MS Dynamics GP refers to a mid-market ERP or accounting software package popular in both South and North America, Middle East, New Zealand, Ireland, UK, Australia and Singapore. It is also widely used in other countries alongside localizations that are partner supported. It stores data using MS SQL Server 2012, 2008 and 2005.
Dexterity is the language used to write Dynamics GP. It was first developed by a company known as Great Plains Software which made its first release in 1993. It was one of the pioneer accounting packages developed in USA applicable as multi-user as well as run on windows 32 bit platform. Later on in 2000 Microsoft purchase Great Plains for 1.1 US dollars. Two years ago Microsoft released the latest version of this ERP. This version came with the benefits of being web-enabled unlike initially where the application was purely client server. The client server offers a rich content owing to the fact that products that are third-party as well as all modules are well covered in this application.
Other versions of Dynamics GP include MS Dynamics GP 10.0 released in the month of June 2007, version 2010 released in the year 2010 and version 2010R2 released in the month of April year 2011. Earlier versions were referred to as MS Dynamics and MS Great Plains. These versions could be used with Btrieve, Pervasive PSQL as well as MS SQL Server. Some previous versions used C-tree but after Microsoft bought the Great Plains Software, the new versions released thereafter fully used databases of MS SQL Server.
MS Dynamics GP contains a couple of modules that integrate together to make up the ERP. The first module is Analytics. It offers management solution in corporate performance by allowing easy consolidation and creation of statements of finance using report definitions, trees, columns, rows and the common interface that Microsoft office uses. Microsoft Forecaster is used to extract data that is real time from the General Ledger, to manage and create accurate plans and budgets which can be accessed by the management through an interface that is web based. MS SQL Server Reporting Services on the other hand provides customizable financial reports as well as other reports like manufacturing, sales and purchasing. Crystal Reports is also used to design and build reports with MS Dynamics GP.
The other module is the Customization. It allows .NET developers to come up with transactional connections that are real time between MS Dynamics GP as well as other applications with a view to increase potential for functionality and new features. The other module is the Management of Supply Chain. This is purposed to serve several distribution functions like gathering accurate and quick information, reduction of supply errors, maintenance of inventory as well as overall viewing of the cycle of distribution. Foundation is another model very essential and helpful in a couple of ways. For instance the Analysis Cubes help increase transparency in information regarding finance through business portal and as a result improving on compliance of the Sarbanes Oxley. It also handles such important services like the business portal and electronic delivery of documents. In addition, it has a report writer which allows writers to come up with reports by providing numerous templates as well as customization features. Other modules provided are Financial Management, Management of Field Service, Human Resource, Manufacturing and Project Accounting. All these modules integrate to form the MS Dynamics GP.
On customer reviews, MS Dynamics GP is not compatible with MS Active Directory. This prevents single sign on in placements that Active Directory can be used in Authenticating GP users. NetSuite Inc. is one of the companies that has been using MS Dynamics GP. The company came to use the ERP after realizing that there was great need for them to have proper financial information system, well detailed reports with a view to promoting transparency. The company saw the need to have this ERP due to its relevance on the function the company does since it deals with financials. MS Dynamics GP would thus be very helpful in maintaining proper financial tracks. The organization finds customization tools, financial management and the report writer very helpful since armed with these, they can have been able to keep proper tracks of their finances.
In my opinion, MS Dynamics GP is a product that every business with a view of succeeding in the current competitive world should acquire. The success of any business is to a large extent embedded on the ability of that organization to keep proper tracks of their finances. If finance is lost through poor recording or poorly written reports, the business suffers loss. The MS Dynamics GP therefore provides businesses with a reliable accounting system where the management do not have to struggle much going through large volumes of files to determine a flaw in the financial records. Moreover, report designing and creation is made easier especially with the help of the templates embedded in the system as well as the customization tools. At this juncture I need say that MS Dynamics GP is a product to depend upon.
References
Musgrave, D. (2009, March 12). Developing for Dynamics GP. Retrieved from Microsoft Dynamics GP: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/developingfordynamicsgp/archive/2009/03/13/great-plains-historical-timeline.aspx
Yudin, V. (2010, September 11). Dynamics GP build numbers and service packs. Retrieved from Victoria Yudin: http://victoriayudin.com/2010/09/11/dynamics-gp-version-numbers-and-service-packs/
