Microsoft has announced that the Dynamics GP 2016 Upgrade will release in May, and there are a lot of exciting new features that we at TGO are looking forward to.
As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, we’ve been working closely with the GP platform for many years. What we love about GP is that it’s a comprehensive, out-of-the-box ERP solution, that also offers flexible licensing. This means that businesses from multinational corporations to smaller and mid-size companies can employ and reap the benefits of GP.
The GP 2015 release added features including Employee Self-Service functionality, new approvals in Workflow 2.0, and the ability to create refreshable Excel reports. GP 2016 builds on these features and adds even more. Here’s a brief look at a few of these new functionalities. One important note – these features could change slightly between now and the release date.
Breakthrough in mobile capabilities with GP’s new HTML5 web client
Perhaps the most exciting thing about GP 2016 is that the platform will now render all GP forms as native HTML5 web pages.
What does this mean for clients? It means that now, you’ll get the full GP experience on any device, as long as it supports HTML5 browsers. Tablets and phones, Android, OSX, Linux – there’s almost no device that’s off the table. The way it works is that GP delivers the visual interface to the device, while the actual computing is still done on the server, according to a blog post on ERP Software Blog. The expectation is that this will improve GP’s cloud-based ERP performance.
This can be huge for companies with staff that spend a lot of their time away from a desk, like distribution companies, utilities companies, and construction firms.
This is the realization of a long-term development goal that Microsoft has had for Dynamics GP – they’ve been moving toward it in steps through the past several GP releases. We can’t wait to test it out.
According to blogger and developer Tim Wappat, who got a sneak peek of the platform in early March, the rest of GP 2016’s improvements can be split into four categories: Cloud, Core Enhancements, Business Intelligence, and Ease of Use.
Cloud improvements
In addition to the HTML5 web client, Microsoft has added a control for managing HTML clients.
Core Enhancements
Microsoft is enhancing many of the core functionalities of Dynamics GP with this release. That includes:
Integration of purchasing requisitions
Multiple page scan
Enablement of credit card payment type for check run processing
Document attachments for Project Expenses
HTTPS support for Management Reporter Viewer
Default EFT file formats for Scotia Bank
Change Workflow approval conditions
Increase Distribution Reference field Size
Named User Licensing Support for Self Service User Type
Business Intelligence
Business intelligence enhancements include:
All-in-one Document Viewer for Sales and Inventory
Export/Import SmartLists
Export SmartList Numbers
Creating a SmartList from an existing favorite
PowerBI charts on GP Role Center, allowing teams to see important data right on their home page
Ease of Use
Remove inactive Payroll Pay Codes
Simplify Payroll Posting Setup
Create Exception Report on Budget Import
Simplify Analytical Accounting User Access Settings
Many of these features were developed in response to vendor and customer feedback, as has been the case with GP for years. Microsoft continues to be highly responsive to what its GP users want and need – a major reason for the platform’s global success.
Think Microsoft Dynamics GP might be right for you and your business? Take a look at our Expertise page to learn more. You can also read our blog post How Microsoft Dynamics GP Can Help You Grow Your Business.
The post 5 Reasons We’re Excited About the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016 Upgrade appeared first on TGO Consulting.