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Transitioning to Business Central: The Joesoftware Approach
You’ve decided to make the transition from Dynamics GP to Business Central. If you choose Joesoftware to be your trusted implementation partner, what can your organization expect?
Joesoftware has supported many organizations of different sizes and in different industries in their move to Business Central. Our experience has allowed us to refine an approach to implementation that creates accountability and delivers demonstrated results for our clients.
Microsoft has announced the end of life for Dynamics GP in 2029, and the evidence is in that there are more benefits to making a change to Business Central sooner rather than later . Given this, we wanted to share our Business Central implementation process so you and your team know exactly what to expect.
Step 1: Know Your Now
Discovery & Fit/Gap Assessment
To get started, Joesoftware works closely with your team to gain a comprehensive view of your operations, systems, and strategic goals. Through interviews, questionnaires, system reviews, and workshops, we look at how your business functions today and where you want to be in the future.
We complete a Fit/Gap Assessment to identify alignment between your current Dynamics GP environment and Business Central functionality. The findings form the basis of a detailed Implementation Plan, key requirements, assumptions, deliverables, a timeline, resource commitments, and budget. This plan ensures your team and ours are aligned, laying a solid foundation for the rest of the project.
Step 2: Your Blueprint for Success
Implementation Planning & Solution Design
Now it is time to create an actionable roadmap. Joesoftware facilitates workshops for each of your functional areas – Finance, Sales, Purchasing, Inventory, and more. Together, we work together to define process flows, identify configuration needs, and set priorities that inform the final design of your Business Central system. We also assess any third-party systems, integration requirements, and your reporting needs and expectations. At this stage, we agree upon our respective roles, project milestones, and a shared commitment to regular, open communications.
Step 3: Build What Works
System Configuration & Iterative Deployment
Once your system design is approved, we configure your Business Central environment. This is an iterative and collaborative process, where environments (sandbox and production) are set up and progressively configured based on the outcomes identified in our workshops. Each business area is addressed in phases, allowing for ongoing feedback and validation.
This phase includes setting up data structures, role-based security configuration, workflow automation, integration development, and the establishment of third-party solutions where needed.
Step 4: Move What Matters
Data Migration & Validation
Next, we ensure your data makes a secure and accurate transition into Business Central. Using Microsoft’s migration tools and additional import processes where needed, we migrate master data (both historic and currently active), open transactions, pricing, historical GL balances, and other critical data.
Your team is actively involved in validating data integrity through test cases and reconciliation reviews. Historic GP data that is not brought directly into Business Central is archived and can be made accessible in Business Central for reporting purposes. This dual-pronged strategy ensures both compliance and business continuity.
Step 5: Empower Your Team
Testing, Training & User Readiness
Before your Business Central system goes live, we validate the system end-to-end through User Acceptance Testing, guided by real business scenarios. Your subject matter experts develop and execute test cases with support from Joesoftware, ensuring every process works as intended.
Training is embedded throughout your implementation using a “train-the-trainer” model. This approach ensures your internal leaders become confident and capable system champions. Our goal is to ensure your team not only knows how to use Business Central but is excited about the power it brings.
Step 6: Launch with Confidence
Go-Live & Post-Implementation Support
Once your system is validated and your employees are trained, we coordinate a seamless go-live with a detailed cutover plan. Our team provides real-time support to help your team navigate any immediate post-launch adjustments. We remain available throughout this period to ensure your stability and success.
Once your Business Central system is live and well underway, Joesoftware transitions into offering proactive support, enhancements, and strategic guidance on an ongoing basis. As your business evolves, we help you continue to grow within the Microsoft ecosystem, unlocking more value from Business Central, the Power Platform, and more.
When you are ready to talk about a transition to Business Central, Joesoftware is ready for that conversation. Reach out to us to schedule a time to talk.