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Microsoft Dynamics GP Implementation in Large Corporation – Alba Spectrum

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

In addition to traditional ERP success factors, we would like to give you specific highlights, which should allow you to support technical side of Microsoft Great Plains, minimize system down time and integrate GP into your corporate IT infrastructure, including web portal, CRM, supply chain management and existing legacy applications. Microsoft Dynamics GP is integrated with Microsoft Office and via Business Portal with Microsoft Sharepoint, however these applications are typically easier to support, comparing to custom in-house made legacy applications, EDI, legacy integrations with non-Microsoft systems, such as Java or Oracle
1. Microsoft Dynamics GP consulting partner. You should locate Microsoft Business Solutions partner, specializing in GP with good technical and functional consulting expertise in Great Plains and having implementations in your industry. MBS sells GP through partner channel. GP software cost include list price and annual enhancement program fee
2. Implementation Phases. If your current ERP is a integrated set of applications: General Ledger, Accounts Receivables, Accounts Payables, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing or Bill of Materials; and these modules could exist independently – you should consider phased switching to GP: say GL, AP, AR first and then timeline of switching to other GP modules
3. IT Team. The core of GP is Microsoft SQL Server and you should plan to have strong MS SQL DBA in staff. If you plan to have over 50 GP users plus potentially thousands on Business Portal users (Requisition Management, HR and Employee Self Service, Order Management applications are hosted in GP Business Portal) – GP support on the level of SQL DBA is recommended: data repair, reporting, ad hoc SQL data querying, SQL integrations. Plus this person will be in ongoing relations with MBS technical support team. If you plan to implement Business Portal, consider sending MS SQL DBA person to Sharepoint and BP training. BP implementation is technology oriented: at this time (August 2007) – BP is not compatible with 64 bit Windows server, as to give you typical BP implementation and upgrade expertise buzz. You SQL DBA should be familiar with cross-platform integrations via SQL linked servers, DTS (Data Transformation Services), allowing you to link to Oracle, Sybase, IBM DBII via heterogeneous ODBC queries. If you plan custom reporting – please check on SRS (Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services skills) and possibly Crystal Reports
4. GP Customizations. Microsoft Great Plains has several customization tools, the traditional one is Great Plains Dexterity (or current name Microsoft Dexterity 10.0). Dex allows you to intervene on user interface level and deploy GP native business logic to make modification work seamlessly. Besides Dexterity you can deploy Visual Studio C# or VB developer, where you will end up with programming extensions to Dex forms. Visual Studio developers have typically quick and good grasp over such popular eCommerce integration tool as eConnect

Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Group: http://www.albaspectrum.com help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, serving Microsoft Dynamics GP Great Plains customers in USA/Canada nationwide. Local service is available in Dallas downtown and metro area, Houston, TX: Richmond, Sugar Land, Katy, Rosenberg, Aldine, Jersey Village, Humble, Channelview, Tomball, Dayton, Missouri City, Pearland, Friendswood, Meadows, Mission Bend, Jersey Village; Chicago, IL: Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Joliet, Wheaton, Lisle, Downers Grove, Schaumburg, Elk Grove, Lombard, Woodridge, Darien, Westmont, Batavia, St. Charles, Elgin, Crystal Lake.