Microsoft releases new features for the Dynamics GP platform three times a year. Each of these releases adds upwards of thirty new features to the platform, in addition to bugfixes and quality of life improvements.
It is highly recommended that businesses that run GP take these updates as they come out. Many businesses elect not to implement them for fear of disrupting their workflow routines. While the comfort of end-users is important, electing not to upgrade to the most up-to-date version can cause businesses to lag behind the competition, punishing their workers and customers alike.
Below are seventeen reasons that businesses should upgrade to the latest GP version update:
1: Default Vendor Class Rolldown - This quality-of-life improvement will prevent accidental changes to vendor records. As previous iterations of GP prompted users with the question “Do you want to update the vendor with the information from class?” If users accidentally clicked “Yes”, the vendor lists would be updated, with potentially damaging results. Now, this question’s default answer will be “No”, meaning users will have to intentionally change it, removing the risk of accidental updates.
2: Reprint EFT Payment Register - Update 18.7 gives GP users the option to reprint their EFT Payment Register. In previous versions, EFT Registers were not saved, only the most recent was stored in the system. With 18.7 previously posted batches can be reprinted, allowing for better record keeping.
3: Payables 1099 Mask ID - GP 18.7 introduces the option of partially masking Tax ID numbers on 1099 forms. This option, allowed by the IRS, increases security for vendors by hiding personal identifiable information. The first five characters of the eleven-character number will be masked, and is available on 1099-MISC, INT, DIV, and NEC forms. While this is optional, it is highly recommended to enhance security and IRS compliance.
4: Payroll 1099-R Mask SSN - Similarly, the option to mask Social Security Numbers on 1099-R forms has been added. These forms are designed for employees who receive a pension, and this feature offers increased protection for their personal information.
5: Historical Age Trial Balance Print with Special Characters - Previous versions of Dynamics GP would encounter a SQL error if a Historical Age Trial Balance containing special characters was printed, despite special characters being allowed. This error has now been fixed, allowing for printing even with special characters being entered.
6: Restrict Payables 1099 by Calendar Year - Year-end reconciliations are massively important. Sometimes, however, they can be a headache. A new quality-of-life improvement is the ability to filter 1099s in Payables by Tax Year. This filter will show 1099 vouchers to a particular vendor for the year selected—a massive boost to efficiency.
7: Easy Display of Remit-to Address - Users can now see remittance information for transactions with one click by navigating to Transaction, choosing Purchasing, then choosing Transaction Entry. This allows employees to quickly and easily check that the vendor address information is right, cutting down on busywork and increasing efficiency and accuracy.
8: Save Vendor Remit Address Details to History - In prior iterations of GP, the Remit Address ID was saved, not the entire address. This problem is solved in 18.7, as users will now be able to see the remit information of past entries, as it was entered at the time of remittance. This will allow for better audit trails, both internally and externally. It can also help users who are attempting to validate that payments went to the correct vendor by giving them more information to confirm.
9: New Templates for Emailing - A highly requested update has been included in 18.7, with a number of new templates added to the already robust database. Marquee amongst these new forms is the long-awaited addition of the Multicurrency Blank form. These additions will enable users to better assist their end-customers quickly by having the vital forms they need already on-hand.
10: Display Vendor and Customer Email Address - This new feature ensures that customer or vendor email addresses are correctly set up and displayed according to the specific document type being used. This replaces a previous auto-fill function that would add every email address on file, causing delays as the superfluous ones needed to be manually removed. This is particularly useful for companies that separate duties and don’t allow specific departments full access to complete customer records.
11: Payroll Monthly Deduction and Benefit Maximum - This oft-requested addition allows payroll users to set maximum deductions for each employee. This new functionality drastically streamlines the setup process and offers users better control of their deductions. A reminder: Integrity Data Deduction in arrears product users should make sure to update their Integrity Data code for smooth upgrading of this powerful functionality.
12: Delete Lines in Purchase Order Entry - With 18.7, users can once again delete rows in purchase orders while entering with one simple click. This simple improvement will save users time during order entry and decrease headaches due to repetitive back-and-forth.
13: Link Sales Order Processing Print Options - With this upgrade, users will find the correct SOP selected by default when printing a sales order. These SOPs are attached to document type, allowing for different document types, such as quotes, to be correctly formatted for printing automatically. This will save users time on reformatting—streamlining the print process.
14: Drill Into Sales Documents - GP 18.7 allows users to drill-down into the Document number and Orig number fields in Sales Transaction Inquiry Zoom. This will allow users to see information directly from the inquiry screen, no more taking down numbers and re-entering information in another search to find the data you’re looking for. This feature is another way GP helps streamline workflows for its users in all departments.
15: Mass Email Report Navigation Lists - Previously, certain specific reports would allow mass emailing and printing; it was not standard for all reports. In 18.7 this functionality is now available across the board. This feature is incredibly useful, particularly for businesses with multiple locations that all need to send and receive the same data.
16: Credit Card Payments Set Up as Check Cards - In previous versions of GP, credit card payments set up as check cards have not had multicurrency information post to bank reconciliation. This, naturally, causes all sorts of havoc at month-end and end-of-year reconciliation. The issue has been resolved in 18.7, allowing for proper posting. This is vital for keeping accurate records, and it also helps streamline the entire reconciliation process.
17: Workflow Emails Trim Trailing Zeroes - The final upgrade in 18.7 is a fix for an issue that sprang to life after 18.6. Emails generated within certain workflows would drop trailing zeroes from amounts, causing data to be incorrect. This has been fixed in the latest update, ensuring amounts appear correctly in the system.
These seventeen features will allow businesses to get the most out of Dynamics GP, ensuring streamlined workflows, increased efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Ensure your company is upgraded to the most recent version of GP today to harness their power and stay ahead of the pack.
Not sure if upgrading is the right choice, right now? Get some guidance with an ERP Roadmap Consultation.
