Scale your accounting with the Microsoft Power Platform

Microsoft Dynamics GP, formerly known as Great Plains, is perhaps the closest solution Microsoft has to a mid-market accounting software. Despite its historical association with enterprise-level ERP, it carries an inherent  complexity that may exceed the requirements of many users seeking a straightforward accounting solution. Additionally, it’s important to highlight that Microsoft Dynamics GP is not cloud-based, meaning users miss out on the advantages of automatic updates. 

In addition to Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft offers another mid-market accounting solution known as Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, often referred to as Dynamics 365 BC. This product originated from Navision, an enterprise-level solution Microsoft acquired from a Danish company. Business Central retains its roots in enterprise ERP functionality, having evolved from its Navision foundation.  It’s important to note that BC is on its own proprietary platform, and while it integrates with Power Automate and Power BI, it’s essential to acknowledge certain limitations due to its distinct platform.

For years, users of Microsoft Dynamics GP, the accounting software formerly known as Great Plains, have asked in online forums whether it would continue to be supported. Microsoft has confirmed it will continue to support Dynamics GP until at least 2028 and recently announced the last update for the 2016 version. 

There may be speculation among users about the potential replacement of Microsoft Dynamics GP by Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, the cloud-based ERP solution that evolved from Microsoft Dynamics NAV. It’s important to clarify that Business Central does not directly replace Dynamics GP.  While it shares roots with an intricate enterprise ERP system (Microsoft Dynamics NAV), it was not designed as a direct successor to a mid-market accounting solution like Dynamics GP. Additionally, Business Central brings its own set of challenges, including elevated licensing costs, restricted customization options, and compatibility issues with legacy systems.

While Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central aka Dynamics 365BC could be considered a Microsoft accounting software, it wasn’t designed to be easy to use or intuitive. Business Central has many of the same flaws as other legacy accounting systems. It lacks a shared chart of accounts and makes it difficult to manage multi-entity reporting without logging in and out of separate databases. There is no native ability to run consolidated reports, so you need to purchase a separate API. 

You also need to pay extra for features that should be standard, like business intelligence capabilities and the ability to create personalized workflows. 

Gravity Software is a cloud-based accounting solution built on the Microsoft Power Platform. This gives you all the same familiarity and security features you expect from Dynamics 365 BC with the ease of use of other QuickBooks alternatives. And unlike QuickBooks and entry-level solutions, it’s designed to support multi-entity accounting. 

You can easily manage intercompany transactions and transactions shared by multiple entities without needing to log in and out of many separate databases to copy and paste information. 

Microsoft Office Accounting software serves as fundamental bookkeeping software tailored for managing core accounting functions like accounts payable and accounts receivable. It wasn’t designed for multi-entity accounting and lacks advanced features, such as AP automation, revenue recognition, and subscription billing.

Gravity Software stands out as the best alternative to Microsoft Office Accounting, leveraging the cutting-edge capabilities of the Microsoft Power Platform. Tailored for accountants, CFOs, and mid-sized business owners, Gravity incorporates the latest innovations from Microsoft’s investments in the Power Platform.