Great Plains Software: History, Features, and ERP Solutions
Businesses need reliable software to manage accounting, financial reporting, inventory, purchasing, and daily operations. As organizations grow, managing these activities through separate spreadsheets and disconnected applications can become increasingly difficult.
Enterprise resource planning software helps businesses organize these processes within a structured business management environment.
Great Plains Software is an important name in the history of business accounting and ERP technology. The company developed financial and business management software that became widely associated with Microsoft Dynamics GP, a business management solution used by organizations to manage accounting and operational activities.
Although Great Plains Software is no longer an independent company, its products and technology continue to be relevant when discussing Microsoft Dynamics GP and the evolution of ERP software.
This guide explains the history of Great Plains Software, its relationship with Microsoft Dynamics GP, its main features, business benefits, and considerations for companies evaluating ERP solutions.
What Is Great Plains Software?
Great Plains Software was a business software company known for developing accounting and enterprise management applications. Its software helped organizations manage financial information, business transactions, and operational records.
The company became particularly well known for its accounting and business management products, which were used by organizations seeking more structured financial management.
Great Plains Software was acquired by Microsoft in 2001. Following the acquisition, its business management products became part of Microsoft’s enterprise software portfolio.
The product commonly associated with Great Plains Software is Microsoft Dynamics GP. Dynamics GP developed from Great Plains’ business management technology and became a Microsoft ERP product designed to support accounting, financial management, distribution, and other business processes.
It is important to distinguish between the original Great Plains Software company and Microsoft Dynamics GP. Great Plains Software refers to the historical company, while Dynamics GP refers to the ERP product that evolved from its software technology.
The History of Great Plains Software
Early Development
Great Plains Software was founded in 1981 by Doug Burgum and other early contributors. The company initially focused on developing accounting and business software for organizations that needed practical financial management tools.
As businesses increasingly adopted computer-based accounting, software companies began creating applications that could replace manual bookkeeping and spreadsheet-based processes.
Great Plains Software developed products that supported these changing business requirements. Its software became known for helping organizations manage accounting information and business transactions.
Microsoft Acquisition
Microsoft acquired Great Plains Software in 2001. The acquisition expanded Microsoft’s business applications portfolio and strengthened its presence in the enterprise software market.
Great Plains products became part of Microsoft’s business management software strategy. The acquisition also helped establish the foundation for Microsoft Dynamics GP.
Evolution into Microsoft Dynamics GP
Microsoft Dynamics GP evolved from Great Plains business management software. The product expanded beyond traditional accounting to support additional business functions.
Depending on the version and configuration, Dynamics GP has supported areas such as:
- General ledger
- Accounts payable
- Accounts r