The question has been on everyone’s mind. Will the release of Dynamics 365 mean the end of Microsoft Dynamics GP? The answer from Microsoft is a resounding NO. In fact, Microsoft Dynamics GP product manager, Errol Schoenfish, stressed to the hundreds of GP partners at reIMAGINE 2016 this past week “Dynamics GP goes forward.” Microsoft even showed the audience confirmation for the future of the product, including a sneak peek at the upcoming GP 2016 R2 release and a product roadmap through 2017 for GP and the rest of the Dynamics product line.
Microsoft also informed the crowd that they will be moving from a semi-annual to an annual GP release schedule. That means that after GP 2016 R2, which is planned for later this year, the next release will be in the second half of 2017. According to Brian Meier, the senior program manager. an annual release schedule will better match the pace that partners and customers want.
GP “Next,” as it is called today, is planned to be released in the second half of 2017. Although it is still in its early stages, Meier did say that it is expected to introduce OData services for multi-tenant Dynamics GP, those OData services being consumable from the web client; also, improved Office integration, specifically for OneDrive and Excel Online. Meier said the integration with these cloud-based Microsoft productivity apps will get cloud-based GP solutions better aligned with Microsoft’s other core cloud offerings.
Meier also suggested that partners use Microsoft Connect to vote for other features they would like to see in the 2017 release. Popular choices so far include inventory bar codes and intercompany bank transfers.
After hearing from Microsoft, it is safe to assume that Dynamics GP will be around for a long, long time. According to Pam Misialek, a Microsoft executive, “Microsoft will keep developing Dynamics GP as long as Partners keep selling it.”
Contact Rimrock Corporation to learn more about Dynamics GP.