Microsoft Dynamics GP Deployment and User Training Notes

If your organization plans to deploy Microsoftready for required tailoring and modification, and
Dynamics GP, formerly also known as Great Plainsespecially when your organization is larger company
Dynamics, eEnterprise and its predecessor Greatwith sophisticated business processes, modifications
Plains Accounting for DOS, Windows and Mac, weshould be natural and Dynamics GP has multiple tools
would like to offer you this small introduction leveland customization options: Microsoft Dexterity,
publication.  Dynamics GP is good fit for mid-sizeeConnect, Extender, Modifier with VBA, Web Services,
business, plus it has Corporate ERP solutions for nonSDK.  In our opinion GP custom programming should
profit (including Grant Management), discretebe given to professional Dynamics GP developers
manufacturing, project organization, field service,5. Great Plains Integrations.  Please, review GP
generic Sales Order Processing and Purchase OrderIntegration Manager modules, as it is user friendly and
Processing, Bill of Materials - these are some of theshould cover most of the integration needs, including
examples, where Dynamics GP should be consideredquasi real time EDI and eCommerce shopping cart
as proposed Corporate ERP application. Dynamics GPintegrations.  If you would like to call GP integration
could be integrated with such systems as Microsoftfunctionality directly from your ecommerce web
RMS (for mid-size or smaller retailers), variousapplication, consider eConnect SDK libraries to be
eCommerce platforms (both Business 2 Business andincluded into your Microsoft Visual Studio C# or VB.Net
Business 2 Customer with advanced shopping cartproject
and credit card processing features), Microsoft6. Dynamics GP User Training.  In our opinion, the
Dynamics CRM (in the case of marketing and salesmost efficient option is precise training, based on GP
oriented organization).  Plus there are numeroususer procedures and provided by Microsoft Dynamics
Dynamics GP ISV add-ons or third party modules,GP implementation consultant.  You may also
which could cover your industry niche, and of courseconsider GP technical training for your IT people and
you can modify or customize Dynamics GP to fit youreven in-house programmers, especially in Microsoft
unique business requirements:SQL Server Backup and Maintenance Plans, disaster
1. Microsoft Dynamics GP Sales Cycle.  You shouldrecovery strategies, user workstations installations,
consider several Corporate ERP candidates and if oneFRx client setup.  Plus, you can even request
of them is Microsoft Dynamics GP, please requestMicrosoft Dexterity programming training, related to
demo, see our video presentations, request businessyour specific customization goals (might be feasible if
processes mapping and modules selection from youryou expect large Dynamics GP custom programming
Dynamics GP Partner candidate.  Currently Dynamicsproject and you would like to develop it inhouse)
GP is sold with Business Ready licenses, where you7. Microsoft Dynamics GP Deployment Internationally.
are getting set of modules included into user license If your company is expanding internationally: Brazil,
(Business Ready for narrow set of modules andChina, Japan, Germany, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine,
Advanced Management for richer functionality)Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, France, Thailand, Indonesia, please
2. Microsoft Dynamics GP Installation.  As this isbe aware that Dynamics GP is not localized for these
mid-market Corporate ERP, installation should be donecountries (GP is localized for USA, Canada, UK,
by your Dynamics GP Partner (typically you contractAustralia, New Zealand, Oceania, Spanish Speaking
the same organization to implement GP from whomLatin America and Caribbean).  We recommend you
you purchased GP software licenses)reliable tandem of SAP Business One (overseas
3. GP Implementation.  This process typically hasoffice) and Microsoft Dynamics GP (US Headquarters)
several phases: Data Conversion (preferably in Test8. Microsoft Dynamics GP, Great Plains Dynamics,
mode, as you may expect multiple iterations), preciseGreat Plains Accounting for DOS, Windows and Mac
user training, related to your Dynamics GP usersupgrade.  Simplest upgrade is from Dynamics GP 9.0
day-to-day duties (you can also consider send youror 8.0 to current version 10.0 (January 1010, Microsoft
GP users to generic training centers to help them inDynamics GP 11.0 should be released in May 2010,
GP general interface browsing, plus be familiar with GPversion upgrade path is not known at this time, please
functionality on the theoretic level)read our future publications), it requires appropriate
4. GP Customizations.  As Microsoft Dynamics GPService Pack and one step upgrade.
could be considered as Corporate ERP Platform,