Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 – USA Nationwide Support Overview
by: Andrew Karasev

As we see Microsoft Great Plains 9.0 or new name of the project Microsoft Dynamics GP is marching across the US, U.K. Australia, Latin America, South Africa, parts of continental Europe: France, Germany, Holland, Belgium and Poland – we would like to point out to new support options, available with Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 – as it leverages new Microsoft technologies, such as MS Sharepoint, integration with Microsoft CRM/Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Business Portal (locomotive of Microsoft Dynamics or Microsoft Project Green). Potential clients or Microsoft Great Plains / Great Plains Software Dynamics, eEnterprise or even DOS based Great Plains Accounting orphan (without support) clients should know their options in getting Great Plains remote support. In this small article we will try to educate the clientele

• Remote Support Technology. There are three options in your disposition: Citrix/Windows Remote Desktop connection (with VPN or without VPN – directly by static or dynamic IP), second option is web session – multiple web sessions vendors are out there on the market, the third option is PCAnywhere – this is the veteran on the remote support market, now it faces strong competition from the side of “free” remote support options (coming with Windows XP Pro license)

• Business Portal. It is web portal by the technology, and so – it could be supported remotely. Additional comments: Microsoft Project Green, targeting to merge Microsoft ERP applications: Navision (Microsoft Dynamics NAV), Axapta (Microsoft Dynamics AX), Solomon (Microsoft Dynamics SL), MS CRM (Microsoft Dynamics CRM), Great Plains (Microsoft Dynamics GP) should enable more tools for Microsoft Dynamics products remote support

• Competition. As Microsoft Business Solutions admits – SAP Business One and Oracle (Oracle E-Business Suite lite version) are major competitors. We are not talking about BestSoftware here – this is subject for separate article

• International MRP Market. Where you have localization questions and challenges. Localization usually deals with French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian language translation plus local country tax engine automation (especially for such unique tax legislations as Brazilian, Chinese, Indian, French)

• Customization. Especially in the USA we see a lot of clients and orphans who have Microsoft Dexterity (or Great Plains Dexterity) customizations. Dexterity, being designed in earlier 1990th has modular structure. This means that original Great Plains Software code (DYNAMICS.DIC) is separated from third parties (later purchased by GPS and incorporated into GP as Manufacturing, Project Accounting, Service Advantage Suite). With version 6.0 GPS renamed products and dictionaries and this is now the dilemma for clients, using old version of Microsoft Dynamics to bring their customization up to the current version (Microsoft Dynamics 9.0). We recommend technology approach, when Dexterity pieces should be analyzed and upgraded or recustomized with newer technologies, such as eConnect, web services, Integration Manager VBA (subject to be phase out) and Continuum (subject to be phased out)

• eOrder. Please be informed that eOrder will not be upgraded to version 9.0. eOrder was legacy IIS ASP application, not integrated with Great Plains Business Portal

Please do not hesitate to call or email us: USA 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918 help@albaspectrum.com

About The Author

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer at Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com http://www.greatplains.com.mx http://www.enterlogix.com.br ) - Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, Navision, Axapta MS CRM, Oracle Financials and IBM Lotus Domino Partner, serving corporate customers in the following industries: Aerospace & Defense, Medical & Healthcare, Distribution & Logistics, Hospitality, Banking & Finance, Wholesale & Retail, Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Placement & Recruiting, Advertising & Publishing, Textile, Pharmaceutical, Non-Profit, Beverages, Conglomerates, Apparels, Durables, Manufacturing and having locations in multiple states and internationally.

We are serving USA Nationwide: CA, IL, NY, FL, AZ, CO, TX, WI, WA, MI, MA, MO, LA, NM, MN, Europe: Germany, France, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Middle East (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, OAE, Bahrain), Asia: China, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, South & Central America: Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Chili, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico