Sioux Falls Development Modernizes Financial Management with Migration from GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central
The Sioux Falls Development Foundation (SFDF) is a small but mighty, forward-thinking economic development corporation dedicated to enhancing the economy in Sioux Falls. The organization had been operating on Microsoft Dynamics GP as an on-premise ERP system for more than 20 years but wanted to adapt for the future. While GP served had them well, the challenges of managing a system tied to physical servers came with more and more challenges over time.
Business Challenge: A Need for Modernization
Like many small businesses, SFDF faced limited IT resources, making it challenging to keep up with time-consuming tasks such as system backups, server maintenance, and managing security risks. These operational demands diverted attention from more strategic initiatives. At the same time, the organization was looking to improve its reporting capabilities to gain deeper financial insights and support more informed decision-making.
Adding to the list of challenges, SFDF was looking for a more strategic partner with expertise to support their desire to transition to a modern, cloud-based ERP system. That’s where Stoneridge Software came in.
Solution: Moving to the Cloud with Dynamics 365 Business Central
Stoneridge and SFDF partnered to migrate from Dynamics GP to Dynamics 365 Business Central. The cloud-based capabilities of D365 Business Central enhanced several key business elements, including:
- Enhanced reporting capabilities that allowed them to capture and analyze financial data more effectively
- Access to new integrations between their ERP and the broader Microsoft ecosystem
- Eliminating the need for costly on-premises server maintenance
- Reduced risk of data loss
- Automated system administration
- Improved accessibility for working from various locations
By migrating to Business Central, SFDF gained access to powerful tools that helped them automate and streamline important processes across their organization.
- The ability to easily add dimensions to the general ledger allowed them to keep a concise chart of accounts yet enhance their ability to report on different projects and initiatives.
- Leveraging Power Automate to improve old, manual processes was appreciated by all users.
- Finally, the enhancements in Business Central’s bank reconciliation have helped keep general ledger data more current and accurate.
Implementation: A Quick and Efficient Transition
Given SFDF’s relatively simple needs, the Stoneridge team was able to take a Business Central “Foundation Implementation” approach. This streamlined methodology is designed for organizations with less complexity and leads to quick and cost-effective deployments. SFDF was up and running in just 12 weeks.
A Dynamics 365 Business Central Foundation Implementation includes:
- Core financial features
- Training
- Testing Support
- Project management
- Data migration and conversion
The process included data migration, system configuration, training, and ongoing support, empowering the team at SFDF to maximize their new system’s potential from day one. Throughout the project, Stoneridge Software provided expert guidance and hands-on support, ensuring the transition was smooth.
“The implementation project was well-planned, and benefits were identified up front that identified the ROI and made the project feasible. The Stoneridge team was fully prepared throughout the implementation and continue to be a reliable source for support and continued learning for our team,” says SFDF CFO Cory Buck.
Just as important, SFDF’s proactive engagement and eagerness to learn played a critical role in the success of the project. “Sioux Falls Development was the ideal client for a Business Central Foundation implementation,” said Jodi Buchholz, Senior Sales Executive at Stoneridge Software. “As the main resource, CFO Cory Buck was proactive, hands-on, and eager to learn. He embraced the new technology and played a key role in keeping the project moving forward. With Business Central Foundation, the goal is to empower small businesses to take the reins, and SFDF did exactly that. Cory’s engagement was a big reason this project was such a success.”
Key Tools and Features Implemented
- Cloud Migration – By moving to the Microsoft Cloud with D365 Business Central, Sioux Falls Development no longer had to worry about on-premises server management and security concerns.
- Advanced Financial Reporting – Business Central’s more sophisticated reporting tools improved visibility into financial data, allowing for better decision-making.
- Microsoft Stack Integration – Business Central seamlessly connected with other Microsoft products like Outlook, Excel and Teams for a unified workflow.
Looking Ahead: Continued Partnership
Now that Sioux Falls Development has moved to the cloud with Business Central, they are well-positioned for continued growth and efficiency with a solution that is highly scalable. Stoneridge remains a trusted partner, providing ongoing support and exploring additional enhancement opportunities to further optimize their financial processes.
