General Ledger Accounting Software

Posts Tagged ‘Microsoft’

If all you need is a very simple P&L Statement, Excel Refreshable Reports will do the trick. The only part that is a bit weird is that Expenses will show as a negative and Income as a positive OR Credits show as a negative and Debits show as a positive. You decide. This video works with my blog posting for a GL Trial Balance using Excel Refreshable Reports: www.belindathegpcsi.com I’m not saying is always the best tool to use for financial statements, but if you know it…

The Leading Developer of Translation Management Systems Becomes Microsoft Silver Partner
Advanced International Translations (AIT) has achieved Microsoft Silver Partner Status in the Independent Software Vendor (ISV) category. Programs Projetex and AnyCount were highly evaluated by Microsoft. (PRWeb July 08, 2011) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/7/prweb8623099.htm

Read more on PRWeb

Advanced Historical Aged Trial Balance for Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) Smart List is available for both Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable. The tool captures data that is normally not accessible in Smartlist and makes it available to you.

Front Office Bridge, by Strophe, integrates many of the industry leading retail, hospitality and hotel front office systems with Microsoft Dynamiss GP. This includes General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Bank Reconcilaition, Accounts Receivable and more as enabled by the users front office system.

When deployed in tandem with Microsoft Office SharePoint 2007, Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 is an ERP system that leverages several advanced features of SharePoint to enable internal workflow to be seamlessly integrated with the user’s own Dynamics home page, their email and overview list page functions. This benefits users in many ways, including best use of employee time, transparency of workflow path which eliminates delays, and an alert system which brings user’s attention to tasks awaiting approval or review.

Greater flexibility with increased options

With release 10.0, workflows are easy to set up and allow far more flexibility than prior versions, by integrating with Office SharePoint. One such feature allows you to demand that specific users or even all users of the ERP system have to submit their documents to the workflow, thus enabling tighter controls over tasks. Another aspect will allow you to specify exactly when approval is required – for purchase orders involving amounts more than a preset sum of money for example, thereby enabling faster decision making by allowing decisions below that sum to be completed without approval.

The conditions that are defined can themselves vary. Each condition can be part of the workflow for one user or an unlimited number of users. Also, conditions can be set up so that a single document is sent to a number of approvers, in a step by step process, as the workflow progresses through the company hierarchy. Alternatively, workflow can be defined so that one decision is routed to many approvers, at the same time.

When a task requires the review of many approvers, you can define the workflow such that a decision is approved only if a majority endorses it or if it is unanimous. When changes are requested or adaptations are made to the original task or document, a notification system can be set up, wherein the concerned user or initiator of the task is informed.

Workflow assimilation with Outlook email and home page

By integrating GP with Microsoft Office SharePoint 2007 several unnecessary steps in switching between systems are eliminated, so users can view and decide on workflow tasks from within their email inbox. Workflow tasks can now be sent as emails, and users can decide to approve, alter or reject decisions inside their email. This strategic integration between systems allows users to chronicle the path taken by the workflow. You may set it up on your Outlook calendar so that tasks in GP can be scheduled for completion.

Another benefit of this integration is that it can be leveraged so that an outline view of all alerts and workflow tasks that concern an individual employee are exhibited on their GP home page. Home pages are designed to clearly differentiate between workflow tasks that need to be done and announcements that inform users about the workflow.

Workflow merged with List function and various modules

When various tasks or documents are grouped under comprehensive lists, the user can decide on many of these at the same time, instead of trying to map the workflow for each one separately. The List Page allows users to look at a task from the view point of its urgency, the department and the individual supervisor. List Page has filter capability, which means tasks or documents can be prioritized if they have not yet been submitted or those awaiting approval can be viewed first.

Specific modules that are influenced by the workflow tasks include General Ledger, Payables, Receivables, Purchase Order and Sales Order. In purchasing for example, conditions can be specified to approve or reject documents and over ride credit limits.

In effect, workflow is a crucial process that will increase your internal business efficiency and productivity significantly.

For more information on Microsoft Dynamics-GP 10.0, please visit Integrity Partners online at https://www.integritymbs.com or call 888.869.4090 ext 701. The Certified Microsoft Partner Firm Integrity Partners provides Microsoft Dynamics- GP ( formerly known as Great Plains) install & ongoing services for the following regions: New York, NY, Brooklyn NY, Bronx NY, Queens NY, All Areas of Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Nassau County ,Suffolk County ,Westchester County ,Rockland County, Putnam County , Orange County , Dutchess County , Ulster County ,Northern New Jersey , Hudson County , Union County , Essex County, Passaic County , Bergen County ,Morris County ,Middlesex County , Monmouth County , Mercer County , Hunterdon County , Somerset County , Ocean County (North of Toms River) , Sussex County, Southwestern Connecticut , Fairfield County , New Haven County , Litchfield County, Newark, New Jersey , Jersey City, New Jersey, Yonkers, New York, Paterson, New Jersey, Bridgeport, Connecticut, Elizabeth, New Jersey , New Haven, Connecticut ,Stamford, Connecticut , Waterbury, Connecticut, Edison, New Jersey. Integrity Partners does provide National & International Microsoft Dynamics-GP Services as well.

Each ERP system should be considered as the platform, which could be tuned to fit your company business processes through custom programming, integration, reporting and existing logic modification. Microsoft Dynamics GP isn’t exception and in this small article we would like to come through typical GP alterations scenarios

1. Great Plains Dexterity. This is Integrated Development Environment or IDE with its own programming language sanscript. Dexterity was designed specially for Great Plains Dynamics in earlier 1990th and this is one of the reasons why Dex is a bit “old-fashioned” and if you are software programmer, you should not expect to begin programming in Dexterity over night. If you are thinking about creation GP extension for the open market, then you should know that most of the extensions are written in Microsoft Dexterity. In order to understand the internal side of Dex, please take a look at Dynamics.set file, where all the products are listed. You begin Dex project by opening Dynamics.dic dictionary and adding or modifying resources in it: forms, reports, windows, fields, scripts, etc. Some Dex hints – copy Dex.ini from your GP workstation folder to your Dexterity application directory – this will allow you to launch Dex in debugging mode. Since version 7.0 Dex can call Microsoft COM objects.

2. eConnect. This tool opens you the access GP work transactions (SOP Invoice, POP Purchase Order, GL record, FA depreciation to name few examples) and master records (customer, vendor, employee, Fixed Asset, General Ledger account). Initially eConnect was designated to eCommerce developers by opening Sales Order Processing, Inventory and Receivables Management modules, but later on it was extended to cover most of the GP objects. You can call eConnect from your Microsoft Visual Studio C# or VB.Net projects, as internal logic of eConnect (business objects) is written in MS SQL Server encrypted stored procedures

3. VBA/Modifier. If you are comfortable with VBA scripting (remember MS Excel modifications?), you can add some logic to existing GP windows, such as SOP Entry screen, where you can put new button with Modifier and then attach VBA script to this field. If you plan to hit GP database from Modifier-added buttons and field, you should deploy ADO technology, where more likely you will have to hardcode user ID and password. Modifier allows you to include GP Dexterity sanscript scriplets into the VBA code – this allows you to use Continuum for VBA technology to switch GP modules and manipulate Dexterity objects across your multi-module GP workstation, however this technique is very complex and typically causes expensive version upgrade work

4. SQL Scripting. One of the most popular routines, where you deploy SQL stored procedures is Electronic Document Interchange or EDI. EDI has header, body and trailer and you deploy such SQL constructions as CAST, CONVERT to address fixed length fields EDI formatting

5. GP Integration. Microsoft Dynamics GP Integration Manager should be considered first – it is possible to extend IM with VBA scripting and fields translation table (you can create translation table in Excel and then import it to Integration Manager). If IM doesn’t do the job, consider eConnect, SQL scripts and Dexterity. Please, be aware – IM validates GP business logic and this prevents you from all the possible errors in integration. SQL scripting, in opposite doesn’t validate GP logic and by not doing so – it may compromise your data integrity

6. Modification Upgrade. Obviously you should expect some complication in GP version update if you deploy custom GP development technologies. In the case of Great Plains Software Dexterity alternative logic, you should keep Dynamics.dic or Extract.dic with modification scripts in them – Dex developer should be able to upgrade your custom logic. Talking about Modifier with VBA – if you do not deploy Continuum modules switch tricks, upgrade should be straightforward. IM typically is GP version proof. To give you additional version update considerations – Great Plains versions 7.5 and earlier: 7.0, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, 4.0 and 3.2 were available on alternative DB platforms: Btrieve (later on this DB was renamed into Pervasive SQL Server), Ctree/Faircom, and respectively, if you are on these legacy platforms, your modified logic might deploy programming constructions, specific to these DB platforms only – if you are thinking to upgrade to recent GP version (10.0 or 9.0) – you should come through custom logic porting to Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and 2000

7. GP Reporting tools. ReportWriter is Dexterity module and it is seamlessly integrated in GP workstation interface and GP security model. Report Writer reports are stored in Reports.dic. RW is typically used when you need to modify GP existing reports: SOP Invoice Long Form (place your company Logo is classical example). Crystal Reports – you should consider good report design practice to offload report record set creation to MS SQL Server stored procedure or SQL view. SRS or Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services – in our opinion this tool is competitor to CR and you should be aware to use similar strategy – placing record set selection logic to SQL stored procs. You can also deploy MS Excel and MS Access to do reporting for GP – please research ODBC connection options for these tools

8. GP modules licensing consideration. Depending on your GP version – GP professional, standard or business ready, you should be aware that custom modules might require additional purchases, please contact you Microsoft Business Solution partner or MBS ISV

9. Data conversion consideration. If you are switching from legacy MRP, such as Accpac, MYOB, PeopleSoft, Oracle EBusiness Suite/Financials/Applications, JD Edwards, QuickBooks, PeachTree, MAS 90/2000 to GP, data migration and massage might be required. We recommend you to keep legacy accounting system for data inquiry and lookup and do not do historical ERP data conversion to Great Plains. However if historical transactions migration is required, please contact us for the data cleansing quote

Microsoft Dynamics GP Great Plains certified consultants with average 10 years of experience are available for GP implementation, customization, data conversion, integration, user training and ongoing support.  We have experience in such modules as General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivables, Sales Order Processing, Purchase Order Processing, Project Accounting, Fixed Assets, Payroll, ReportWriter, FRx, Crystal Reports for GP, Microsoft Dexterity, eConnect and GP Integration Manager, Collection Management, Great Plains Accounting for DOS and Windows.  Additional background and certifications: Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MSCDBA), Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE), Great Plains Certified Master in functional and technical consulting

1.       Industry Expertise.  We have implemented GP in the following industries: metallurgy, wholesale & retail, transportation & logistics, warehouse management & barcoding, placement & staffing, hospitality management, construction, non-profit, payroll outsourcing, discrete manufacturing, agriculture, rentals and many others.  Call us for your industry case

2.       Local and Nationwide Projects.  We serve you from our call center and centralized Dexterity Software Development factory as well as from our regional offices in Chicago, Houston, San Diego/Orange County

3.       Implementation and Support methodology.  Of course you can expect local service from our regional offices and subcontractors across the country.  However in USA country side we think businesses appreciate short onsite visits to establish handshake and good level of person to person communication with following remote support via web sessions and remote desktop connections

4.       GP software licenses sale.  We are Microsoft Certified Partner, specializing in Great Plains and we are VAR and Reseller, ready to give you full service, including GP modules selection, business processes mapping, ERP licenses sale and installation

Former Great Plains Dynamics is now part of Microsoft Dynamics family of Corporate ERP applications: GP, AX, NAV, SL.  While core Great Plains Financials modules are straight forward in their implementation, data conversion and reporting (General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Bank Reconciliation) – Distributions set of modules often requires Dynamics GP Partner dedication to such technologies as Supply Chain Management, Barcoding, Warehouse Management, Logistics, Manufacturing, and even be very comfortable with GP customization tools and programming options: Microsoft Dexterity, eConnect, SQL scripting, Barcode scanner programming.  Plus – industry expertise is often a big plus, including discrete manufacturing, consignment, picking and packing with regulation compliance:

1. WMS module overview and positioning.  If you are implementing Great Plains and now looking at Warehouse Management extension for GP, you are likely to be mid-size manufacturing, regional distributor or retailer.  This system is typically Barcode scanning based and its Software licenses cost and implementation could be comparable or even exceed core GP modules.  Business processes for Supply Chain Management might be difficult in their formalization, this is why you may expect some modifications to be required on the first or the second phase of WMS implementation.  There are two approaches in WMS module selection – pick External Warehouse Management Application or WMS extension, which work directly with GP modules and doesn’t require additional integration (as you would need in the case of External WMS).  Considering high WMS implementation cost, we recommend you to secure special commitment from your key personnel, and we do recommend you to assign or hire professional project manager in staff in additional to picking Dynamics GP WMS Partner and ISV.  From the technology standpoint Warehouse Management System is typically build upon SOP, POP and Inventory Control modules, sometimes extending also Bill of Materials or Manufacturing suite of modules.  ERP software industry also has some specifics, such as annual software support contracts (where you have automatic access to new version, when it is released, plus you have discounted price per support case) – please, incorporate this cost into your WMS and ERP implementation and support budget

2. Consignment and other elements of Supply Chain Management.  If you have contracts with your business partners, such as small retail stores, restaurants, vending machines to deliver merchandize on consignment with delivery route and dates optimization – this is available extension to the WMS module.  Consignment, besides being accounted on your books, is often very creative and may require customization in its implementation.  We often see Consignment needs in Food and Textile industries for Great Plains

3. WMS and Production functionality.  Besides the needs to open Manufacturing modules screens for Barcode integration, you may also need to implement Manufacturing Order integration and processing automation.  We recommend you to consider Workflow and Posting Server, where you can automate multiple steps (where no GP user intervention is required) with dialogs, where you would like to provide optional decision making

4. How to request WMS support and demo?  Please, call us 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918 or email us help@albaspectrum.com  You can enjoy local support in Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, San Diego, plus we serve you USA, Canada , Mexico nationwide and internationally.  SCM industry requires dedication and it is common for WMS consultants to travel internationally for initial implementation and then provide ongoing support remotely

5. Related topic #1 – WMS Sales, Implementation and Support internationally.  If you are in US or Canada – there is no problem to pick and invite Barcoding and ERP consultants.  However, if you are located internationally, WMS people could be not ready to travel to your place due to various reasons, including not being familiar with your country language, business legislation and traditions.  In our case, we are dedicated to international Corporate ERP and MRP market and our consultants speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Filipino, Russian.  Dynamics GP is only localized (local language support and legislation compliance) in English speaking countries (US, Canada – including Quebec in French, Australia, UK, New Zealand, South Africa, Oceania) , plus in Spanish for Latin America and Caribbean islands and in Arabic for Middle East.  There are Dynamics GP add-ons allowing you to have GP interface in Chinese, Portuguese, German, Swedish, Japanese, Korean, Italian,  again, please be sure that you do understand the difference between ERP being localized and supporting local language only (not being necessary compliant to local country tax code)

6. Related Topic #2 – Dynamics GP Programming and Software Development.  We are just back from Convergence 2010 in Atlanta, where we visited seminar on Dynamics GP customization tools.  David Musgrave, one of the Microsoft Dexterity gurus, indicated that Great Plains Dexterity is still current and robust and you can still rely on and trust to proven traditional Great Plains Software technologies.  In Alba Spectrum we traditionally develop our modules in Dexterity and we are Dynamics GP Source Code Partner (who has access Dexterity Source Code).  We invite existing or new Great Plains customers or resellers to view our Great Plains Dexterity Software Development Factory presentation

• A complete accounting solution that helps small businesses save time managing everyday financial tasks, get organized, and grow their business online
• Familiar Microsoft Office interface that’s easy to set up and use–no training is needed
• Deep integration with other Microsoft Office programs helps streamline necessary but time-consuming and repetitive accounting tasks
• Keeps all of your financial data and business information in one place, making it easy to find the information you need to make better-informed business decisions
• Features to help you easily sell online, get paid faster, and gain easy access to credit reports

Product Description
Item #: 26852H. Office Accounting Professional 2008 is a complete accounting solution that helps small businesses save time managing everyday financial tasks, get organized, and grow their business online. With its familiar Microsoft Office interface, this program is easy to learn, so you can be productive right away. Smooth integration with other Microsoft Office programs makes information sharing simple and helps boost productivity.By organizing all of your busine… More >>

Microsoft Office Accounting Professional 2008

This Corporate ERP application belongs to Microsoft Dynamics family: GP (former Great Plains Dynamics), AX (former Axapta), NAV (Navision), CRM, RMS, SL (Solomon).  Each application has featured modules and special recommendations for industries and niches.  In this small publication we would like to share with you our Microsoft Dynamics GP Great Plains implementation experience and implementation nuances for various business types.  We do not pretend to be top experts in all the industries, and you may find that your case not listed here, or you expect it be implemented different for your company.  Again, Dynamics GP, as we see it is powerful and flexible Corporate ERP platform, ready for moderate or heavy customization, modification, integration, custom reporting and open for moderate or really complex data migration and conversion:

1. Functionality.  We will not be talking here about apparent and traditional functionality, such as General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, as we assume that all Corporate ERP applications handle these areas (Oracle eBusiness Suite, SAP Business One, PeopleSoft, Epicor, Accpac, mySAP, etc.).  Let’s begin with Manufacturing Suite – if you have midsize or larger Discrete Manufacturing facility – this might be good or even perfect fit (if you have so-called Process Manufacturing, such as in food and meat processing industries, please be sure that you reviewed Dynamics AX Axapta).  Project Organization should review GP Project Accounting module with precise budgeting and profit and loss tracking for each project or project class (as alternative, please review also Dynamics SL Solomon, as you may find good alternative logic for your type of Project Organization).  Supply Chain Management: here you have set of Dynamics GP modules, covering this functionality: Inventory Control (with multiple sites, serial and lot number tracking, bins management, inventory cycle count, etc.), Sales Order Processing module (with reasonable negotiation and order execution logic, items allocation and return management, drop ships), Purchase Order Processing (with Purchase Order configurator for automated stock replenishment logic), Grant Management and Analytical Accounting (this is often required for non for profit organization).  Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Portal also covers such features as Electronic Document Delivery (to send Invoices and other documents to your customers and other business partners automatically), Order Management (B2B ecommerce with catalog management and pricing directly from GP Inventory Control module), Requisition Management (with Requisition approval hierarchy and integration to GP Purchase Order Processing module), Human Resources with Employee self management (to eliminate the need for check stubs mailing as one of the advantages).  We are following article genre restrictions, and if you have additional questions, please contact us directly

2. Integration.  Dynamics GP is open for integration with text files or ODBC compliant data sources via user friendly tool (which also had advanced features and scripting options for software programmers) Great Plains Integration Manager module.  IM should not be considered as very basic tool, we have customers, who integrates close to real time ecommerce transactions with IM scheduled integrations (every twenty minutes).  IM could reasonable efficiently cover integration with Heterogeneous SQL queries, where you import to GP something like Oracle, MySQL/PHP/Linux based transactions via Advanced ODBC data sources in IM.  If you require real time GP integration, we recommend you to review eConnect SDK programming options.  If you would like to do automatic ecommerce batches posting in Dynamics GP, we offer Alba Spectrum Posting Server add-on (coded in Great Plains Dexterity source level scripts).  If you are thinking about EDI (Electronic Document Interchange) integration scenarios, we are happy to help you with formatted SQL Select statement and stored procedures to avoid expensive Dynamics GP EDI add-ons purchasing and deployment

3. Customization and Modification.  If you need just to modify some GP screens, please review Modifier module (with VBA scripting).  For deep customization, which is naturally integrated into GP user interface and user security realm, consider Dynamics GP Dexterity.  Initially Dexterity was intended as Great Plains Software Dynamics Architecture.  It was created as the shell, programmed in C++ programming language.  If you have reasonably strong IT department in large organization, we recommend you to try VBA customization (events scripting) for Modified Windows (in GP Modifier).  For Dexterity programming in our opinion learning curve is too long and we do not recommend over night or over weekend, or even over one month turn around for generic C#, VB or C++ programmer to become Dexterity developer

4. Reporting.  Here you have several tools plus numerous generic reporting options.  FRx Financial Reporting is dedicated to Financial Statements: Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss, Statement of Cash Flow, including consolidated versions.  FRx also covers consolidation with overseas subsidiaries, if you are exporting them into Excel worksheets from SAP Business One or local favorite Accounting packages, such as Microsiga in Brazil or 1C Accounting in Russia.  In some case you may be OK with Advanced Financial Reporting, but in our opinion FRx is better option (Advanced Financials comes with Small Business Financials and Dynamics GP as Dexterity coded module, you do not need to purchase additional software licenses for AF).  Great Plains Report Writer allows you to modify such important forms as SOP Blank Invoice (where you likely need to place your company graphical logo).  Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (or SSRS) offers you flexible alternative and free platform for advanced complex reporting, especially Managerial reporting: Sales Commission (with advanced and complex sales commission calculation formula to give you a good example).  For non Microsoft Reporting Platforms we would like to mention Crystal Reports, as this tool (in our opinion similar in its functionality and power to SSRS) has numerous CR developers available on the job market for contracting and sub contracting

5. Data Conversion and Migration.  As we can suggest it from our experience, Dynamics GP data conversions are often end up as show stoppers for GP implementations.  When you are switching to new Corporate ERP application, you should be moderate in your expectations, and try to avoid typical pitfalls.  Great Plains is not an exception, we recommend you to be OK with just master records migration and transfer beginning balances to your GL accounts.  However, and again in our personal opinion, Great Plains Integration Manager allows you to experiment with current year GL data migration or even with attempts to bring several years of modules (SOP, POP, Payroll, AR, AP, etc.) batches and their posting.   Data Conversion and Massage in our opinion are very sensitive to integration mapping (how accurate you are in exporting accounts from your legacy ERP, such as QuickBooks, Peach Tree, MYOB and mapping them one-to-one to new Corporate ERP accounts in Great Plains Dynamics)

6. Great Plains Upgrade.  Microsoft Dynamics GP upgrade should be given to the hands of professional Dynamics GP Consultant.  There are numerous known issues, knowledge base articles, training seminars, technical broadcasts and demos for Great Plains Professionals – we encourage you to try to follow, especially when you are small organization, but if you deploy custom GP logic and your organization is not tolerant to Corporate ERP blackouts, we recommend GP version update to be given to the hands of experienced Dynamics GP Partner

7. Dynamics GP as Corporate ERP for Multinational Corporation.  Please review such topics as Accounting application international localization.  Typically localization includes two things: local language translation and compliance to local country tax and government reporting compliance.  If your subsidiary is located in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Kosovo, Albania, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Burma, we recommend you SAP Business One or local leaders in Corporate ERP applications (such as Microsiga in Brazil or 1S Bukhalteria in Russian Federation)

8. Please review our Great Plains Guru level articles on Albaspectrum or Pegasplanet websites.   We are full service Dynamics GP Partner, ISV, Reseller and VAR

9. If you are University Student and study Accounting, ERP and MRPII courses.  Please, check with your University IT department, typically universities have Educational MSDN subscription and you can have IT folks to download Dynamics GP CD for you

10. How to get help?  Please, feel free to call us: 1-866-528-0577, outside of USA: 1-630-961-5918 or email us help@albaspectrum.com  We are very technical and real Dynamics GP Dexterity, SAP Business One SDK programming gurus.  We have Great Plains Software Development Factory and could support unlimited Dynamics GP Customization and Programming needs.  Plus we speak English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and not only as native speaking sales folks, but as real technical consultants.  If you prefer skype: albaspectrum