In this Dynamics GP Special Report, John Siefert, CEO, Dynamics Communities and Community Summit NA, and Mike Morton, VP of Dynamics 365 BC and SMB, Microsoft, discuss the timeline for the ending support of Dynamics GP, including the rationale and plan to assist users and partners through their transitions.
Key Takeaways
- Current timeline: In 2023, Microsoft announced that as of April 1, 2025, there would be no new sales of Perpetual GP licenses and as of April 1, 2026, there would be no new sales of Subscription GP licenses. Now, Microsoft has announced that September 30, 2029, will be the last date for updates and product enhancements to Dynamics GP, though extended support will continue through April 2031. “Effectively, what that means is we’ll still have support. You can call in, get questions, get help with your products and if there is a very serious sort of security issue, we will provide security updates…But for most folks, probably the date to concentrate on is September 2029,” Morton notes.
- Bringing the best of GP to Business Central: Morton explains that GP functionality will be built into Dynamics 365 Business Central, with features such as SmartLists, statistical accounts, and multi-company reporting. Morton adds that “It’s been a good collaboration and I expect more in the future.”
- Microsoft support in migrations: Morton explains that Microsoft will support the loyal GP customer and partner base through the migration from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central. Having a clear, lengthy timeframe helps customers and partners prepare for what’s ahead. “We want to make sure that plans that you come up with are well thought through, they’re organized…but we do want to make sure that we give you plenty of that lead way, that way you can do it in an organized fashion.” Customers will have access to the best assessment tools to help figure out the scope of the migration, access to ISV tools and solutions, and assistance with data manipulation where necessary. Morton notes that “it’s also going to be about education,” making sure users are aware of best practices and ways to “make the move” to Business Central.
- Financial support: From a financial perspective, Microsoft offers a “Bridge to the Cloud” promotion. For customers running Dynamics GP that are looking to migrate to the cloud, they can get a 40% discount. There are also various deployment offers to discuss with partners. Morton explains that migrations are a big priority across the entire company, as they grant “agility across the board” and help manage against threat intelligence and regulatory compliance risks.
- Looking ahead: At the start of Microsoft’s fiscal year 2025, it was announced that there are more than 40,000 customers live on Business Central. The product’s growth can be attributed to its unique blend of product quality, user experience, and integration with Microsoft Office and Azure. Further, Business Central offers end-to-end infrastructure and a significant third-party ecosystem supporting a range of industries and integrations. This growth is expected to continue as Dynamics GP customers migrate to Business Central.
- Learn more: Mike Morton will be at Community Summit North America 2024, taking place October 13-17 in San Antonio, Texas. Specifically, Morton will be leading sessions at the AI Copilot Summit Preconference and the Biz Apps Partner Marketing Workshop, both taking place on Sunday, October 13. He will also be leading a session at the Business Central General Session on Tuesday, October 15, from 8-9 AM in addition to the GP General Session on Wednesday, October 16 from 9:15-10:15 AM. In closing, Morton expresses that Microsoft wants to do what’s best for its customers, partners, and the ecosystem. Community Summit NA is “an opportunity to really hear from end users, hear from partners. There’s no better way for us to get that feedback so we can build the best product, make the best decisions.”
Additional details:
- Blog: Mike Morton on Dynamics GP changes
- Customer FAQ
- Blog: How to Embrace the Future of Cloud ERP
- Partner FAQ
