When you are at the point of crossing national borders of the United States and open facility overseas we would like to review the option where your Corporate ERP application is Microsoft Dynamics GP. We will come through such concepts as ERP localization, consolidated financial reporting, GL level transaction consolidation and multicurrency
Let’s begin with the question where GP is localized:
1. Historical Great Plains doesn’t support Unicode characters and this fact creates the problem of supporting such languages as Chinese or Japanese with their hieroglyphs. Historically Great Plains Dynamics was available in Continental Europe and even in Brazil. But recent decisions in Microsoft Dynamics family are backing Dynamics AX in worldwide expansion. GP is available in English speaking countries worldwide. Plus it is available in Arabic and in Spanish speaking Americas. In Canada there is version in French Canadian popular in Montreal and across Quebec
2. If the version is not available in the country where we are opening subsidiary can we just translate several data entry forms and reports? Technically it is possible but first we would like to review ERP localization aspects. There are two of them and the first is apparently user interface in the language of the country while the second one is compliance to country tax code and legislation. General advice is ‘do not deploy GP in large countries where it is not localized as there compliance is typically more challenging.’ For example it is difficult to deploy former Great Plains in such countries as Brazil, Russia or China
3. How do we translate user interface to foreign language? Here we are accessing technical side. There are two popular methods. The first one is in Modifier and it requires licenses for Modifier where developer should do the job and Customization Site Enablers for each user workstation. You do not move forms into Forms.dic dictionary but instead you are moving there String resources. Just find the string on the form and match its name and this is String to modify in Modifier. Here just translate it trying to stick to similar length in translation. Second method is in Dexterity where you are translating String resources directly in Dynamics.dic which should be distributed to international user workstations. Technically license is not needed assuming that you are authorized to use Dexterity. It is recommended to keep the length of each translated string to be shorter or equal but not longer to its original English version
4. Consolidated Financial Reporting. Traditionally it was done in FRx and in version 2010 new tool Microsoft Management Reporter is recommended over FRx. You can export GL trial balance into Excel from your accounting application in the foreign country and then use it in FRx or MMR reporting tree for producing consolidated P&L or Balance Sheet. Obviously there are no details in such consolidation and if you like to see GL transactions then we recommend second method. Create company in Dynamics GP which will be used for moving General Ledger entries from your overseas subsidiary accounting via Integration Manager. Export, deliver and import transactions on the regular basis and produce consolidated financial statements with GL details in MMR or FRx. Sometimes this second method is referred as ‘GL consolidation’
5. Multicurrency. Traditionally Great Plains supports multicurrency in each module. FRx and Microsoft Management Reporter are multicurrency enabled and they are capable to read exchange rates directly from GP
6. Recommendations for Brazil, China and Russian Federation. As we already mentioned we do not recommend GP deployment for subsidiaries in these regions. Instead consider the following alternatives: Dynamics AX from Microsoft, SAP Business One or maybe one of the local packages such as Microsiga in Brazil. In Russia Microsoft AX and Business One are also available plus you may think about local package 1S Bukhgalteria. In China AX and SAP B1 are also in your disposition
7. For additional information, please feel free to call us 1-866-528-0577 or 1-630-961-5918 (this number works for international customers) or email us help@albaspectrum.com We serve you USA/Canada nationwide via remote support (web sessions and phone/Skype conferences). Local service is available in Western Michigan, Chicagoland, Southern California (LA, Orange County, San Diego), Houston area of the state of Texas
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