Microsoft Dynamics SL has driven business success since the 1980s, back when the product was known simply as Microsoft Dynamics Solomon, and before it was acquired by Microsoft. Even now, small and medium enterprises rely on Microsoft Dynamics SL 2015 and Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018, the most recent versions of the product, to drive their finances and operations. However, as more and more companies move to cloud-based ERP systems with virtually unlimited support timelines, it’s becoming more difficult to justify remaining on SL and dealing with versioning hurdles every few years. For this reason, an increasing number of MS Dynamics SL users are migrating to Microsoft Dynamics 365.
Over the next few years, SL 2015 users in particular will have to decide whether or not they will continue using the system, and for how long. Mainstream support for SL 2015 ended on 1/14/20, and while the extended support plan will provide security and functionality updates through 1/14/25, users will be left vulnerable once that date passes. The situation is even more urgent for SL 2011 Service Pack 3 users, as extended support for that product ends on 7/13/21.
Many users are tempted to upgrade to SL 2018. After all, that version hasn’t even hit the midpoint of its mainstream support. However, that doesn’t change the fact that mainstream support for SL2018 ends on 7/11/23, and extended support on 7/11/28. Even if that buys close to another decade of remaining on SL, it’s merely delaying the inevitable shift to a new ERP once SL 2018 reaches its end of life.