Retail is moving faster than ever—customers expect real-time inventory, seamless checkout experiences, and consistent service whether they’re in-store, online, or somewhere in between.
Unfortunately, many retail organizations are trying to meet those expectations using Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly Great Plains), a system that was never designed for modern, omnichannel retail.
With Dynamics GP reaching end of support and Microsoft’s innovation fully focused on Dynamics 365 Business Central, now is the moment for retailers to modernize—not just to stay supported, but to stay competitive.
Dynamics GP has been a reliable accounting platform for decades, but retail has outgrown it.
GP was built for back-office finance – not fast-paced, multi-location retail environments where inventory, sales, and customer data must move in real time. Retailers on GP often struggle with disconnected POS systems, delayed inventory updates, manual reconciliations, and limited visibility across stores.
These gaps make it difficult to respond to demand, manage stock accurately, or deliver consistent customer experiences especially as online and in-store operations blur together.
With Microsoft ending feature development and setting firm end-of-support timelines for GP, staying on it increases security and operational risk.
Dynamics 365 Business Central is Microsoft’s cloud-based ERP designed to replace GP
Moving to Business Central from Great Plains/GP is essential for today’s connected retail operations. Unlike GP, Business Central delivers a single, real-time system for finance, inventory management, sales, purchasing, and reporting, accessible anywhere.
For retailers, that means:
- Real-time inventory visibility across stores and warehouses
- Automated replenishment based on demand and lead times
- Built-in analytics and Power BI dashboards
- Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 tools like Outlook and Excel
- Enterprise-grade security and continuous updates from Microsoft
Business Central provides the operational backbone retailers need—without the complexity or limitations of legacy, on-prem systems.
Today’s retail customers don’t think in channels.
They buy online, return in-store, check availability on their phone, and expect instant answers from staff. Business Central supports this reality by acting as the single source of truth for inventory, pricing, and customer data across the organization.
With Business Central, retailers can:
- Track inventory movements in real time
- Support multiple locations without separate systems
- Analyze sales trends across channels
- Scale operations without re-platforming
The result is better decisions, faster service, and fewer surprises at the register.
The POS365 Solution in Business Central
An ERP alone isn’t enough for retail you need a POS solution that’s built specifically for Business Central, not loosely bolted on. POS365 is a modern retail POS built inside Business Central, meaning sales, inventory, customers, and financials stay perfectly in sync—without fragile integrations or duplicate data.
Key POS365 capabilities include:
- Real-time synchronization with Business Central
- Offline POS functionality (keep selling even without internet)
- Support for multi-store and multi-register environments
- Fast, intuitive interface that minimizes staff training
- Click & Collect plus Shopify integration for omnichannel retail
POS365 is designed for and built in Business Central, not adapted to it.
With POS365 & BC, retailers gain a seamless front‑to‑back solution that scales as they grow.
Migrating from GP to Business Central isn’t just an upgrade… it’s a big enhancement.
Retailers gain a modern ERP designed for cloud, mobility, analytics, and integration. Pairing Business Central with POS365 creates a fully connected retail platform that supports growth, customer experience, and operational control.
At CKS Cloud Solutions, we specialize in helping retail organizations:
- Plan and execute GP → BC migrations
- Preserve critical financial and operational data
- Implement retail-specific configurations
- Integrate POS365 for seamless in-store operations
We don’t just migrate. We modernize how you operate.
CKS // Cloud Solutions 
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