Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP implementation process is similar to other mid-market accounting and MRP products: GP partner selection and sales cycle, business processes mapping, customization design if required, reporting. Then we would like to review Microsoft Great Plains implementation parts list, the most typical ones, where you typically implement first new piece:
1. Business System. Microsoft Dynamics GP, being targeted to mid-size businesses, has several systems, initially created for separate Microsoft business units: GL (GL Consolidated), HCM (Human Capital Management), SM (Supply Chain), RF (RF Automation). This means that you should plan you implementation architecture on the base of original business processes: GL, HCM, SM, RF. When we are talking about GP, we are not talking about old good-old GPS Dynamics. This ERP was renamed several times over the time and what we are reviewing is current version of Microsoft Dynamics GP – Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0. Having said this, however we would like to place Great Plains on the same position: Great Plains is one of the most popular ERP worldwide, it is properly supported and it is on the market with multiple lines of trend (such as Microsoft Dexterity, eConnect, Extender, etc);
2. Business Portal. Being completed version 3.0, BP is eConnect application, which connects to GP objects via GP objects: Account, Customer, Sales Order, etc. BP opens GP backoffice forms: GL, AP, AR, AP retrieval, posting, SOP Order. From this it can be created web based forms: SOP10100, SOP10200 and others. SOP pricing is based on the master and salesperson. In order to produce required reports, you should be familiar with GP tables structure
3. Reporting. Report Writer is Dexterity module, which is traditional and is not touch anything complicated: SOP Invoice Long form should exist and work as Invoice Form, all the other objects ( Sales Order, POP Receiving, Delivery Order, GL transactions, AR expenses, KPI keeping, etc ) are coming through reporting upgrade
4. FRx. This is financial reporting, which is recommended to be picked up during financial years 2007, 2008. FRx has tables structure: Companies, Divisions, Groups, Supervision, Financial, Labs, and so on. FRx has Distribution module through which you can create Distribution KPI; Distribution KPI is helping you in doing AR and AP billing entry
5. AR. Here, instead of GP Notes, presented in GP user friendly way, we are documenting GP Report Writer. Given the nature of GP financial reporting – it is rather user friendly in order to produce required reports. However if you don’t have business sysadmin skills, please contact your Microsoft Dynamics GP implementation partner to analyze your reports needs
6. GP Limitations. If you are end customer: customer paying portion of purchase, then you are outside Microsoft Dynamics GP “office” (such as StAmac), you should consider first initiating downloading GP user workstation for the Limitations verification. If you are outside Microsoft Dynamics GP “office” – you should submit your workstation for assessment. If you are present in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, and Italian version – you should submit your report to your MBS partner. If you are present in other internationally, then you should contact your local Microsoft Dynamics GP partner to doOBJ Stage
7. G pursued forms. Purchasing Workstation should fulfill requisites to receive Purchase Order. However in some cases, you do not receive invoice, so in order to receive POs, you should notify your MBS vendor that you will submit for the POs by certified mail. This workstation will forward your POs to Microsoft Dynamics GP
8. GP following procedure. When you are followed by your MBS partner to get technical support (applicable for version GP 7.5, 7.0, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0 SP2 or RC), you receive this document without technical communique from your partner. Also you will receive this document in GP support format, without originating report. Then what you needed is final technical support with document content, assuming that you have downloaded GP technical manual from MBS website, located in “support” folder.
9. Ez handles. Mobile users: they should be covered in GP security.