Your Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Dynamics GP for the Cloud
Preparing Dynamics GP for the cloud is very important for your business. The support for it will end in 2029, so you must act soon. Moving to the cloud has real benefits. You can save money and help your business grow. You do not have to worry about upgrades in the future.
Start by checking your current setup. Talk to experts to get the best results.
Key Takeaways
Get ready for the cloud soon. Dynamics GP support stops in 2029, so starting early helps you avoid problems later.
Do a full check of your system. Look at your software, hardware, and data to make sure moving is easy.
Make clear goals for moving to the cloud. Decide what you want, like better safety and easier reports.
Pick the best cloud provider. Check for good safety, low cost, and if it works with Dynamics GP.
Spend time on user training. Good training helps your team learn the new system and make fewer mistakes.
Preparing Dynamics GP Assessment
Before you move to the cloud, you must check your system. You need to know how your team uses Dynamics GP every day. This helps you find problems early. It also helps you plan for a smooth move.
System Health Review
Start by looking at your system’s health. Check your software version, database, hardware, and security. This helps you find weak spots that could slow down your move. Many companies use tools like Enavate GP Health Check. These tools show you what is happening in your system. You should also check your backup steps and how well your system works. The table below lists the main things to review:
Tip: Finding problems now helps you avoid trouble later.
Data Quality Check
Clean data makes moving easier. You should look for old, repeated, or wrong records. Bad data can slow your new system and make reports wrong. Do these steps:
Make data entries the same.
Delete repeated records.
Fix old information.
Common problems are missing data, bad data, and data kept in one place. Good data rules help your business get the right answers from your cloud system.
Customizations and Integrations
Many groups use custom features or add-ons in Dynamics GP. You need to list all changes and add-ons before moving to the cloud. Custom features can make moving harder, so plan well. Test each change and teach your team about updates. Always have a backup plan if something fails.
Note: Checking your setup now helps you avoid surprises and keeps your move easy.
Dynamics GP Migration Planning
Planning your Dynamics GP migration helps you move to the cloud. You need to set goals, make a budget, and pick a cloud provider. This step helps you avoid problems and supports your business.
Define Objectives
First, decide what you want from your ERP migration. Clear goals help you see if you succeed and guide your team. Many groups want:
Better ways to connect with Microsoft products and Dynamics 365
Stronger security with new cloud safety tools
Improved reporting tools like Power BI for quick insights
Automatic updates so you do not have to upgrade by hand
You should also work on making things run better, being flexible, and following rules. These goals help you get more from your cloud system.
Tip: Write your goals down and share them with your team. This keeps everyone working together and helps lower risks.
Budget and Resources
Making a budget is important for moving Dynamics GP to the cloud. Costs can change depending on what you need. The table below shows what can change your budget:
You should also plan for training and support to help your team and save money. Most moves take about four months, so plan your time and people well.
Select Cloud Platform
Picking the right cloud provider is important for your Dynamics GP move. Many companies choose Microsoft Azure because it is safe, keeps your business running, and saves money. Azure spends over $1 billion each year on security and has many security experts. The Enavate Cloud is another choice, with 99.95% uptime and lower monthly costs than on-premises systems.
When you pick a cloud ERP, look at:
How much it costs to own
Security tools
How well it works with your current Dynamics GP
Promises for keeping your business running and uptime
Note: Using a good project management method, like Sure Step or SPEAR, helps you manage your move and avoid problems.
Migration Preparation
Getting ready to move to the cloud takes planning. You must keep your data safe, check your system, and pick a good partner. These steps help you avoid problems and make moving easier.
Data Backup & Security
You need to make a full backup before you move. This keeps your business safe if something goes wrong. On-premises systems like Dynamics GP can lose data or get hacked. Disasters or cyber threats can cause big problems. The cloud gives you better security and automatic backups. These tools help protect your business.
Tip: When support for Dynamics GP ends, you will not get important security updates. This can make your system easy to attack. Fixing a security problem can cost more than upgrading.
Check your security settings too. Make sure you follow the rules for your industry. Use strong passwords and control who can see your data. Do regular security checks to keep your data safe. These steps help your business run well and stay safe.
System Requirements
Check what your system needs before you start. You must know if your setup works with your cloud provider. Look at your hardware, software, and network. Make sure your Dynamics GP version is current. Upgrade if you need to before you move.
Make a checklist to help you:
Write down all hardware and software you use.
See if your network can handle cloud use.
Check your Dynamics GP version and add-ons.
Make sure your data tools work with the cloud.
A careful check helps you avoid issues and makes moving easier. This step also helps you plan for changes and growth.
Choose Migration Partner
Picking a good partner is very important. The right partner helps you at every step and keeps you safe. Look for these things:
Can make solutions just for you
Training for your team
Lots of experience with Dynamics GP
Knows your industry well
Helps after you move
Clear prices and good value
Works well with your company
Note: A trusted partner helps you reach your goals and makes moving easier. They help you get the most from your upgrade and work better.
If you follow these steps, your move to the cloud will go well. You keep your data safe, follow the rules, and can grow your business.
Dynamics GP Migration Execution
Moving your Dynamics GP system to the cloud needs good planning. You must follow each step to keep your data safe. This also helps your business keep working well. This section will help you with the migration steps. You will move your data and then start using the cloud.
Data Transfer
First, you need to set goals for your migration. Goals help you stay on track and meet your business needs. Next, look at your data in Dynamics GP. Clean up old or wrong records so your new system is correct. Then, make a plan for moving your data. Think about how much data you have and how hard it is to move. Make rules for how you will move and change your data. Test your data before and after you move it. This makes sure everything moved the right way. You also need to use strong data security. Follow the rules for keeping data safe. These steps protect your business and your customers.
Steps for a secure and complete data transfer:
Set goals for your Dynamics GP upgrade.
Check and clean your data.
Make a plan for moving your data.
Test your data before and after you move it.
Use strong security and follow the rules.
Testing & Validation
After you move your data, you need to test your new system. This makes sure everything works right. Check your records, money numbers, and business steps. Run reports to see if your data looks correct. Let your team use the new system and give feedback.
Go-Live Steps
Now you are ready to start using Dynamics GP in the cloud. Follow these steps to make your launch easy and safe:
Test all system connections to make sure they work.
Finish user testing and fix any big problems.
Run tests to see how the system works when busy.
Set up your real cloud system like your test one.
Move your final data and check it is correct.
Plan for downtime and tell your team what will happen.
Train your users so they know what to do.
Set up a help desk for fast support.
Use a checklist to make sure you did all steps.
Watch your system after launch for any problems.
Tip: Keep both your old and new systems running for a short time. This helps lower risks and lets you fix problems quickly during your upgrade.
Post-Cloud Migration
Monitor & Support
After you move Dynamics GP to the cloud, you must keep it working well. Watch for problems and fix them fast. Good monitoring tools help you find issues early. These tools check how fast your system is and keep your data safe. If your system is slow or crashes, fix it right away. This stops bigger problems. Security checks keep your business safe from threats and losing data.
You can do these things to keep your system healthy:
Set up alerts for slow speed or errors.
Check for software updates often.
Look at your security settings and backup plans.
Watch for signs of security problems or rule issues.
Tip: Regular support and watching your system helps you avoid downtime and keeps your business safe.
User Training
Training your team is very important for a good cloud move. Many people feel unsure about new systems. Some do not want to change or have trouble with the new platform. You can help by giving clear training and support.
Common problems are:
Users do not want to use the new system.
Not enough training for workers.
Users feel lost with new tools.
You can fix these problems by:
Testing the system with a small group first.
Giving help all the time and asking for feedback.
If you skip training, your team may waste time, make mistakes, or get upset. Good training helps everyone use the new system and feel better about it.
Continuous Improvement
Your work does not stop after you move to the cloud. You should keep making your cloud ERP better. This helps your business stay strong and ready for changes. Use feedback from your team and check how the system works. Track key numbers to see if you reach your goals.
Continuous improvement helps your business stay flexible. You can meet new needs and keep getting good results from your cloud ERP.
You can get ready for a smooth Dynamics GP cloud move by taking simple steps. First, check your system. Next, make a plan for your move. Then, back up your data. Last, pick the best partner to help you. The support for Dynamics GP will end in 2029, so you need to act soon.
When the deadline gets closer, you could face more problems. These include security risks and trouble following rules if you keep using an old system.
Many groups say they get big rewards after moving:
They spend less money because they skip extra fees and upgrades.
Their teams in sales, finance, and operations work better.
They can get to their data safely from any place.
Start now by checking your system and getting help from experts. This will help your business get ready for what comes next.
FAQ
What is the first step to move Dynamics GP to the cloud?
You should start with a full system assessment. Check your data, customizations, and how your team uses Dynamics GP. This helps you plan your move and avoid problems.
How long does a typical Dynamics GP cloud migration take?
Most migrations take about four months. The time depends on your data size, customizations, and training needs. Planning and testing help you stay on schedule.
Do I need to train my team after moving to the cloud?
Yes. Training helps your team use the new system with confidence. You can offer workshops, guides, and support. Well-trained users make fewer mistakes and work faster.
Will my customizations work in the cloud?
Some customizations may need updates or changes. You should review each one before migration. Test them in the new system to make sure they work as expected.
What happens if I wait until after 2029 to migrate?
You risk losing support and security updates. This can make your system unsafe. Start your migration early to protect your business and keep your data secure.