Dynamics GP in Nationwide Distribution: Deployment, Extensions

And from its core functionality, Great Plains has so-called Distribution suite of modules, including such modules as Sales Order Processing, Inventory Control with Distribution Bill of Materials, Purchase Order Processing.  Plus, especially for Distribution industry you can find numerous Add-ons to GP, available via ISV channel.  Let’s review ERP installation and deployment scenarios and possible extensions.  Let’s begin with initial implementation:

1. Phase I.  Even having long term plans, it might be a good idea to start with smaller step, such as launching Great Plains with basic functionality, such as General Ledger, AP, AR, Sales and Purchase Order Processing.  If you are walking away from your legacy accounting application, chances are high that it doesn’t satisfy your growing ambitions and might seem as outdated.  And if this is true, it probably doesn’t have the functionality, which is crossing the borders of GL, POP, SOP in Great Plains.  Walk away from legacy ERP system often requires pretty wide in its scope data migration to your new application – try to keep one step at the time and reduce possible roll-back risk

2. Phase II.  When you got your new Corporate ERP up and running in production, this is the time to plan for business logic expansion in the direction of the Supply Chain Management, EDI, B2B ecommerce and various smaller projects associated with Barcoding and RFID technologies.  SCM is very diversified in its possible implementation ways, and each company in Distribution might have its own custom and unique business processes.  Probably the majority of GP customers, who are in Distribution industry need so-called Warehouse Management System, often abbreviated as WMS

3. Warehouse Management System.  This module or external application has three logical parts of the functionality: Order Allocation/Fulfillment, Merchandise Restocking and Inventory Transactions (Quantity adjustment, transfer between the warehouses).  We recommend you to see as many WMS demos, as possible.  Please, ask the questions about WMS integration with Great Plains, as we heard reasonable concerns from external WMS applications customers to get trapped in the unexpected poor interoperability

4. Electronic Document Interchange (EDI).  It has its applicability in both Wholesale Sales and Wholesale Purchasing (or stock replenishment).  Here in our opinion you have two options.  Option one is to purchase software licenses for heavy lifting EDI module, where all (or most) or the EDI protocols and communication methods are supported.  And the option two is to purchase or program in SQL precise formatting scripts just what you need (and as we are monitoring the needs – distribution company typically has only one or two protocols and commonly deploys ftp to upload or download EDI formatted text or XML files)

5. Going beyond WMS in Supply Chain Management implementation.  There are various topics in Supply Chain Management, such as Consignment, Truck Delivery Route and Time optimization, Food Supply Items daily returns (especially in franchising networks)

6. Going Internationally.  If you are turning your corporation into multinational business, you should review such topics as Corporate ERP localization for the targeted country (where you plan to open or acquire a subsidiary).  In the international business you have to deal with sovereign nation, and respect its rights to issue business related legislation, where you have to comply.  The most often we see the tough regional or local requirements in the nations, having regional domination, such as Brazil, India, China, Russia, Japan.  Smaller nations typically are more compliant and loyal to international GAAP

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