Local government Microsoft Dynamics users, have you been thinking about making a switch? Well, there has never been a better time than NOW. Why you may ask? Let’s dig in!

Microsoft, through changes in its application product strategy and roadmap, is sending a signal that customers should migrate from Dynamics GP, SL, NAV, AX or Business Edition to Dynamics 365 within the next several years.

Although Microsoft pitches migration between Dynamics versions as a simple upgrade, it is actually a 12-step process, according to Microsoft, requiring significant IT resources to execute. In fact, it is more difficult to migrate to Dynamics 365 in many cases (up to 24 weeks) than it is to implement GovSense (typically 100 days or less.)

First, Dynamics SL, GP, AX and NAV, were all developed independently by different companies – Solomon Software, Great Plains, IBM/Damgaard Data and Navision, respectively (NetSuite, 2018). Microsoft acquired these companies and put their products into the Dynamics portfolio, but they continued to be developed in their own silos, as independent solutions.

Now, Microsoft is attempting to simplify from four separate platforms down to two with Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations and 365 Business Central. With both of these incompatible platforms, the underlying complexity hasn’t been addressed, only masked. Dynamics 365 continues as a combination of different applications, written on different code bases, with different upgrade cycles, all using different databases stitched together through a common datastore and middleware layer. Moving from a legacy Dynamics solution to either of the Dynamics 365 platforms is complicated because every application, the integrations between every application and every customization built on the applications needs to addressed in some manner through either data conversion, rewriting code, rebuilding reporting, etc.

Contrast Dynamics’ overly complex collection of individual applications with GovSense, the first unified, true-cloud software solution designed specifically for local government.

Unlike Dynamics, GovSense is designed specifically to address the needs of local government and constantly works to leverage the cloud to improve government processes in revolutionary ways. GovSense’s state-of-the-art, cloud-based technology empowers local government by increasing efficiency across all departments, streamlining processes, increasing the interaction of local government leaders and their constituents, and providing the most secure system in the industry.

With GovSense, not only is complexity significantly reduced but functionality is increased, allowing customers to manage and analyze their entire jurisdiction from end to end in real-time. Plus, GovSense is “version-less” meaning there is never a GovSense 2.0 you have to download/purchase to be able to get the latest software. Every user will always be utilizing the same, latest software version.

So if you’re at a crossroads and considering making the switch to a cloud-based ERP, the time is now. The professionals at GovSense would be happy to further discuss how we can help you unify processes and avoid time-consuming version upgrades.