Functionality Similarities and Differences | Dynamics GP and Dynamics 365 Business Central

In this blog we’re going to delve into some of the most common functionalities in Dynamics GP, and compare them to the same or similar functionalities in Dynamics 365 Business Central.

To learn about differences in licensing, hosting, extensions, and updates/upgrades, read our overall comparison of GP and Business Central.

You’ll see that there are quite a few similarities between the solutions, and also a few differences that we expand on.

Similarities:

1. SmartLists and List Pages
2. Sales Order Processing
3. Purchase Documents
4. Fixed Assets
5. Financial Reports
6. Fiscal Period Control
7. Other Similarities

Differences:

1. Chart of Accounts
2. Journal Entries
3. Batch Posting
4. Other Differences

Similarities

Smartlists and List Pages

SmartLists in GP let you add and remove columns easily, define search criteria, and dictate what data users want to see on screen. D365 BC has something similar called List Pages, where you can also add, remove, or move columns around.

Watch the brief video below to see how these functions work in both GP and D365 BC:

Sales Order Processing

In GP, Sales Order Processing is used for entering and printing quotes, orders, invoices, back orders, and returns. In D365 BC, with Sales Documents you can move from a quote to an order, then from an order to an invoice.

See how these functions work in both GP and D365 BC:

Purchase Order Processing

Purchase Order Processing in GP is used for entering and posting receipts, matching shipments to invoices and applying landed costs to items. In D365 BC, purchasing documents lets you create purchase documents like blanket orders, orders, and invoices. GP allows you to accrue based on a shipment regardless of the Item type, but Business Central has an option to accrue or not to accrue a shipment receipt.

Watch the video to learn more about these tasks in GP and D365 BC:

Fixed Assets

The Fixed Asset module in GP allows you to bring data in from the Purchasing module and attach it to your fixed assets so you’ve got a copy of the invoice attached to the actual document. Similar to GP, in D365 BC you can have multiple depreciation books, and various depreciation methods, including a custom method.

Watch below to see how this works in each solution:

Learn more about the fixed asset module in Business Central.

Financial Reports

Management Reporter comes with GP, and it uses rows, columns, and trees. D365 BC also has a built-in financial tool, called Financial Reports.

See how financial statements are generated in GP and D365 BC in this video:

Fiscal Period Control

In GP, Fiscal Period Control can be used to close down sales and purchasing for a certain month, but also leave that month open on the General Ledger. In D365 BC, there are also custom accounting periods, as well as what’s called Deferral Postings.

The below video shows how this process in D365 BC is slightly different than in GP:

Other Similarities

Some other similarities worth noting in GP and D365 BC are:

• Manufacturing/Assembly
• Print Edit Listing/Preview Posting
• Inter-company Processing
• Inventory Tracking
• Project Accounts/Jobs
• Multiple Currencies
• Multiple Companies
• Landed Costs/Charge Items

Differences

Chart Of Accounts

In GP, there is a segmented account structure, whereas in D365 BC there is a dimensional account structure. GP has a fixed chart so additional information must be stored using Analytical Accounting, whereas Business Central has a dimensional chart so additional information can be stored in dimensions.

Learn about the difference between these structures in each solution in the video below:

For a deeper exploration on this topic, see Dimensions in Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Journal Entries

Journal Entries are what’s used in GP, but in D365 BC there are what is called Journal Templates. The process creates the same result, but is quicker in D365 BC since you can easily find the account name and number without having to scroll through an entire list, like in GP. Also, it is possible to make data changes to journal entries in Excel, then have that data published back into D365 BC.

Take a look at these two different processes done in each solution:

You can also read our detailed instructions on Journal Entries in D365 BC.

Batch Posting

GP runs everything through a batch, but within Business Central one of the biggest things that’s different is the way it handles batches with Info Journals.

Also, GP allows the batch date to drive the fiscal period and the document date to remain the actual invoice date. In D365 BC, AP transactions will have a Document Date as well as a Posting Date, the Posting Date is the day the entry hits the GL.

Watch how Batch Posting works in the short video below:

Other Differences

Other differences to note between GP and D365 BC are what functions are available within each solution.

GP Includes:

• Human Resources
• Depot Management
• Interfund
• Custom screens require power user

D365 BC Functionality (not available in GP):

• Built in multicurrency updates
• Linked bank accounts
• Imports using Configuration Packages (Excel)
• Warehousing module/bar coding
• Consolidation companies
• Marketing/Campaigns
• Personalization done by users

These are the similarities and differences between some of the most common functionalities in Dynamics GP and Dynamics 365 Business Central.

If you’re thinking about a move from GP to D365 BC, please get in contact with us to learn more.