Dynamics GP Integration in Retail Chain: POS, Supply Chain Management

And if you have dozens of stores or possibly franchisees network, where you are supplying goods and equipment – consider integration between high-end Retail application and Dynamics GP modules.  In this small paper we also plan to cover some Supply Chain Management opportunities, which might be needed, when you are supplying your stores from regional warehouses or from central location:

1. GP workstation as POS terminal.  Here you may have to consider adding Credit Card processing Cherry keyboard, USB barcode scanner.  If you are selling something that requires help in selecting items (usually in B2B model: landscape supply, small wholesale lots, machinery for small business owners), then you may just use Sales Order Processing module, where POS transaction could be manually entered (with some help from barcode scanner) in SOP Transaction Entry screen.  If you are selling to mass customer and may expect the line to the cashier, then we recommend you add-ons.  Consider something like Compass POS module (it is programmed and supported by ISV from Michigan - Compass).  This custom module is equipped with fast barcode scanning interface, promotion campaigns, coupons, items on sale campaign with dates and other nice features, naturally attributed to small retail outlet.  One caution here, as we heard it from some retailers.  Please note, that Compass GP extension requires permanent connection from the POS workstation to the SQL Server, where company and system databases reside.  If you plan POS automation for something like outdoor farmer markets, seasonal mobile retail units – permanent connection might be a problem

2. GP Integration to Microsoft Retail Management System.  MS RMS is intended for mid-market retailer, where it has Headquarters module, which controls all the stores warehouses and inventory quantities and restocking.  Each store typically has Store Operations and several Cash Registers.  In such model store doesn’t have to have permanent internet or Ethernet connection to the Headquarters hosted SQL Server.  Store synchronization with the HQ module could be done on demand (via modem or 3G/4G cellular data line), or it could be scheduled to be triggered every hour or even overnight, if the volume of sales is reasonably small.  Out-of-the-box Great Plains has RMS to GP integration, Dexterity chink, which integrates daily sales into General Ledger entry and store purchases as AP transactions.  Sometimes especially larger retailers like the idea to control such important parameters as stock count, barcode label printing, pricing, sales reporting, commissions directly in their Corporate ERP application.  RMS has some attributes of the ERP, but normally it is not used as back office accounting system.  If this is your scenario, we recommend you RMS to GP integration from Alba Spectrum.  This module integrates each shopping cart receipt as SOP Document with Items sold (and credit/debit, check or cash customer deposit).  Alternatively it can send POS shopping cart as Receivable Management Invoice with advanced GL distributions (by item class, department and other mapped parameters from RMS inventory items).  It also supports purchasing integration directly to POP Purchase Receipts (where customer typically like the idea to print barcoding labels as new merchandise is received and placed to the shelves and bins)

3. Counterpoint from Radiant Software.  This POS application is probably dedicated to the market niche with the retailers of the smaller size and non-profit organizations, such as museums, park district facilities, memberships, arboretums, as well as international food stores, deli, souvenir outlets.  At least this is our expression from the customers that we serve.  Counterpoint covers POS and store inventory count and restocking and it is normally integrated to Great Plains via Integration Manager.  CP sends daily sales into GL and store purchases into AP Vendor Invoices and Returns.  There were several cases where we had to help Counterpoint customers to recover failed integration to GP, as initial VAR was not really familiar with such features or IM as VBA event driven scripts, Advanced ODBC Sources and in general with Dexterity programming for Great Plains Dynamics

4. SCM.  Technically both Counterpoint and MS RMS have some elements of Supply Chain Management and Distribution.  However it is difficult to classify them as full featured Warehouse Management Systems.  On the other hand GP Distribution suite of modules, including Sales Order Processing, Inventory Control, Bill of Materials, Purchase Order Processing is covering most of the typical WMS functionality (Order Allocation or Fulfillment, Inventory Replenishment, Merchandise distribution, and stock count).  But Great Plains doesn’t support advanced barcode scanning and RFID tag reading (such features as batch mode scanning on the warehouse floor with advanced versions of Symbol, Zebra and other barcode scanner brands).  We recommend you to see executive presentations of two types of WMS solutions.  First one is direct extensions of SOP, POP and Inventory modules, working directly out of GP database (this solutions is typically cheaper and one of the options is Alba Spectrum WMS extensions).  And the second option is external stand-alone Warehouse Management Solution with connectors to major Corporate ERP and MRP applications, including GP, AX, Oracle, SAP (this solution is for upscale full featured WMS needs)

5. For existing Great Plains customers – version upgrade consideration.  Well, each customer has its own history and there is large number of them on the historical versions, no longer supported directly by Microsoft Business Solutions: 9.0, 8.0, 7.5, 7.0, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, 4.0 and even Great Plains Accounting for DOS: 9.5, 9.2 and earlier.  We strongly recommend upgrade to the current version 2010 or 10.0, as Retail software integration is very difficult for older database platforms, such as historical Btrieve and earlier Pervasive SQL 2000.  Of course there is the cost – however we were able to reinstate numerous customers to become current with MBS annual enhancement program in order to get access to new version registration keys

6. If you are international retailer.  Then you should familiarize yourself with Corporate ERP localization for the targeted country.  GP is available in most of the English speaking countries, in French Canadian, Spanish speaking Latin, North (Mexico) and Central America (Honduras, Costa Rica), in Arabic.  If your country is not listed above, we recommend you to consider alternatives to Great Plains, such as Axapta Dynamics AX, possibly SAP Business One.  There are also locally developed popular Corporate ERP platforms, such as Microsiga in Brazil (where GP is not localized, please be aware about this fact) or 1S Bukhgalteria in Russian Federation.  If GP is localized in your country we are happy to help you.  We have customers in Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica with our WMS and RMS to GP integration modules successfully implemented and supported.  Over the years our company participated and pioneered with Great Plains localizations in Moscow (mid 1990th) and then Sao Paulo Brazil (version 7.5 in 2004 and 2005).  However when Great Plains Software was acquired by Microsoft, MBS changed the plan and recommended first Navision and later on Axapta as its international Corporate ERP offer

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