Dynamics GP Warehouse Management and Logistics

However some or even most of SCM related operations you expect to be performed on the Warehouse floor, or even when truck is delivering shipments to your customers or picking up merchandise at the warehouse of your supplier.  In these scenarios you theoretically deploy such technologies as 3G or 4G broadband (WiMax or LTE brands) internet for your truck driver and have him equipped with portable computer with Dynamics GP client application installed.  But that would be something rather exotic and difficult to implement, plus you probably expect your truck drivers and warehouse workers to be trained to record transactions with simple devices, such as Barcode laser scanners, where only limited and pretty straight forward training is needed (versus the idea to have your worker to be trained in rather sophisticated Great Plains user interface – where you may enjoy the advantage of deploying cheap USB connected Barcode scanners).  Let’s review WMS and Logistics add-ons for Dynamics GP, enabled for barcoding with relatively simple user interface:

1. Warehouse Management System is often considered as central part of Supply Chain Management theory, where the definitions of SCM may vary from one theorist to another.  In some definitions Supply Chain Management theory has emphasis on Manufacturing and Production, in others it is more WMS oriented.  But in both cases, there is no conflict with picking Dynamics GP as Corporate MRP or ERP in Logistics and SCM oriented business environment.  For those of you who have some manufacturing or assembly on order requirements, Great Plains has as “heavy lifting” Manufacturing Suite as well as “light weight” Distributions Bill of Material module (often considered as extension to Inventory Control).  WMS has three key components: Inventory restocking (this functionality is implemented in GP Purchase Order Processing module in Purchase Receipt), Merchandise move between sites plus adjustments (returns, damaged, in-service, spoiled, best before period expired – done in Inventory Transaction in GP) and the third component is Order Fulfillment or Allocation (classical routine for Great Plains Sales Order Processing document to be fulfilled in the separate step).  When you are evaluation WMS for Dynamics GP you typically have to choose from two options: external Warehouse Management System (where you have large number of successful implementation, but as a drawback it has so-called integration module or connectors to export Warehouse originating transactions to Great plains) or Dynamics GP WMS extensions (working directly from Great Plains company database and with tight coordination with GP forms and master records; here you have the opposite pluses and minuses – it might have narrow base of installations, but you should not expect additional budget for WMS “integration” phase)

2. WMS and Barcoding equipment selection.  This topic requires special consideration and we recommend you to do your homework in barcode scanners, labels printers, RFID devices selection.  This is not only the question of picking the best device from its price to available features chart.  Let’s consider the hypothetical scenario when you have decided to pick specific barcode laser scanner and then you realized that your Dynamics GP Reseller indicates to you, that this device is not compatible out of the box with your chosen Warehouse Management application, this is not a real problem (for your GP consultants) – just custom programming is needed to automate your chosen WMS barcoding device

3. Dynamics GP Logistics, or going beyond the Warehouse Management System functionality.  We recommend you to call Microsoft Business Solutions on the Dynamics GP ISV partners list, supporting various Distributions, SCM, Logistics features.  MBS might be a bit difficult to contact (who is your regional rep, what is your support level, service plan, etc.) – if you feel that this is your situation, we recommend you to call your Dynamics GP VAR (through whom you purchased GP software licenses and implemented the ERP application itself).  If you have no idea who are these people, feel free to call our office directly and we will play the role of your representative with Microsoft

4. Dynamics GP Logistics, SCM and Distribution custom programming.  This is very common scenario, when you have to realize that your company has sort of unique business practices (and this is not necessary and bad thing, as it might give you competitive advantages on the marketplace).  Great Plains is generic Corporate ERP application and it is not really exposed to custom programming in such extents as peripheral modules, as Warehouse Management, SCM, Logistics and Distribution.  Dynamics GP custom programming is not a such a big deal – there are various tools to choose from: Microsoft Dexterity (former Great Plains Dexterity), eConnect, Integration Manager, VBA with Modifier, direct SQL scripting such as SQL Views and Stored Procedures

5. To request further support, please call us 1-866-528-0577, help@albaspectrum.com We need to discuss your cards in order to recommend you the best solutions, which is not contingent to our preferences.  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