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When you plan to deploy Microsoft Great Plains as the ERP platform for your uniquebusiness processes automation, meaning implementing a lot of modifications andcustom logic  this is good decision, however you should familiarize yourself withGP customization, integration, reporting and software development tools and options. You should be familiar with: Microsoft Dexterity, eConnect, Business Portal,VBA/Modifier, GP Integration Manager. Plus you should be comfortable inunderstanding how to balance your internal IT resources and potentially internaldevelopment contractors with MS Dynamics GP external professional and consultants: GP niche. In general, most of American businesses could be automated with MS DynGP. If you are huge public corporation, such as GM  GP might be a bit scaled downMRP option, however if you are subdivision of large corporation, then GP should be agood fit. Just in case if you are not sure  check what Microsoft Dynamics AXAxapta could do for you, if you are large organization Customization Longevity. This question might not be the first one to come to yourmind, however it will be a big concern when you face GP version upgrade or evengoing further substantial change in technology, trend to something new  goodexample is introduction of .Net, XML Web Services and by doing so pretty muchphasing out the former ERP longevity concerns, such as DB and operating systemindependence (MS Windows, Unix, Solaris, MAC, etc.) Tools Review. Microsoft Dexterity is actually GP architecture, which was designedin earlier 1990th by Great Plains Software. With the introduction of new tools,such as eConnect (SQL Stored procedures with a set of various enveloping interfaces,allowing your to program GP integrations being MS Visual Studio developer), youshould probably be a bit conservative and do not consider the customization plan,when all your eggs are placed into dex basket. Instead, consider substantial customwork to be performed in eConnect C# or VB.Net development. VBA will be a patchingtool for you when you plan complex integrations via GP integration Manager SQL Scripting. GP as being kind of traditional ERP, where you have tablesstructure exposed and plus Dexterity source code programming is available through GPDex Source code partners, as not the best, but at the same time available option youshould consider SQL stored procedures, views and custom scripts as a way to enableyour custom logic to penetrate to GP  sealed insides . When you decide that SQLscripting is the only way to patch your customization interface, we suggest you toappeal to professional GP consultant help.
Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Group, http://www.albaspectrum.comhe lp@albaspectrum.com, 1-866-528-0577, 10630-961-5918, serving GP customers remotelyin Montreal, Toronto, New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, SanDiego, Phoenix, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, Kansas City, Denver, Rhino, Las Vegas,Vancouver, Seattle. Local service is available in Texas: downtown Houston,Richmond, Rosenberg, Sugar Land, Galveston, Katy, Dallas, in Illinois: downtownChicago and suburbs: Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Winchester, Morris, Minooka,Plainfield, Romeoville, Schaumburg, Elk Grove, Lombard, Downers Grove, Lisle,Ottawa, LaSalle, De Kalb, Plano, Crystal Lake, Montgomery, Oswego, Elgin.
