If you are in Corporate ERP selection process, we would like to offer this small publication to your attention. Corporate ERP, MRP and accounting applications should be compared by technical and functional features.
Among the technical we recommend you to look at DB platform and its openness for Reporting, Data migration, Customizability, Typical cost of User Interface modification, openness to eCommerce, Barcoding, EDI, web applets for employees: Payroll stubs, etc. ERP, MRP, CRM and Accounting functionality should be considered from the standpoint of your Industry and even industry niche. In preferred case, you should find new Corporate ERP system, which has the potential to provide maximum of the automating and replacing your legacy systems, that you may have. If you are starting new startup, then it should automate maximum of expected processes immediately. We tried to keep you on safe page and describe you the systems from brand names: Microsoft Business Solutions and SAP
1. Microsoft Dynamics GP, formerly it was known as Great Plains Software Dynamics and eEnterprise. If you are Microsoft IT workshop, you should take a look at this system, as it is perfectly integrated with Microsoft Office Web Components, SQL Server Reporting Services, Sharepoint. Looking at technology stack - it is Microsoft SQL Server application, where its user interface is programmed in Great Plains Dexterity. Dynamics GP is probably scaled for a bit larger businesses, comparing SAP B1, as it supports Batch level transaction processing and posting. Plus its Microsoft supported sets of modules has richer business logic, such as Field Service, Manufacturing suite, Analytical Accounting, Grants Management, Project Accounting. Great Plains Dynamics was introduced on Corporate ERP market as Graphical alternative to DOS based Great Plains Accounting by Great Plains Software in earlier 1990th. So, this is matured ERP and MRP application. If you also need CRM solution, then GP recommends Microsoft CRM to be implemented with integration to Great Plains. MS CRM is completely web based application, which is accessible from all the offices in US or Worldwide, comparing to SB1 CRM with Fat client interface. Microsoft Dynamics CRM, being implemented, opens you such features as Mass Marketing and Email Campaigns, Service, etc. Dynamics GP is localized for English speaking countries, as well as it has French Canadian version and for some Spanish speaking countries in Latin America and Caribbean. GP doesn't support Unicode characters, so we do not recommend considering in-house screen translation to Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.
2. SAP Business One, often referred as SB1 or SBO. This ERP, MRP and Accounting package is newer comparing to Dynamics GP, and its interface is in some opinions more flexible and modern. We also share the opinion that SB1 is very intuitive and covers very simple Production, CRM, Warranty Contracts/Field Service, MRP and Inventory replenishment wizard, etc. SAP Business One recommends Crystal Reports for reporting. SAB Business One doesn't recommend direct SQL insert statement, as it has Early Watch service to trace such attempts, however it has MS SQL Platform open for generic reporting and data export. SBO CRM is not web based, it is available for SB1 user interface in core functionality, but in our opinion you can provide Citrix interface, or implement VPN connection for your Sales People. From technology standpoint SB1 is open to C# or VB .net programmers via SB1 SDK. SAP Business One is probably more modern and a little bit cheaper platform for Inventory Management, Picking and Packing, Service Contracts with good Knowledge Base. SB1 is very robust, when you are going internationally and you have to comply to overseas country Tax legislation and potentially support local language. As the remark, Dynamics GP is only supported in USA, Canada (including French speaking Quebec), Australia, New Zealand, India, Middle East, Souse East Asia (without support to Hieroglyph Unicode characters: Chinese, Japanese, Korean). Please, note that SB1 supports these Unicode based languages, and it is localized for China, India, Brazil, Japan, Korea
3. Barcode, Warehouse Management, Consignment and Logistics extensions, Credit Card processing. These routines are naturally in the realm of Corporate ERP ISV Partner add-ons: PC Charge, ICVerify, etc. Give us a call on what is possible for SB1 or Dynamics GP
4. GP and SB1 as International Corporate ERP tandem. If your company is planning to expand internationally, especially to such regions as Brazil, Russia, East Europe, South East Asia, China, and in USA you have Microsoft Dynamics GP, please instead of trying to Localize GP for these countries, consider implement SAP Business One for locations there. You can even have SB1 DB and Terminal Server to be serving application directly from US headquarters to give you high level of IT and Consolidated reporting control. Ongoing consolidation is possible by exporting GL transactions from SB1 tables, marking them as exported and moving them into Great Plains via Integration Manager. If you international subsidiary is very small, you can consolidate it with Headquarters via FRx reporting, exporting subsidiary reports to Excel and include this Excel worksheet into consolidating FRx reporting tree
5. How to get help? We provide SAP Business One and Microsoft Dynamics GP implementation service in Chicago, San Diego, Houston, Atlanta. If you need customization, programming, reporting for these ERP applications, we serve you USA, Canada nationwide and internationally. We speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Russian. Please give us a call: 1-866-528-0577, outside of USA: 1-630-961-5918, help@albaspectrum.com
Dexterity Customization for Dynamics GP Evaluation Level Paper
When you are developer it is always a good idea to read technical manuals. But if you was just assigned to the IT team to decide if Dexterity is the right tool to customize your ERP application then first you need something which is in style of ‘easy reading papers’ or FAQ
Planning Dynamics GP Customization in Large Corporation
If you are reading this page then chances are high that you were not able to find ISV add-on and need customization project. Let’s talk about planning, quality assurance and future event such as version updates.
Dynamics GP Invoice Logo Attributed to Specific Company or Crossing the Borders of Three SOP Forms
Initial Great Plains Dynamics architecture had three SOP Invoice forms: Long, Short and Blank. Modern GP is popular in scenarios where you have more than three companies under one business entity umbrella
