Smooth Sailing: Migrating from Microsoft Dynamics GP to NetSuite

Migrating from Microsoft Dynamics GP to NetSuite is a significant step towards modernizing your business operations. With careful planning and execution, you can ensure a seamless transition. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this journey. 

Pre-Migration Preparation 

1. Assess Your Current System Before diving into the migration, take a thorough inventory of your current Dynamics GP setup. Document all modules, customizations, and integrations. Conduct a gap analysis to identify differences between your current system and NetSuite. GSI consultants are highly skilled in NetSuite migrations and can provide valuable assistance in preparing for the transition.
   
   
2. Define Your Objectives Clearly outline what you aim to achieve with this migration. Are you looking for better reporting capabilities, streamlined processes, or enhanced scalability? Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of the migration.
   
   
3. Involve Stakeholders Form a cross-functional migration team that includes IT, finance, and operations. Develop a communication plan to keep all stakeholders informed about the migration timeline and progress. This step is critical to a successful project.  Without stakeholder involvement, projects frequently exceed their budgets and fail to meet deadlines.

Planning and Strategy 

4. Data Mapping and Cleanup Identify all data that needs to be migrated, such as financial records and customer information. Clean up your data by removing duplicates and correcting errors. Map data fields from Dynamics GP to corresponding fields in NetSuite to ensure a smooth transition. For a more complete list of essential data, see GSI’s Essential Data Migration Guide.
   
   
5. Customization and Configuration Gather business requirements for any customizations needed in NetSuite. Plan configurations to match your business processes, such as workflows and approval processes. This step ensures that NetSuite will meet your specific needs.
   
   
6. Integration Planning List all current third-party integrations. Plan for necessary integrations with NetSuite or identify suitable alternatives. This ensures that all your systems will work seamlessly together post-migration.

Execution 

7. Data Migration Extract data from Dynamics GP using appropriate tools or scripts. Transform the data to fit NetSuite’s structure using NetSuite’s Data Import Tools and load it into the new system. Validate the data to ensure accuracy and completeness. For a more thorough list of data migration steps, please see GSI’s Post-Migration Validation Guide.
   
   
8. Testing Conduct thorough system testing to ensure all functionalities in NetSuite work as expected. Perform user acceptance testing (UAT) with end-users to confirm that the system meets their needs. For more information, see GSI’s Comprehensive UAT Plan.
   
   
9. Training Develop a comprehensive training plan for all users. Provide training materials, such as manuals and video tutorials, and offer ongoing support to help users adapt to the new system. For more ideas on training, see GSI’s Comprehensive Training Plan.

Post-Migration 

10. Go-Live Preparation Perform final system checks and data validation before the go-live date. Communicate the go-live plan to all stakeholders, including any expected downtime. For more information, see GSI’s Preparing for Go-Live Guide.
11. Post-Go-Live Support Monitor the system closely after going live. Provide immediate support to address any issues that arise, ensuring a smooth transition for all users. GSI offers our SuiteCare Managed Services to provide this support ongoing after go-live.
    
    
12. Evaluation and Optimization Conduct a post-migration review to assess the process and outcomes. Gather feedback from users to identify areas for improvement. Make necessary adjustments to optimize system performance and user experience. GSI’s SuiteCare Managed Services provides our clients with strategies to get the most out of their NetSuite system after go-live.  See our SuiteCare Managed Services page for more information.

Conclusion 

Migrating from Microsoft Dynamics GP to NetSuite is a complex process, but with careful planning and execution, it can be a smooth and successful transition. By following this detailed guide, you can ensure that your migration is well-organized and meets your business objectives. Happy migrating! 

If you have any specific concerns or need further details on any step, feel free to ask! 

CONSIDER GSI AS YOUR NETSUITE IMPLEMENTATION & SUPPORT PARTNER

Ultimately, businesses implementing NetSuite need help from a partner who is both an expert in NetSuite and ready and able to consult on the client company’s pain points and objectives.

Using a knowledgeable implementation and support partner, you can roll out a transformative business software system to address current pain points and build a stable relationship with experts who can help adapt and scale the platform as your business grows.

GSI is the #1 Ranked NetSuite Solution Provider by G2, with a senior-level, 100% US-based NetSuite implementation and NetSuite support teams, all of whom average 10+ years of experience in the NetSuite ecosystem. By applying industry best practices and insights, we enable clients to fully leverage NetSuite, enhancing their processes, decision-making, and performance. Our team collaborates closely with clients to align NetSuite's capabilities with their strategic goals, fostering long-term partnerships through transparent communication and ongoing support.