The future of Microsoft Dynamics GP

Since forever, the pundits have been preaching the demise of Great Plains Dynamics / Microsoft Dynamics GP.

When I joined Microsoft in 2001, one of the things that influenced my decision was the thinking that Dexterity (the language behind Dynamics GP) was going to die and so I decided that I would be better off inside Microsoft than continue working as an ISV (Independent Software Vendor).

Now sixteen years later in 2017 and I am back working as an ISV, and Dexterity, along with Microsoft Dynamics GP, is still going strong… despite the launch of Dynamics 365.

While the stresses of business in a modern world have meant that the development and support teams for Microsoft Dynamics GP have shrunk, everyone involved is still very committed to the product and working hard on fixes and new features for upcoming releases.

For more details on the upcoming releases, see Pam Misialek’s article below. It should be noted that the roadmap only shows the next couple of years…. that does not mean there is no future beyond that, just that the roadmap is planned with a rolling two year lead time!

• Product Roadmap and Strategy

To paraphrase Pam at reIMAGINE 2016, “If the partners keep selling Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft will keep developing and supporting it.”. While we are at it, to quote Errol Schoenfish at reIMAGINE 2016, “GP Goes On!”.

My friend and now MVP (congrats), Jen Kuntz, wrote a great article with her take on what the launch of Dynamics 365 means to Microsoft Dynamics GP and its users. Please forgive her for the clickbait title!

• Does Dynamics 365 mean the death of Dynamics GP?

To counter some of the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt) caused by the release of Dynamics 365 and comments from some people in the community, my friend and fellow Aussie (despite living in Fargo), Martin Olsen has published his thoughts on the future of Microsoft Dynamics GP and it is well worth reading:

• Dynamics GP is not going away any time soon.

Here is another excellent article that explains that Dynamics 365 is not an upgrade to Dynamics GP and that Dynamics GP will continue on as an independent product.

• Microsoft Dynamics GP Users: Here’s the Deal with Microsoft Dynamics 365

With some 48,000 Microsoft Dynamics GP customer sites, I cannot see Microsoft discontinuing the product. I look forward to providing my add-on products for Dynamics GP for many years to come.

For more information, see my other articles in this series:

• 19-Apr-2023: #MSDynGP Lapsed Microsoft Dynamics GP customers should renew their enhancement plans before April 2025
• 06-Apr-2023: #MSDynGP Microsoft Announcement April 2023
• 03-Feb-2023: #MSDynGP 2023 Report on the Future of Dynamics GP
• 22-Oct-2022: #MSDynGP Microsoft, Stop Scaring Microsoft Dynamics GP Customers
• 14-Oct-2022: #MySummitNA Clarification of Microsoft Dynamics GP Lifecycle
• 08-Jul-2021: #MSDynGP It’s official: Microsoft Dynamics GP is here to stay
• 27-Jun-2019: #MSDynGP Dynamics 365 BC is not an upgrade from Dynamics GP
• 11-Sep-2018: #MSDynGP Don’t Believe All The Microsoft Sales Hype
• 27-Mar-2018: The future of Microsoft Dynamics GP …. again!
• 01-Feb-2017: The future of Microsoft Dynamics GP

David

24-Feb-2017: Added article from The Resource Group.

This article was originally posted on http://www.winthropdc.com/blog.