Microsoft Dynamics GP, previously called Great Plains, sports a lengthier track record than virtually any other ERP solution made for the Windows OS. Dynamics GP is a mature, full-featured application and is one of the most popular ERP systems for small and mid-size businesses, with around 50,000 active customers worldwide. Many businesses who have depended on Dynamics GP for years or decades have managed to postpone upgrades to the point that they are now using seriously out-of-date software and outmoded network infrastructure. This is risky. At the same time, a common complaint we hear from new customers is that they have a hard time locating experienced Dynamics GP consultants who can provide in-depth knowledge about how to update their Dynamics GP ecosystem affordably and derive the maximum benefit from the software.
The longer an organization attempts to limp along with outdated versions of Microsoft Dynamics GP, the more challenging the migration process tends to be. If physical host servers or disk systems fail, there could be no suitable devices on the market to use as substitutes. When releases of Microsoft Windows Server that run Dynamics GP reach end-of-support status, vital security updates are no longer developed. Current releases of SQL Server might not be compatible with your special GP customizations. Next-generation tools like Power BI may not be an option. Businesses investigating an update of their Microsoft Dynamics GP deployment can be overwhelmed by the volume of pieces there are to the project. And the price tag quoted for a migration may seem through the roof.
Dynamics GP Migration and Enhancement Services Offered by Progent
Progent has offered support for Dynamics GP and Great Plains for over two decades, and Progent's seasoned professionals have delivered advanced and economical online integration consulting for Windows-powered environments to organizations in every state in the U.S. By combining in-depth familiarity with all releases of Microsoft Dynamics GP along with top-tier network integration skills, Progent is uniquely qualified to help your Appleton, Wisconsin business optimize the benefit of GP/Great Plains.
We partner with our customers and start by listening to their needs. Once we have familiarity with the IT environment and the areas needing improvement we provide our recommendations. Proposed services can involve an upgrade to a newer and supported release of Microsoft Dynamics GP, basic user training, full system and individual module implementation including 3rd-party modules from a broad array of suppliers that have written add-ons to Dynamics GP, custom integrations with other key business software within your organization, custom report creation, and system evaluations to assess whether GP is being utilized to its fullest. Our goal with each Dynamics GP project big or small is to optimize strategic value and control expense.
Progent's consultants can help your Appleton, Wisconsin company in every phase of your Dynamics GP migration or enhancement initiative including:
- Deployment Review
Review at what modules and features of Microsoft Dynamics GP you are currently using and discuss additional capabilities available on GP that might be helpful to your business.
- Migration Design and Timing
Develop a comprehensive upgrade plan and schedule that minimizes business interruption. Schedule pilot testing, live deployment, and education. Specify custom development and add-on modules. Predict and resolve compatibility problems.
- Pilot Testing
Plan and configure a test system for validating the upgrade process.
- System Upgrades
Create backup copies of databases and dictionaries, eConnect automation, and Microsoft Integration Manager data. eMigrate Dynamics GP to the latest version to assure continuing support services from Microsoft and to have all current features available to your business. Upgrade SQL Server and compatibility levels for all associated databases. Configure services from the Professional Services Tools Library (pstl). Prep data and run scripts to address documented issues.
- Management Reporting
Create reports and or custom dashboards for private and external consumption. Deploy SQL Server Reporting Services and integrate Microsoft Dynamics GP with Microsoft Power BI for on-demand reporting and for combining data from diverse local and remote repositories.
- Education
Provide one-on-one or group training for current and new users of Microsoft Dynamics GP.
- Support
Act as a single contact for support to ensure consistent and cost-effective resolution of problems thanks to familiarity with your specific situation.
Additional Microsoft Dynamics GP Consulting Expertise Available from Progent
Progent offers the support of seasoned consultants who have been creating working Microsoft Dynamics GP and Great Plains environments since version 1. Progent has the skills to do the jobs you need directly rather than managing less knowledgeable consultants or in-house IT personnel. Key areas where Progent's consultants can provide Dynamics GP expertise include:
- Recommendations
Recommend the use of modules included with the basic GP platform but are not now being utilized. In addition, suggest third-party add-ons designed specifically for Microsoft Dynamics GP to provide features that GP skips.
- Integrations
Build special connections between Microsoft Dynamics GP and other strategic platforms to avoid duplicate data entry and increase consistency.
- Customizations
Build major and simple customizations that run with Dynamics GP to perform specific business functions not addressed by out-of-the-box GP modules or external add-ons.
Infrastructure Expertise
Progent can assist you to upgrade your infrastructure to accommodate Dynamics GP for any architecture including on-premises, private or public cloud, or a hybrid network model. Infrastructure expertise provided by Progent's consultants include:
- Requirements assessment and IT asset inventory
- Network topology planning and implementation (local, private or public cloud, or hybrid)
- Configuring firewalls and remote connections and creating security policies
- Managing Apple iOS, Google Android, and Windows smartphones and tablets
- Developing high-availability (HA) environments
- Integration with PaaS and IaaS services such as Microsoft 365
- Disaster recovery and business continuity planning
- Performance optimization
Why Progent?
An optimized Microsoft Dynamics GP environment includes multiple software platforms, local network infrastructure technologies, and public cloud products combined into a seamless enterprise resource planning solution. For over two decades, Progent's consultants have provided online and onsite help from Microsoft-certified experts including Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains integrators, Windows Server specialists, SQL Server consultants, Exchange configuration experts, Microsoft Office consultants, and SharePoint development consultants. Progent's consultants have worked with these products from their first versions to their latest editions, and Progent supports cloud-based options by providing Office and Microsoft 365 integration services, Exchange Online support, and SharePoint Online migration and application development expertise.
Progent also has extensive experience providing support from seasoned Cisco CCIE-certified network infrastructure consultants, Hyper-V integration experts, and VMware virtualization specialists. This experience with strategic IT platforms cuts time and expense when helping businesses through each phase of updating their legacy Dynamics GP deployment. Progent also offers the support of senior security and information assurance engineers, disaster recovery and business continuity preparedness consultants, application programmers, hybrid cloud integration consultants, and SQL Server DBAs who can help you to plan, deploy, and maintain a well-tuned Dynamics GP solution.
Progent's Consulting Expertise for Dynamics GP/Great Plains ERP Deployments
To find out more about Progent's online and onsite consulting services in Appleton, Wisconsin for Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains ERP software, refer to:
Read/Download Progent's Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains Consulting Datasheet
To download a datasheet about the consulting expertise available from Progent for Dynamics GP/Great Plains ERP software, click Download Datasheet: Consulting for Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains Enterprise Resource Planning Platform (PDF file).
Contact Progent for Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains Upgrade Support
If your Appleton, WI business needs a Dynamics GP/Great Plains deployment consultant or software developer, call 1-800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.