Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) is an accounting or ERP software package specially designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It is used for inventory management, supply chain management, project management, sales, operations, human resources, business intelligence, and payroll.

Microsoft Dynamics GP is complete ERP business management and accounting software that monitors numerous business operations, tracks work processes, and streamlines workflows.

The connector facilitates seamless integration with Microsoft GP and is used with Microsoft Dynamics CRM for customer resource management.

This accounting software handles financial and accounting management, which includes a general ledger, inventories, fixed assets, accounts payable, cash flow management, and chart of accounts. Integrations of third-party add-on software improve feature efficiency and streamline operations.

Microsoft Dynamics GP Features

Here are the features of Microsoft Dynamics GP:

  1. Project Management 

Project management is used to link financial transactions of income and expenses to the appropriate project through project tracking. Financials, inventories, and accounts receivable can all be seamlessly integrated to guarantee correct billing and accounting.

Project management can also facilitate:

  • Integrate accounting with financials, accounts receivable, and inventory
  • Review and approve project expenses using timesheets
  1. Accounting Management 

Accounting management software such as Microsoft Great Plains Software gives users access to a General Ledger account. With its superior features and modules, the General Ledger account is an analytical instrument that will simplify the entire analytical procedure.

This General Ledger’s productivity features also assist you in effectively managing your workload. Budgets and financial information gathered from your entire company can also be tracked using Microsoft Dynamics Accounting. By combining all of these data, you can create centralized accounting management.

  • Customized access to General Ledger accounts
  • Track financial and accounting data using different dimensions
  • Track different budgets for different fiscal years
  • Control and monitor cash inflows and outflows using forecasting tools
  • Automate grant management and accounts payable process

Inventory Management

Using Microsoft GP, businesses can monitor orders, returns, and inventory. They can ensure the appropriate inventory is on hand when needed to satisfy client demands and increase profitability.

Human Resource Management

With Microsoft Great Plains Software, you can effectively manage your human resources. You have online access to all of your metrics and advantages. The monthly or annual statistics can be confirmed and filtered.

This way, you can analyze the operation of your business without having to handle manual paperwork. Employers use profile and performance evaluation tools to help you hire, schedule, and compensate your staff. 

Microsoft Dynamics GP Pricing

Microsoft Dynamics GP Benefits

Here are some of the major benefits of Microsoft Dynamics GP benefits:

  1. Microsoft Dynamics GP Look and Feel Feature

This software has a look and feel that is familiar to common people. It is very similar to Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Outlook. Great Plains goes a long way to make the software user-friendly and seamless for its users and increase their productivity with its seamless features. Now, when everything goes smoothly, small businesses and enterprises increase their efficiency while using it in their day-to-day business activities. 

  1. Compatible Designing

This software is designed so that people can easily become familiar with and use it properly. It has a role-based structure and a personalized view, which makes it convenient for people to take any data whenever required or use the software comfortably. 

  1. Increase Productivity in the Long Run

Microsoft Dynamics GP assists SMEs in achieving their staff productivity targets. With Microsoft Dynamics GP, businesses can increase automation to a new level, freeing up managers to concentrate on other important duties.

It also provides small businesses with numerous ways to enhance the information’s business value and strengthen their important connections with suppliers and partners.

  1. Automate Your Operational Activities:

Using Microsoft Dynamics GP, you can automate many repetitive operations to make them happen more regularly and with less demand on SMEs’ resources. This feature can save small business owners a lot of time without making any errors.

Great Plains can automate many operational tasks, such as purchasing and inventory management so that the supply chain process can be improved. It also helps streamline sales order processing and invoicing so that the time and effort required to manage customer orders and payments are met.

  1. Enhanced Scalability  

Small and medium-sized businesses always look for software that grows with them so that they can manage their growing scalability. Microsoft Dynamics GP understands your business’s growing needs and can easily adjust to them.

This software offers customized solutions to businesses and adjusts according to the tailored solution to the specific needs of the business.

  1. Increased Collaboration

Small businesses and growing enterprises need effective collaboration to succeed in this tough, competitive era. GP comes with multiple efficient collaboration tools, including a centralized database and integration tools.

This effective collaboration helps businesses work more efficiently. Its centralized database system provides everyone with access to the same information so that there is no chance of errors and miscommunications. 

Which Types of Businesses Use Microsoft Dynamics GP?

Small and medium-sized businesses use the Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP solution.

Some of the industries that use this software are:

  • Professional services
  • Manufacturing, Distribution, Software and tech 
  • eCommerce and 
  • Retail commerce, 
  • Construction, 
  • Financial services, 
  • Education, and 
  • Government

In addition, companies that require supply chain management, advanced manufacturing, inventory management, project accounting, commerce, field service operations, and human resources management use Microsoft Dynamics GP. 

Pros and Cons of  Microsoft Dynamics GP

Here are the pros and cons of Microsoft Dynamics GP

Pros Associated with Microsoft Dynamics GP

  1. Customized Approach

One of Dynamics 365’s best qualities is its extensive application suite. The integration of CRM and ERP features ensures the smooth transfer of data between departments.

  1. Scalable Capacity 

You can easily scale up your business as it expands by adding more users or applications without having to make big changes to your infrastructure.

  1. Security Assurances 

The platform ensures that your data is safe from threats by adhering to industry standards and providing frequent upgrades.

  1. Cloud-based Functionalities

This provides modern enterprises with an affordable and adaptable solution by lowering the requirement for on-premises hardware and maintenance.

  1. AI Capabilities

Power BI is integrated into AI Capabilities to provide sophisticated data visualization and analytics. With AI-driven insights and forecasts, businesses may discover patterns, make well-informed decisions, and streamline processes.

Cons Associated with Microsoft Dynamics GP

  1. Expensive Costing 

DP subscriptions can be expensive for small businesses, as even a single coin counts. This software comes with a subscription fee, so small businesses must bear the cost of using it. 

  1. Customization Challenges 

Customization has advantages, but it can also present difficulties. Complex customizations may require expert developers, and over-customization could result in higher maintenance costs and possible system problems.

  1. Complexities 

Developers face complexities as customization options are difficult to implement. Removing detailed errors and potential system errors requires detailed attention. 

  1. Integration Limitation 

Integration with non-Microsoft products can be difficult. In certain cases, achieving smooth integration may involve the use of middleware or extra technologies.

  1. Support and Documentation 

Although Microsoft offers a wealth of documentation, customers may find it too much to handle. Furthermore, there are differences in the level of service; some consumers have reported conflicting results.

Which ERP Systems are Comparable to Microsoft Dynamics GP?

Some of ERP systems comparable to Microsoft Dynamics GP are:

  • Ramco ERP
  • Focus ERP
  • SAP S/4HANA Cloud
  • Oracle NetSuite ERP
  • Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform.
  • QAD Adaptive ERP
  • Infor M3
  • Sage X3

Latest Updates in Microsoft Dynamics GP

Do you know what is happening with Microsoft Dynamics GP? It will be phasing out sales over the next three years.  

Microsoft Dynamics GP will end new sales of GP perpetual licenses on April 1, 2025. After that date, new customers will be able to purchase subscription licenses or new GP licenses. However, GP’s current customers can still buy licenses and modules. 

Microsoft will provide regulatory updates, security updates, and hotfixes until at least 2028 and will support GP customers under the Microsoft Modern Lifecycle policy until then.

How Many Versions Do Microsoft Dynamics GP Have?

The latest version of Dynamics GP is 18.6 (aka GP 2024), and this was released on October 2, 2023.

Some of the previous versions of Dynamics GP are:

  1. 18.5 (aka GP 2023), released on 1st October, 2022
  2. Dynamics GP 18.4 (aka GP 2022), released 1st Oct, 2021
  3. GP 18.3 version of Microsoft Dynamics GP was released in 2021

What is MS Dynamics GP Manufacturing Automation?

MS Dynamics GP Manufacturing Automation helps businesses automate the entire production process, which starts from planning and scheduling management and quality control.

Its manufacturing automation feature comes with a set of tools to help Manufacturers streamline the production process and enhance their production efficiency.

Some of the specific features of MS Dynamics GP Manufacturing Automation are as follows:

BOM (Bill of Materials) management 

Production costing

Work order processing

Production scheduling

Shop floor control

Production Costing

These tools are very effective in helping the manufacturer reduce waste, streamline production processes, enhance efficiency, and optimize inventory levels. 

What is Microsoft Great Plains Analytical Accounting Reporting?

Microsoft Analytical Accounting is an accounting tool that creates reports, interprets them, and analyzes them based on the company’s profile chart. This is one of the best tools for managing and assessing your company’s accounts.

This tool helps you to get detailed analytic reports without resorting to any segment accounting. Even companies can easily create budget reports with the help of analysis dimensions and compare the figures with the actual budget figures. Using this tool also helps you to get non-monetary terms such as labor hours and wage hours. 

So, using Analytical Accounting Reporting actually helps you with:

  • It helps you set analysis dimensions unlimited. 
  • Analysis information for a group of analysis information.
  • Let you create a budget according to your set analysis dimensions 
  • A comprehensive reporting with the help of exporting analysis.