Microsoft Dynamics GP, previously branded Great Plains, has a longer heritage than virtually any other ERP solution made for the Windows OS. Microsoft Dynamics GP is a proven, full-featured product and is one of the most widely used ERP systems for SMBs, with around 50,000 active installations worldwide. Many businesses who have depended on Dynamics GP for years have been able to postpone upgrades long enough that they now find themselves using legacy software and rickety IT infrastructure. This can be risky. Meanwhile, a recurring complaint we hear from prospective clients is that they have trouble finding veteran Dynamics GP experts to partner with for in-depth knowledge about how to update their Dynamics GP environment affordably and extract the most benefit out of the software.
The longer an organization attempts to make do with legacy releases of Dynamics GP, the more challenging the migration process becomes. If physical host servers or disk systems break down, there could be no equivalent hardware on the market to replace them. When editions of Windows Server that run Dynamics GP arrive at end-of-support (EOS) status, critical security updates are no longer released. Current releases of Microsoft SQL Server might not be compatible with your important GP customizations. Next-generation tools such as Power BI may not run. Organizations considering an upgrade of their Dynamics GP environment are often overwhelmed by the number of pieces there are to the puzzle. And the cost quoted for a migration may seem astronomical.
Dynamics GP Migration and Customization Services Available from Progent
Progent has offered support for Microsoft Dynamics GP and Great Plains for more than two decades, and Progent's tested experts have delivered high-level and economical remote integration consulting for Windows-powered networks to organizations in every state throughout the U.S. By offering in-depth familiarity with all editions of Dynamics GP along with world-class system integration skills, Progent is uniquely suited to make sure your Columbus, Ohio business get the most out of GP/Great Plains.
We partner with our customers and begin by listening to their requirements. After gaining familiarity with the situation and the areas for improvement we provide our suggestions. Recommendations may include an upgrade to a more current and supported version of Dynamics GP, simple user training, complete platform and individual module configuration including 3rd-party modules offered by a wide range of suppliers that have written add-ons to Dynamics GP, integration with other key business applications within your company, custom report writing, and system analysis to determine whether GP is being used to its fullest. Our goal with each Microsoft Dynamics GP project big or small is to maximize business value and manage cost.
Progent's consultants can assist your Columbus, Ohio business in every facet of your Dynamics GP upgrade or enhancement initiative including:
- Deployment Assessment
Review at what modules and features of Dynamics GP you are now running and discuss additional features available on the product that might be helpful to your organization.
- Upgrade Design and Timing
Create a complete migration plan and schedule that avoids business disruption. Plan for solution validation, live deployment, and training. Identify custom development and add-on modules. Predict and manage compatibility issues.
- Pilot Testing
Design and implement a pilot system for proving the migration process.
- Environment Upgrades
Create backup copies of databases and dictionaries, eConnect automation, and Microsoft Integration Manager data. eMigrate Dynamics GP to the current version to ensure ongoing support from Microsoft and to have all current features accessible to your business. Update SQL Server and compatibility levels for all databases. Activate services from the GP Professional Services Tools Library (pstl). Prep data and execute scripts to resolve documented issues.
- Management Reporting
Create reports and or dashboards for private and public use. Deploy SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and integrate Microsoft Dynamics GP with Power BI for on-demand reporting and for aggregating data from multiple local and external repositories.
- Education
Provide individual or classroom style training for current and first-time users of Microsoft Dynamics GP.
- Support Services
Provide a single point of contact for support to deliver consistent and affordable handling of issues made possible by close understanding of your particular situation.
Other Dynamics GP Consulting Services Available from Progent
Progent can provide the support of seasoned experts who have been creating working Dynamics GP and Great Plains solutions since relerase 1. Progent has the skills to do the work you require directly instead of supervising less experienced consultants or in-house IT personnel. Key areas where Progent can provide Microsoft Dynamics GP expertise include:
- Guidance
Suggest the use of modules included with the core GP platform but are not now being utilized. In addition, suggest third-party products designed exclusively for Dynamics GP to provide features that GP doesn't offer.
- Integrations
Create custom integrations between Dynamics GP and other strategic platforms to reduce duplicate entry and increase consistency.
- Customizations
Create major and simple customizations that run with Microsoft Dynamics GP to perform various functions that are not handled by standard GP modules or external add-ons.
Infrastructure Consulting Services
Progent can help your business to enhance your infrastructure to support Microsoft Dynamics GP for any architecture including local, cloud-based, or a hybrid environment. Network infrastructure services available from Progent's consultants include:
- Needs assessment and IT asset inventory
- Network topology design and deployment (local, cloud-based, or hybrid)
- Configuring security gateways and VPN connections and creating security policies
- Integrating Apple iOS, Google Android, and Windows smartphones and tablets
- Developing high-availability (HA) architectures
- Integration with public cloud services including Microsoft 365
- Disaster recovery planning
- Performance tuning
Why Progent?
A modern Microsoft Dynamics GP environment includes diverse software platforms, on-premises network infrastructure technologies, and cloud services combined into a cohesive enterprise resource planning solution. For over 20 years, Progent has provided online and on-premises support from Microsoft-certified professionals including Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains consultants, Windows Server consultants, SQL Server consultants, Exchange Server configuration experts, Microsoft Office consultants, and SharePoint development consultants. Progent has worked with these products from their initial versions to their latest editions, and Progent can help with cloud options by providing Office and Microsoft 365 consulting, Exchange Online integration services, and SharePoint Online migration and application development services.
Progent also has extensive experience providing support from top-tier Cisco CCIE-certified network experts, Hyper-V planning and integration experts, and VMware virtual machine consultants. This experience with core technologies cuts time and expense when guiding organizations through each phase of upgrading their legacy Dynamics GP environment. Progent also can provide the support of senior security and compliance experts, business continuity preparedness experts, application programmers, hybrid cloud architecture consultants, and database administrators who can help you to plan, deploy, and manage a modern Microsoft Dynamics GP ecosystem.
Progent's Support Expertise for Dynamics GP/Great Plains ERP Solutions
To find out more about Progent's remote and onsite support services in Columbus, Ohio for Dynamics GP/Great Plains ERP product family, refer to:
Download Progent's MS Dynamics GP/Great Plains Consulting Services Datasheet
To download a datasheet about the consulting support available from Progent for Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains ERP software, select Download Datasheet: Consulting Services for Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains ERP Software (PDF file).
Contact Progent for MS Dynamics GP/Great Plains Upgrade Services
If your Columbus, OH business is looking for a MS Dynamics GP/Great Plains integration expert or application programmer, phone 1-800-993-9400 or see Contact Progent.