Your New Year’s Resolution for Success: Move Beyond Dynamics GP in 2026

January marks the start of New Year’s resolutions and fresh commitments. However, according to Time Magazine, around 80% of resolutions have failed by February, with only about 8% of people sticking with them for the entire year.

This is also the time of year for many businesses to set “resolutions” for the year ahead. Budgets are finalised, strategic priorities are set, and preparation for ERP migration project plans begin. With Microsoft’s recent announcement about the Dynamics GP end-of-life timeline, the New Year is the perfect time to begin planning your cloud-based ERP migration.

If you make 2026 the year you finally move away from GP, it could deliver significant benefits for your organisation. This blog will highlight the importance of prioritising migration from your legacy system to an AI-powered ERP solution, and why delaying it could be costly.

Microsoft GP timeline

In late 2024, Microsoft announced an end-of-life timeline for Dynamics GP. The key for existing GP users are:

• September 30, 2029: This marks the end of product enhancements, regulatory updates, service packs, and technical support for Microsoft Dynamics GP.
  
  
• April 30, 2031: This is the final date for all Microsoft security updates.

 

What does this timeline mean for your business?

• Reducing Risk

With GP now heading towards end-of-life, it is becoming an increasing risk for organisations that continue to rely on the system. Product enhancements, regulatory  updates, service packs and technical support will come to an end on 31 December 2029, and security updates will no longer be issued after 30 April 2031. This will make the system more vulnerable to cyber-attacks, as it will no longer receive updates to address vulnerabilities - a crucial area that businesses should review annually to ensure that they are protected.

 

• Improve visibility & reporting

Dynamics GP has limitations in its visibility and reporting capabilities compared to newer, modern cloud ERP systems. Certain aspects of the system rely on outdated technology, such as manual data entry, and it lacks the embedded AI and real-time analytics that more advanced, newer systems provide.

 

• Simplify operations

Businesses who are looking to increase efficiency and simplify their operations will need to upgrade from GP to a newer, modern ERP system. As a legacy system, it lacks workflow automation,  resulting in manual processes that slows you’re your operations. Additionally, modern integration challenges mean Dynamics GP requires time-consuming workarounds, and as there haven't been any  new features introduced since 2022, it fails to evolve in line with modern ERP practices.

 

Why is cloud-ERP is the next logical step?

Cloud ERP systems are the next logical step for any business currently using Dynamics GP or other legacy software. They are designed for modern workplaces, enabling you and your team to access the system from anywhere in the world – supporting hybrid and remote teams.

Unlike Dynamics GP or similar legacy systems, cloud ERP platforms are continuously updated, ensuring you benefit from the latest system developments while avoiding the risk of running unsupported software.

With ongoing advancements in AI within modern ERP systems, their capabilities have improved significantly. Embedded AI agents provide enhanced visibility and smarter decision-making, helping business leaders take a proactive approach by using historical and real-time data to identify trends and predict future performance. 

 

The solution? Transitioning to the cloud: NetSuite VS Business Central

If your New Year’s resolution is to transition to the and step away from Dynamics GP or other legacy software, then 2026 is the perfect time to start exploring your ERP options. You don’t need to go live immediately but now is the ideal time to arrange discovery calls, evaluate platforms, and map out a realistic migration roadmap. This is a fantastic opportunity to step into the modern, AI-powered ERP era and get ahead of your competition before the rush to switch your system in the coming years.

Transitioning to the cloud is also a great opportunity to take advantage of the AI benefits modern ERP systems now offer. Platforms such as NetSuite and Business Central have embedded AI capabilities that assist in:

• Improving decision-making through natural-language query features like NetSuite Next and Microsoft Copilot, which allow you to receive insights drawn from live, up-to-date data - usually in seconds!
• Reducing errors and manual work with AI agents that automate tasks such as purchase approvals, financial forecasting and invoice processing. This improves overall productivity and removes repetitive work.
• Detecting anomalies and preventing fraud by analysing your historical data and identifying inconsistent patterns, which is then flagged as potential suspicious activity before it escalates.

Nolan Business Solutions are actively assisting new and existing customers in migrating to cloud-based ERP with two leading ERP solutions: Oracle NetSuite or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. As the UK’s leading partner offering both of these leading solutions, we are uniquely positioned to guide you through this transition. You can learn more about both solutions here!

Taking advantage of the time you have before Dynamics GP reaches end-of-life can deliver significant benefits for your business. The start of the year is the perfect opportunity to set your New Year’s resolution and begin planning your move into the modern, AI-powered ERP era.

If you’d like to learn more about migrating from Dynamics GP, register for our first webinar of the year, where we’ll explore the importance of transitioning to an AI-powered ERP system and what delaying this move could mean for your organisation. Register here!

For more information on how we can help you solve your current business problems, get in touch with our expert team today!