Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Company in the US

inc-5000-logo

Migrating from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central: Your Gateway to a Smarter ERP Future

Table of Contents

Share

Is your business still running on Microsoft Dynamics GP?

If yes, it might be time to ask yourself a bigger question: Is your ERP system preparing you for tomorrow—or holding you back today?

 

In an era where businesses are scaling faster, operating remotely, and relying on real-time data, sticking with a legacy ERP like Dynamics GP can quietly cost you more than you realize. That’s why hundreds of businesses are making the leap to Dynamics 365 Business Central—Microsoft’s modern, cloud-first ERP that’s built for agility, insight, and future growth.

 

Let’s explore why this migration isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a strategic evolution.

Why Migrate to Business Central?

1. Cloud ERP = No More Servers, Downtime, or IT Overhead

Dynamics GP runs on on-prem infrastructure. That means maintenance, upgrades, and surprise IT costs.
Business Central is fully cloud-based—secure, always up-to-date, and accessible anywhere.

 

2. AI Built In, Right Out of the Box

Business Central comes with Microsoft Copilot, your AI-powered assistant for faster data entry, smarter forecasting, and simplified processes. Think of it as adding an intelligent teammate to your finance, sales, and operations teams.

 

3. Unified with Microsoft Ecosystem

Seamlessly integrates with Excel, Outlook, Teams, Power BI, and more. No more jumping between systems. Workflows become smarter, faster, and more connected.

 

4. Real-Time Insights for Faster Decision-Making

With Business Central, reporting isn’t a monthly nightmare. It’s instant, customizable, and available anytime—giving your leadership team the tools to make better decisions on the fly.

 

5. Flexible Licensing & Scalable Architecture

Pay only for what you use. Business Central grows with you—perfect for small, mid-size, and growing enterprises.

When Should You Migrate?

  • When support costs for GP keep rising
  • When remote work and real-time visibility are no longer optional
  • When reporting is manual and time-consuming
  • When adding new integrations feels like duct-taping your tech stack
  • When you’re ready to scale—but your ERP isn’t

 

If you checked even one of these, it’s time to explore the move.

What Makes Business Central the Right Fit?

Feature Dynamics GP Business Central
Deployment On-premises Cloud-first (also hybrid)
Updates Manual/Periodic Automatic, bi-annual
Integration Limited Seamless with Microsoft 365
AI Capabilities Not available Built-in (Copilot, Insights, etc.)
Mobile Accessibility Minimal Full mobility
Licensing Model Perpetual Subscription-based

How Ascent Innovations Ensures a Smooth Migration

Migrating an ERP is a big step—but it doesn’t have to be complicated. At Ascent Innovations, we specialize in Dynamics GP to Business Central migrations with a proven, step-by-step process:

 

1. Discovery & Roadmap

We evaluate your existing GP environment, understand your processes, and design a migration plan aligned with your goals.

 

2. Data Migration

Securely move all critical data—customers, vendors, transactions, GLs—with 100% integrity.

 

3. System Configuration

We tailor Business Central to match your operations and set up necessary workflows, reports, and extensions.

 

4. Training & Go-Live

Our experts train your team and offer post-launch support to ensure a seamless transition.

Why Partner with Ascent Innovations?

  • Over a decade of Microsoft ERP experience
  • Dedicated experts in GP and Business Central
  • Tailored solutions for manufacturing, distribution, services, and more
  • Personalized support from assessment to go-live

 

We don’t just migrate your ERP. We modernize your business.

Final Thought: Upgrade Your ERP, Unlock Your Future

If you’re still running Dynamics GP, the question isn’t if you should move—it’s when. And every day you delay, you lose a little more agility, visibility, and efficiency.

 

Let’s talk today. Your future ERP is waiting.

 

Schedule a Free Migration Assessment

About the Author

John Bruhnke is Managing Director at Ascent. He has 25 years of management consulting experience focused on system implementation and, for the last 7 years, modern analytics in the manufacturing industry. He collaborates with executive and management teams to drive alignment on strategic goals and develop a collective vision for modernization that balances both immediate business needs and long-term strategy. .

John Bruhnke

Managing Director

Share

Ready to start transforming your business?

Talk to us about how Ascent Innovations can help you realize business value faster with end-to-end solutions and cloud services.