The Pressure to Switch and the Pitch That Seemed Too Good to Fail
For NewStar Sourcing, Microsoft’s message was clear: Move off Dynamics GP—or risk being left behind. Like many long-time GP users, NewStar felt mounting pressure coming at them from all directions. Microsoft’s messaging, aggressive competitors and pushy partners were all saying the same thing, Newstar needed to move on from Dynamics GP. At the end of the day, the allure of Business Central’s modern dashboards, tighter Microsoft integrations, and cloud mobility seemed undeniable.
“We heard it everywhere: If you wait too long, you’ll run out of time and resources,” recalled Tony Colanino, President of NewStar. “The demos looked great—dashboards, reporting, Power BI. It seemed like a no-brainer. Microsoft-to-Microsoft—how hard could it be?”
But the truth? It wasn’t just hard. It was a disaster.
The Broken Promise of Business Central
Due to the fear that GP was going away, NewStar believed that a fresh start with Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC) was the logical next step. They selected a local BC partner, trusting that onsite resources would ensure a smooth transition.
“We liked the idea of having someone local who could really understand our business,” Tony explained.
Instead, that local support failed them.
Their partner spent just a day learning NewStar’s operations. Training sessions became chaotic, wasting hours as consultants visibly struggled to learn BC themselves. Critical processes were overlooked entirely.
And then the real cracks appeared.
Business Central simply couldn’t handle NewStar’s operational needs:
- Inventory costing and lot tracking
- Assembly and manufacturing
- Warehouse fulfillment logic
- Back-order processing
- High-volume batch invoice processing
NewStar also didn’t anticipate the loss of another critical tool: Cavallo SalesPad Desktop. As a key component of their operations within Dynamics GP, SalesPad Desktop streamlined their order processing and inventory management. Moving to Business Central meant giving that up—without a comparable replacement. The result? “This used to take us 3 clicks and now it takes 15 clicks,” recalls Tony. Even simple tasks became cumbersome, slowing down their business.
This experience underscored the strength of Dynamics GP’s extensive ISV community. For NewStar, solutions like Cavallo SalesPad Desktop weren’t “nice-to-haves”—they were business-critical. In Business Central, those integrations simply didn’t exist.
“I thought this transition just meant training my team to do things a little differently, but it wasn’t just a learning curve. BC simply couldn’t do what we needed,” Tony admitted.
Delays mounted. Go-live dates slipped. When the system finally launched, NewStar was paralyzed: missing invoices, broken fulfillment, skyrocketing frustration.
“7 Weeks of Hell”: Facing the Collapse
In Tony’s words, what followed their eventual go-live on Business Central was “seven weeks of hell.” Having been through ERP transitions before, Tony knew that even the best ones are traumatic experiences for the business and the people. He thought they could push through. But soon he realized that there was nothing they could do to solve this “square peg, round hole” issue.
“I went to our board, fell on my sword, and took full responsibility. We’d flushed six figures and a year of effort down the drain. But I knew we couldn’t afford to keep pushing.”
Even worse? They were just days away from losing their original Dynamics GP data, scheduled for deletion.
“We got lucky. We reached out to Njevity just in time.”
Coming Home to Dynamics GP—Powered by Njevity
Within days of reconnecting with their GP system—this time hosted securely in PowerGP Online under Njevity’s care—NewStar’s chaos turned back into control, and the smiles returned to Tony’s team.
“That old GP pickup truck just starts every time you turn the key,” Tony said. “And now we’ve got Njevity showing us where the turbo switch is.”
With Njevity, NewStar didn’t just get back on stable ground. They found a partner committed to their long-term success:
- Optimized automation and reporting
- New capabilities like PowerGP Banking and PowerGP Connect
- A proactive partner who understands both GP and their business
- Someone willing and excited to support GP for the next 10+ years
Tony saw what many GP users overlook: GP wasn’t holding them back; they just had a partner that was no longer focused on GP or their GP customers.
Advice From the Front Lines
Tony’s advice to other GP users considering BC?
Go Slow. Ask Hard Questions.
“Don’t get dazzled by fresh and flashy demos. Ask exactly how your processes—inventory, costing, fulfillment—will work in BC. And don’t assume just because it’s Microsoft, it’ll fit your business.”
Beware Hidden Costs.
“Even where BC claimed to match GP’s features, it took two to three times longer to do simple tasks. Efficiency matters.”
Choose the Right Partner.
“Don’t pick a partner just because they’re local. Make sure they deeply understand both Dynamics GP and your industry.”
Looking Ahead—with Confidence
Today, NewStar isn’t looking back. With Njevity and PowerGP Online, they’re focused on growth—not survival:
- Stabilizing and refining systems
- Unlocking cloud features for automation and reporting
- Building a lasting partnership founded on trust and expertise
“We’re not looking over our shoulder anymore,” Tony said. “We’ve got the right team behind us.”
The Takeaway: Dynamics GP is Far From Done
NewStar’s painful journey stands as a clear warning—and a hopeful reminder.
Dynamics GP isn’t obsolete. With the right partner, it’s powerful, reliable, and built to scale.
Njevity not only helped NewStar get back to Dynamics GP – an ERP application that handles all of their business needs, but also helped them get their ‘happy’ back by giving them the peace of mind that trusted partners like Njevity and Cavallo will be supporting and enhancing Dynamics GP long after Microsoft stops.
As Tony says:
“Microsoft did loyal GP customers a disservice with their scare tactics. They pushed us into a system that didn’t fit. If you’re still on GP, don’t panic. Your systems won’t just stop working. What you really need is a partner who knows GP and understands your business.”
Download the Case Study
NewStar thought Business Central was the future. A year and six figures later, they found themselves in “7 weeks of hell” after finally going live on BC. Download the story of their return to GP, and how the right partner can make all the difference.
What you’ll get:
- A real-world narrative, from high hopes to humbling reality
- Side-by-side comparison: promise vs. reality
- The value of staying with tried-and-true, when it still fits your business
Save it, share it, make it your most compelling conversation starter when someone suggests “GP is dead, time to switch.”
