Microsoft Dynamics GP, previously called Great Plains, has a longer track record than almost any other enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform made for the Windows OS. Dynamics GP is a mature, full-featured application and is one of the most popular ERP platforms for small and mid-size businesses, with around 50,000 active installations globally. Many organizations who have depended on Dynamics GP for years or decades have been able to defer upgrades to the point that they are now using legacy software and outmoded network infrastructure. This is dangerous. At the same time, a recurring theme we hear from prospective customers is that they have a hard time finding veteran Microsoft Dynamics GP experts who can provide guidance on how to upgrade their Dynamics GP system efficiently and derive the most benefit out of the application.
The longer a business tries to make do with outdated releases of Dynamics GP, the more challenging the upgrade process tends to be. When server hardware or disk systems break down, there may be no equivalent hardware available to replace them. When editions of Microsoft Windows Server used to host Dynamics GP arrive at end-of-support status, critical security patches are no longer distributed. Current releases of Microsoft SQL Server may not be compatible with your special GP customizations. Innovative tools such as Power BI may not run. Organizations investigating an update of their Microsoft Dynamics GP deployment can be overwhelmed by the number of pieces involved in the puzzle. And the cost suggested for a migration may seem astronomical.
Dynamics GP Upgrade and Enhancement Services Offered by 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-based environments to organizations in every state throughout the U.S. By offering deep familiarity with all editions of Dynamics GP along with top-tier system integration talent, Progent is uniquely suited to help your Dayton, Ohio business optimize the benefit of GP.
We become partners with our clients and begin by listening to their requirements. After gaining familiarity with the IT situation and the areas for improvement we make our suggestions. Recommendations can include an upgrade to a newer and fully supported release of Microsoft Dynamics GP, basic user education, complete platform and specific module configuration including 3rd-party products offered by a wide range of suppliers that have published add-ons to Dynamics GP, integration with other key business applications within your company, custom report writing, and system evaluations to assess whether GP is being utilized to its fullest. Our objective with every Microsoft Dynamics GP project of whatever size is to optimize strategic value and minimize expense.
Progent can help your Dayton, Ohio company in each phase of your Dynamics GP upgrade or customization process including:
- Deployment Assessment
Review at what modules and features of Dynamics GP you are currently running and discuss other capabilities of the product that might be suitable for your business.
- Migration Design and Scheduling
Develop a complete migration plan and timetable that avoids business disruption. Plan for pilot testing, production upgrade, and education. Specify customizations and add-on modules. Predict and manage integration issues.
- Pilot Testing
Plan and implement a test environment for validating the upgrade process.
- System Updates
Create backup copies of databases and dictionaries, eConnect, and GP Integration Manager database. eMigrate Microsoft Dynamics GP to the current version to ensure ongoing support from Microsoft and to make all the latest features available to your business. Upgrade SQL Server and compatibility levels for all associated databases. Implement services from the GP Professional Services Tools Library. Prepare data and run scripts to address known issues.
- Custom Reporting
Develop reports and or custom dashboards for internal and external use. Deploy SQL Server Reporting Services and integrate Dynamics GP with Power BI for self-service reporting and for combining data from multiple local and external repositories.
- Training
Deliver individual or classroom style training for current and new users of Microsoft Dynamics GP.
- Support
Act as a single point of contact for expertise to deliver effective and cost-effective resolution of problems thanks to close understanding of your specific environment.
Other Microsoft Dynamics GP Consulting Services Available from Progent
Progent can provide the help of seasoned consultants who have been developing working Dynamics GP and Great Plains environments since version 1. Progent can do the jobs you need directly instead of managing less experienced consultants or internal staff. Key areas where Progent can deliver Microsoft Dynamics GP expertise include:
- Guidance
Recommend the use of software modules included with the core GP system but are not now being used. Also, recommend third-party add-ons designed specifically for Dynamics GP to provide features that GP doesn't offer.
- Integrations
Create custom integrations between Dynamics GP and other business platforms to reduce redundant data entry and increase consistency.
- Customizations
Create big and simple customizations that work with Dynamics GP to handle specific functions not addressed by out-of-the-box GP modules or third-party modules.
Infrastructure Consulting Services
Progent can help you to enhance your network infrastructure to accommodate Microsoft Dynamics GP for any deployment model including local, private or public cloud, or a hybrid network model. Network infrastructure expertise available from Progent's consultants include:
- Requirements assessment and site inventory
- Network topology planning and deployment (on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid)
- Setting up security gateways and VPN connections and creating security policies
- Integrating Apple iOS, Android, and Windows smartphones and tablets
- Developing high-availability (HA) architectures
- Integration with PaaS and IaaS services including Microsoft 365
- business continuity planning
- Performance tuning
Why Progent?
A modern Microsoft Dynamics GP environment includes multiple application platforms, local network infrastructure resources, and public cloud services integrated into a cohesive enterprise resource planning solution. For more than two decades, Progent has provided remote and onsite help from Microsoft-certified professionals including Dynamics GP/Great Plains consultants, Windows Server consultants, SQL Server developers, Microsoft Exchange configuration experts, Microsoft Office experts, and SharePoint development experts. Progent has supported these products from their first releases to their current editions, and Progent can help with cloud SaaS options by offering Office and Microsoft 365 integration services, Exchange Online integration services, and SharePoint Online migration and development expertise.
Progent also has extensive experience delivering help from seasoned Cisco CCIE-certified network infrastructure consultants, Hyper-V integration experts, and VMware virtual machine specialists. This experience with strategic technologies saves time and costs when guiding businesses through every aspect of updating their legacy Dynamics GP deployment. Progent also offers the skills of advanced cybersecurity and compliance experts, business continuity planning experts, application developers, hybrid cloud architecture experts, and SQL Server DBAs who can assist you to plan, deploy, and manage a well-tuned Microsoft Dynamics GP ecosystem.
Progent's Consulting Services for Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains Enterprise Resource Planning Solutions
For more about Progent's remote and onsite consulting services in Dayton, Ohio for Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains ERP product family, visit:
Download Progent's MS Dynamics GP/Great Plains Consulting Datasheet
To download a datasheet describing the consulting expertise offered by Progent for Dynamics GP/Great Plains ERP software, click Download Datasheet: Expertise for MS Dynamics GP/Great Plains Enterprise Resource Planning Software (PDF file).
Contact Progent for Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains Migration Expertise
If your Dayton, OH business needs a MS Dynamics GP/Great Plains deployment consultant or software programmer, phone 1-800-993-9400 or see Contact Progent.