunities for all of the smart and amazing people that want to keep working with GP for many years to come…and I firmly believe that as BC continues to improve, it will be easier and easier to transfer some of our collective GP knowledge and help improve it by suggesting new and better features. I am working on learning so I can help you! I have workbooks and recorded training that make learning GP fun and easy(ish)…and I am planning on doing the same for BC!
Bargaining - I will be honest…I am still in the middle of this stage. I think that’s a good thing though! I have had the opportunity to talk to some major players in the BC world and I will continue to advocate for better tools to help companies that want to move to BC. I will also continue to support and improve how companies use GP. One of the best ways to talk to Microsoft is to vote for product suggestions. They are still planning to release new versions of GP through 2029…so take a look and vote for your favorites.
If you love GP and it works for your company…keep using it! Also, if you can send me an email and share what makes it the best system for you and why you plan to stick with GP, I will share that with the teams at Microsoft that I get the chance to talk to. Your feedback is critical. If you skip down to “Acceptance” I can explain my POV a little bit more.
Depression - I will be honest…even though I can get around in BC…I am not at the same level as I am with GP. It has taken me about 25 years in the trenches implementing, training, and supporting GP to build up that knowledge!
I promise it won’t take me 84 years to be able to get over my new case of Imposter Syndrome and start working with clients and submitting sessions so that I can be out on an event stage near you offering my best GP to BC tips and tricks. I will be running back and forth between “tracks” for the foreseeable future…so if you can recommend some comfy but cute shoes to wear at conferences, let me know. These are my current favorites.
Acceptance - I am focused on learning more and more about BC so that I can help people not only move to BC…but also, help them take the time, do the research, and decide what works for them. I could tell you all the reasons that GP is better than BC or how BC is better than GP…but honestly, for me…it isn’t that simple. I love GP and I can get on the phone with you now if you use it and show you tips and tricks that will blow your socks off! I am excited to present GP tips and tricks at Community Summit (link goes to my list of sessions) next month in San Antonio. I will also be attending some BC sessions as a student because I am going to continue learning about what makes BC awesome for so many companies too.
I am also conducting 2 Academy Classes at Community Summit this year. These are 8 hour deep-dive training sessions. You will have access to a training environment to practice what you are learning during class.
Academy - GP: SmartList/Excel Report Builder and Dashboards - this class is on Sunday, October 13 • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CT. If you use GP, you should use SmartList Builder! Did you know that your subscription to SmartList Builder now includes PopDock? These are both add-on tools for GP. But, did you know that you can use PopDock to create “SmartList” like reports in BC that include new BC data and detailed historical GP data without the need to migrate it over? While the class will focus on SmartList and Excel Report Builder, I will demo how those skills will help you if you move to BC (or pretty much any other cloud based system out there). If you are a GP consultant/partner, you need to register! If you don’t know SmartList Builder, you will come away with skills you can use with your clients the next day (or even the same day if you want to work through lunch).
Academy - GP: Boost Your Dynamics GP Skills! - Why should you come to this class if you are planning to move off of GP sooner than later? Because I will be showing you how to review and clean up your data! Also, why spend the next few months or years being stressed and frustrated when you can learn how to get more out of GP! Think of all that time you will save working “smarter not harder”! Also, if you can learn how to review and clean up your data…you will save money on your move to BC!! Think of how much it will cost for someone to review and clean your data…now imagine how much you can save both in time and effort if you learn my tips, tricks, and best practices in this 1-Day class!
I know this post took a lot a wacky twists and turns. I have lots of stories and treasured memories from my time so far working with GP…and I am excited to continue making memories and helping people whether they choose to stay on GP or decide to move to BC.