Microsoft Great Plains Subcontracting - Overview for Microsoft Business Solutions Partner

3. Data conversion. Here you export your historical AR, AP, Payroll, GL data from your legacy accounting system, then sort of massage it in Excel and import into GP via Integration Manager or via direct SQL insert method. IM is preferred method, in some cases Integration Manager doesn't have connectors to help you, especially when you are deploying add-ons or third party ISV modules - if ISV doesn't have integration option, then you deploy SQL stored procedures and scripts

4. User Training. When you implement GP in your organization, the implementation is typically very specific and common ERP training may be too generic to help you work out your data entry and transactions approval and posting procedures. You can send your key employees for customer training in generic GP navigation and probably IT support, and we recommend you to hire your GP implementation partner (MBS VAR) to train your users more precisely, having your business processes addressed

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is very popular ERP/MRP applications in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, South Africa, Latin America. Considering high number of new Microsoft Great Plains partners and the desire to subcontract occasional customization, integration and reporting projects, we would like to advise you on Microsoft Great Plains subcontracting guidelines, based on our experience in dealing with Great Plains VARs

Candidates for subcontracting:

o Great Plains Dexterity customizations - Dexterity was and still is the IDE and programming language of Great Plains, especially workstation thick interface. However since Microsoft bought Great Plains Software and formed Microsoft Great Plains Business Solutions, later renamed into Microsoft Business Solutions - Dexterity became the candidate to be replaced by C# or VB.Net. The plans are the plans, but the realities of Microsoft Great Plains customization signals that Dexterity will stay another 5-7 years as IDE. However I agree with the strategy that if you are new GP reseller you don't want to hire Dexterity programmer

o SQL Integration. We see more and more requests for Great Plains integrations with web eCommerce applications, industry specific databases: Freight Forwarding, Distribution, Logistics, Beverages, Jewelry, Furniture, Consignment. Healthcare, etc. The dilemma for the programmer is - should I know all the details of Great Plains table structure model and document workflow - or probably purchase the set of SQL stored procs to help me.

o Integration Manager with VBA/Continuum. These are traditional custom pieces. Integration Manager doesn't allow you to switch companies during the integration, and so have the work done over night without operator's involvement

o eConnect - this relatively new SDK from MBS, created primarily for eCommerce developer, has certain restrictions, especially with transferring Sales Order to Invoices and transactions posting. These are the restrictions of Great Plains architecture and to resolve the issue you need set of custom stored procedures

VAR should have some GP customization experience/skills:

o Great Plains Security model. Great Plains allows you to grant access to so-called alternate and modified alternate Microsoft Great Plains forms and reports - this is where you enable our customization to take over standard logic. Please, invest reasonable resources into GP basics, before you get in touch with nation-wide subcontractor

o Central REPORTS.DIC - this is critical to serve mid-size and large clients. USA VPN Only With PerfectVPN.NET & SeekVPN.COM, Great Plains Support - Web Sessions and Remote Access Technology, USA VPN Only With PerfectVPN.NET & SeekVPN.COM, Great Plains Support - Web Sessions and Remote Access Technology, Great Plains Support - Web Sessions and Remote Access Technology, USA VPN Only With PerfectVPN.NET & SeekVPN.COM, Great Plains Support - Web Sessions and Remote Access Technology, The Apple iPad Offers an Amazing Array of Functionality, The Apple iPad Offers an Amazing Array of Functionality, The Apple iPad Offers an Amazing Array of Functionality

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