This is the next article in the series about the many benefits of moving from a legacy on-premises ERP system like Dynamics SL or GP to a Cloud-based system like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Here are the topics we covered in this series:
It’s clear that the Cloud is the future of ERP. What about the present? No two companies are exactly alike; each has specific needs and preferences and has tried to configure its ERP solution accordingly. In this article, we’ll cover the importance of looking to the future right now, explore your options for moving toward that future, and explain how our free assessment tools can help you figure out where you are on your digital journey.
The Future is Now with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
For Dynamics SL users, the end is very near: Microsoft will stop supporting SL in January 2024. And while Dynamics GP will continue to be supported until 2028, that doesn’t mean you should procrastinate when it comes to making decisions about the future. For every year you delay making the switch to Cloud-based Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, the opportunity costs will pile up: downtime you could have dodged, upgrades you could have avoided having to purchase, yearly maintenance you could have eliminated altogether. Not to mention that Microsoft is offering Business Central at a 40% discount for existing clients who are up to date on their maintenance.
We understand if you’re fond of your current Microsoft solution, or if you’re just worried about continuity and a potential heavy lift for your team. Enavate is here to help with that lift in a way that preserves continuity and there are lots of great reasons to migrate. You’ll get better protection for your data, you’ll improve the end-user experience, you’ll be better equipped to have a distributed workforce, and you’ll save money, both in the short and long term.
Your Migration Path
As we’ve established, all paths lead to the Cloud— you can still choose the path you’re most comfortable with.
If you’re not quite ready to make the leap, we’re still here for you. You can stay on Dynamics GP or SL for as long as you want, and we’ll help you with the upgrades. You could also take your Dynamics GP or SL solution and move it to Microsoft Azure, which means you’ll be supported in the Cloud with no need for an on-premises server. If you want to take it one step further, we can set up a new environment in Microsoft Azure, perform the upgrade and move everything to the Cloud. Once you’re ready to take that final step, we’ll help you move to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
With Enavate, Cloud migration is a simple four step process:
- First, you’ll meet with your account manager to discuss how your organization should approach the migration. (If you don’t have an account manager, contact us and we’ll set you up!) Then, you’ll use our assessment tool to determine your system metrics and how they translate to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
- Once you’ve uploaded your assessment results, we’ll take a look and set up a call to go over potential risks and determine a rough order of magnitude (ROM), which is the initial cost estimate for the migration project.
- If you’re comfortable with the ROM figure, we’ll have another more detailed conversation about ISV options, your reporting and integration needs and other specifics. We’ll then use all that information to come up with a budgetary estimate.
- You’ll get a chance to review the estimate and project timeline and if you give us the green light, we’ll create a statement of work for you to sign.
Using Our Assessment Tool
Our Cloud migration assessment tool for both Dynamics GP or SL is free of charge and can be completed in less than five minutes. It’s a lightweight program that you can run during the workday, while everybody’s still logged into your Dynamics solution, without seeing any performance issues. This initial step gives us an idea of how your solution is set up, so it only needs read-only access to your SQL server.
There is a different assessment tool to utilize for each of the Dynamics solutions. For more information, Dynamics SL users should reference the SL assessment tool. For Dynamics GP users, please see the GP Assessment tool.
The assessment tool helps us build your organization’s roadmap to the Cloud by:
- Improving visibility into ISV products, modules and features
- Detecting possible issues that we can help you solve proactively
- Outlining your system’s complexity and its potential impact on the migration
- Suggesting migration options based on the modules you use
Our Dynamics GP assessment tool is a simple process.
Using our assessment tool is a simple 12 step process that can be started and completed before you finish that first cup of coffee at your desk.
1. Fill out this form with information about your organization and then click Submit.
2. Check your email and click the link to the assessment download page.
3. Click “Download Assessment Tool”
4. Once the tool has been downloaded, copy the token from the download page.
5. Paste the token into the tool and click “Next.”
In the next screen, enter your solution’s SQL server name if it hasn’t been entered automatically. Then, enter the username and password for an account with access to the server. In the bottom field, unmark any companies that you’re not planning on migrating.
7. Click “Select SET file” to browse out to your Dynamics SET file. This allows us to look at ISV solutions you may be using. If you don’t know where the SET file is, you can mark “Continue without selecting a SET file.” Click “Save.”
8. When you’re ready, click “Run Assessment.”
9. You’ll be able to follow the tool’s progress as it assesses your systems. Depending on how many companies you’re assessing, it may take a few minutes to complete.
10. Once the results are ready, you can review the data that the tool has collected. It doesn’t grab things like customer lists, vendor names, account balances—just metadata that gives us a sense of the anatomy of your Dynamics GP or SL solution.
11. When you’re comfortable with what the tool has collected, make sure you’re connected to the internet and click “Send results.” The results will be uploaded directly to our system.
12. Check your email for an analysis of your report.
Learn about what it’s like to partner with Enavate during a Cloud Migration firsthand by checking out our Client Success Story with International Risk Management Institute.
Next Steps on Your Digital Journey to the Cloud
For more information, you can watch this webinar on-demand.
For additional information on Dynamics GP, download our ebook, Understanding Your Dynamics GP Options. You can also or your account manager to discuss your digital journey.
