Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics GP Implementation Checklist – Alba Spectrum

Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics GP Implementation Checklist – Alba Spectrum
By Andrew Karasev

If your organization is researching Great Plains purchasing and installation options, we would like to give you highlights. Current version of GP is 10.0 as of October 2007, version upgrades are outside of the scope of this article, where we would like to concentrate on ERP implementation options and scenarios. We also intended to write it in FAQ manner with bullets and checkmarks:
1. Switching over to GP from legacy accounting system. If you are controller or chief accountant, we understand this question is very important. The switch is typically done via data conversion (with master records migration, or in required cases even historical transaction data move), or initial GL balances entry posting and moving ahead (in some cases customers want to maintain legacy MRP and GP in parallel for one month to reassure reliability). If you are small business owner, where previously you were maintaining your accounting records in Excel, data massage and conversion are probably not relevant to your situation and you are ready for “fresh” Great Plains software licenses purchasing and standard implementation. Data conversion is always not an easy thing for mid-market ERP packages, such as GP, so you should not hope on moving all your history to Great Plains and keep legacy ERP for data inquiry.
2. Where to shop for the implementing? Microsoft Dynamics subdivision is deploying the model of GP licenses selling and implementation through MBS partner channel, so you will need to select Microsoft Great Plains implementation company satisfying your criteria. You should also be familiar with ERP support model – Microsoft and other ERP vendors (Oracle, SAP, Sage) require you to pay annual fee, in the case of GP it is annual enhancement program, which typically is from 16 to 25%, depending on your support quality ambitions
3. GP integration overview. Great Plains has end user tool, Integration Manager, which should cover most of your possible integration needs, if you feel that IM doesn’t do the job for you, you should explore GP Dexterity, eConnect, SQL scripting, EDI.

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 Houston, TX: Richmond, Sugar Land, Katy, Rosenberg, 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. Service is also available in Houston and Dallas metros, plus internationally in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Oceania and UK

For more information:
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