Contractors leaving Great Plains for Dynamics 365 Business Central get one shot to fix how field and office teams work together, not just swap ERPs. The free guide covers cloud security evaluation, the ERP-module-vs-field-service-platform decision, and how to sequence integrations and implementation so the transition doesn't stall operations.
Microsoft is sunsetting Great Plains, and Dynamics 365 Business Central is the natural landing spot for most commercial contractors. If you’re planning that move, don’t treat it as a straight lift-and-shift. It’s a rare chance to fix how your field and office teams actually work together, not just where your ledger lives.
Why this transition is bigger than an ERP swap
A Great Plains migration touches invoicing, job costing, and every integration your office runs on. Contractors who only ask “what’s the new ERP” end up rebuilding the same disconnected workflows in a new system.
Contractors who ask “what should field service look like on the other side of this” come out with fewer posting exceptions, faster close, and techs who aren’t stuck re-entering the same data twice.
That second question is what this guide is built to help you answer.
What’s inside
The guide walks through the decisions that matter most when you’re modernizing field service alongside a move to Dynamics 365:
- How to evaluate cloud security, reliability, and data ownership as you leave Great Plains
- Whether an all-in-one ERP module or a best-in-class field service platform is the better fit for your operation
- How to sequence integrations, change management, and implementation so the transition doesn’t stall your team
It also includes a set of questions worth asking any software provider before you sign, so you’re not finding out about gaps after go-live.
Why it’s worth reading now
Great Plains customers are on a clock, and the contractors who plan the field service side early are the ones who avoid double entry, posting failures, and audit headaches down the road. ServiceTrade built a native, bidirectional integration with Dynamics 365 Business Central for exactly this reason: so service operations and finance stay in sync instead of reconciling by hand every month-end.
You don’t need to have your D365 timeline finalized to start planning the field service side. This guide gives you the framework to do it right the first time.
FAQs
Is Microsoft Great Plains actually being discontinued?
Yes, Microsoft is sunsetting Great Plains, which is why most commercial contractors on it are evaluating Dynamics 365 Business Central as the replacement. The move affects invoicing, job costing, and any tool integrated with your ERP. Planning the field service side alongside the ERP switch avoids rebuilding the same disconnected workflows in a new system.
Should I migrate to Dynamics 365 Business Central if I’m leaving Great Plains?
Dynamics 365 Business Central is the most common landing spot for contractors leaving Great Plains, but it’s not automatic. The right fit depends on your cloud security requirements, data ownership needs, and whether an all-in-one ERP module or a dedicated field service platform better matches how your teams work. The guide walks through that evaluation.
Should field service be part of the ERP or a separate best-in-class platform?
Both approaches work, but they trade off differently: an all-in-one ERP module keeps everything in one vendor relationship, while a best-in-class field service platform is typically built for how techs and dispatchers actually work in the field. The guide breaks down what to weigh before deciding.
What questions should I ask a field service software provider during a Great Plains transition?
Ask how the provider handles cloud security and data ownership during migration, how their software integrates with Dynamics 365 Business Central specifically, and how they sequence implementation and change management so the transition doesn’t stall your team. The guide includes a full list of these questions to bring to any vendor conversation.
Does ServiceTrade integrate with Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Yes, ServiceTrade has a native, bidirectional integration with Dynamics 365 Business Central that keeps service operations and finance in sync. That means fewer posting exceptions and less manual reconciliation at month-end compared to bolted-on or manual integrations.
