Microsoft Dynamics GP, originally called Great Plains, has a lengthier heritage than virtually any other enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution written for the Windows OS. Dynamics GP is a proven, feature-rich application and is one of the most popular ERP platforms for small and mid-size businesses, with around 50,000 active installations worldwide. A number of businesses who have depended on Dynamics GP for years have managed to defer upgrades long enough that they now find themselves running seriously out-of-date software and rickety network infrastructure. This is risky. Meanwhile, a common complaint we hear from new clients is that they have a hard time finding veteran Microsoft Dynamics GP consultants to partner with for guidance on how to update their Dynamics GP environment efficiently and derive the maximum benefit out of the application.
The more a business attempts to make do with outdated releases of Dynamics GP, the more complex the upgrade procedure becomes. If server hardware or disk systems fail, there may be no equivalent devices available to use as substitutes. When versions of Windows Server used to host Dynamics GP arrive at end-of-support status, critical security patches are no longer developed. The latest editions of SQL Server may not be compatible with your important GP customizations. Next-generation products such as Power BI may not run. Businesses investigating an upgrade of their Dynamics GP deployment are often intimidated by the volume of components there are to the project. And the price tag quoted for an upgrade may seem astronomical.
Dynamics GP Upgrade and Enhancement Services Available from Progent
Progent has offered support for Microsoft Dynamics GP and Great Plains for more than 20 years, and Progent's seasoned professionals have delivered advanced and economical online consulting for Windows-powered environments to businesses in every state throughout the U.S. By offering deep experience with all editions of Microsoft Dynamics GP along with world-class network integration talent, Progent is uniquely suited to make sure your Allentown, Pennsylvania business optimize the benefit of GP.
We partner with our clients and start by understanding their requirements. Once we have familiarity with the IT environment and the areas for improvement we make our recommendations. Proposed services can include an upgrade to a more current and supported release of Dynamics GP, simple user training, full platform and specific module configuration including 3rd-party modules from a wide array of vendors that have written add-ons to Microsoft Dynamics GP, integration with other critical business software within your organization, custom report writing, and solution analysis to assess whether GP is being used optimally. Our objective with each Microsoft Dynamics GP engagement big or small is to maximize strategic value and manage cost.
Progent's consultants can help your Allentown, Pennsylvania business in each phase of your Microsoft Dynamics GP migration or enhancement process including:
- System Review
Review at what features of Microsoft Dynamics GP you are now running and discuss additional features available on GP that may be suitable for your organization.
- Migration Planning and Timing
Create a comprehensive upgrade plan and schedule that avoids business disruption. Schedule pilot testing, live deployment, and training. Identify customizations and add-on modules. Anticipate and manage integration issues.
- Testing
Plan and implement a test system for proving the migration project.
- Environment Upgrades
Back up databases and dictionaries, eConnect, and GP Integration Manager database. eMigrate Dynamics GP to the latest version to assure ongoing support from Microsoft and to have all the latest features accessible to your business. Upgrade SQL Server and compatibility levels for all databases. Implement services from the GP Professional Services Tools Library (pstl). Condition data and execute scripts to resolve documented issues.
- Management Reporting
Develop reports and or custom dashboards for internal as well as public use. Deploy SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and combine Microsoft Dynamics GP with Microsoft Power BI for self-service reporting and for aggregating data from multiple on-premises and remote repositories.
- Education
Provide individual or classroom style training for existing and first-time users of Microsoft Dynamics GP.
- Support Services
Act as a single contact for support to deliver consistent and cost-effective resolution of problems thanks to familiarity with your particular situation.
Other Dynamics GP Consulting Services Available from Progent
Progent can provide the help of top-tier consultants who have been creating working Dynamics GP and Great Plains environments since version 1. Progent can do the work you require directly rather than managing less knowledgeable consultants or in-house IT personnel. Important areas where Progent's consultants can deliver Dynamics GP support services include:
- Guidance
Suggest the deployment of software modules included with the core GP platform but are not currently being utilized. Also, suggest third-party add-ons designed exclusively for Microsoft Dynamics GP to provide capabilities that GP skips.
- Integrations
Build custom connections between Microsoft Dynamics GP and other strategic applications to avoid redundant entry and improve consistency.
- Customizations
Build major and simple customizations that run with Microsoft Dynamics GP to perform specific business functions not addressed by out-of-the-box GP modules or external add-ons.
Infrastructure Expertise
Progent can help your business to upgrade your network infrastructure to accommodate Microsoft Dynamics GP for any deployment model including local, private or public cloud, or a hybrid environment. Network infrastructure services provided by Progent include:
- Requirements assessment and site inventory
- Network architecture planning and deployment (on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid)
- Setting up security gateways and VPN connections and defining security policies
- Integrating Apple iOS, Android, and Windows smartphones and tablets
- Creating high-availability (HA) solutions
- Integration with public cloud services including Microsoft 365
- Disaster recovery preparedness
- Performance tuning
The Progent Advantage
A modern Microsoft Dynamics GP environment includes multiple software platforms, on-premises network infrastructure technologies, and public cloud services integrated into a seamless enterprise resource planning solution. For more than two decades, Progent has provided remote and onsite help from Microsoft-certified professionals including Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains consultants, Windows Server specialists, SQL Server developers, Exchange configuration experts, Microsoft Office consultants, and SharePoint Server development experts. Progent has worked with these products from their first releases to their latest editions, and Progent can help with cloud options by providing Office and Microsoft 365 consulting, Exchange Online support, and SharePoint Online deployment and application development expertise.
Progent also has extensive experience providing support from seasoned Cisco CCIE-certified network infrastructure experts, Hyper-V integration consultants, and VMware virtual machine consultants. This experience with core technologies cuts time and expense when helping organizations through each aspect of updating their older Microsoft Dynamics GP environment. Progent also can provide the skills of advanced cybersecurity and compliance engineers, business continuity preparedness experts, application developers, hybrid cloud planning and configuration consultants, and SQL Server DBAs who can help you to plan, deploy, and maintain a productive Dynamics GP ecosystem.
Progent's Consulting Expertise for Dynamics GP/Great Plains Enterprise Resource Planning Solutions
For more information about Progent's online and on-premises support expertise in Allentown, Pennsylvania for Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains ERP software, visit:
Read/Download Progent's Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains Consulting Services Datasheet
To download a datasheet describing the consulting support available from Progent for Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains software, click Download Datasheet: Consulting for Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains ERP Platform (PDF file).
Contact Progent for MS Dynamics GP/Great Plains Upgrade Expertise
If your Allentown, PA business needs a MS Dynamics GP/Great Plains integration expert or software developer, phone 1-800-993-9400 or see Contact Progent.