There are several products, which could be integrated with Microsoft Dynamics GP, where you have such WMS business logic as Order Fulfillment, Inventory Replenishment, Merchandise Count and Transfer between sites.
However you may need some features to be customized in existing Warehouse Management automation product or in WMS extensions for Dynamics GP. Custom programming in such areas as Supply Chain Management, Retail/POS, Warehouse Automation might be too challenging, as you have to program Laser Barcode Scanners (such as call its driver functions, program batch level document scanning and following upload to Great Plains to give you few challenging areas) and other barcoding, WMS and POS devices. Direct programming would be the most difficult if you pick external Warehouse Management System, which integrates to Dynamics GP via integration module or the set of connectors. It might be a bit easier to tailor WMS logic, if you are taking the route of implementing WMS extensions for Dynamics GP, where programming could be done directly in Microsoft Dexterity in most of the cases, plus if WMS extensions has WMS client, running directly on the barcoding scanner, then the programming should be done accordingly on the micro OS level. Now let’s review WMS programming options:
1. External WMS and Custom Features. Here you have some of the structural communication dilemma, as external WMS is typically purchased directly through its Software Development Company, while Microsoft Dynamics GP you acquire and implement via GP Partner network. If you decide to have custom features in Dynamics GP forms and have this customization to be applied on the Warehouse Management System level, the coordination might be a challenge. In our opinion the best approach here is to establish very reliable (personal shake hands) connections with key decision makers in both WMS software vendor and your Dynamics GP Reseller (well, this might look like very old fashioned wisdom, typically acquired in the college on BBA route or in MBA track of your Master degree, but it is the reality, as you have to deal with at least two subcontractors). In any case, this is not the end of the story of the something to be considered necessary as negative. Let’s review other options
2. Dynamics GP Warehouse Management Extensions. There are Dynamics GP Technology Partners (often positioning themselves as ISV) with Dynamics GP WMS extensions, working directly out of Great Plains tables and enabling GP forms for Barcode Scanning. Let us give you example of Alba Spectrum Dynamics GP WMS extensions module. It is open for custom programing, and the provider considers the module as the solution (open for customization, reporting, enabling support for new barcoding devices). As this publication goes to open press, we do not want to overload it with advertising, but feel free to contact us directly
3. If I don’t need complete Warehouse Management System, could you enable just several Great Plains forms for Barcode Scanning, POS devices and give me cheap EDI (Electronic Document Interchange) interface. This is typical request from small or mid-size customer, be sure that you have selected Dynamics GP Technology Partner with expertise in Great Plains Dexterity, eConnect, VBA (in case if you are deploying Integration Manager or Modifier, where VBA scripts are the way to alter standard logic)
4. Older versions of Great Plains Dynamics and WMS implementation thoughts. Warehouse Management System is often associated with Barcode scanning technology. In our opinion the cost to be reenrolled back into Microsoft Business Solutions Dynamics GP annual enhancement program is fraction of the cost for the WMS to be implemented. We could partially stand behind the announcement, that all the versions of Great Plains Dynamics (as well as Great Plains Accounting for DOS, Windows, Mac) are upgradeable to current version Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 (also referred as version 11.0). This is the list of Dynamics GP, Great Plains Dynamics/eEnterprise and GPA versions: Dynamics GP 8.0, 7.5, Microsoft Great Plains 7.5, 7.0, Great Plains on Pervasive SQL 2000/Btrieve and Ctree: 7.5, 7.0, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, 4.0, 3.2 and earlier. Great Plains eEnterprise was available on MS SQL Server 2000, 7.0, 6.5 (earlier version was known as Dynamics C/S+). Great Plains Accounting for DOS, Windows and Macintosh was technically based on different code base, but by its business functionality it looks like predecessor of Great Plains Dynamics
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
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