With Microsoft’s recent announcement of the end of life for Dynamics GP, also known as Great Plains, companies need to prepare for the future. The final cutoff for Great Plains support is 2029, with only essential security updates available until 2031.
If you’re a Great Plains user looking to avoid losing your important business data, then this shift means pushing your business to consider a more modern ERP system. If you want to make the most out of your data, then you need NetSuite ERP.
Here’s why.
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What is Microsoft Great Plains?
Microsoft Dynamics GP, or Great Plains, has been a longstanding ERP choice for small to mid-sized businesses. Initially designed for local control and robust financial management, Great Plains offers strong tools for accounting, payroll, and inventory management.
The on-premises nature of Great Plains gives users direct control over data and systems. However, as more businesses shift toward the flexibility of cloud ERP, Great Plains’ limitations have become more noticeable.
Additionally, Great Plains’ older interface and dependence on local servers can make updates, security, and scalability challenging.
What is NetSuite?
NetSuite is a cloud-based ERP solution that provides a comprehensive suite of business applications. With NetSuite, companies can manage financials, customer relationships, e-commerce, and supply chain operations all in one place.
NetSuite’s modern, intuitive interface and cloud infrastructure allow for easy, real-time access from any location. This means businesses can respond to changing demands quickly. As a scalable platform, NetSuite supports companies of various sizes, allowing seamless growth and integrating with other business tools to centralize operations.
NetSuite vs. Great Plains
While both NetSuite and Great Plains offer ERP capabilities, they differ significantly in flexibility, scalability, and accessibility. Here’s a comparison of some core features:
Feature | Microsoft Great Plains | NetSuite ERP |
Deployment | On-premise | Cloud-based |
Access | Limited to on-premises costs | Accessible from anywhere |
Scalability | Limited, with upgrade costs | Scales easily with business |
Updates | Requires manual installation | Automatic, frequent updates |
Reporting & Insights | Basic reporting | Real-time analytics |
Integration | Strong with Microsoft products | Broad integrations, multi-platform |
Great Plains may still work for companies focused on local data control, but it lacks the scalability and flexibility of NetSuite. For businesses looking to grow, NetSuite’s cloud-based infrastructure, built-in automation, and regular updates make it a clear choice.
Benefits of Upgrading to NetSuite
Switching from Great Plains to NetSuite provides companies with a more adaptable, secure, and efficient ERP experience. Here’s a closer look at what NetSuite offers:
Real-Time Data Access
NetSuite’s cloud platform provides real-time insights into financials, inventory, and sales data. This helps companies make timely, data-driven decisions.
Scalability and Flexibility
NetSuite’s subscription model allows companies to add modules as they grow. Whether you’re expanding your product line or entering new markets, NetSuite scales to fit.
Improved Security and Compliance
Being cloud-based, NetSuite automatically applies security updates, making it easier to remain compliant with industry standards. Companies no longer need to worry about maintaining secure servers on-premises.
Automation and Workflow Customization
NetSuite’s automation tools reduce manual work, helping improve accuracy and efficiency. From automated invoicing to streamlined inventory management, NetSuite makes managing daily tasks easier.
Advanced Reporting and Analytics
NetSuite’s powerful analytics offer deep insights into business performance, enabling you to create customized dashboards and reports.
With NetSuite’s cloud-first approach, businesses get the flexibility, scalability, and security they need to stay competitive in an evolving digital landscape.
How to Upgrade to NetSuite
Migrating to NetSuite from Great Plains requires careful planning, particularly if your system has a lot of historical data or customizations. Here are steps to make the transition easier:
1. Evaluate Business Needs
Determine what modules, integrations, and features your business needs from NetSuite. This helps you customize your new ERP to your specific operations.
2. Data Preparation
Identify essential data that needs to be migrated. Clean up your existing records to remove outdated or unnecessary data before the migration.
3. Develop a Migration Timeline
A phased approach to migration reduces business disruption. Identify critical functions that need to go live first and plan accordingly.
4. Work with an Implementation Partner
Experienced NetSuite partners, like GURUS Solutions, ensure your transition is smooth. Our experts guide you through planning, data migration, training, and post-go-live support.
5. Train Your Team
NetSuite has an intuitive interface, but training helps ensure that your team is ready to use new features fully.
GURUS Business Intelligence (BI) for System Migration
Data migration can be a challenging part of any ERP upgrade. GURUS Solutions provides a solution to this challenge with GURUS BI, our proprietary data migration tool. Here’s how GURUS BI can make your migration seamless:
Secure Data Transfer
GURUS BI ensures all your data, including financial history and inventory records, transfers securely and accurately from Great Plains to NetSuite.
Minimize Downtime
Our tool is designed to make the migration as quick as possible, reducing business interruptions.
Comprehensive Testing
We rigorously test each migration to ensure no data is lost or misplaced. This attention to detail guarantees a smooth start in your new NetSuite environment.
Customized Mapping
Every business has unique data needs. GURUS BI allows for customized data mapping to ensure that the information in NetSuite matches your workflows.
At GURUS Solutions, we handle data migrations efficiently and thoroughly, allowing you to focus on your business as you transition to NetSuite.
Ready to Make the Move?
If you’re ready to future-proof your ERP, it’s time to consider NetSuite. Contact GURUS Solutions today to learn more about our NetSuite migration services and how we can support your upgrade from Great Plains.