How We Rescued a Business That Wasn’t Even Using Dynamics GP

We got a call from an IT consultant who was desperate for help. Their client’s accounting system and other business-critical software were down. The business was in crisis mode.

He told us the company was running an old, unsupported version of Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly Great Plains) system with FRx (also unsupported), and they needed urgent assistance.

We immediately stepped up to the challenge, but we were in for a big surprise.

Uncovering the Truth About Their Microsoft Dynamics System

As many know, FRx hasn’t been supported by Microsoft for over 10 years. So, it was clear to us that this client was using a system that hadn’t been updated in a long time. But the real twist came when we investigated further.

They weren’t running Dynamics GP at all. They were on an old, unsupported version of Microsoft Dynamics SL (formerly known as Solomon).

Although the names are similar, it is an entirely different product.

The outside IT consultant who had worked with them for years on their primary systems didn’t realize this. Even more surprising, the client believed they were using Dynamics GP. In their defense, only one person actively used the Dynamics system for the General Ledger and financial reporting and mainly relied on exporting and importing data from their other, primary systems.

But it was still a big surprise to all of us.

Calling In Favors From the Dynamics Community

This wasn’t just a case of outdated software; it was a full-blown crisis. The company couldn’t restore their data from a backup, and no one knew some of the passwords needed.

Here’s the thing: at DLD Business Solutions, we don’t specialize in Dynamics SL. But we do specialize in helping people, no matter the circumstances.

This company had already been down for a couple of weeks, and I couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Over the years, we’ve built strong relationships in the Microsoft Dynamics community, so I started calling in favors.

In just a couple of days, with the help of my network, we got their old, unsupported Dynamics SL and FRx systems back up and running. Their relief was palpable. They were amazed at how quickly we assembled a team to solve what seemed like an impossible problem.   

Building Trust Leads to Dynamics 365 BC

After the systems were restored, I had an honest conversation with them. I explained that we didn’t jump in to sell them Dynamics 365 Business Central, but it was clear their current setup wasn’t sustainable. This kind of system issue could easily happen again.

Still, it wasn’t the right time for them to switch systems or have in-depth discussions.  They had an audit and a tough year-end to get through first. So, I gave them a bit of information on Dynamics 365 BC, and we left it at that.

But they remembered us. They appreciated that even though we had basically performed “emergency heart surgery” on their system, we only billed them at our regular client rates.  More importantly, we showed up when they needed help! 

When the time was right, they came back and wanted to look at implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.  The CFO and their outside IT consultant wanted an ERP Partner they could depend on -someone local, someone they could look in the eyes across the table. We could skip the “sales cycle” because we had already proven that we could be trusted.

They knew they could depend on DLD Business Solutions to help them make the jump to a modern cloud ERP system.

Now, we’re working with them on a Dynamics 365 BC implementation.

Picking Up the Phone Still Matters

How did this company find us in the first place? The IT consultant called our phone number, and we answered. It might sound simple, but in today’s world of spam calls and automated systems, it’s rare.

Many Dynamics Partners screen calls or funnel people to email, but at DLD Business Solutions, we understand that someone may be dealing with a software support issue or even a software crisis, and they want to talk to a real person right away. We still answer the phone.

It’s this kind of responsiveness that builds trust and long-term relationships. We don’t just want to be a vendor; we want to be a partner.

At DLD Business Solutions, we don’t believe in cutting corners. Whether it’s answering the phone during a crisis or billing fairly for emergency, after-hours work, we’re here to help businesses succeed. We believe it’s about doing what’s right and showing up when it matters most. 

That matters to us.

If you want to work with a Microsoft Dynamics GP/Dynamics 365 Business Central partner you can trust, call us at 205-533-9458. We will answer.

By Dennis Day, CPA, DLD Business Solutions, Microsoft Dynamics ERP Partner headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and serving companies primarily in the United States and Canada.