Dynamics GP in 2025: A Year‑End Retrospective
2025 was a year of steady, practical progress for Microsoft Dynamics GP and it’s community: a reaffirmed support timeline that extends business confidence through December 31, 2029 (with security updates to April 30, 2031), an October 2025 (18.8) release focused on security, compliance, and day-to-day usability, and the strongest community event calendar in years from Dynamic Communities with its premier event Community Summit North America, which was held in Orlando, FL this past October as well as other many other events around the Dynamics GP community.
Together, these developments reinforced GP’s durability in SMB Finance and Operations, while giving customers clear, incremental paths to modernize without disruption.
Support & Lifecycle: A Clearer Runway
The single most consequential headline for GP customers arrived on January 15, 2025, when Microsoft adjusted the previously announced end-of-updates date from September 30, 2029, to December 31, 2029. This change ensures customers will receive 2029 year-end tax updates (critical for January 2030 payroll processing in the U.S. and Canada), while leaving the security patch end date at April 30, 2031. For many organizations, this translates into a predictable runway to plan modernization with less compliance risk over the next six years.
Why it matters: The extension balances reality for on‑prem customers, many with specialized ISV footprints, customizations, or regulatory needs, with the pace of broader Microsoft Business Applications innovation.
It also clarifies that annual October GP releases will continue: (18.8 in 2025; 18.9 in 2026; 18.10 in 2027; 18.11 in 2028; and finally, 18.12 in 2029), and that year-end updates remain cumulative, easing upgrade planning.
Product: October 2025 Release (18.8)
The 18.8 update prioritized foundational security and guided usability — less “flash,” more “finish” — exactly the type of improvements that reduce errors and audit findings at scale. As Terry Heley said, “These upgrades aren’t just random tech wizardry—they’re exactly what you, our brilliant existing customers, asked for.” So please, vote here.
Security & Platform Readiness
- TLS 1.3, .NET Framework 4.7.2, and Visual Studio 2019 compatibility help future-proof integrations and lower vulnerability surface.
- Encryption for sensitive data used by Web Client, Graph email integration, and Power BI report connections.
- SQL 2025 (released Nov 18, 2025) is currently being evaluated for compatibility.
Usability & Controls
- Sales Order Processing (SOP): Xlearer prompts for missing required fields — explicitly instructing users to expand the line-scrolling window to review hidden required fields (e.g., Site ID, pricing).
- Payables Setup Vendor Class roll-down: Default prompt now “No”, reducing accidental mass changes.
Fixed Assets Compliance
- A dedicated Luxury Auto Depreciation table and window lets customers view, manage, and edit annual limits without waiting for a year-end update, decreasing manual corrections and audit risk.
Navigation & Visibility
- A Sales Order Batches Navigation List offers better oversight of unposted batches, valuable in high‑volume environments.
VAT Enhancements to Submission Process
- The new VAT Submission Process strengthens protection for stored secrets and credentials to stay compliant and safeguard your organization’s information.
- If you submit VAT information to HMRC using Dynamics GP Making Tax Digital, upgrading to version 18.8 is essential.
Bottom line: The 18.8 release focused on the daily friction points GP users face — entry accuracy, batch visibility, vendor data governance — and on quiet but critical security hardening.
Community Momentum: Events, Training, and Content
If 2024 was a year of dialogue about GP’s future, 2025 was the year the community doubled down on education and practical value.
Dynamics Community Summit North America (Orlando, Oct 19–23, 2025)
The largest independent Microsoft AI Business Solutions conference featured GP roadmap sessions, AI/Copilot keynotes, and pre‑Dexterity and GP Power Tools training led by David Musgrave, reinforcing that skills development for GP (and GP‑adjacent tooling) continues to be both relevant and well attended.
For the Dynamics GP track specifically, there were:
- 4 Academy Classes dedicated to Dynamics GP
- 97 Education Sessions
- 52 Expert Speakers
Next year’s event, being held at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN, from October 11-16, 2026, and is sure to be filled with more exciting sessions and announcements.
Why Plan to Attend Summit 2026?
1. In‑Depth Dynamics GP Roadmap & Product Updates
Stay current with the latest GP enhancements, including security and productivity features like TLS 1.3, encrypted email, and Fixed Assets updates, typically revealed in the GP Product Roadmap general session.
2. Expert Sessions & Hands‑On Support
Access break/fix help via the Tech Medic Help Desk or GPUG Medic Desk. Participate in “Ask Us Anything – Staying with Dynamics GP” open forums with GP thought leaders.
3. Community, Networking & Peer Exchange
Connect with experts, peers, Microsoft MVPs, partners, and ISVs all facing similar GP challenges. Visit the GPUG Hub and expo booths to compare solutions, discuss staying on GP, or explore migrations.
4. Guidance on Future-Proofing & Modernization
Sessions like “Dynamics GP Futures” offer frameworks to analyze whether to stay on GP or move to Dynamics 365 BC/F&O. Learn how ISVs and partners are modernizing GP, or extending it with cloud and AI-driven tools.
5. AI, Copilot & Microsoft Business App Ecosystem
GP updates are integrated into the broader Dynamics 365 and Power Platform narrative, especially around AI and Copilot. General summit sessions unpack how AI is reshaping Microsoft Business Applications, with GP included.
6. Tactical Training & Real‑World Advice
Jump into track‑specific sessions (e.g., payroll/HR, cyber‑security) offering practical tips you can apply immediately. Enjoy themed lounges and social events that encourage informal problem-solving and peer‑to‑peer learning.
7. Platform Showcase & ISV Engagement
Explore partner booths to see extended GP platforms like cloud, tax updates, and ongoing development. Attend GP-centric sessions led by ISVs offering insights on staying ahead in a GP-dominated or hybrid environment.
Learners by Dynamics Communities
What Is Learners
- Hosted and developed by Dynamics Communities.
- A central hub for national, regional, and local events — including Community Summit, AI & Copilot Summit, Roadshows, and local user group meetups.
- Offers access to webinars, digital summits, how‑to resources, and thought leadership content across AI, Agents, Copilot, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Fabric, and more.
- Designed to support all stages of product engagement, whether evaluating a solution, onboarding, migrating, or optimizing.
How to Participate
Members
- Enjoy free membership with year-round access to discussion boards, curated content, and full event calendar. Sign up HERE.
- Join product-specific groups (e.g., GP, Business Central, F&O, Power Platform, AI Agents) and filter events by region and interest.
Leaders
- Volunteer organizers who plan and host events locally, regionally, and nationally.
- Responsible for securing venues, coordinating speakers and sponsors, and driving community engagement.
Speakers & Sponsors
- Create speaker profiles to get invited to events and share expertise.
- Sponsors support events by funding and promoting local and national meetups.
Why it Matters
- Consolidated access: Learners centralizes event discovery, connection with speakers, sponsorship opportunities, and community education within a single platform.
- Practical learning: Users gain real-world insights through peer interactions, tutorials, and hands-on training, especially around AI and Copilot.
- Community connection: It enables networking and collaborative problem solving with peers, Microsoft experts, and partners.
Look for announcements in January 2026 for events and schedules.
Practical Takeaways for GP Customers
Stay Current on 18.8 and Year‑End Updates
Because GP updates are cumulative, installing the 2025 Year‑End Update places customers on the latest foundation (including 18.8), while picking up fixes from earlier 18.x releases.
Keep Learning Through Community
The GP community continues to share best practices, ISV roadmaps, and modernization paths (including hybrid scenarios with Power Platform and Microsoft 365).
Embrace Cloud & Hybrid Options
Consider hosting GP in the cloud for better scalability and disaster recovery. Explore ISV solutions that extend GP functionality with cloud integrations.
Leverage Power Platform
Use Power BI for advanced reporting and dashboards. Automate workflows with Power Automate to reduce manual processes.
Prepare for AI & Copilot
Start integrating AI-driven tools for predictive analytics and automation. Learn how Copilot can assist with financial insights and repetitive tasks.
Optimize Security & Compliance
Implement multi-factor authentication and encryption for sensitive data. Stay ahead of tax and regulatory changes with updated GP modules.
Plan for Long-Term Strategy
Evaluate whether to stay on GP or migrate to another platform. Attend community events (like Summit NA) for migration guidance and best practices.
Outlook for 2026
Expect Microsoft to continue the cadence with October 2026 (18.9), delivering incremental improvements guided by community voting and support telemetry, while maintaining year‑end update discipline. For organizations mapping a modernization trajectory, the extended GP timeline allows thoughtful sequencing — stabilize GP, simplify ISV footprints, introduce Power Platform automations, and evaluate Business Central migration on your terms, without compromising 2026 compliance.
Closing Thoughts
The story of Dynamics GP in 2025 is a pragmatic one: a platform that keeps meeting SMB Finance and Operations needs, fortified by security and usability improvements, supported by a vibrant community, and crucially backed by a lifecycle that grants time and flexibility. Whether you remain on GP through 2029 (with security to 2031) or begin a staged modernization, 2025 delivered the clarity and tools to make those decisions confidently.
