Dynamics GP SOP, POP and Inventory modules Barcode extensions

First one would be external WMS, which has rich Order Fulfillment, Inventory reordering and receiving, Inventory Adjustments and Transfers business logic and having connections , or integration packages to major ERP platforms.  And the second option would be to look for just WMS extensions for your ERP application – extensions mean that the system works out of your ERP objects and transactions and doesn’t require integration.  Each approach has pluses and minuses and we would like to discuss these options, assuming that your Corporate ERP and Accounting application is Microsoft Dynamics GP, also often referred as Great Plains Dynamics, especially older versions:
1. Warehouse Management System typical business logics.  You may have something that is not listed, but required in your case, which is also possible.  However classical WMS has three components: Sales Order Fulfillment, Merchandise Replenishment and Inventory Moves and Adjustments.  The core for WMS is Barcoding technology
2. How WMS logic fits to Dynamics GP modules infrastructure?  We have to basically open Barcode scanning for Great Plains Distributions modules: Purchase Order Processing, Sales Order Processing and Inventory Control.  Let’s review how Order Fulfillment works.  First of all, you have Customer Sales Order or Invoice created in Dynamics GP (often via EDI or B2B or B2C ecommerce interfaces and created in GP automatically).  It is important to have SOP Type to require manual allocation, as allocation is what you later do on the warehouse floor by scanning items in picking and packing or assembly on order routines.  WMS client application runs directly on your barcode scanner operating system and it is coded in VB (traditional pre .Net technology is used due to the Barcode scanner computing power restrictions).  When you scan barcode label of the item to pick, WMS client transmits this info to the WMS Server via wireless connection and WMS Server, being on your network, talks to Dynamics GP company DB via ODBC connection to allocate the SOP document item line (where item ID matches the scanned Barcode Label).  Similarly WMS extensions open POP Purchase Receipt GP screen for Barcoding as well as Inventory Transaction and Transfer screens in Inventory Control Module
3. Some elaboration on External Standalone Warehouse Management System versus WMS extensions.  As good plus of Standalone WMS is its reliability (it probably has huge number of installations and you expect that most of the software development bugs are already fixed and you do not have to participate in beta testing or pilot implementations).  As the minuses you should probably think about the fact that you already have similar distribution logic in your ERP application, and in order to implement external WMS, you will need to purchase the same or very similar business logic software licenses.  Another potential minus is the fact, that External WMS requires Integration “Implementation” phase, which might be not initially expected or at least not emphasized.  WMS extensions in their turn might have lesser number of installations (as they extend only specific ERP platform, Microsoft Dynamics GP as in our example).  However they do not require you to pay second time for the distribution business logic (assuming that you already have Dynamics GP SOP, POP, Inventory modules licenses).  Second plus might be the fact that it is already integrated by its nature and doesn’t require “integration” phase or hidden budget
4. Custom logic in Warehouse Management System.  It is natural, as WMS is not something that comes out-of-the-box.  If you are in Manufacturing, or Wholesale business – we expect each industry to have unique requirements, regulations.  Plus is you are successful competing in your industry niche – you probably have unique way, allowing you to compete successfully (often based on knowhow, where WMS modification might be required)
5. Second opinion or Warehouse Management System recovery scenarios.  If you are reading these lines, your story might be unique about failed WMS implementation.  From our perspective we see some trends in having external WMS to be integrated with your ERP application, where “integration” phase goes over budget and even into limbo, where you WMS vendor tells you that they are not really Dynamics GP consultants and your Dynamics GP Reseller tells you that they are not familiar with WMS integration connector or package.  Feel free to call us, if the situation seems familiar
6. If you need help, please call us 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918 or email us help@albaspectrum.com  The nature of our Dynamics GP and Warehouse Management System consulting is Nationwide (USA and Canada) and even international, where we are doing sales cycle via web and phone (or skype) conferences with required visits onsite to shake hands and introduce our key project managers and consultants.  We are also available for local service in Western Michigan: St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Holland, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, South Haven, Grand Haven, Ludington, New Buffalo.  Plus we server you locally in Southern California: Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County, Northern Illinois and Chicagoland, Houston, Texas.  We also are happy to help you with recovering failed Great Plains implementation, where something like data conversion, integration or reporting is in limbo or maybe where you would like to hear second opinion.  Or specializations are Dynamics GP Dexterity, eConnect customizations and integrations, Crystal Reports, FRx, Integration Manager, Extender, custom EDI and eCommerce for Great Plains, challenging version upgrades (where you are migrating from Great Plains Accounting for DOS, Great Plains on Pervasive SQL 2000 or Ctree, Great Plains Small Business Financials), Great Plains data repair (stuck batch recovery, historical year reopening, automatic batch posting from your eConnect projects)