By Andrew Karasev | On December 26, 2005 | In Software | Rated 
Several years ago Microsoft purchased Great Plains Software, then Navision (Denmark based software development company). At this time Great Plains Software already was active ERP applications consolidation player - it already acquired Solomon Software couple of years prior. Then in 2002 Microsoft released Microsoft CRM (Client Relation Management system). Also Microsoft decided to attack retail marked and acquired QuickSell (now Microsoft Retail Management System/ Microsoft RMS).
By Andrew Karasev | On December 26, 2005 | In Software | Rated
At this moment, as we write this article in the beginning of 2006, two international ERP vendors are aggressively launching their campaigns on the Brazilian ground: Microsoft Business Solutions with Microsoft Dynamics AX / Axapta (first quarter 2006) and SAP with SAP Business One (end of January/February 2006). Both companies have presence on the market in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro: SAP has mySAP-SAP R/3, sold, implemented and supported directly by SAP consultants (Sao Paulo SAP office) and Microsoft has Navision, supported by MBS partner channel. Plus SAP has SAP all-in-one, implemented through the partners. Here we are presenting our opinion on these campaigns and targeted clientele.
By Andrew Karasev | On December 26, 2005 | In Software | Rated
If you would like to pick something from Microsoft, or its ERP subdivision – Microsoft Business Solutions, and in case of large public company, you should consider these three: Axapta, Navision or Great Plains. We are not talking about Solomon here, because it is recommended for project organization. You should probably be aware about specific product life cycle (or is it new or mature one on the market), database platform, average implementation cycle, typical customization requirements, rich vs. standard ERP functionality, etc. Also you should get comparison from relatively objective source, if you are asking to compare somebody, who implements and sells Great Plains – more likely these people will try to prove that you need Great Plains and it is the best fit. On the other hand if you ask large consulting practice with regional offices to make comparison for you – you should know that specific regional office might operate with maximum independence and promote, say Navision only.
By Andrew Karasev | On December 26, 2005 | In Software | Rated
Current Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains has more that 10 years of history. Former Great Plains Software had two lines of Great Plains: Dynamics & Dynamics C/S+, later on renamed into eEnterprise. In this small article we would like to give you first directions when you look into Great Plains purchase and implementation or upgrade your existing product. Also we’ll clarify on annual enhancement program reenrollment and getting technical support from Microsoft Business Solutions or third party. We will talk about customization, because it would be outside of the tiny article format. You need to know that Great Plains is written in Great Plains Dexterity and customization is possible in Dexterity, SQL, Extender, Modifier/VBA, Continuum, eConnect.
By Andrew Karasev | On December 26, 2005 | In Software | Rated
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains has full-featured manufacturing set of modules. In this small article we would like to give you highlights on what kinds of light customization you could deploy, before jumping into Microsoft Great Plains Manufacturing realm. Great Plains Manufacturing is targeted to discrete manufacturing clientele, which is opposite to process manufacturing – food processing, mining, including precious metals/gold/platina, oil and gas / chemicals / agriculture. Manufacturing from accounting stand point is moving inventory into work in progress and then into finished goods. And this is where we have fundamental difference between discrete and process manufacturing.
By Andrew Karasev | On December 26, 2005 | In Software | Rated
Well, even if the combination might look very unusual, we see the coexistence of these two systems, especially in large corporations, non-profit organizations. Technically Lotus Notes Domino has parallel structure, including Domino email server. Lotus is extremely flexible and you can program your own CRM or purchase CRM for Lotus, however Microsoft CRM has Microsoft SQL Server database and very simple Sales automation module. Let’s look at the integration reasons and scenarios. Be sure that each specific case requires custom programming, tuning and support.
By Andrew Karasev | On December 26, 2005 | In Software | Rated
Midsize business or non-profit organization should decide if one-vendor solution would be appropriate and the associated risk acceptable. In our opinion, balancing the risk of one-vendor-approach is not economically feasible and should be avoided. This means that you need to decide if you plan to be Microsoft-oriented or Java/Unix/Linux/Oracle oriented. In the case of Java direction – you again have to further consider your options and if possible do not deploy too many systems from different vendors. Even if you host your systems with somebody else – we think that in the future you might have a risk of complex data conversion from one system to another. In this small article we’ll show you typical way if you follow Microsoft direction: Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains and Microsoft CRM
By Andrew Karasev | On December 26, 2005 | In Software | Rated
Combining Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains ERP with non-Microsoft Business System or CRM: Lotus Notes Domino, Oracle, DB2
By Andrew Karasev | On December 26, 2005 | In Software | Rated
Microsoft Great Plains as ERP and Microsoft CRM as Client Relation Management system is very robust combination and could serve midsize to large corporation as Business System. Being VP IT or IT Director you need to foresee the positions to have in your IT department to do internal MS Great Plains and MS CRM support.
By Andrew Karasev | On December 26, 2005 | In Software | Rated
Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more and more popular, partly because of Microsoft muscles behind it. It seems to be goof solution for mid-size and even large multinational corporation with Headquarters in US and branches Worldwide. You, as V.P. IT can deploy the strategy, when you host your Great Plains in headquarter and have international offices connect via remote support. Or, you can have regional offices work of their own Great Plains installations and then consolidate information via FRx or other reporting tools
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