Microsoft Dynamics GP, originally branded Great Plains, sports a longer heritage than almost any other enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution written for Windows. Microsoft Dynamics GP is a proven, full-featured product and is one of the most widely used ERP systems for small and mid-size businesses, with about 50,000 active customers globally. A number of businesses who have relied on Dynamics GP for years or decades have managed to postpone upgrades long enough that they are running seriously out-of-date software and outmoded IT infrastructure. This is dangerous. Another common theme we hear from new clients is that they have been unable to find experienced Dynamics GP consultants who can provide guidance on how to get the most from the application.
The longer an organization attempts to limp along with legacy releases of Microsoft Dynamics GP, the more challenging the upgrade process becomes. If physical host servers or disk systems break down, there could be no equivalent devices on the market to use as substitutes. When versions of Microsoft Windows Server used to host Dynamics GP arrive at end-of-support (EOS) status, vital security updates stop being distributed. The latest editions of Microsoft SQL Server may not work with your important GP customizations. Innovative products such as Microsoft's Power BI may not be an option. Businesses considering an upgrade of their Microsoft Dynamics GP deployment are often overwhelmed by the number of components there are to the puzzle. And the cost suggested for a migration may be through the roof.
Microsoft Dynamics GP Migration and Enhancement Expertise 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 provided high-level and affordable online consulting for Windows-powered environments to organizations in every state throughout the U.S. By combining in-depth familiarity with all releases of Dynamics GP along with top-tier system integration skills, Progent is uniquely qualified to make sure you maximize the benefit of GP.
We become partners with our clients and begin by listening to their requirements. Once we have familiarity with the IT situation and the areas for improvement we provide our recommendations. Recommendations can involve a migration to a newer and supported release of Microsoft Dynamics GP, simple user training, complete system and individual module implementation including 3rd-party modules from a broad range of vendors that have published add-ons to Dynamics GP, custom integrations with other critical business software used by organization, custom report writing, and solution evaluations to determine whether GP is being utilized optimally. Our objective with every Dynamics GP engagement of whatever size is to maximize business value and minimize cost.
Progent can help you in each facet of your migration or customization initiative including:
- System Assessment
Review at what modules and features of Microsoft Dynamics GP you are now running and propose additional features available on GP that might be suitable for your business.
- Upgrade Design and Scheduling
Develop a complete upgrade plan and schedule that avoids business disruption. Plan for solution validation, production upgrade, and training. Specify customizations and add-on products. Predict and manage compatibility issues.
- Testing
Design and configure a pilot environment for validating the upgrade project.
- System Upgrades
Create backup copies of databases and dictionaries, eConnect, and Microsoft Integration Manager database. eMigrate Dynamics GP to the current version to ensure ongoing support from Microsoft and to have all current features accessible to your organization. Upgrade SQL Server and compatibility levels for all databases. Activate services from the Professional Services Tools Library. Prepare data and execute scripts to address known issues.
- Management Reporting
Create reports and or dashboards for private as well as external consumption. Deploy SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and combine Dynamics GP with Power BI for self-service reporting and for combining information from diverse on-premises and remote sources.
- Training
Deliver one-on-one or group training for existing and first-time users of Dynamics GP.
- Support
Act as a single contact for support to deliver effective and cost-effective handling of issues made possible by close understanding of your specific environment.
Additional Microsoft Dynamics GP Consulting Expertise Offered by Progent
Progent can provide the help of top-tier experts who have been developing working Microsoft Dynamics GP and Great Plains solutions since relerase 1. Progent can do the jobs you require directly rather than managing less experienced consultants or internal IT personnel. Important areas where Progent's consultants can deliver Microsoft Dynamics GP support services include:
- Guidance
Recommend the deployment of software modules included with the core GP platform but are not now being utilized. In addition, recommend third-party products designed specifically for Microsoft Dynamics GP to provide features that GP skips.
- Integrations
Build custom integrations between Dynamics GP and other business applications to reduce redundant entry and improve accuracy.
- Customizations
Build major and simple customizations that work with Dynamics GP to perform various functions that are not handled by standard GP modules or external modules.
Infrastructure Expertise
Progent can help your business to enhance your network infrastructure to support Dynamics GP for any architecture including on-premises, cloud-based, or a hybrid network model. Infrastructure expertise available from Progent's consultants include:
- Needs assessment and site inventory
- Network architecture planning and deployment (on-premises, private or public cloud, or hybrid)
- Setting up firewalls and remote connections and creating security policies
- Managing iOS, Android, and Windows smartphones and tablets
- Developing high-availability (HA) environments
- Integration with PaaS and IaaS services such as Office 365
- Disaster recovery and business continuity planning
- Performance optimization
The Progent Advantage
A modern Dynamics GP environment incorporates diverse software platforms, on-premises network infrastructure technologies, and public cloud services combined into a seamless enterprise resource planning solution. For more than two decades, Progent has delivered remote and onsite support from Microsoft-certified experts including Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains integrators, Windows Server consultants, SQL Server consultants, Microsoft Exchange integration experts, Microsoft Office experts, and SharePoint development consultants. Progent has supported these products from their initial releases to their latest editions, and Progent can help with cloud SaaS options by providing Office 365 consulting, Exchange Online support, and SharePoint Online deployment and development expertise.
Progent also has a long history of providing help from top-tier Cisco CCIE-certified network infrastructure consultants, Hyper-V planning and integration consultants, and VMware virtual machine consultants. This experience with strategic technologies saves time and expense when guiding businesses through every phase of updating their older Microsoft Dynamics GP environment. Progent also offers the support of advanced cybersecurity and compliance experts, disaster recovery preparedness consultants, application programmers, hybrid cloud planning and configuration experts, and SQL Server DBAs who can help you to plan, implement, and manage a well-tuned Dynamics GP solution.
Progent's Consulting Expertise for Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains Enterprise Resource Planning Deployments
To find out more information about Progent's consulting expertise for Dynamics GP/Great Plains Enterprise Resource Planning product family, see:
Read/Download Progent's MS Dynamics GP/Great Plains Consulting Datasheet
To download a datasheet describing the consulting services offered by Progent for Dynamics GP/Great Plains software, click Download Datasheet: Consulting for MS Dynamics GP/Great Plains Enterprise Resource Planning Platform (PDF file).
Contact Progent for MS Dynamics GP/Great Plains Upgrade Services
If you need a MS Dynamics GP/Great Plains integration expert or software programmer, call 1-800-993-9400 or see Contact Progent.