Microsoft Great Plains Implementation FAQ Financial Setup, Conversion, User Training - Alba Spectrum

Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP implementation process is similar toother mid-market accounting and MRP products: GP partner selection and sales cycle,business processes mapping, customization design if required, reports. Then you goto the actions: Microsoft Dynamics GP software licenses purchase, GP installation,initial data conversion and beginning balances, business specific users training. If your company is large business, you may consider switching GP for one or severalbusiness entities as a pilot project with the plan to turn all your departments andunits to Microsoft Great Plains in the short future. We will not be coveringbusiness processes mapping scenarios in this small article and will try to give youtechnical side of the implementation1. Great Plains Installation. You should plan for appropriate Server hardware, SQLServer 2005 installation (including planning for data and log files separation ondifferent drives). Then you go ahead with GP server installation we certainlyunderstand and confirm, that GP Utilities installation Wizard is very intuitive,however, GP is not small business accounting application, so it is powerful and atthe same time sensitive to options chosen. This is why we strongly recommend you toinvite GP consultant to do installation and overall implementation job2. Data Migration. The best approach is to leave old ERP data in your old systemand make fresh start in Microsoft Dynamics GP. If this is not possible, thenconsider migrating Chart of Accounts, Customers, Vendors, Employees, and enteringbeginning GL balances (this last step manually). This recommended data migrationshould be done via GP Integration Manager, as it validates Great Plains Dynamicsbusiness logic and doesn t allow data inconsistency.3. GP Modules Setup. Each module: General Ledger, Inventory Control, Sales OrderProcessing, Receivables Management, Payables Management, Payroll and others requiresopening setup screen and coming through the required fields setup there. One of themost important setup decisions is Posting Accounts setup this is done on thecompany setup level4. User Training. First of all you should be aware that Microsoft is in theprocess of synchronizing its ERP applications user interface with the one inMicrosoft Office and Microsoft Outlook meaning that if your users are very goodand intuitive with Microsoft Office products, they should be ready to do GPdiscovery. Saying this, we have to admit that GP user training is needed, as MSOffice interface unification, leading to users intuition is just the top level5. Frequently Asked Questions. Software Licenses you can purchase these from MBSpartners only. To get new user licenses or modules you will need to be enrolledin Microsoft Dynamics GP annual enhancement program. Migration from old versions:5.5, 6.0, 7.0, 7.5 if you are on Pervasive SQL or Ctree, then you need migrationtool, please contact your MBS partner. Version upgrade current version is 10.0and one-step migration path exists for 8.0 SP5 and 9.0 SP26. Reporting. You can consider industry tools, such as Crystal Reports, MicrosoftSQL Server Reporting Services (SRS), MS Excel, or even Microsoft Access Reports, ifyou are comfortable with Access. Very important reporting hint consider creatingreport logic in MS SQL Server stored procedure or view and not expect the magic fromreporting tool Wizard.7. Beyond the generic implementation. Customization please review eConnect,Microsoft Dexterity, GP SDK, SQL Stored Procedures, Modifier with VBA. Integration please start with Integration Manager, then think about eConnect programming, SQLdirect scripting. EDI or Electronic Document Interchange this is popular SQLscripting routine, it is often resolved via XML feed. If you represent lagercorporate entity and need major integration project, we will be happy to help you.

Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Group, http://www.albaspectrum.comhe lp@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, serving customers USA/Canadanationwide: Illinois, California, New York, Quebec, Ontario, Colorado, Utah,Wisconsin, Florida, Texas. Local service is available in Houston & Dallas:Richmond, Sugar Land, Katy, Rosenberg, Missouri City, Pearland, Friendswood,Meadows, Mission Bend, Jersey Village, Fort Worth; serving GP customers in Chicago,IL: Naperville, Aurora, Joliet, Wheaton, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Lyons, Niles,Downers Grove, Lisle, West Chicago, Barrington, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village,Lombard, Morris, Ottawa, Marseilles, Seneca, Oswego, Plainfield, Darien, Winchester,Hinsdale

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