Microsoft Dynamics GP has served as a reliable ERP solution for decades now, and it still gets the job done for countless distributors around the world. So why are those distributors feeling so much pressure to upgrade? Why does it seem like the clock is ticking, even as GP continues to deliver?
The most obvious reason is that Microsoft is sunsetting its support for the legacy platform. And I get it – if I were in charge of a growing distribution business with a small IT team, that news would give me pause. Even though GP will continue to run, it’s easy to imagine a scenario where everything suddenly breaks and there’s no way to fix it.
There is also pressure being applied by vendors who have their own fears and incentives. The thought of no more official support opens the door for sales pitches that have less to do with the customer’s actual business needs and more to do with abstract ideas around the future and being “left behind.”
“The time,” they say, “is now.”
At Cavallo, we believe that the only clock that matters is your own. External timelines shouldn’t affect your decision-making, especially for a big lift like an ERP migration.
For our SalesPad customers, we back up that belief with action. If you’re not yet aiming for an exit and your leadership can handle the change management challenges, you may decide it’s worth upgrading to Business Central – in which case, we’d apply the full value of your SalesPad for GP license to your new SalesPad for BC license.
But if you’re on a different timeline and want to opt for stability – maybe you’re dealing with a lot of margin pressure or scaling quickly – we’ll be right there with you, because we’ve pledged to continue supporting SalesPad for GP for at least the next decade.
The Case for Continuity
Our commitment to GP has already paid off for partners like Millborn, a specialty seed company that has seen significant growth in recent years. Millborn has relied on GP since 2009 and SalesPad since 2010, but all that growth led them to assess a possible move to BC. After all, that’s a common trigger for a migration.
But then they found that the move would cost them at least $1 million while gaining no new functionality. Instead, they opted to work with Cavallo on making their GP setup more flexible, adding over 100 user-defined fields unique to their B2B specialty seed business.
They were also able to put some of the money they would have spent on migration toward high-value automation projects that drastically reduced manual order entry. In the process, they discovered that sometimes the fastest way to a strong ROI is to double down on an investment you’ve already made. (Read more about Millborn’s story.)
In business, there’s a tendency to believe that the only way to succeed is by always moving to the next big thing. But innovation does not require disruption by default. Sometimes “pushing forward” can lead to more disruption than it’s worth – and that’s especially true for ERPs.
Is rebuilding from scratch to achieve parity with what you already have really worth it? Think about the lift to rebuild your workflows and integrations, plus the institutional knowledge your company has accumulated over the years. Will migrating reduce friction and generate leverage, or will it introduce needless risk? It’s important to consider these things carefully before committing.
You may conclude that BC is the best option for your business. How you arrive at that conclusion is what matters. Don’t let the pursuit of newness and someone else’s timeline obscure the fact that stability can be just as viable.
Lessons Learned
Another Cavallo partner, NewStar, put more than $100,000 into a migration to BC with a local vendor. That vendor’s limitations led to a severe dropoff in NewStar’s order process efficiency after the move. Tasks that took a couple of keystrokes in SalesPad for GP suddenly required 10 or more steps. By re-engaging with SalesPad, they quickly salvaged a system that had been getting the job done for NewStar’s complex business. (Read more about their story.) What NewStar learned is that if it isn’t broke, don’t replace it.
That’s why we ask distributors one big question: Is your current system holding you back from executing your strategy? Because if the answer is “no,” you’re just following someone else’s priorities. If your core operations are stable, your system is able to handle the volume and complexity of data you generate, and your business is preparing for a leadership or ownership transition, staying put is likely the right choice.
If your ERP is actively blocking growth or new business models, data integrity has been compromised, data scalability has reached its limit, security and compliance risks are real (not just theoretical), AND your team is ready for the change, you may be taking the leap for the right reasons.
In other words, your timing is more important than tech trends. Any decision you make around your ERP should align with your ownership horizon, capacity for change, strategic priorities, and the organization’s readiness to handle a transition.
Respect What You’ve Built
I want to be clear: Our continued GP support is not just a token gesture. We’re dedicating real resources to improving the SalesPad experience moving forward and giving our customers the runway to keep innovating with the foundation they have. The fact is that many distributors have built incredible things on the GP platform, and we respect their work too much to let them throw it all away before they need to.
We’re giving our customers the time and freedom they need to make the right decisions for their business. We’re providing a safe haven for anyone who feels uncertain about the future of their ERP. And we want you to know all your options, as well as the risks and trade-offs that come with them.
Don’t let the tick-tock of someone else’s clock drown out the sound of your own thoughts. If you need support with your ERP decision, reach out to our team today.