Salesforce-Dynamics GP Integration Brings Your Legacy System Into the Future
Data Integration Technology for Microsoft GP Gets You the Most out of Your ERP
If astute leadership is the brains of an organization, and a dedicated workforce the soul, then the CRM and ERP are each chambers of its beating heart. Just about every business beyond a certain size makes use of CRMs and ERPs as a necessary component of operations; these complex software solutions provide useful automation, streamlining behind-the-scenes operations such as asset management, supply chain oversight, and human resource organization. Much like a heart, these programs still require care and attention even though much of their functioning is invisible or seamless to casual users. Data integration technology such as Rapidi’s is simply an aspect of that care and attention; a total systems integration project allows businesses to make the most out of their CRMs and ERPs by synching them together into a unified pool of information. Yet, much like a heart, even the most well-maintained CRMs and ERPs have a window of time in which they perform optimally.
Microsoft announced that they would be discontinuing support for Dynamics GP (Great Plains) in 2025. Microsoft made its first foray into the realm of ERPs by acquiring smaller but well-known companies already making headway in the industry. One of the companies acquired in the year 2000 was Great Plains Software, which had by that point made a name for itself by offering robust, high-end financial software. Microsoft merged Great Plains Software into its Dynamics Business Solutions, and the result became one of Microsoft’s first ERP offerings.
Dynamics GP was—and to a certain extent still is—a popular ERP solution aimed at small and mid-sized businesses. Despite being phased out, it is still utilized by a variety of organizations to this day despite newer offerings available in the Dynamics product suite.
So How Do I Make The Jump?
If your business implements Microsoft GP, there’s no need to fear. Microsoft makes it exceptionally easy for legacy system users to transition to Microsoft Dynamics 365. The company has long prided itself on intuitive transitions between software editions, and the jump from GP to 365 doesn’t involve a steep learning curve; though there have been significant improvements to both Microsoft Business Central and Microsoft 365 Finance and Operations, you won’t need to worry about business coming to a grinding halt as employees scramble to learn the new software.
Plus, data integration technologies exist that can further facilitate the jump from the solutions of yesteryear to the cutting edge of ERP and CRM solutions. A high-end data integration service is a key component of many businesses, especially those beyond a certain size. Organizations with the resources to do so will often invest in—for example—Salesforce and Microsoft GP as separate solutions, instead of a CRM and ERP rolled into one. The primary reason for this is one of specialization; programs that market themselves as both CRM and ERP often lack the depth and technicality of products that focus on providing top-notch experiences in one realm or the other.
What Makes Data Integration So Vital?
CRMs and ERPs both become repositories of vital information, but when the two aren’t integrated, then employees can become mired in redundant data entry, wasting time and energy attempting to wrangle information from across various departments. With companies such as Rapidi working in tandem with you and your business, such inefficiency is greatly reduced. Rapidi is a Salesforce certified solution that has been in the business of data integration for decades. Rapidi has a wealth of experience working with industry titans such as Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics, from GP all the way to 365. When Rapidi writes to Microsoft Dynamics GP, it uses Microsoft SQL Stored Procedures; this functions identically to Dynamics eConnect, ensuring that all the necessary business logic is executed alongside the data. On top of this, Rapidi reads data directly from the Microsoft Dynamics GP SQL database, which is fast and efficient, and connects as a native client whenever possible.
KTBLACK, a US-based staffing company used Salesforce alongside Microsoft Dynamics GP for years. At the time, data integration between the two limped along via an XML process. This process was inflexible, requiring intensive programming for even minor changes like the addition of a new field in Salesforce. At times the entire system would simply lock up with no indicator, meaning that the error might not be discovered until an employee made a time-critical entry and found out the hard way that it hadn’t been transferred into GP. When this occurred, maintenance couldn’t happen right away; KTBLACK would have to call in their vendor, and the entire reparation process could take several days.
When KTBLACK began looking around for an integration alternative, Rapidi stood out to them because of its intuitive use and custom integration capabilities. A flexible yet robust solution, they appreciated how simple it was to add new fields or specify where in Salesforce their data is coming from and where it will go in GP (or vice-versa). Perhaps most importantly, Rapidi’s technology is simple enough that KTBLACK IT staff can make any necessary changes to the system, and quickly isolate and fix errors within minutes while avoiding disruptions in the synchronization process. Now, their transfers are running smoothly, and KTBLACK never finds itself backlogged by cumbersome and inefficient workflow due to a lack of system synchronization. There are no two ways about it; the future of business is integrated, and getting your business up to speed should be a top priority—click here for more reasons why you shouldn’t avoid complex system integration. But there’s no need to fear: the implementation of Rapidi’s technology is always quick and painless; though it may seem daunting, systems integration doesn’t have to be a headache. When you invest in high-end data integration services such as Rapidi’s, you’re making an investment in the longevity, effectiveness, and sustainability of your business.
