What to do if your Dynamics GP implementation was screwed

The term “implementation” means that something new should be implanted in the body of your company, it is probably serious surgery and requires preparation, and when things are happening – implementation requires broad involvement as from your company management, as from ordinary employees in your Accounting, Sales, Purchasing, Inventory Management, Manufacturing and other departments.  Let’s review typical mistakes in selecting the right Corporate ERP application, consulting company, and following implementation phases; plus how to get out of this limbo and preserve initial investments into your Microsoft Dynamics GP software licenses and probably recover some of the implementation consulting hours cost:

1. Is Dynamics GP the best fit for may company?  This question should not be answered directly by Microsoft Dynamics GP soliciting reseller (you know all the technology of qualifying leads through call calls, then follow ups to decision makers in a bit pushing style).  Also, you may certainly get recommendation from your colleague, who is the manager in another company, where they are pretty happy with Dynamics GP or older Great Plains Dynamics version – but are they in the same industry, do they have similar business processes and requirements?  Let me give you one example.  Let’s assume that you got recommendation to pick Dynamics GP from your friend, who works for small discrete manufacturing on order facility (they produce medical equipment), where Great Plains Manufacturing suite was implemented and they are very (or reasonably) happy.  Let’s assume that in your case, you work for the manufacturing facility, comparable in size, where you are specializing in producing wooden building materials.  Your business requires so-called process manufacturing software, while they need process manufacturing.  If you rush into Dynamics GP Manufacturing implementation, you will soon realize, that Great Plains Manufacturing Suite is geared toward Discrete Manufacturing and in order to make it adaptable to process manufacturing standards, you will need to do custom programming or implement third party Dynamics GP ISV Add-On (Process Manufacturing).  Here you may find yourself in the situation, when you have already paid for Dynamics GP Manufacturing Suite and there is no way to cancel the order (in fact, if you would need process production to be implemented, we would rather recommend Dynamics AX Axapta, where process manufacturing is supported in native manufacturing modules).  Described situation should give the idea on how careful you should be in seeing next Corporate ERP application executive demos.  Let’s now move on to the Dynamics GP reseller selection criteria

2. Local Dynamics GP VAR versus the consulting company, with proven records implementing Great Plains in my industry.  This is one of the most challenging dilemmas.  Local Dynamics GP Partner is definitely a plus, at least from the common sense.  These people could be available in the office face-to-face.  You can see who they are and trust your gut feelings in making decision to hire these consultants.  Sometimes companies would like to restrict internet connection to their servers and this makes the selection obvious – only locally based consulting company could be available to come out onsite on the call without unnecessary travel cost (plane tickets, car rentals and hotel).  When potential customers are calling us on Dynamics GP consultant selection, we recommend them to try consider several things.  First of all – do you expect your Dynamics GP implementation to be really generic (no customization, no such processes as Point of Sale, Barcoding, eCommerce, no complex data conversion where you expect large chunk of historical transactions to be brought over from legacy accounting to Great Plains).  If these criteria are met, you can use local Dynamics GP provider, who has good reputation in the area.  However if your situation is challenging and local consultants unlikely to have expertise in the industry or your required business processes automation in GP, you may consider two options.  The first would be – you hire local Great Plains VAR and have them outsource your custom business processes to nation-wide GP Technology partner with proven expertise.  The second scenario – you may decide that initial visit onsite (with associated travel cost) is acceptable and the following question should be resolved via remote support and you are comfortable to open your servers to Dynamics GP Technology partner.  Of course these first two paragraphs are recommendation and what is the best to do if you have not already done these steps, keep reading

3. What to do if my Great Plains implementation is going nowhere and my relations with my primary Dynamics GP consultant are at this point terminated?  Well, first of all you can call Microsoft Business Solutions and report them the case and ask for the alternative GP partner.  MBS is very careful in tracking existing Microsoft Dynamics success rate and quality of implementation and support services.  Another recommendation would be, simply open your internet browser and one of the search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing, Yandex).  Here try to use precise query, where you have (in up to 10 words) you problem (associated with finding Dynamics GP partner in your industry, who would be reasonably experienced and positioned to help you on the way out)

4. 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