Answering your Microsoft Dynamics questions
We get a lot of questions, these are the ones that come up most often. From businesses evaluating ERP for the first time, GP customers figuring out their next move, and companies mid-implementation trying to understand what comes next. No fluff, no sales spin.
Cloud ERP basics
For businesses just starting to evaluate
What is cloud ERP and how is it different from what we have now?
Cloud ERP runs on remote servers managed by your software vendor instead of hardware you own and maintain on-site. That means automatic updates, no server costs, and access to your financials from anywhere. For most mid-market businesses, the shift feels less like a software upgrade and more like finally having a system that works the way your business actually operates.
How do I know if my business has outgrown its current financial software?
The clearest signs are month-end closes that drag on for weeks, reports that require manual assembly from multiple systems, and workarounds your team has just accepted as normal. If your software is creating work instead of eliminating it, you’ve outgrown it. Most businesses we talk to already know — they just needed someone to confirm it.
What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Business Central is Microsoft’s cloud ERP platform for mid-market businesses. It handles financial management, supply chain, inventory, project management, and reporting in a single connected system. It’s part of the broader Microsoft 365 ecosystem, which means it integrates natively with Outlook, Excel, Teams, and the rest of the tools your team already uses.
What size business is Microsoft Dynamics designed for?
Business Central is purpose-built for mid-market companies — typically businesses with $10M to $200M in annual revenue. It’s scalable enough to handle multi-entity organizations and complex operations, but purpose-built for the mid-market rather than oversized for it the way some enterprise ERP platforms are.
How does Microsoft Dynamics compare to NetSuite, Sage, and Acumatica?
All four are credible mid-market ERP platforms. Business Central’s primary advantages are its deep integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, its familiar interface for teams already using Microsoft 365, and Microsoft’s long-term investment in AI and automation within the platform. The right choice depends on your industry, your existing tech stack, and your growth trajectory — something we assess during discovery rather than assuming one answer fits every business.
Dynamics GP migration
For businesses currently running GP and evaluating their next move
Is Microsoft Dynamics GP being discontinued?
Yes. Microsoft ended mainstream support for Dynamics GP in 2025. Extended support continues through 2029, after which GP will run without security patches, compliance updates, or new development. Businesses still on GP after 2029 face real compliance and security risk — especially those in regulated industries or handling sensitive financial data.
What is the best replacement for Microsoft Dynamics GP?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is the most natural migration path for GP customers. It was built by Microsoft with GP users in mind, preserves familiar financial architecture, and adds cloud scalability, real-time reporting, and AI capabilities that GP was never designed to deliver. For most mid-market businesses currently on GP, Business Central is the clear answer.
How difficult is it to migrate from Dynamics GP to Business Central?
It is a real project that requires planning, but far less painful than most GP customers expect — especially with a team that has done it before. Core financials, chart of accounts, and vendor and customer records migrate cleanly. Custom modifications and third-party integrations need more attention. Our team has spent over 25 years inside GP environments, which means we know where the complexity hides before it becomes a problem.
Will we lose our historical data when migrating from GP?
No. Your historical financial data, vendor records, customer accounts, and transaction history all migrate to Business Central. The key is a structured data migration strategy — something our team plans and executes as a core deliverable of every GP migration engagement, not an afterthought.
How long does a GP to Business Central migration take?
Most mid-market GP migrations run between 3 and 6 months depending on the complexity of your environment, the number of customizations, and the volume of historical data being migrated. A well-scoped project with an experienced partner rarely runs over that window.
Can we keep running GP past 2029?
Technically yes — Microsoft won’t remotely disable the software. But running GP after extended support ends means operating without security patches or compliance updates, which creates meaningful risk for any business handling sensitive financial data or operating in a regulated environment. Most businesses treat 2029 as a hard deadline and plan their migration accordingly.
Implementation
For businesses ready to move and wanting to understand the process
How long does a Microsoft Dynamics implementation take?
For a mid-market business, a typical Business Central implementation runs between 3 and 6 months depending on complexity, the number of integrations required, and how much data is being migrated. A phased approach can get core financials live faster while additional modules roll out behind it. The right partner makes the timeline predictable — the wrong one makes it a moving target.
What does the implementation process look like?
A well-run implementation follows six stages: discovery and scoping, system design and configuration, data migration, parallel testing, go-live, and post go-live support. Each stage has defined deliverables and sign-offs so nothing moves forward until the previous phase is solid. We walk every client through this process in detail before the project starts.
Will our team need extensive training?
Training is built into every implementation we run — it’s not optional and it’s not an add-on. We structure training around how your team actually uses the system, not a generic product walkthrough. Most teams are confident and self-sufficient within the first full close cycle after go-live.
What happens if something goes wrong after go-live?
We don’t disappear the day you go live. Post go-live support is built into every engagement, and we offer ongoing monthly support packages for clients who want a dedicated partner for continuous improvement, troubleshooting, and system optimization long after implementation is complete.
Can Business Central integrate with our other systems?
Yes. Business Central has an open API and a large library of certified ISV connectors covering CRM, payroll, ecommerce, EDI, project management, and more. We assess your integration requirements during discovery and build the integration architecture into the project scope — not as a surprise after go-live.
Costs & pricing
Straight answers on what Microsoft Dynamics actually costs
How much does Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central cost?
Business Central licensing starts at approximately $70 per user per month for the Essentials tier and $100 per user per month for Premium. Licensing costs vary based on user count and the modules required. We help clients right-size their licensing from the start so they’re not paying for seats or features they don’t need.
What does a Business Central implementation cost?
Most mid-market implementations fall between $30,000 and $150,000 in professional services depending on scope, complexity, and the number of integrations involved. We provide fixed-scope proposals so you know the full cost before committing — no estimates that expand mid-project.
Are there ongoing costs after implementation?
Yes — ongoing software licensing continues monthly. Beyond that, most clients choose a monthly support package with our team for continuous system improvements, troubleshooting, and periodic optimization. The cost of ongoing support is almost always less than the cost of managing system issues without a dedicated partner.
Is there a ROI case for moving to Business Central?
For virtually every mid-market business we work with, yes. The ROI comes from multiple directions — faster month-end close, eliminated manual processes, reduced IT infrastructure costs, better decision-making from real-time data, and the avoided cost of running unsupported software. We walk through a business case with every client during discovery.
Working with Centrum
What to expect when you engage with our team
What makes Centrum Technology Group different from other Microsoft partners?
Two things primarily. First, our team averages over 25 years of experience in ERP implementations — we’re not assigning junior consultants to your project. Second, we operate on fixed-scope engagements. You know the price and the timeline before the project starts, and we’re accountable to both. We’re also Midwest-based and relationship-driven — our clients work with senior people from discovery through go-live and beyond.
What does the discovery call involve?
A discovery call is a 30-minute conversation where we listen more than we talk. We want to understand your current system, your biggest pain points, your timeline, and your goals. There’s no pitch and no pressure. At the end you’ll have a clear sense of whether Business Central is the right fit and what a project with our team would realistically involve.
Do you offer support after implementation?
Yes. We offer monthly support packages that cover ongoing system optimization, troubleshooting, user support, and periodic check-ins with your team. Most clients stay on a support package indefinitely — not because they have to, but because having a senior partner available is worth more than the cost of the package.
What industries do you specialize in?
Our primary focus is professional services, manufacturing, distribution, nonprofits, and financial services — the industries where Microsoft Dynamics delivers the clearest operational value for mid-market businesses. Within those verticals we have deep implementation experience and industry-specific configuration knowledge built up over more than two decades.