Migration planning for fund accounting teams

Moving From GP to Business Central

See your migration options: what the move involves, what data comes with you, and where Fundamentals fits for fund accounting.

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Accounting

The move

What a GP to Business Central migration involves

Moving from Dynamics GP to Business Central is a planned project, not a button. How long it takes depends on your data, customizations, integrations and fiscal calendar. For the deadlines driving the move, see the Dynamics GP end-of-life timeline.

Move your core data

Your core financial data comes across with Microsoft’s GP migration tools.

Rebuild or retire the rest

What doesn’t transfer is rebuilt or retired.

Set up fund accounting

Base Business Central doesn’t include it, so you set it up as part of the move.

Fundamentals brings your fund accounting into Business Central.

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Your data

What data moves from GP, and what doesn't

Most of your core financial data comes with you. Customizations are where the real planning goes.

  • AccountsChart of accounts and balances.
  • Customers and vendorsMoved with your core financial data.
  • Open itemsOpen receivables and payables, plus inventory items if you use them.
  • HistoryHistorical transactions, in summary or detail.
  • CustomizationsRebuilt, replaced by standard Business Central features, or retired.
  • Add-onsThird-party add-ons get the same treatment.
  • Custom reportsEach one is rebuilt, replaced or retired.
  • Fund and grant trackingUsually the biggest item for fund accounting teams.

Steps

The four stages of a GP migration

Most organizations follow the same path. Plan your go-live around fiscal year-end and your audit, not the other way around.

Review GP modules, customizations, add-ons and reports. Set scope, budget and a go-live date.
Set up Business Central and Fundamentals: chart of accounts, dimensions, funds, grants and approvals.
Move master data and balances with Microsoft’s GP migration tools, plus fund data from spreadsheets or add-ons.
Reconcile balances against GP, run reports side by side, train staff, then cut over.
Team reviewing financial reports

Fund accounting

Where Fundamentals fits for fund accounting

Base Business Central doesn’t include fund or grant accounting. If you ran it in GP through add-ons or spreadsheets, Fundamentals is how you bring it into Business Central. See grant and restricted fund management.

Funds and grants. Track every fund and grant, with budgets against actuals, inside Business Central.

Restrictions and releases. Manage restricted funds and record releases with a clear audit trail.

FASB and GASB reporting. Run the industry-specific reports nonprofits and governments need.

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What clients say

Sony Devis
“One of the best features (not found with other systems during our search) is the comprehensive labor allocations function that includes the ability to encumber future distributions to funds/projects. This gives us a better view of how funds are spent and allocated in future periods.”
Sony Devis
The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute
Seth Maristuen
“As a rapidly growing non-profit, we needed a modern fund accounting system to handle our complexities and streamline processes… We’re now closing periods faster, with less manual work, and reporting with more confidence than ever.”
Seth Maristuen
National Forest Foundation

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See your migration options in a demo

We’ll show you how Fundamentals handles fund accounting in Business Central, and what your move off GP could look like.

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    FAQ

    Frequently asked questions

    Quick answers about moving from Great Plains to Business Central. Want to map out your own move?

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    Yes. Microsoft provides migration tools that move master data, balances and history from GP into Business Central. Fund and grant data usually needs extra mapping, which is part of setting up Fundamentals.

    It depends on how much data you move, how many customizations and integrations you have, and when your fiscal year ends. Ask for an estimate in a demo and we’ll look at your setup.

    Usually your chart of accounts, account balances, customers, vendors, open receivables and payables, inventory items if you use them, and historical transactions in summary or detail. Customizations, add-ons and custom reports are rebuilt, replaced or retired.

    No. Base Business Central doesn’t include fund or grant accounting. Fundamentals adds funds, grants, restrictions and releases, allocations, and FASB and GASB reporting. See grant management in Business Central.

    GP won’t shut off, but support ends September 30, 2029 and security patches end in April 2031. See the Dynamics GP end-of-life timeline.