• English
• German
• French
• Spanish
• Russian
• Romanian

English

Microsoft Dynamics GP Great Plains and MS CRM tandem as corporate ERP – Alba Spectrum

Alba Spectrum Group, http://www.albaspectrum.com help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918

Microsoft Dynamics ERP products family includes both Great Plains and Microsoft CRM, so it is initial good sign for you if you are making MRP research for your company. Let’s take a look at additional features of Microsoft Dynamics products and try to compare and figure out trends. However please note that both Microsoft Dynamics NAV Navision and Microsoft Dynamics AX Axapta have CRM modules in their original and so integrated modules sets. Microsoft CRM has integration tool to Microsoft Great Plains, plus such companies as Scribe Software offer advanced integration modules and scenarios. Plus consider the fact that Microsoft CRM is marketed by Microsoft Business Solutions worldwide and is localized for various countries and regions. Let’s take a look at additional facts and concerns:
1. GP international marketing. Great Plains Software had grandiose plans for expansion and Great Plains Dynamics Dexterity text strings were translated into multiple languages at the end of 1990th: Polish, Russian, German, French, Spanish. However when Microsoft Purchased Great Plains Software and soon after that Navision Software, it kind of decided to concentrate on Navision and later on Axapta internationalization and phase out GP advances and even support in Europe, China, and some other parts of Asia. GP is currently supported in English speaking countries, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, Philippines, Pakistan, India, also in Arabian peninsula, South Africa, UK, Quebec and Spanish Speaking South America. Please note that in Brazil Microsoft pooled out GP and supports Axapta and Navision. Probably one of the reasons that GP does not expand to countries, such as China, Burma, etc. is the fact that Great Plains Dexterity doesn’t support Unicode characters – Chinese hieroglyphs for example
2. GP implementation strategy. If you are outside of non English speaking countries, you should consider GP as ERP platform seriously. If Axapta is too large for you and Navision doesn’t fit your requirements we recommend you to consider GP and CRM tandem.
3. CRM developing advancing. Microsoft Dynamics CRM – you should expect additional functionality released in rapid time, as MS CRM is marketed worldwide and is offered as separate product or with integration to Great Plains
4. Current versions. Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics GP has current version 10.0. Microsoft Dynamics CRM has 3.0, however it was released in 2005, so we expect new version release relatively soon

Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Group, http://www.albaspectrum.com help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, serving GP client in USA nationwide and Canada. Local service is available in Chicago area: Naperville, Warrenville, Oakbrook, Lisle, Downers Grove, Romeoville, Aurora, Hinsdale, Joliet, Plainfield, Morris, Orland Park, Lombard, Elgin, Crystal Lake, in Houston: Richmond, Sugar Land, Rosenberg, Katy, Galveston. Nationwide service: California, New York, Ontario, Quebec, Florida, Arizona, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Louisiana, Texas, Illinois