By Karen Jernstrom,
I’ve been into retail analogies lately. Don’t ask me why. In a recent post here on the ERP Software Blog I talked about the iconic red “easy” button that has become synonymous with Staples. And for some reason, when pondering what I’d like to write next about Microsoft Dynamics GP, what came to mind was the Burlington Coat Factory tag line: “More than Just Coats. “
It’s been 10 years since Microsoft purchased Great Plains, a popular and widely used software application that was mostly known for its robust core accounting functionality, fondly called GLAPAR. That’s pronounced “glapper” as in a 1920s “flapper.” GLAPAR, for the uninitiated, stands for General Ledger (GL), Accounts Payable (AP), and Accounts Receivable (AR). In the 10 years since the Microsoft acquisition, not only has the product been renamed (now ), it has also benefited from Microsoft’s deep pockets, i.e. a major infusion of cash for R&D and functional enhancements.
The result is that Microsoft Dynamics GP is a leading edge, full service Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution with soup to nuts functionality. So when I say that Microsoft Dynamics GP is “More than Just Accounting,” I’m not even doing justice to GP, because GP is now financial management, Supply Chain Management (SCM), Materials Requirements Planning (MRP), Forecasting and Budgeting, Inventory Control, Warehouse Management, Bill of Materials (BOM), Master Production Scheduling, Returns Management, Project Accounting, and more, and more, and more yet.
So since a picture is worth a thousand words and I have no desire for this blog post to run into the thousands of words, here’s a picture that says: “Microsoft Dynamics GP is not your grandfather’s Great Plains anymore.”
| Business Essentials
The Business Essentials edition includes ALL of the following components: |
Advanced Management
The Advanced Management edition includes ALL of the Business Essentials component PLUS the following components: |
| Account Level Security
Analytical Accounting Bank Reconciliation Customer Service Management Customization Site License Electronic Bank Management Electronic Banking Suite Encumbrance Management Field Level Security Fixed Asset Management General Ledger with AFA Integration Manager - Conversions Intercompany Inventory Control Invoicing Landed Cost management Reporter Designer User Multicurrency Management Payables Management Purchase Order Processing/Receiving Receivables Management Safe Pay Sales Management Sales Order Processing |
Available to Promise
Bill of Materials Cash Flow Management Collections Management Contract Administration Customer Service Management Customer/Vendor Consolidations Grant Management Key Performance Indicators Lockbox Processing Manufacturing Bill of Materials Manufacturing Order Processing Master Production Scheduling Materials Requirements Planning Microsoft Forecaster National Accounts PO Generator Process Server Project Accounting Project Time and Expense Refund Checks Returns Management Revenue/Expense Deferrals Sales Management |
| Business Essentials a la Carte
A la carte components compatible with the Business Essentials Edition. These components must be purchased individually: |
Advanced Management a la Carte
A la carte components compatible with the Advanced Management edition. These additional components must be purchased individually: |
| Additional Languages
Bill of Materials Cashbook Bank Management Concur Expense Integrator Customer Service Management Customization Suite Electronic Reconciliation Management Enterprise Reporting Base Pack Enterprise Reporting Designer User Enterprise Reporting Viewer User External Connector Federal Magnetic Media Human Resources Human Resources—Advanced Integration Suite Microsoft Dynamics CRM Adaptor for Microsoft Dynamics GP Microsoft Dynamics CRM Professional Server Microsoft Dynamics GP Extender Microsoft Dynamics GP Light User Microsoft® SharePoint® Server Modifier with Visual Basic® for Applications Payroll—Advanced Payroll—Canada Payroll—United States Payroll Connect Payroll Direct Deposit Position Control PTO Manager Risk Management Suite Sales Management SmartList Builder Advanced Management |
Additional Languages
Benefit Self Service Suite (United States) Cashbook Bank Management Concur Expense Integrator Customer Service Management Customization Suite Depot Management Distribution Suite Electronic Reconciliation Management Enterprise Reporting Base Pack Enterprise Reporting Designer User Enterprise Reporting Viewer User Extended Pricing External Connector Federal Magnetic Media Human Resources Human Resources—Advanced Integration Suite Manufacturing Suite Microsoft Dynamics CRM Adaptor for Microsoft Dynamics GP Microsoft Dynamics GP Extender Microsoft Dynamics GP Light UserMicrosoft Forecaster (per Each Additional Named User) Microsoft Forecaster (Unlimited Users) Microsoft SharePoint Server Modifier with Visual Basic for Applications Payroll—Advanced Payroll—Canada Payroll—United States Payroll Connect Payroll Direct Deposit Position Control Preventive Maintenance PTO Manager Risk Management Suite Sales Management Service Call Management SmartList Builder |
I’d be happy to explain the difference between the versions referenced in the snapshot below, Business Essentials and Advanced Management. But you can pretty much see for yourself that whichever one you choose, you’re getting a ton of functionality. The type face in the snapshot is a bit small, so if you’re having trouble reading the module list, you can download the .
On a serious note, moving past the Staples “easy” button and the Burlington Coat Factory tag line, if I’ve piqued your interest in what a fully integrated Microsoft Dynamics GP system can do for you and your company, or .
Submitted by Altico Advisors, Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner for Manufacturing and Distribution serving New Hampshire (NH)
