Part 3 of the From GP to Growth series
For many organisations running Microsoft Dynamics GP, customisation has been essential. Over time, SQL scripts, Dexterity code and bespoke integrations have filled functional gaps and kept systems running the way the business needs.
But as GP approaches the later stages of its lifecycle, this approach is becoming harder to sustain.
In Episode 3 of our five‑part From GP to Growth webinar series, we explored how customisation, integrations and ISVs work differently in Business Central, and why this shift is about simplifying your technology estate, not losing flexibility.
Why GP customisation has become a challenge
Historically, GP customisation meant changing the core system itself. While powerful, this approach often led to:
- Increased complexity and technical debt
- Higher upgrade and maintenance costs
- Greater reliance on specialist development skills
- Slower adoption of new Microsoft features and innovations
With Microsoft’s investment now firmly focused on Business Central and the cloud platform, organisations are facing a key decision: do we carry forward everything we’ve built, or do we redesign for the future?
Business Central’s extension‑first model: what’s different?
Business Central takes a fundamentally different approach.
Rather than modifying the core solution, customisation is handled through extensions. This means:
- The core system remains “vanilla” and upgrade‑safe
- Microsoft-managed updates are applied automatically
- New features, security updates and AI capabilities are always available
- There’s no need for costly, disruptive upgrade projects
Extensions sit alongside the core product, expanding functionality without rewriting it. The result is a system that evolves continuously, rather than one that has to be periodically rebuilt.
Integrations designed for the modern Microsoft ecosystem
In GP, integrations are often point‑to‑point and heavily customised. In Business Central, integration is API‑driven by design.
This unlocks native connectivity with the wider Microsoft stack, including:
- Power Automate for workflow and process automation
- Power BI, embedded directly within Business Central
- Excel and Teams, with one‑click access to live data
- Event‑driven architecture for more reliable, scalable integrations
The focus shifts from maintaining integrations to using data more effectively across the organisation.
ISVs: adding capability without complexity
Business Central has a global ISV (Independent Software Vendor) ecosystem, with extensions covering everything from purchase‑to‑pay and payroll to inventory optimisation and advanced forecasting.
Crucially, all ISVs must meet Microsoft’s strict compatibility standards. That means:
- Extensions are tested against every Business Central release
- Updates happen seamlessly alongside the core system
- Performance and reliability are maintained without user disruption
For customers, this reduces vendor lock‑in and makes it easier to evolve the solution over time.
Carry forward or redesign? Asking the right questions
One of the most common concerns GP customers raise is:
“We rely heavily on customisations – what happens to those?”
The answer isn’t a simple yes or no.
In Business Central:
- Some customisations may still be required, particularly where there are genuine regulatory or uniquely business‑specific needs
- However, most GP customisations exist because of historic limitations – not because the processes themselves are unique
Rather than asking “How do we recreate this customisation?”, the better question is:
“What outcome was this customisation designed to achieve?”
From there, it’s often possible to achieve the same (or better) outcome using:
- Standard Business Central functionality
- Extensions
- Power Platform tools
- Modern workflow automation
A chance to challenge and improve processes
Moving from GP to Business Central isn’t just a system change – it’s an opportunity to re‑examine how your organisation works.
Many GP processes exist because of GP. Business Central enables:
- Simpler user experiences across finance and operations
- Reduced manual effort and rekeying
- More consistent data flows between teams
- Faster adoption of automation and AI‑driven capabilities
Organisations frequently report that operational benefits are felt quickly, not just financial ones.
Future‑proofing without “big bang” change
A key message from this session was reassurance: you don’t have to do everything on day one.
Business Central is modular by design. Capabilities such as OCR, warehouse scanning, advanced reporting or AI‑driven automation can be introduced gradually, as the organisation is ready.
This flexibility allows you to:
- Reduce risk
- Manage change more effectively
- Scale functionality alongside growth and strategy
All while remaining on the latest version of the platform.
Looking ahead in the series
Episode 3 focused on simplifying complexity and reducing technical debt through extensions, integrations and modern design principles.
In the next sessions, we’ll explore:
What it means to work with mhance as an ongoing partner, not just a supplier
How organisations can plan their transition timelines with confidence
If you missed any earlier episodes or want to discuss what this means for your own GP environment, we’re always happy to continue the conversation – contact our team today.
Read part 1 – here
Read part 2 – here