Pathway by Velosio

For years, Microsoft Dynamics GP has been the backbone of countless businesses, providing a robust and reliable Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution. It has been the unsung hero in the world of finance, supply chain management, and operations for small to medium-sized enterprises. With its user-friendly interface and a wide array of functionalities, Dynamics GP has enabled companies to streamline their processes, improve efficiency, and achieve measurable growth.

The Pathway: Your Route to Modernization

It’s clear that while Dynamics GP has served businesses well, it’s time to look toward the future. That’s where Velosio’s Pathway comes in—a structured, step-by-step journey designed to guide you from the limitations of legacy systems to the boundless opportunities of cloud-based ERP solutions.

By embarking on The Pathway, you can ensure that your business is well-prepared for the future, offering you the project management capabilities you need, along with the modern advantages of cloud-based systems.

The Changing Tides: Why Dynamics GP is Falling Behind

Technological Limitations

As the business landscape evolves, so do the technological needs of enterprises. Dynamics GP, despite its merits, is built on older architecture that struggles to integrate with modern, cloud-based solutions. This makes it challenging to incorporate new technologies or even update existing ones, leading to a system that becomes increasingly isolated and less agile.

Scalability Concerns

Dynamics GP was designed with a different era of business in mind—one that didn’t require instant scalability or the flexibility to adapt to rapid market changes. As businesses grow, they find that scaling up with Dynamics GP involves not just additional licenses but also hardware, leading to increased costs and complexity.

Security Risks

With the end-of-life phases for various versions of Dynamics GP approaching, security becomes a significant concern. Lack of updates and patches exposes businesses to vulnerabilities, including data breaches and cyberattacks. This puts companies at risk and can lead to costly remediation efforts.

Mobility and Remote Work

In today’s world, the ability to work remotely is not just a luxury but a necessity. Dynamics GP’s on-premises nature makes it less suited for a distributed workforce, requiring VPNs and remote desktop solutions that can be cumbersome and less secure.

For decades, Microsoft Dynamics SL has been a cornerstone for many businesses, particularly professional service firms. Its project-centric capabilities have made it a beloved choice for companies that require intricate project accounting and management features. From construction firms to consulting agencies, Dynamics SL has been instrumental in helping organizations keep their projects on time and within budget, all while delivering actionable insights.

The Pathway: Your Bridge to the Future

The good news is that you don’t have to part with the project-centric capabilities you love in Dynamics SL. Velosio’s Pathway is designed to guide you through a seamless transition to modern, cloud-based ERP solutions like Dynamics 365 Business Central and Progressus. These platforms not only retain the project-centric features you rely on but also offer enhanced functionalities, scalability, and security.

By embarking on The Pathway, you can ensure that your business is well-prepared for the future, offering you the project management capabilities you need, along with the modern advantages of cloud-based systems.

The Clock is Ticking: Dynamics SL and the 2028 Deadline

End of Support in 2028

As reliable as Dynamics SL has been, it’s important to note that Microsoft has announced the end of support for this platform in 2028. This looming deadline raises concerns about future software updates, security patches, and compliance—issues that businesses can’t afford to overlook.

Technological Limitations

Much like its counterpart, Dynamics GP, Dynamics SL is built on older technology that struggles to integrate seamlessly with modern, cloud-based solutions. This can result in a fragmented technology stack that hampers efficiency and agility.

Scalability and Flexibility

While Dynamics SL excels in project management, its scalability options are limited. As businesses grow and diversify, they find that expanding their Dynamics SL system involves not just additional software but also hardware and infrastructure, leading to increased costs and complexity.

Moving from NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central is crucial for leveraging cloud technology, gaining access to continuous updates, and improving security and scalability. It enables businesses to unify their operations, access advanced analytics and AI capabilities, and enjoy a modern, intuitive user experience. This transition ensures organizations stay competitive with a comprehensive, cloud-native solution.

End of Mainstream support: On January 10, 2023, all versions of Dynamics NAV transitioned out of Mainstream Support, impacting businesses using this system. This change signifies that NAV 2013 and 2013 R2 also exited Extended Support. Microsoft’s policy typically offers 10 years of support—5 years of Mainstream Support (new features, security, and non-security updates) followed by 5 years of Extended Support (security updates only). Post-January 2023, Dynamics NAV 2018, the last version, entered Extended Support, after which NAV will no longer receive updates, underscoring the importance of migrating to Business Central for continued support and innovation.

Transitioning from Dynamics AX to Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (F&O) is a strategic move towards adopting modern, cloud-based capabilities. This upgrade enhances operational efficiency, integrates business processes, and offers an improved user experience. Dynamics 365 F&O reduces the total cost of ownership by minimizing infrastructure and operational expenses. It ensures higher security, seamless integration with Microsoft products, and provides advanced business intelligence through Power BI. The platform’s agility, with its user-friendly interface and added functionalities, streamlines business operations, facilitating better decision-making and fostering growth.

End of Mainstream Support: Mainstream support for Dynamics AX has phased out, with AX 2009, 2012, and 2012 R2 support ending in October 2018. AX 2012 R3, the final version, approached its mainstream support end in April 2022. Transitioning to Dynamics 365 F&O is recommended for ongoing support and enhancements. Not being in mainstream support means Microsoft won’t provide non-security updates or fixes for Dynamics AX, leaving businesses to self-address any system issues. This can lead to increased vulnerabilities, compatibility problems, and operational inefficiencies, potentially hindering business growth and innovation

The Microsoft Ecosystem Advantage

The most common pathway for Dynamics GP and SL users, Dynamics 365 Business Central allows you to stay within the Microsoft ecosystem. This enhances and integrates your existing Microsoft products and AI solutions, offering a seamless transition and immediate familiarity.

Project-Centric Excellence

Ideal for companies moving from SL and/or GP who heavily rely on project accounting and resource utilization features. This combination ensures you’ll have all the features and functionality you had before, but in a more streamlined and user-friendly environment. Key features include Project Accounting, Resource Utilization, Mobile Time & Expense, Allocator Module, and Outlook Integration to timecards.

Enterprise-Level Power

Designed for large-scale and diversified companies, Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations offers robust cloud ERP functionality. If your business has more than 250 employees or more complex financial and operational requirements, this solution provides the tools and insights for smarter decision-making, faster business process redesign, and sustainable growth.

Cloud Security without System Change

Perfect for those not looking to move off their current Dynamics GP or SL system but want the security and mobility benefits of the cloud. Lift & Shift onto Azure allows you to maintain your existing system while leveraging the advantages of cloud technology.

Agnostic Approach to Technology

For those not interested in a Microsoft solution or looking at other cloud ERPs that specialize in certain industries, Velosio offers the option to move to solutions like Oracle NetSuite. We take an agnostic approach to technology selection, working closely with you to decide if a Microsoft or NetSuite solution is the right fit for your organization.

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Accelerated & Packaged Implementation Methods: For Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations

Tailored for Professional Services, Advanced Projects, and Distribution

AXIO is a program specially designed by Velosio to accelerate the implementation of Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations for Professional Services, Advanced Projects, and Distribution companies. Leveraging industry best practices, AXIO ensures a streamlined and efficient implementation process, allowing you to go live faster and with confidence.

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Standard Assessment & Migration Implementation

Customized Solutions for Unique Business Needs

For businesses that require a more tailored approach, our Standard Assessment & Migration Implementation is a time-and-material option. You’ll work closely with our consultant team to assess your system, industry, and business process needs. This results in a specialized implementation plan crafted just for your business. While this option may take longer and be more expensive, it’s ideal for companies that require highly customized solutions for optimal outcomes.

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BC Express: Accelerated Implementation Delivers Nonstop Value

Fast-Track Your Dynamics 365 Business Central Onboarding

Velosio Express is a unique deployment option designed to fast-track the onboarding of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Aimed at companies with $50M or less in annual revenues, Velosio Express offers an accelerated implementation built on proven best practices and a pre-defined scope of services. Clients can go live in as few as 90 days, including data migration, user acceptance testing, implementation, and training. Ongoing support ensures high user adoption and performance management.

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Standard Assessment & Migration Implementation

Customized Solutions for Unique Business Needs

For businesses that require a more tailored approach, our Standard Assessment & Migration Implementation is a time-and-material option. You’ll work closely with our consultant team to assess your system, industry, and business process needs. This results in a specialized implementation plan crafted just for your business. While this option may take longer and be more expensive, it’s ideal for companies that require highly customized solutions for optimal outcomes.