A Side-by-Side, Feature-for-Feature Comparison of Microsoft Dynamics GP and Dynamics 365 Business Central
By now, if you’re a Microsoft Dynamics GP user, you’ve seen a lot of discussion around its future, with many recommendations to move to a new, cloud-based ERP solution, and even more recommendations about which ERP solution to move to. While it is a fact that Microsoft is putting more energy into development of Dynamics 365 Business Central, the decision to migrate to something else or stay where you are, as well as determining the right time for a move from GP to BC, is one that only your organization can make because it depends on your circumstances. It might simply be that you’re not in the market for a new ERP yet, or you might be running into limitations with an on-premises application and are ready to make a move. Regardless, it’s important to be well informed.
However, understanding the important differences isn’t completely black and white. In many ways, GP and BC are similar, with features and functions that appear to be the same. But there are key differences. In 2021, we published Microsoft Dynamics GP and Dynamics 365 Business Central – a Comparison, an article that provided a high-level look at how the two products stack up against each other. However, a year is a very long time in the world of Dynamics development, and we’ve learned a lot more. In this blog, we provide a more detailed, feature-by-feature comparison that will help you with your technology planning.
Below is a key legend for the following GP to BC comparison table:
 | Included in GP Starter Pack or BC Essentials |
 | ISV (GP) or Extension (BC) |
 | Included in GP Extended Pack or BC Premium |
Dynamics GP Compared to Dynamics 365 Business Central
| Functionality | GP | BC | Differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preview Posting | | | GP includes a separate edit list, vs. BC with preview posting. In addition, BC has the capability to post multiple GL dates in one GL entry as long as the entries balance for each date. Another added benefit is that BC has “Backgrown Error Check” which will show the lines that have issues. |
| Flexible Reporting Tools within the application | | | GP uses Management Reporter (separate application) while BC includes ‘out-of-the-box’ report writing flexibility within the application. |
| Master Records Import | | | GP – Integration manager is only included for 240 days after purchase date, otherwise there is an additional cost or other integration ISV needs to be purchased. With BC, configuration templates are part of the software and can be used to import at any time. |
| Electronic Bank Reconciliation | | | Both GP and BC include Electronic Bank Reconciliation out-of-the-box, with more robust offerings through ISV’s/Extensions. |
| Multi-dimensional accounting and analysis | | | GP uses Analytical Accounting, which adds additional implementation hours, and needs to be added as a feature during setup in order to use. BC uses account Dimensions out of the box which provide for flexibility in tracking, reporting and analysis. |
| Purchasing and Payables | | | Purchase Orders, Purchase Invoices |
| Supply Chain Management | | | BC has more robust applications of customer sales discounts, line item discounts, campaign pricing, Sales Return Order Management, and Bulk Invoicing from Microsoft Bookings; Extensive inventory management is included in BC as well as Supply Planning and Availability. |
| Warehouse Management | | | BC includes bins, bin setup, inventory picks and put-aways, warehouse receipt, shipment, internal picks and put-aways out-of-the-box. |
| SaaS | | SaaS provides better security, 24/7 access from anywhere on any device, Lower IT costs, scalability, and easier upgrades. | |
| Payroll | | | Advanced HR (GP) in GP Extended Pack; Multiple Payroll Extensions available in Extension Marketplace (BC). Payroll has become cumbersome to maintain; requires partner assistance to keep up. |
| Cash Flow Forecasts | | | Both BC and GP allow for setting up multiple cash flow forecasts out of the box. |
| Scanning / Barcoding / Shipping Integrations | | | Barcode management is included in the System Application of BC. Shipping Integrations is easily done through a BC extension. |
| Power BI Integration | | | Available for GP w/significant effort for integration; Out-of-the-Box Dashboards (Power BI Reports Embedded) for BC with little effort for integration. |
| Search Feature | | | The Search Feature in BC allows for quick and easy access to pages, master records, reports and help items. Great Plains Web Client also has this feature as of the GP 2016 release. |
| Automatic Save Feature | | BC automatically saves content entered on a card or transaction window. | |
| Microsoft (Office) 365 integration | | | BC has a more robust integration with Microsoft Office 365 – easier integration and easier to use, and is available from within BC. |
| CRM | | | Integration with Dynamics CRM is not needed with BC as it has a built-in light Customer Relationship Management as part of the Essentials License. |
| Project Management | | | Project Management in Business Central is included with the Essentials License. GP Extended Pack is required to utilize Project Accounting. |
| Field Service Management | | | Both the GP Extended Pack and the BC Premium Licenses include Service Management. |
| Manufacturing | | | Both the GP Extended Pack and the BC Premium Licenses include Manufacturing. |
Find more comprehensive release notes from Microsoft at What’s new and planned for Dynamics 365 Business Central.
ArcherPoint Can Help
Interested in learning more about moving from GP to BC? Download our FREE eBook, Moving from Microsoft Dynamics GP to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Then contact the migration experts at ArcherPoint to discuss your questions and concerns and be sure to take advantage of our FREE Assessment offer to help you make the right decision for your business.