Corporate ERP for Mid-Size Organization: Microsoft Dynamics GP Notes

In this small publication we would like to share with you our Microsoft Dynamics GP Great Plains implementation experience and implementation nuances for various business types.  We do not pretend to be top experts in all the industries, and you may find that your case not listed here, or you expect it be implemented different for your company.  Again, Dynamics GP, as we see it is powerful and flexible Corporate ERP platform, ready for moderate or heavy customization, modification, integration, custom reporting and open for moderate or really complex data migration and conversion:
1. Functionality.  We will not be talking here about apparent and traditional functionality, such as General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, as we assume that all Corporate ERP applications handle these areas (Oracle eBusiness Suite, SAP Business One, PeopleSoft, Epicor, Accpac, mySAP, etc.).  Let's begin with Manufacturing Suite - if you have midsize or larger Discrete Manufacturing facility - this might be good or even perfect fit (if you have so-called Process Manufacturing, such as in food and meat processing industries, please be sure that you reviewed Dynamics AX Axapta).  Project Organization should review GP Project Accounting module with precise budgeting and profit and loss tracking for each project or project class (as alternative, please review also Dynamics SL Solomon, as you may find good alternative logic for your type of Project Organization).  Supply Chain Management: here you have set of Dynamics GP modules, covering this functionality: Inventory Control (with multiple sites, serial and lot number tracking, bins management, inventory cycle count, etc.), Sales Order Processing module (with reasonable negotiation and order execution logic, items allocation and return management, drop ships), Purchase Order Processing (with Purchase Order configurator for automated stock replenishment logic), Grant Management and Analytical Accounting (this is often required for non for profit organization).  Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Portal also covers such features as Electronic Document Delivery (to send Invoices and other documents to your customers and other business partners automatically), Order Management (B2B ecommerce with catalog management and pricing directly from GP Inventory Control module), Requisition Management (with Requisition approval hierarchy and integration to GP Purchase Order Processing module), Human Resources with Employee self management (to eliminate the need for check stubs mailing as one of the advantages).  We are following article genre restrictions, and if you have additional questions, please contact us directly
2. Integration.  Dynamics GP is open for integration with text files or ODBC compliant data sources via user friendly tool (which also had advanced features and scripting options for software programmers) Great Plains Integration Manager module.  IM should not be considered as very basic tool, we have customers, who integrates close to real time ecommerce transactions with IM scheduled integrations (every twenty minutes).  IM could reasonable efficiently cover integration with Heterogeneous SQL queries, where you import to GP something like Oracle, MySQL/PHP/Linux based transactions via Advanced ODBC data sources in IM.  If you require real time GP integration, we recommend you to review eConnect SDK programming options.  If you would like to do automatic ecommerce batches posting in Dynamics GP, we offer Alba Spectrum Posting Server add-on (coded in Great Plains Dexterity source level scripts).  If you are thinking about EDI (Electronic Document Interchange) integration scenarios, we are happy to help you with formatted SQL Select statement and stored procedures to avoid expensive Dynamics GP EDI add-ons purchasing and deployment
3. Customization and Modification.  If you need just to modify some GP screens, please review Modifier module (with VBA scripting).  For deep customization, which is naturally integrated into GP user interface and user security realm, consider Dynamics GP Dexterity.  Initially Dexterity was intended as Great Plains Software Dynamics Architecture.  It was created as the shell, programmed in C++ programming language.  If you have reasonably strong IT department in large organization, we recommend you to try VBA customization (events scripting) for Modified Windows (in GP Modifier).  For Dexterity programming in our opinion learning curve is too long and we do not recommend over night or over weekend, or even over one month turn around for generic C#, VB or C++ programmer to become Dexterity developer
4. Reporting.  Here you have several tools plus numerous generic reporting options.  FRx Financial Reporting is dedicated to Financial Statements: Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss, Statement of Cash Flow, including consolidated versions.  FRx also covers consolidation with overseas subsidiaries, if you are exporting them into Excel worksheets from SAP Business One or local favorite Accounting packages, such as Microsiga in Brazil or 1C Accounting in Russia.  In some case you may be OK with Advanced Financial Reporting, but in our opinion FRx is better option (Advanced Financials comes with Small Business Financials and Dynamics GP as Dexterity coded module, you do not need to purchase additional software licenses for AF).  Great Plains Report Writer allows you to modify such important forms as SOP Blank Invoice (where you likely need to place your company graphical logo).  Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (or SSRS) offers you flexible alternative and free platform for advanced complex reporting, especially Managerial reporting: Sales Commission (with advanced and complex sales commission calculation formula to give you a good example).  For non Microsoft Reporting Platforms we would like to mention Crystal Reports, as this tool (in our opinion similar in its functionality and power to SSRS) has numerous CR developers available on the job market for contracting and sub contracting
5. Data Conversion and Migration.  As we can suggest it from our experience, Dynamics GP data conversions are often end up as show stoppers for GP implementations.  When you are switching to new Corporate ERP application, you should be moderate in your expectations, and try to avoid typical pitfalls.  Great Plains is not an exception, we recommend you to be OK with just master records migration and transfer beginning balances to your GL accounts.  However, and again in our personal opinion, Great Plains Integration Manager allows you to experiment with current year GL data migration or even with attempts to bring several years of modules (SOP, POP, Payroll, AR, AP, etc.) batches and their posting.   Data Conversion and Massage in our opinion are very sensitive to integration mapping (how accurate you are in exporting accounts from your legacy ERP, such as QuickBooks, Peach Tree, MYOB and mapping them one-to-one to new Corporate ERP accounts in Great Plains Dynamics)
6. Great Plains Upgrade.  Microsoft Dynamics GP upgrade should be given to the hands of professional Dynamics GP Consultant.  There are numerous known issues, knowledge base articles, training seminars, technical broadcasts and demos for Great Plains Professionals - we encourage you to try to follow, especially when you are small organization, but if you deploy custom GP logic and your organization is not tolerant to Corporate ERP blackouts, we recommend GP version update to be given to the hands of experienced Dynamics GP Partner
7. Dynamics GP as Corporate ERP for Multinational Corporation.  Please review such topics as Accounting application international localization.  Typically localization includes two things: local language translation and compliance to local country tax and government reporting compliance.  If your subsidiary is located in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Kosovo, Albania, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Burma, we recommend you SAP Business One or local leaders in Corporate ERP applications (such as Microsiga in Brazil or 1S Bukhalteria in Russian Federation)
8. Please review our Great Plains Guru level articles on Albaspectrum or Pegasplanet websites.   We are full service Dynamics GP Partner, ISV, Reseller and VAR
9. If you are University Student and study Accounting, ERP and MRPII courses.  Please, check with your University IT department, typically universities have Educational MSDN subscription and you can have IT folks to download Dynamics GP CD for you
10. How to get help?  Please, feel free to call us: 1-866-528-0577, outside of USA: 1-630-961-5918 or email us help@albaspectrum.com  We are very technical and real Dynamics GP Dexterity, SAP Business One SDK programming gurus.  We have Great Plains Software Development Factory and could support unlimited Dynamics GP Customization and Programming needs.  Plus we speak English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and not only as native speaking sales folks, but as real technical consultants.  If you prefer skype: albaspectrum