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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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