Great Plains ERP: Features, Benefits, and Modern Alternatives
Great Plains ERP has been an important business management solution for companies looking to manage financial operations, accounting processes, inventory, and reporting.
Originally developed as Great Plains Software, the platform became part of Microsoft’s business software portfolio and was eventually known as Microsoft Dynamics GP.
Although Great Plains ERP has supported businesses for decades, organizations are increasingly evaluating modern ERP alternatives to improve operational efficiency, cloud accessibility, and business integration.
Understanding Great Plains ERP’s capabilities, benefits, limitations, and available alternatives can help businesses make informed decisions about their software strategy.
This guide explores Great Plains ERP, its core features, business applications, and modern ERP solutions worth considering.
What Is Great Plains ERP?
Great Plains ERP is a business management software system historically associated with Microsoft Dynamics GP.
The platform was designed to help businesses manage financial operations, accounting, inventory, purchasing, sales, and reporting.
Organizations use ERP software to centralize business information and improve coordination between departments.
Great Plains ERP became particularly relevant for small and midsize businesses that needed accounting and operational management capabilities beyond basic bookkeeping applications.
Its functionality can support businesses that require financial reporting, transaction management, inventory tracking, and operational visibility.
However, the ERP landscape has changed significantly as cloud-based platforms and modern business applications have become more widely available.
Companies using Great Plains ERP should understand their current product version, deployment environment, support arrangements, and long-term technology requirements.
Great Plains ERP History
Great Plains Software was founded in the United States and developed business management software for organizations seeking integrated accounting and operational applications.
Microsoft acquired Great Plains Software in 2001.
Following the acquisition, the product became part of Microsoft’s business software portfolio.
The solution eventually adopted the Microsoft Dynamics GP name.
Microsoft Dynamics GP continued to provide financial management and business operations functionality for organizations across different industries.
Over time, businesses began comparing Dynamics GP with newer ERP platforms offering cloud deployment, updated user experiences, and broader integration capabilities.
This shift has made ERP modernization an important consideration for companies that continue to operate Great Plains ERP.
Great Plains ERP Features
Great Plains ERP provides several business management capabilities.
The exact functionality available depends on the installed version, configuration, licensed modules, and third-party integrations.
1. Financial Management
Financial management is one of the core capabilities associated with Great Plains ERP.
The platform supports accounting activities that help businesses manage financial transactions and maintain accounting records.
Common financial management functions include:
- General ledger
- Accounts payable
- Accounts receivable
- Bank reconciliation
- Financial reporting
- Transaction management
These capabilities help organizations maintain financial visibility and coordinate accounting activities.
The general ledger provides a central location for financial transactions.
Accounts payable supports vendor-related financial activities, while accounts receiva