Dynamics GP to Business Central Migration Checklist
Moving from Dynamics GP to Business Central is mostly a data and process exercise, not a software install. This checklist covers the steps projects most often miss, with critical items flagged.
0 of 30 items complete
11 critical items still open - these are the highest-risk gaps.
Scope and decisions
Data readiness
Add-ons, reports and integrations
Migration build and testing
Cutover and go-live
Items marked critical block go-live if left open. Aim for every critical item done and at least 85 percent overall before cutover.
Migration plan review
Send your completed checklist and get comments on the gaps. Optional.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use this checklist
Work through the groups in order and tick items as they are truly finished, not merely started. Assign every unticked item an owner and a date. The scoring note tells you how many to complete before cutover, and the critical items are the ones that stop go-live. Export the PDF at each stage gate so the steering committee sees movement. It works for a first plan or as a final readiness review one week before cutover.
How the migration works in outline
Microsoft provides a cloud migration approach for moving GP data into Business Central, which typically carries master data, balances and selected history. It does not carry your reports, custom code or add-ons, and it will not fix bad data. Many projects instead load with configuration packages or data entities when they need more control. Whichever method you choose, treat extract, transform and reconcile as three separate steps and have finance sign off each mock.
- Master data and opening balances move first
- Open documents need a clear policy
- History can move in summary or be archived
- Reports and customizations are rebuilt, not migrated
Reading the result
If critical items remain open, do not set a go-live date. Typical blockers are unreconciled sub-ledgers, an add-on with no replacement and an integration nobody owns. A project with data and add-ons resolved but weak testing is a schedule risk, not a scope risk. If you finish above 85 percent with every critical item closed, you are in good shape to run the final mock and agree the cutover weekend.
Common mistakes
The most frequent errors are migrating too much history, discovering reports built straight on GP SQL tables after the cutover, and planning go-live in the middle of a fiscal close. Another is underestimating training because the screens look familiar to Microsoft users. Business Central uses dimensions rather than account segments, a different posting model and different security, so user training is a real work item.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Business Central migrate GP history automatically?
Migration tooling can carry master data and balances, and in some setups selected history, but you decide the scope. Most projects migrate a limited period and keep the rest in a read-only archive for audit and lookups.
How long does a GP to Business Central migration take?
It depends on modules, add-ons and data quality. Small, standard companies can finish in a few months, while multi-company or heavily customized GP estates take considerably longer. Plan two or more mock loads regardless of size.
What happens to our GP reports?
Reports are not migrated. You rebuild them as Business Central reports, Power BI or Excel. Start by listing which reports are actually used, since many GP estates carry dozens of unused ones.
Should we archive GP or keep it running?
Most customers keep GP read-only for a defined retention period or move history to a queryable archive. Agree this with audit and tax advisers, and keep a verified SQL backup in either case.
We can review your extract scripts and reconciliation logic, or help turn your GP SQL queries into a migration-ready inventory. Optional, and the checklist works without us.
Related Tools
Dynamics GP End of Support Migration Assessment
Ten-question readiness score for Dynamics GP customers who need a decision on what comes after GP.
Microsoft DynamicsDynamics GP Chart of Accounts Mapping Worksheet
Editable worksheet mapping segmented GP accounts to a target chart of accounts and dimension values, with balance tracking.
ERP Migration & SelectionLegacy ERP Data Archive Checklist
Twenty-eight checks to decide what history to keep, where to keep it and how to decommission a legacy ERP safely.
Microsoft DynamicsDynamics GP SQL Table Reference (IV00101, SOP10100, POP10100)
Searchable reference of common Dynamics GP tables with module, purpose and work, open or history status.
More ERP Migration & Selection tools
See all- ERP TCO Comparison Calculator (5-Year)
- ERP Migration Risk Assessment
- Data Migration Effort Calculator
- ERP Selection Scorecard for Manufacturers
- ERP Go-Live Readiness Checklist
- ERP Change Management Readiness Assessment
- ERP Integration Complexity Calculator
- Cloud vs On-Premise ERP Cost Calculator
- ERP Upgrade vs Replace Assessment
New to Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Business Central on-prem? Start with the Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Business Central on-prem guide and toolkit.
Keep exploring
Free tools
- GP vs Business Central Migration Cost Comparison CalculatorMulti-year cost comparison of staying on GP versus moving to Business Central, with payback period and a horizon chart.
- GP to Business Central Cutover Runbook TemplateA fill-in cutover runbook for moving a Dynamics GP company to Business Central: freeze window, final extracts, opening balances, go/no-go and rollback.
- GP to Business Central Licence Cost CalculatorTurns your GP full and limited user counts into a Business Central subscription estimate and compares it with what you pay for GP today.
ERP fixes and how-tos
- Adding a Private AI Layer to Dynamics GP On-PremAdd AI to Dynamics GP on-prem without cloud: curated SQL views, eConnect for writes, retrieval index, local LLM, mirrored GP security, approved write-back.
- Business Central Manufacturing Setup: Items, BOMs, Routings and Production OrdersSet up Business Central manufacturing: Manufacturing Setup, work centers, production BOMs, routings, item settings, manufacturing policy and demo data.
- Business Central Item Templates and Customer TemplatesCreate and use item templates and customer templates in Business Central to default posting groups, costing method and dimensions on every new record.
AI on your ERP
- AI for Dynamics GP and NAV, Before the Business Central DecisionDynamics GP mainstream support is ending and NAV is long retired from active development. Add a private LLM over GP or NAV data now, on-prem, without a forced Business Central move.
- AI for Business Central manufacturing operations, beyond CopilotAI for Business Central manufacturing beyond Copilot: grounded answers on production orders, routings, and capacity via APIs v2.0, on-prem capable.
Integrations
- How to use ChatGPT with Microsoft Dynamics GPConnect ChatGPT to Dynamics GP safely: export versus live access, custom GPT actions over an API gateway, enterprise data controls, and when to go private.
- How to add WhatsApp to Microsoft Dynamics GPHow to connect WhatsApp Business to Microsoft Dynamics GP: read SOP, POP and RM data from SQL Server, post replies through eConnect, with templates and opt-in handled.
Software
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business CentralDynamics 365 Business Central explained for manufacturers: modules, APIs, AL extensions, deployment, strengths, limits and alternatives for small and mid-size firms.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply ChainDynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management explained for manufacturers: modules, data entities, OData, deployment, strengths, limits and alternatives.