Supply Chain Management typically includes Warehouse Management System as its core element. In SCM you expect most of the on the floor operations to automated with Barcode scanning. SCM and WMS are not something that is coming out of the box Software application.
It is rather the set of modules with very broad settings,
workflow programming, barcode scanners integration points areas, where you need Supply Chain Management Partner help with system tuning and implementation. Let’s review Supply Chain Management extensions for Microsoft Dynamics GP Corporate ERP, formerly also known and popular under Great Plains Dynamics name:
1. Dynamics GP SCM Partner and Software Selection. Here you probably have to pay attention to two aspects. First of all – your proposed partner should have expertise in your industry, as WMS and SCM generally require custom tuning and integration modification. Second aspect is to decide if you would like to implement external SCM or WMS solution with integration to Dynamics GP via connectors; or if you rather pick SCM extensions, where system works directly out of GP company database with such Great Plains transactions as Sales Order, Purchase Receipt, Inventory Adjustment. As you might know Dynamics GP already has most of the Distribution business logic, such as Order Fulfillment (or Allocation), Merchandize receipts on the warehouse floor (Purchase Receipts), Inventory Transfers, Adjustments, Cycle Count to name the most popular. We are inclined to recommend Microsoft Dynamics GP WMS Extensions, as we saw many cases, where External WMS integration project goes over budget or exposes you to additional unpredicted situations
2. Barcode Labels Printing Technology. We typically recommend Crystal Reports, where you can adjust barcode font and paper template. However, native Great Plains Report Writer also supports barcode compliant fonts and you can do the work right in RW module. And Excel reporting, SSRS (Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services) should be mentioned as the tools, you can choose. Let’s assume that reporting tool is selected, however in Barcode Label printing scenario you need the functionality, allowing you to mass print newly received merchandize labels in one shot. We recommend you to consider printing barcoding labels at the moment of mass merchandize receipt – in Dynamics GP this is when you do POP module Purchase Receipt document
3. Beyond WMS. Supply Chain Management also may include such features as Consignment, Delivery route optimization (based on optimal delivery day of the week and time for your franchisees)
4. Steps for WMS or SCM extensions to be implemented. Supply Chain Management is not something that is reasonably abstract and it is difficult to implement it completely via remote support. Local visits are likely required for the implementation. Dynamics GP WMS partners, being nationwide market oriented, expect, however the following case based remote support with short visits onsite for new phases implementation, adding modules and switching on new Barcoding, RFID hardware
5. How to get additional info? Please, call us 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918 or email us help@albaspectrum.com We are available for local implementation in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Diego, and as we already mentioned we are travelling USA, Canada nationwide and internationally. Dynamics GP is localized for English and Spanish speaking countries (Latin America only, excluding Spain) plus in Quebec in French Canadian, partially in Arabic. There is user interface add-on for Dynamics GP making it available in the following languages: Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, German, Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch, and more languages are coming. If you need fully localized solution for WMS in the targeted country, we recommend you to review Microsoft Dynamics AX (upper mid-market ERP) or SAP Business One (small to mid-size businesses) – these two Corporate ERP applications are localized in broader number of countries
