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If you have not heard already, you probably will soon why migrating to D365 may be the best thing you could ever do for your business.? Microsoft is positioning with Dynamics partners that now is the time to migrate Dynamics GP end-users to the cloud. Part of this includes helping partners understand how to overcome any “emotional resistance” they may encounter from end-users about staying on a Perpetual/On-Premise license of Dynamics GP and why it is such a "bad" thing.?

Are we just looking at the emotional detachment and being asked to ignore investments of time and money to just “migrate to the cloud”?? If it were only that simple!!? Here at Reporting Central, we don’t live in a dystopia, we thrive in the current market conditions.? We do not want Dynamics GP customers to be blindsided by someone else’s need to move them to the latest cloud version of D365, we want to share our knowledge with you quickly, and truthfully, and make sure everyone is clear on what the options really are!?

Microsoft has sent out a notification that enlists a series of webinars on educating your trusted partners on how and why your time to move to the cloud is now. They have not only provided the intel on how to provide you with the solutions that will be the best fit for your business, but they have also provided guidance on how to handle your emotional connection with Dynamics GP.

You may be asking yourself why a company would want to assist in a mass exodus of a fully functioning, widely used and fully supported system that assists tens of thousands of businesses with their accounting and operational platforms and that my friends, is the perfect question to ask. Is the answer really that the hundreds of thousands of Dynamics GP end client users are ready to make the switch. All at once, the time is actually now, like right now?? We beg to differ, there are more options for “clouding” if you really need to go there.

That could be a hard pill to swallow especially when you couple it with the fact that Dynamics GP has many years left in its modern lifecycle, - not to mention the process to convert your data and operations to the cloud is a much larger task than they would like for you to believe, it’s not a migration, it’s a full implementation of an entirely new system.? There’s no magic wand that transfers everything to a new system.?

DO WHAT IS BEST AND WHEN IT IS BEST FOR YOUR COMPANY

It is important to understand that business owners should do what works best for their company. If their business is at the point where they need cloud functionality then they should consider every option available, including private cloud, Azure an etc. However, when making a decision as big as this, understanding the options, the implications, and the process is just as big as the decision itself. So let’s break that down for you:

• DynamicsGP has 6+ fully committed (by Microsoft)? years left, 5 before you have to really start considering the full approach to a new product.?
• Dynamics365 is a new product. It is not a simple click of the button, migration. By switching to Dynamics 365 you will be surrendering your current license and product. You will need to fully convert and implement a new product which will require downtime and training to say the least.? Don’t forget the ISV solutions you use, they do not come along for the ride.? Not to mention all of the professional services costs involved.?
• There are other cloud options out there! For example, Custom Information Services has created a cloud specifically for Dynamics GP users and the great news is that it won’t take you months to migrate nor will you be throwing away the license that you’ve already invested in.? With CIS you can keep your Dynamic GP license, ISV’s and everything in it just like today and we can put it in our cloud over the weekend!?
• Not only that, we can assist you with putting your current GP product to any cloud for that matter. Our cloud, their cloud, your cloud, a different cloud, Azure? You name it, we can do it!? We’ve done several Dynamics GP on-premises to Azure migrations, they are efficient and offer everything you have today in the CLOUD.?
• The fact is, contrary to what Microsoft and partners may be telling you. You can get your Dynamics GP in the cloud without giving up your current license and product.
• Our advice is to wait. Wait until it is necessary, wait until there is an actual complete “migration” option and wait until you are prepared to make the move. Not really sure what that entails? We can help. Reporting Central together with CIS can help you get the most out of your GP today and help prepare you for what's to come.?

The Cloud is big baby, really big, there's room in it for all sorts of solutions. There's no rush to get there and it will be there long after we are gone. Take the time to understand the full impact in can have on your business, we can help. We understand the needs of Dynamics GP Users, we understand the marketplace, and we are here to support the?Dynamics GP user community forever! Tell us your questions, concerns, plans - how can we help you??