Making the Switch to Acumatica: 5 Things Microsoft Dynamics GP Users Should Know
As we’ve discussed in 2 previous blog posts, Microsoft Dynamics GP’s end of life has been announced. Dynamics GP users have a number of paths to choose from: to remain with their familiar ERP system until 2029, to move to another Microsoft Dynamics platform, or to change ERP solutions all together.
For those considering the third possibility, Acumatica stands out as a top contender as a replacement ERP. From its cloud-based capabilities to its easy integration with a wide variety of leading supporting software systems, it’s no surprise that many Dynamics GP users may migrate to this platform.
In this blog, we’ll uncover why people are making the move from Dynamics GP, what makes Acumatica a great choice for businesses, and what your other vendors should be doing to support your business during this transition.
What's Causing Users to Migrate from Dynamics GP?
Since its release in 1993, Dynamics GP has been a popular ERP for many businesses. However, with its recent end of life announcement and a few other complications, many loyal users are now considering migrating to other platforms. Let’s explore the “whys” behind this shift.
A 2029 End of Life
While this announcement hasn’t resulted in an immediate “abandon ship” from all Dynamics GP users, it certainly has opened the door to change for many who would have happily remained with the system for years to come.
Continually increasing expenses, elevated security risks, and self-maintenance looming at the end of 2029 are good enough reasons for many businesses to begin evaluating alternative ERP solutions—Microsoft Business Central and Acumatica included.
On-Premise Limitations
Given the prevalence of cloud-based software systems across every industry, it’s no surprise that on-premise platforms are becoming a thing of the past. While Dynamics GP can be modified to be more accessible online, its primary design and usage often happen at a set location, such as business’s headquarters or main data storage center.
On-premise software is often associated with a number of headaches, like high costs, difficult maintenance, limited scalability, slow updates, and security concerns. These set-backs, paired with Dynamics GP’s end of life, has tipped the scales for many businesses when it comes to the cost-benefit analysis of remaining with the ERP.
Per-user Licensing Frustrations
Dynamics GP’s pricing structure is also a pain point for the software. Perpetual license cost thousands upfront. Per-user licensing fees also vary by access levels and can cause confusion in organizations that require a high number of users. Annual maintenance fees aren’t cheap, either, historically averaging around 16-18% of the license value and increasing over time.
These costs have also been impacted by Dynamics GP’s end of life, as Microsoft recently announced that there will be no new licenses or major updates after 2026.
An Outdated Interface
When compared to its cloud-based competitors, Dynamics GP’s interface unfortunately falls short in many regards. Why?
- A legacy technology infrastructure: After decades on the market, Dynamics GP’s design reflects its age. This results in limited functionality and adaptability in today’s rapidly changing software ecosystem.
- Limited web and mobile access: Dynamics GP requires a server or a desktop connection for full functionality. This makes mobile and tablet access difficult, if not impossible, severely limiting when and where users can access data.
- Disconnected features and a lack of integration: Outdated workflows and fragmented data aren’t just annoying for employees—they can pose a security risk that your business may not be able to financially recover from.
Lack of Support from Third Parties and Partners
Microsoft has made it very clear that it intends to taper off support for Dynamics GP. Unsurprisingly, many partner organizations and systems are mirroring this shift. Customers who choose to continue using Dynamics GP for the foreseeable future may find themselves facing logistical challenges, like in-house management of patches and fixes, as well as challenges when interacting with partners who have ended their support of the ERP.
Why Are Users Making the Switch to Acumatica?
The current ERP market is a saturated one, with thousands of options to choose from. For many, however, Acumatica stands out as a premier option. Let’s dive into some of the most common reasons businesses select Acumatica below!
Cloud-based Capabilities
While Dynamics GP can technically be hosted on a remote server for improved, off-premise access, it isn’t a true cloud-based product.
Acumatica, on the other hand, was designed with the cloud in mind and can easily be accessed by remote or hybrid employees from anywhere in the world. Given the increasing globalization and remote working options found across many industries, this capability is a vital one for continued growth and success.
Better Pricing and Scalability
Many businesses—SMBs in particular—face challenges in scaling their operations. One way to avoid this? Finding an ERP that grows as they do without breaking the budget. Acumatica offers flexible pricing models and unlimited users, while also only charging based on the work that is done on the platform.
Industry-Specific Customizations
Just this year, Acumcatica announced that its R1 product update included industry-specific features and interfaces. This enhancement means that users—whether their business operates in Manufacturing, Distribution, Retail, Construction, or Professional Services—can now adjust their ERP to meet the specific needs of their staff and customers.
There’s no sense of “one-size-fits-all” with Acumatica, as they understand that each business sector wants and needs the opportunity to customize the software they rely on to best support their day-to-day operations.
Continuous Innovation with Regular Product Updates
In direct contrast to the lack of support and updates Dynamics GP is facing, Acumatica is only projected to continue innovating and elevating its solutions. Their major releases are biannual, though SaaS customers can expect regular patches every 2-4 weeks, guaranteeing smooth, effective, and efficient operations.
Provides Integration with a Wide Variety of Supporting Systems
Even smaller organizations rarely operate on one software system alone. A powerful ERP like Acumatica is a great backbone for operations, but to achieve true success, it’s likely a business will need to add on other, more specific systems.
That’s why Acumatica has been designed to integrate with a wide range of software, including ecommerce platforms (like k-ecommerce), CRM systems, business intelligence tools, payment gateways, HR and payroll solutions, and other tools for certain industries.
5 Reasons Why Acumatica is a Good Choice for Your B2B Business
Now that we’ve established why users are leaving Dynamics GP and the features that make Acumatica stand out as a potential replacement ERP, let’s dive into 6 of the reasons why Acumatica can elevate your business’s overall performance.
1. Flexible deployment options
Acumatica understands that a single ERP deployment method simply won’t work for its 10,000+ global customers. That’s why they offer multiple options, including:
- Fully-Managed Cloud Deployment: With this deployment, your business gets all of the benefits of an enterprise-level solution—but with none of the associated IT costs. Hosted securely in Amazon Web Services (AWS), Acumatica is responsible for maintaining and upgrading all related software and hardware, ensuring headache-free integration into your business.
- Fully-Secure Private Cloud Deployment: For businesses that require them to operate on a private cloud, Acumatica provides this deployment option. Medical device and pharmaceutical companies, food and cosmetics businesses beholden to FDA regulations, and government institutions are most likely to need this. Businesses that also start with another deployment option can migrate to a fully-secure cloud in the future if they need to.
- Incremental and FastTrack Deployment: These two deployment methods are the most flexible options of the bunch. An Incremental Deployment procedure allows organizations to implement their new Acumatica ERP in waves, be that step by step, department by department, or location by location. FastTrack, on the other hand, allows businesses to go live with Acumatica in 90 days or less.
No matter which option appeals to your business, the important thing is that you have choices when it comes to bringing Acumatica into your back office.
2. Real-time data and reporting
Acumatica centralizes all of a business’s important data, providing staff with real-time insights into their most important metrics, like financials, timelines, performance, and inventory levels. Say goodbye to waiting until the end of the month for insights into crucial reports—with Acumatica, you can access them at the click of a button, any time, anywhere.
3. Open APIs
Acumatica’s open APIs are a core component of its platform. These capabilities allow numerous applications to easily communicate with not only each other, but also the Acumatica system itself. This enables businesses to easily use applications they already have within their tech stack, as well as leverage the 139+ applications that can be found in the Acumatica Marketplace.
4. Mobile accessibility
With the increased popularity of mobile ordering and management options in the B2B ecommerce industry, having an ERP that supports this capability is crucial. Acumatica’s native mobile app—available in both iOS and Android—allows users to capture signatures, approve orders, and manage data from the palm of their hand.
5. Offers a scalable platform with extensive customization
As touched on in the previous section, Acumatica prides itself on offering a highly adaptable platform for its users. Regardless of your business’s size or industry, Acumatica likely has—or can create—a version of its solution that meets your unique needs. For example:
- Manufacturers: production orders by build capability, scheduling views
- Distributors: product catalog and pricing controls, selling unique products
- Retailers: Amazon fulfillment center synchronization, ecommerce integrations
- Construction: project information in AP incoming documents, progress Pro Forma with time and materials details
- Professional services: comprehensive support, integrated resource planning and project scheduling
How k-ecommerce Can Help Your Business with its Migration to Acumatica
k-ecommerce integrates easily with Dynamics GP and Acumatica. With our years of experience with both systems, we know a thing or two about helping Dynamics GP users make the move to a new ERP—including Acumatica. We can support teams through this transition with things like:
- Implementation and training: Learning how to navigate—even one as robust and intuitive as Acumatica—can be difficult for your employees. We’re here to help reduce the stress on your staff with our comprehensive implementation and training program.
- Future-proofing your processes: k-ecommerce has over 25 years of experience in helping businesses take their online sales and customer service to the next level. We are happy to use our expertise to make users’ transition from Dynamics GP to Acumatica as smooth as possible, preparing them for current and future success.
- Test before you leap: There’s no need to go into your new ERP blind. K-ecommerce can build a sandbox environment to allow your staff to “play” in your new solution, while still operating your processes in the old ERP. Additionally, we can stagger rollouts for a more gradual implementation.
- Swap your ERP, but keep your branding: Just because your business is moving to Acumatica doesn’t mean you need to do a complete overhaul of your brand. Our solution allows you to import your existing branding to maintain familiarity and comfort with your customers, even in the midst of change.
Schedule a demo with one of our ecommerce experts today to learn more about how our solution pairs perfectly with your new Acumatica ERP!