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By 2028, Microsoft Dynamics GP will officially reach End of Support, with Security and General Updates ceasing by 2031. For many organisations still relying on GP, this isn’t just a technical sunset — it’s a strategic crossroads.
The longer businesses wait, the more exposed they become to operational risk, compliance gaps, and competitive disadvantage.
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Microsoft Business Central (BC) is the direct successor to GP, offering a modern, cloud-based ERP platform that’s scalable, secure, and future-proof. But migration isn’t just about flipping a switch — it’s about planning, precision, and partnership.
At CKS Cloud Solutions, we’ve developed a Comprehensive Migration Plan that ensures a stable transition from GP to BC. From data mapping and integration continuity to user training and post-go-live support, we cover every step — so you don’t have to.
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- Assess Your GP System: Identify customisations, integrations, and data dependencies to define the scope and avoid surprises during migration.
- Choose the Right Partner: Work with an experienced implementation partner who understands both GP and Business Central, and can deliver a clear plan, timeline, and budget.
- Data Migration or Archive Mode: Migrate master records, transactions, and historical data — or opt for Archive Mode, launching BC with clean opening balances while retaining legacy data in a standalone SQL archive. Reporting across GP and BC is enabled via Power BI.
- Customisations & Integrations: Most GP customisations and third-party integrations can be replicated in BC. Many organisations now favour best-practice models to reduce complexity and improve efficiency.
- Training: Business Central’s interface and features differ from GP. Your partner should provide tailored training to ensure user adoption.
- Go-Live & Support: Post-migration, your partner should offer robust go-live and post-go-live support to resolve issues and optimise performance.
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For organisations not ready to fully migrate to Business Central, there is an alternative:
Archive Mode — sometimes referred to as an “Opening Balances” migration.
This approach allows businesses to preserve historical data while starting fresh in a modern ERP environment.
According to Microsoft Learn, the Archiving Process in Finance and Operations involves several key stages:
- Replication to Dataverse: Data from live application tables is replicated to Dataverse long-term retention.
- Archival Readiness: Records that meet the archival criteria are marked as ready for archiving.
- Retention Confirmation: These records are retained in Dataverse and marked accordingly.
- Reconciliation: A verification process ensures all marked records are successfully archived.
- Data Movement: Archived records are moved to history tables in the Finance and Operations database and deleted from live tables. These history tables remain accessible via specific inquiry pages and can be restored or permanently purged (the latter will be supported in a future release).
This structured approach ensures that legacy data is preserved securely and compliantly, while freeing up the live system for streamlined operations. It’s a smart option for businesses with complex legacy setups or those needing more time before a full migration.
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We’ve already helped clients in:
- Food & Beverage
- Plastics & Process Manufacturing
- Non-Profit Organisations
- Finance
- Property Management & Real Estate
- Warehouse Management (WMS)
- Medical & Life Sciences
Each of these sectors faces unique challenges — and none can afford to wait until 2028 to act.
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The deprecation of GP isn’t a distant possibility — it’s a scheduled inevitability. Businesses that delay migration risk falling behind in security, functionality, and compliance. The time to act is now.
Let’s talk about your Migration Strategy.
Whether you’re ready to move or just exploring options, CKS Cloud Solutions is here to guide you every step of the way.
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