Microsoft Dynamics GP is midmarket Corporate ERP application, also formerly known as Great Plains Software Dynamics and eEnterprise. In our opinion it has rich business logic, which could lead to user training to be required with precise data entry and flow procedures design for each department and user role.
At the same time rich functionality gives you the opportunity to find the way to automate unique business processes for various industries and niches. From the technology side,
Great Plains Dynamics doesn’t prevent you from feeding data directly via SQL insert statement, which makes this application very flexible, but has potential to cause the problems by compromising data integrity (this openness is not possible in newer ERP systems, such as Axapta Dynamics AX or SAP Business One). Let’s review Dynamics GP in the sense of being implemented for nationwide wholesaler or distributor:
1. Distribution modules in GP. Here you see the key modules for Wholesale specific business processes automation: Inventory Control (with Bill of Materials), Purchase Order Processing and Sales Order Processing. There is large community of Microsoft Dynamics GP ISV partners, offering and supporting numerous add-ons to extend distribution logic as well as provide vertical and horizontal solutions. We would like to visit such features as Warehouse Management System, EDI (Electronic Document Interchange), B2B eCommerce
2. Warehouse Management System. This is probably one of the first items on your list, when you are selecting new Corporate ERP application, being in Wholesale or Distribution business. WMS probably requires decision on the philosophy of the integration with your ERP system. There are two types of WMS approaches. First one is external standalone WMS, which is completely self-sufficient with good level of reporting and with possible connectors or integration packages to major ERP and Accounting applications. These types of WMS have larger number of installations, which is good point, however there are sometimes complains about their integration to core ERP or back offices accounting applications, as being too complex and requiring high level of unexpected consulting hours. Plus, imagine – you have already paid for WMS business logic in Dynamics GP (or another Corporate ERP application) and now in external WMS you have to pay for similar software business logic to be integrated in its counterpart transactions and objects in Dynamics GP Distribution. The second WMS approach is Dynamics GP WMS extensions, where you simply enable SOP Sales Transaction for Fulfillment, POP Purchase Receipt as Merchandise replenishment and Inventory Transfer and Adjustment transactions for barcode scanning. We favor the second approach with Dynamics GP WMS extensions
3. Electronic Document Interchange. You may require your wholesale customers to submit their sales orders via EDI or if you are ordering from large manufacturers, EDI compliance might be required from you. In our opinion EDI and its technology require research and understanding what you really need. Old fashioned EDI was represented by text file with precise field format with document header, lines and trailer. With the introduction of XML, EDI has now new horizons to be more universal, however there is no generally accepted standards on XML EDI. There are various Dynamics GP EDI add-ons, but we would not recommend to rush to purchase one of them, EDI could be easily implemented via SQL Stored Procedure, where you can read and parse EDI tech file (precise SQL Select formatting) or process any type of XML EDI file. The second part of EDI is media – typically old fashioned http posts, or newer approaches, such as ftp upload/download and even email
4. E-Commerce. Electronic commerce makes the cost of each transaction close to zero, even in the wholesale trade environment. Regarding ecommerce and Dynamics GP we have to respect the history and trends in ecommerce shopping cart software development. There is good portion of the market hosted in Linux where you can see PHP platform and such shopping cart as Magento. Alternatively on Microsoft Windows .Net you see such popular shopping cart as ASP .Net Storefront. We have ecommerce add-ons directly from Alba Spectrum, which has wizard driven implementation interface and it works with our Warehouse Management Extensions for Dynamics GP
5. Barcoding in Dynamics GP. Technically every Great Plains form, where you need to enter something via keyboard, might be automated with barcode scanner. If you walk on the warehouse floor with tiny computer, where Dynamics GP client is installed and if this computer is connected to your server via wireless connection – you can open required transaction (such as SOP Document for allocation), pull the document number, position cursor over the line, where barcode label could be scanned and finally scan the physical label of the item, located in the bin of you isle – this should do the job. However this solution might be too nonrealistic, as you expect warehouse workers to do mass scanning and then upload the documents in the batch (picking slips application, inventory count, etc.). This is one of the reasons, why you need WMS extensions
6. For Questions, to request presentation, or any type of additional information, please call us 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918 or email us help@albaspectrum.com If our WMS, eCommerce, EDI product fits to your requirements, or if our generic Dynamics GP Dexterity, eConnect, VBA/Modifier, FRx, Extender or other Dynamics GP oriented technology skills – we are happy to provide nationwide support (USA, Canada) or even international support via web sessions, and if required initial visits onsite to establish communication with key IT and Accounting departments folks. Local and regional support (where Dynamics GP consultant comes to your office on the short request without associated travel fee, just mileage driving from the local office) is available in Michigan: St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo, Holland, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, South Haven, Saugatuck, Grand Haven, Ludington; Chicagoland: Chicago downtown, Northern and Southern suburbs from the offices in Chicago, Naperville, and Evanston; Southern California, from Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego locations; Houston Texas
