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Dynamics GP Project Governance and Delivery Review Optimization Offering in Sure Step

Let's briefly come through the each phase of the project implementation cycle.  Project begins with Diagnostic phase, where you as project manager review with the project team the Project Charter and Statement of Work (SOW).  In Analysis phase you have Functional Requirements Document (FRD), Fit Gap Analysis, plus depending on the scale of the project magnitude: Training, Test, Data Migration plans; Risk, Issue and Communication planning, quality management process, and more.  In the Design phase it is important to create Solution Design Document (SDD), based on the FDD and possibly Technical Design Document (where Gaps are detailed in the way how they should be implemented via customizations).  In Development phase you are dealing with test scripts, quality management, updating deployment plan.  In Deployment project manager plans go live checklist, user acceptance tests, scope change control, quality management process, go-live cutover process.  And in the final phase – Operation you are reviewing Readiness, Deliverable listing, Delivery against vision, Lessons Learned to name a few

1. Projects associated with Customization, Integration and interface modification.  It is recommended to establish test of staging environment with approved data set (it might be the copy of your Dynamics and company database if you are in process of initial data conversion and migration).  Custom module quality assurance is often associated with Dynamics GP settings, master tables (customer, vendor, GL account, employee, address, prospect, etc.) and transaction files (SOP, POP Document Header and Line tables, etc.)

2. Customization and Integration Tools.  This topic deserves separate consideration.  We would like to mention Microsoft Dexterity, eConnect (plus various interfaces built upon the eConnect platform, such as Web Services for GP, Integration Manager eConnect connectors), Modifier with VBA scripting (plus Integration Manager with VBA event driven scripts), Extender (this tool allows you extend existing Dexterity forms).  There is also the possibility to do direct integration in SQL Stored Procedures or SQL Insert Statements, but here you need to be sure that you know what you are doing and there is no way to perform the same in Integration Manager or eConnect.  SQL statement doesn't validate Great Plains business logic and the chances are approaching to 100% that data will be compromised.  On the other hand both eConnect and Integration Manager do validate business logic and there is no associated risk

3. Reporting tools.  For such mid-market Corporate ERP application as Microsoft Dynamics it is important to understand the difference between Financial Reports (such as P&L, Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flow) and Managerial reporting: Sales Commission, Project Profitability, Warranty Cost Review.  Plus, when you are printing SOP Invoice form, it is also considered as report (typically modified in Report Writer, but in recent versions, such as 2010/11.0, 10.0 it might be printed in Microsoft Word Templates with your company or customer logo).  If you are talking about Financial Statements, consider Microsoft Dynamics ERP Management Reporter (versions 2010 and 10.0), FRX (version 10.0 and earlier: 9.0, 8.0, 7.5, 7.0, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, 4.0).  For managerial reports, consider SSRS, Crystal Reports, Report Writer and other ODBC compliant reporting tool (it might be something like Microsoft Access, Excel, Word).  Microsoft Management Reporter versus FRx.  If you are on the version 2010 or 10.0, we recommend you to review the following.  The future development for the FRx is no longer planned (for GP, AX, SL, NAV).  FRx is not officially supported on 64 bit version of Windows (Vista, Windows 7, XP, where you can cross the barrier of 3.5 GB RAM limitation, associated with 32 bit platform Windows workstation)

4. Older Versions Support.  Well, we share your feelings that each computer technology professional should follow the newest technical trends.  The business realities might dictate different rules.  For example, we still support dozens of Great Plains DOS customers (Great Plains Accounting for DOS, Windows and Mac 9.5, 9.2, 9.1 and earlier releases).  We are ready to help you with your data repair on all the versions of Great Plains Software ever released (including GPA DOS, Great Plains on Pervasive SQL 2000/Btrieve or Ctree, and even help you with Novel based Btrieve folder recovery)

5. Dynamics GP and Microsoft Visual Studio Programming.  Here we recommend you to review GP libraries for MVS

6. GP Ecommerce integration projects.  We recommend you to consider Integration Manager module first (prior to purchasing expensive ecommerce integration add-ons for Magento, .Net Storefront, etc.)

7. International Environment.  Please check Dynamics GP International Availability document.  It is supported in the majority of English, Spanish (except continental European Spain) speaking countries, Canada (with French Canadian version for Quebec/Montreal).  GP Dexterity doesn't support Unicode characters, meaning that such countries as China, Japan, Korea, where hieroglyph alphabet is in place, should probably consider GP as not an option (there are some work around, for example NJ Star Chinese language utility)

About the Author

Andrew Karasev is Great Plains Certified Master, MVP. He is also the initiator of eFaru project http://www.efaru.com and founder of Alba Spectrum information space

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Microsoft Dynamics Sl Training
ERP Optimization

Dynamics GP 2010 Upgrade Season or Version Update FAQ and Recommendations

The reality of the modern Corporate ERP application is the every few years new version is released, then historical version has several additional years to stay supported.  Then older version support is terminated by its development company and you either upgrade to the version supported in time or seek alternative ways to support your obsolete ERP system.  Now we are in earlier 2011, GP version 2010 was released just before Microsoft Convergence trade show in Atlanta, in April of 2010.  Previous version 10.0 is still supported directly by Microsoft Business Solutions, however mainstream support for version 9.0 is about to expire.  Let's review the typical questions, timing and the options for those of you who decided to stick to the older system:

1. First question: why would we really care about being upgraded, we are happy with what we have?  This is legitimate question and we understand your points.  However consider several facts about ERP life cycle.  First of all – new version has new features, which could be useful.  Second, it is compatible with all the new trends in the computer technology – it is probably wiser to follow the IT industry trends, where your hardware, software and IT workforce are manageable.  Third, your functional and technical consulting partner has to manage its own talents, train new support technicians, programmers – the training is only available on the current version, meaning that the pool of old consultants is shrinking.  Forth, Microsoft Business Solutions has a schedule to support several releases at the time, when support expires – the only option is to seek third party consulting advise

2. When the time to upgrade comes?  Some firms want to be case study stadiums, meaning that they would like to rush into the new release as soon as it hits the market.  We usually advise to wait few months until the first or even the second service packs are released and all the bugs are fixed respectively.  If you are trying to save as much as possible and probably take some risk, try the strategy, where you skip one version and then do update, say every five years

3. Where are we with GP 2010/11.0?  Well, as we already mentioned it was released in April 2010 and Service Pack 1 was released on September 23, 2010.  Now, in our opinion it is time to launch the update, especially for those of you who is still on 9.0

4. What to expect in 2010/11.0?  First of all, as you might be aware, in 10.0 new security model was introduced, where it is rather role based, versus form, report, table oriented in the older releases.  There are good improvements in the Distribution set of modules: SOP, POP, Inventory Control.  Microsoft Management Reporter is introduced as the transitional replacement to the older Corporate Financial Reporting on the FRx platform.  Plus, in our opinion the Microsoft Dynamics project is on the way to make its family members user interface, among them AX, GP, NAV, SL, more universal and recognizable by the end user.  Microsoft Workflow, Metrics, Office Stack integration is catching up

5. What to do if we have Dexterity, eConnect, Web Services, Modifier with VBA, Report Writer or Integration Manager custom application?  Well, altered ERP logic probably is something that gives you competitive advantage, but at the same time it requires maintenance budget.  Consider contacting your original Dexterity programming organization, they should review the Sanscript code and make required changes to make it compliant to the new release

6. We are on Great Plains 7.5, 7.0, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0 on Pervasive SQL 2000/Btrieve or Ctree.  Plus we are deploying Intellisol Advanced Purchase Order Processing.  Are we still good to move all the way up to 2010?  The answer is ‘Yes', but expect several steps.  First of all Intellisol Advanced POP had migration tool for 7.5 and even 8.0.  Migration path was discussed in our earlier blogs, plus it is available if you contact your VAR – they should have access to the procedure on Partner Source.  One of the important things – you should be current in Annual Enhancement program to have access to the reg key for the new release

7. Great Plains Accounting for DOS, Windows or Mac 9.5, 9.2.  Here you have the option to migrate to Dynamics GP with substantial discount on the modules owned.  Chances are high that your situation is resembling the downsizing, where you might decide to migrate away to QuickBooks, Peach Tree, SAP Business One or similar small business accounting package
8. Small Business Financials 9.0, 8.0 or Small Business Manager 7.5, 7.0.  With version 9.0 Microsoft terminated this product line and it recommends you to migrate to GP 9.0, 10.0 and 2010.  There are some contradictions in the recommendation, as you are small business and expect low software license and maintenance cost, so discuss the option with Microsoft or your Reseller

9. Version Upgrade technology.  It is done in GP Utilities.  As the first step it installs new user interface, then it launches SQL objects update: SQL and token stored procedures (with _z prefix), required table modification (it in fact copies them into Temp DB, alters table structure and then moves all the records back into the altered table).  Of course, this process is open to all kind of data inconsistency show stoppers, where your consultant has to call Microsoft tech support team or search knowledge base in order to resume migration procedure

10. International Projects.  If you are working for multinational corporation, there are more things to take into consideration.  First of all, be sure that you are familiar with Corporate ERP localization concept.  Microsoft is repositioning its Dynamics ERP platforms on the international Corporate ERP and small business accounting application market.  If you were deploying Great Plains in one of the continental Europe countries, you may face the necessity to redeploy it on Dynamics AX or NAV platform.  If you are downsizing, consider SAP Business One or such local ERP products as 1S Bukhgalteria in Russia or Microsiga in Brazil

About the Author

Andrew Karasev is Great Plains Certified Master, MVP, [email protected] 1-866-304-3265, 1-269-605-4904. He is also the initiator of eFaru project http://www.efaru.com and founder of Alba Spectrum information space

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Microsoft Dynamics Sl Training