Military Charity Adopts Business Central to Strengthen Mission-Driven Programs
For more than 80 years, a national nonprofit has been dedicated to supporting Airmen, Guardians, and their families. From providing emergency assistance to offering education support and community programs, the organization works to make a real difference in the lives of those who serve. With a large footprint across the United States, they recognized the need for modern tools to manage operations more efficiently and continue delivering on their mission. Having used Dynamics GP for its accounting and operations software for years, the nonprofit was comfortable with Microsoft technologies, but wanted to improve efficiency, reporting, and scalability. Partnering with Stoneridge led to a Cloud migration project to Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Business Challenge: Outdated Dynamics GP System and a Strategic Shift Toward the Future
As the organization evaluated existing software and looked ahead to the future, it recognized an opportunity to align technology with broader operational and strategic goals. While Dynamics GP had supported the nonprofit’s needs for a time, they were ready to explore a modern solution that could offer greater flexibility, automation, and scalability.
Areas for improvement included:
- Manual processes for payroll, banking, and accounts payable
- Broken integrations and limited reporting capabilities
- Tools that no longer matched their evolving needs
- Grant management complexities that required better tracking and visibility
Rather than invest more time in a system that was being sunsetted, the organization made a forward-thinking decision: to focus their energy on implementing a modern, cloud-based solution that would support long-term goals and open the door to greater capabilities.
Solution: A Collaborative Dynamics 365 Business Central Implementation with a Trusted Partner
To lead the transition from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central, the organization partnered with Stoneridge Software, bringing in a team with deep nonprofit experience and a consultative approach.
Key elements of the solution:
- Data migration and transformation from GP to Business Central
- Redesign of the chart of accounts to leverage dimensions for better reporting
- Improved financial reporting, enabling one-click generation of key reports
- Support for organizational change management (OCM) to drive adoption
- Cloud migration, eliminating the need for third-party hosting and improving security
- End-user training, including documentation and guides
Their internal team was enthusiastic and engaged throughout the process. Openness to learning and willingness to embrace new technology played a key role in the project’s success. Stoneridge’s structured proven process methodology helped streamline workflows and create efficiencies—an approach that aligned well with their commitment to maximizing impact and operating with agility as a nonprofit organization.
Results: Streamlined Operations, Better Insights, and a Scalable Future
The move to Dynamics 365 Business Central delivered multiple improvements:
- Faster, more accurate reporting: Financial reports that once took hours to compile are now generated instantly
- Improved data visibility: Leadership can access real-time insights to support strategic decision-making
- Operational efficiency: Manual processes were replaced with automation, reducing errors and saving time
- Empowered users: With comprehensive training, internal teams are now confident in using the system effectively
- Scalability and security: The cloud-based platform positions the organization for future growth while reducing IT overhead
The team has also begun exploring additional tools in the Microsoft ecosystem, including Power BI, knowing they have a trusted partner in Stoneridge to guide them.
Looking Ahead: A Continued Partnership for Innovation
With a modern ERP system in place and a strong foundation for growth, the charitable organization is well-positioned to continue its mission with greater agility and insight. Stoneridge Software remains a strategic partner, supporting the organization as it explores new ways to leverage technology to serve its community.
