Microsoft Dynamics GP was once popular under the name Great Plains Dynamics. This medium corporate market ERP application is powerful and also very flexible. Being matured ERP, GP also has a large number of so-called plug-ins, or in other words, custom modules, created and supported through the so-called ISV partners. Distribution industries and wholesale trade often require some elements of picking and packing (ordering wholesale), rearranging goods or semi-automatic or assembly (if you have domestic production), plus the amounts probably follow up items across multiple stores and move items from one place to another. All these operations must be performed in the warehouse or manufacturing facilities with the barcode scanner. These operations are typically implemented in the so called Warehouse Management System, also use the abbreviation of WMS. WMS, in turn is part of the concept of Supply Chain Management, which also may have other processes such as the delivery route and time optimized. We would like to quote the definition of the SMC, which can be found at Wikipedia 鈥 沦 SUPPLY Chain Management is the systematic and strategic coordination of traditional business functions and tactics across these business functions within a particular company and all businesses within the supply chain, in order to improve long term performance of individual companies and supply chain as a whole (Mentzer et al., 2001) 鈥? Another definition (from the same source) has a certain emphasis on making 鈥 沦 SUPPLY Chain Management (SCM) is managing a network of interconnected businesses involved in the disposal of packages of products and services required by customers end (Harland, 1996). __ Left_bracket__1] Supply Chain Management spans all movement and storage of raw materials, work in process inventory and finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption (supply chain).鈥? Let us now review how WMS 鈥 檚 could be implemented in Microsoft Dynamics GP:
Dynamics GP 1.Direct WMS extensions. These supplements are available in several ISV partners Microsoft Dynamics GP. We will use WMS Alba Spectrum as the example. Extension typical warehouse management extends sales order processing forms, such as Sales Transaction Entry of the barcode. In inventory restocking exposed to barcode scan receipt of processing purchase orders and inventory adjustments and movements 鈥? Inventory adjustment and the forms of transfer, respectively. WMS client and server applications, where client is running directly on the screen barcode scanner (in text mode, which might be preferable for the purchase of the budget or in the GUI). Barcode scanner based on customer conversations WMS to WMS server through ODBC connection (wireless or RFID). WMS compatible with most brands of barcode scanners including Symbol (Motorola), Honeywell, Metrologic, Datalogic, LXE, IDTech
2.External Warehouse Management System. These systems are sold and applied by the domestic and international brands WMS (do not want to name it, just do your research, you are given the comparison of the checkpoints of execution). Independent WMS is generally more powerful and has more features compared to Dynamics GP Warehouse Management Extensions. And this is an understandable fact 鈥? WMS software development company has a wider range of customers, where you earn the numbers, providing integration connectors to major ERP companies such as Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics AX, Solomon, Navision, Oracle eBusiness Suite / Financials / SAP applications. External WMS does wonderful work to expand the distribution and supply chain management-related business. There are some drawbacks to consider. If you paid for Dynamics GP SOP, POP and Inventory Management modules of software licenses, system external warehouse management is likely to have to pay a second time for the business logic similar or parallel WMS, which will be integrated to Microsoft Dynamics GP SOP, POP and inventory transactions. Point of the second warning is 鈥? The integration and synchronization is not obvious, these processes often require special consideration and additional hours of consulting (in addition to preparing your warehouse staff to participate in the pilot project, or run two systems in parallel mode)
3.Electronic documents (EDI) for Microsoft Dynamics GP. There are many companies Dynamics GP ISV add-ons providing EDI and implementation services. We would like to make some comments here. EDI add-on is often all EDI protocols and delivery methods (FTP, HTTP POST, text file, email, XML, etc.) covered. The module, which covers everything that can be expensive and if you are on tight budget, you may be better to implement EDI solutions simple, covering only necessary EDI protocols and communication methods. We recommend the second option and we believe that small and medium enterprises should not overpay for implementing EDI functionality in Microsoft Dynamics GP platform
Supply Chain Management processes 4.Custom implementation of Dynamics GP or former Great Plains. We recommend considering Dynamics GP Dexterity as an important tool for software development, where you can modify existing Great Plains screens (alternative terminology in Dex) or add new forms and windows (Skill form can have multiple windows on the same .) We truly believe that after some historical events, such as Microsoft Dynamics Convergence 2010 Atlanta, where questions about customization tools evolution GP (Dexterity vs. eConnect, modifiers, Extend or MS Visual Studio libraries for GP) that the skill is new in its possession and the priority that has been chosen as the tool of choice for Great Plains Customizations
5.Dynamics GP Integration Manager in the distribution. IM allows you to design the integration of external data source, as a text file, compatible with ODBC connection (including Oracle, MS Access, MySQL / PHP / Linux, XML, Sybase, IBM DB2). And then you can set the IM integration for shooting in near real time every 15 minutes or every hour. If you have low level of operations to integrate SCM can perform the integration of demand (where the dynamics of GP user interface opens IM and throws). Integration Manager is the ideal tool to reflect custom scenarios for the integration of EDI. IM could handle such complex optical technology integrations, where the data source on the Microsoft platform is not 鈥? Unix, Linux, Solaris, Mac (compatible with ODBC, convention or exposable through XML). IM can be a real help in the programming interface EDI budget
6.To request for additional assistance, please call us at 1-866-528-0577, help@albaspectrum.com We must talk about their cards in order to recommend the best solutions, which is not subject to our preferences. We serve U.S. / Canada nationwide via remote support (web sessions and conference phone / skype). Local service is available in western Michigan, Chicago, Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego), area of Houston Texas
Andrew Karasev, http://www.albaspectrum.com Great Plains Dynamics GP Certified Master and eEnterprise, Microsoft MVP and consultant with 10 years experience and more knowledge. Alba Spectrum, 1-866-528-0577, help@albaspectrum.com. If you are planning to deploy Microsoft Dynamics GP in the difficult environment, we recommend that you give us a call. Our information portal is http://www.pegasplanet.com Pegas Planet
Related Articles – Microsoft Dynamics GP, Warehouse Management System,
Email this article to a friend!
Receive Articles like this directly to your email box one! Subscribe for free today!
metrologic bar code scanner