Friday, August 8, 2014

Dynamics GP 2015 – Functionality discontinuation notice

Microsoft announced that Business Portal will not be compatible with Dynamics GP 2015.

Business Portal
Microsoft has decided to discontinue the development of Business Portal and focus instead on including most of the same functionality directly into the core code base of Dynamics GP 2015.  The replacement functionality will be available to anyone using one of the concurrent Client Access Licenses (CALs) to access GP:
  • Business Portal
  • Business Portal Employee Users
  • Business Portal Customer Users
  • Time and Expense for Business Portal
  • Time and Attendance
  • Employee Pay
  • Employee Profile
  • Recruitment
  • Skills and Training
  • Requisition Management
  • SOX Accelerator for Business Portal
The following Business Portal functionality will not be available in GP 2015 and are not planned for replacement.
  • Order Management
  • PDK
  • eService
  • eReturns
The discontinuation impacts all GP 2015 licensing models: Perpetual licensing, Subscription Licensing and Service Provider Licensing Agreement (SPLA).

What does this mean for existing clients?

Dynamics GP 2013 Clients
  • Business Portal remains available for use with Dynamics GP 2013 and prior versions.
Dynamics GP 2010 Clients (current on enhancement)
  • On the Module Based Licensing model may continue licensing Business Portal functionality and users
  • On the Business Ready Licensing model may continue to license additional Light Users - Limited Upgrade and Employee Self Service - Limited Upgrade.
  • However, existing clients will no longer be able to use these functionalities when upgrading to Dynamics GP 2015.
Microsoft will continue to support Business Portal functionalities for GP 2013 and prior versions through the end of the Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle.  NOTE: mainstream support for GP 2013 ends April 10, 2018.

Dynamics GP 2010 clients, on an active enhancement plan, upgrading to Dynamics GP 2015 via the License Model Transition Upgrade path:
  • Clients on MBL model will receive 1 Limited CAL per licensed BP user.  The Protected List Price of licensed BP modules will be allocated to the Limited CALs.  This conversion does not apply to BP users which were provided at no charge to provide individuals using concurrent CALs to access the application access to BP.
  • Clients on the BRL model will receive Limited CALs for licensed Light Users as per the Microsoft Dynamics Transition Upgrade Policy.  The PLP of licensed Light Users will be allocated to the Limited CALs.
Dynamics GP 2010 clients with an active enhancement plan upgrading to GP 2015 via the License Credit Transition Upgrade path need to license an appropriate number of concurrent CALs to access the replacement functionalities and can use the PLP of licensed Business Portal modules towards this license cost.

Dynamics GP 2013/2013 R2 clients with an active enhancement plan upgrade to GP 2015 need to license an appropriate number of concurrent CALs to access the replacement functionalities.  There is no conversion for the free GP users which were included in the Starter Pack to allow individuals using concurrent CALs to also access BP.

If you are looking to upgrade or have any questions, please contact us at info@collinscomputing.com or (800) 943-9211.