computer Since

Software Platforms

ITM 319

Dec 4, 2015

Microsoft Dynamics GP10

The Microsoft Dynamics is a software package developed by Microsoft as a series of Enterprise Resource Planning. These types of software applications mainly target the mid-size and small-size business enterprises. The applications a delivered to the organization by reselling partners who offer extended services to this business enterprises through a created network. Despite this, the installation of this software requires the expertise of these resellers. A vast number of the other existing Microsoft solutions can also be used with the Microsoft Dynamics such as the share point and office 365 (Aamer, 2013). Different groups of the enterprise resource planning products are created as components of the Microsoft Dynamics offering a great deal of in cooperation structures to the small enterprise organizations. The mid-size business enterprises are also equipped with the prototypes based on their complexity. There are several suits under the Microsoft Dynamics software applications; however this paper will focus on Microsoft Dynamics GP10. The Microsoft Dynamics GP10 is an adaptable and integrated type of business management solution within the Microsoft Dynamics line equipped with the capability of offering a variety of services to the small and mid-size business organizations. Microsoft Dynamics GP10 mainly streamlines the supply chain, customer relationship and the financial processes within an organization.

The Microsoft Dynamics GP10 is comprised of 19 core modules. This software application works similarly with the other Microsoft applications depicting its simplicity in use and its enhancement of enabling the capability of making important business decisions and working efficiently within the organization (Sherman, 2012). The capability to run a business through locations and countries is enhanced by the fact that the software application enables visibility across the organization, consolidating and standardizing processes and the simplification of compliance. The core concept behind this software application is based on its capability of enabling organizations to gain access to both critical and common sets of accurate business information. Enhanced business performance and swift decision making are a critical feature guaranteed by Microsoft Dynamics GP10 hence its need to different staff levels. The level of authorization differentiates the users and is comprised of the application users, application developers, and the administrator (Wolenik, Sinay & Bhaiya, 2011).

The customer reviews directed to the use of the Microsoft Dynamics GP10 is being depicted as a simple to use software application and not sophisticated like the other ERP systems that are available. Despite this, some customer reviews outline it shortcoming based on its functionality. This shortcoming is based on the fact that the Microsoft Dynamics GP10 is not customizable when it comes to big ERP requirements with the comparison to other preferable software applications such as the Oracle. Peet's Coffee and Tea have adopted the use of the Microsoft Dynamics GP10 application software into their organizational structure (Aamer, 2013). The application software has equipped the business enterprise with business intelligence on sales and finance processes, executive team member’s change on the basis of accelerating growth and budgeting with forecasting capabilities. The capability to run a business through locations and countries is enhanced by the fact that the software application enables visibility across the organization, consolidating and standardizing processes and the simplification of compliance (Sherman, 2012).

The Microsoft Dynamics GP (2012) web page provides information regarding the program, such as use, capabilities, price, and system requirements. Microsoft Dynamics GP was formerly known as Great Plains. It is an accounting software program that provides comprehensive out of the box business management functionality. This program is designed to help companies to run more efficiently by bringing all aspects of their business together, not just accounting. Microsoft Dynamics GP provides financial management capabilities to enable a company to better manage their cash flow, fixed assets, as well as business intelligence along with reporting to help create and manage budgets. Microsoft Dynamics GP provides supply chain management capabilities to improve the inventory management system and manufacturing capabilities to better manage materials and production as well as enhance quality assurance within the Company. Microsoft Dynamics GP provides IT management capabilities to connect with mobile, remote workers and human resource management capabilities to help streamline the hiring process and manage payroll internally. Microsoft Dynamics GP provides risk management capabilities to manage security restrictions and to safeguard information. It provides the user with project management capabilities to bolster both customer relationships and increased sales.

Microsoft Dynamics GP pricing varies depending on where you purchase the product from, the number of users you require, data migration and implementation costs as well as whether you get a service plan and what type. Pricing for Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 starts at approximately $2,600 for a single user and increases from there. Microsoft Dynamics GP can be purchased from any of partners Microsoft has across the United States.

The minimum system requirements for Microsoft Dynamics GP are as follows: “Operating System: Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP Professional, Processor:1 Dual Core or 1 Single Core Processor 2.6 GHz or higher, Avail. Hard Disk: 2GB or more on the system root, Min. Avail. RAM:2GB or more, Network Card: 1GB Ethernet, Microsoft Office: Microsoft Office 2007 or Microsoft Office 2010, internet: Internet Explorer 7, 8 or 9, Adobe: Adobe 8.0 or 9.0” (Microsoft Dynamics GP, 2012).

The following is a description of how Microsoft Dynamics GP handles processing the accounting transactions and recording business activities.

Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 is designed to work in conjunction with Microsoft Windows. These two products working simultaneously provide the ability for a large volume of transaction processing. According to Microsoft (2012), with Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 transactions can be entered as single use, clearing, reversing or recurring in the General Ledger. "Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 allows the user to void saved transactions, copy posted transactions, and back out and correct posted transactions when recording transactions" (Microsoft, Chapter 2, 2012). In addition, Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 allows transactions to be entered in a number of user defined quick journals that are similar to traditional accounting journals, such as the cash receipts journal or cash disbursements journal. It also allows the user to print an edit list to verify that the transactions entered are accurate. This helps to catch mistakes made during entries (Microsoft, Chapter 2, 2012).

Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 utilizes the double entry accounting method in that it will not allow for transactions to be saved or posted until both the debit and credit amounts are equal. This ensures that only equal valid transactions are posted. Any unbalanced, invalid transactions will remain in the batch as not posted after the posting is completed. This ensures the accuracy of the accounting data. To enter a transaction in Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0, you use the transaction entry window in General Ledger to post standard and reversing transactions. The user will open this window by clicking on the financial button and then clicking on general in the transactions content pane. The following steps include using a standard transaction type, typing a transaction date as the actual date of the transaction, and entering the debit > credit amount for the transaction (Microsoft, Chapter 2, 2012).

According to Yacht, Crosson, and Segovia (2008), the user must click post for transactions entered individually without a batch ID. Once the transaction entry window is closed, you can print the general transaction posting journal for all of the transactions posted since the last time the window was opened. Printing a general transaction list before posting allows the user to verify that all of the transactions entered are accurate. The edit lists can only be printed for transactions that were entered in a batch. To print the transaction edit list, select Print from the file menu or click on the Printer icon (Yacht, Crosson & Segovia, 2008).

The following section discusses Microsoft Dynamics GP reporting features for the expenditure cycle, revenue cycle, and financing cycle.

The expenditure cycle and revenue cycle are both summarized in the income statement, which displays expenses and revenues. The balance sheet displays some related accounts, such as accounts receivables, merchandise inventory, and accounts payable. There are many reports that are very detailed and specific to each business cycle. Below is a list and description of some of them with explanation of their importance.

The expenditure cycle includes purchasing and cash disbursements. As per a Microsoft (2007) manual of Microsoft Dynamics GP Sample Reports, the following are key reports for the expenditure cycle: Purchasing Invoice Distribution Detail: Shows detailed information about the debit and credit amounts posted to each General Ledger posting account. It is part of the audit trail and should be kept with the permanent records. Purchasing Invoice Posting Journal: Shows detailed info about invoice receipts that have been entered and posted. It alerts us if a transaction hasn’t been posted because of errors. This journal is a part of the audit trail and should be kept with the permanent records.

The Microsoft Dynamics GP10 offers easy-to-learn and easy to use business solutions for both small and mid-size business enterprises. The required business insight is ought to be reached at with enhanced customer relations and the capability of reaching at decisions swiftly by the management (Wolenik, Sinay & Bhaiya, 2011). The real-time information offered by Microsoft Dynamics GP10 is a reflection of the capability of Microsoft Dynamics application software to empower the business and enhance thrive in the global market.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is user-friendly and affordable CRM software, particularly for Microsoft Office users. It has the ability to switch and customize between dashboards. If further allows user to access information that he or she values the most. It gives companies powerful reporting capabilities, with the ability to bring up large pre-built reports and the ability to exchange between excel and CRM makes it extremely customizable.

The bottom line is Microsoft dynamics products are highly customizable products that fit the needs and size of any company you can throw at it. The value of implementing a Microsoft Dynamics product as your ERP solution seems to be the right choice. In price each product comes with a different price tag. There are many factors that influence the actual cost of implementation: the company’s industry, the size of the company, the anticipated transaction volume, scope and complexity of the implementation, and the number of third-party integrations. Microsoft ability to interface other products in their ERP solutions creates and database of knowledge at a user’s finger tips. One thing I took out it this paper and as a Microsoft user. Is that Microsoft makes great products with great customers support and usability. That’s why they are the big dog in town, they make great products.

SAP ECC 6.0

For medium sized businesses, SAP Business All-In-One delivers. The amount of employees can be anything because it can be enhanced. If a business has 200 or 500 employees, it will work for that business. It also is good for small companies that are growing and eventually will become medium sized companies. It uses industry specific Enterprise Resource planning to help a business be more efficient. Because it is industry specific, businesses have more flexibility which allows them to grow and change over time. Business All-In-One uses NetWeaver, a technology that allows for improvements to your business as it evolves (Boll, 2003).

A major benefit of Business All-In-One is that it gives the company information about their industry, from how other businesses are solving problems to the best way to run the business in general. Like Business One, it takes care of the hassle of financial management, as well as helps customer relationships. Business All-In-One also allows a business to develop a good supplier relationship. It allows for easier transactions and payments to suppliers by making it unified and faster (Business All-In-One, n.d). One problem that can arise when implementing Business All-In-One is the fact that it will take a knowledgeable and good sized IT department. The business will probably have to bring in outside consultants to help get it running smoothly. This could create tension with the normal employees and, by bringing in others to help teach it, it slows everything down. Depending on how it is set up, some departments could slow others down. Technical problems and failures could cause many problems in implementing it. Of course, once it is up and running smoothly, the business will benefit tremendously from it.

For large businesses, such as a fortune 500 company, SAP makes software called Business Suite. According to one of their employees, there is not much difference between Business All-In-One and Business Suite. The only difference is that Business Suite is more powerful and able to support a large corporation. Like Business All-In-One, Business Suite can help with industry specific functions. For example, an oil and gas company may need pipeline safety tracking. With Business Suite, there is a module available for that need. Business Suite offers mobile apps which allow employees to access information from anywhere at any time, and it can be run off the cloud (Business Suite, n.d). Running some of the business off of the cloud would allow the business to expand or reduce during the year if needed.

SAP also protects and monitors information on the cloud. Also, like Business One, Business Suite takes care of all the financial management, customer relationships, etc. An added advantage to using SAP software in general is that the code can be modified to support a business. Granted, it would take a very good staff to implement it and fix possible errors, but it is a benefit. A potential problem with Suite, and really all SAP software that runs ERP, is that a business basically has to redesign itself around the SAP software it chooses. While there is some flexibility, depending on the software, it can only change so much before a business must decide whether to give in or not.

Core Human Resources

Core Human Resources is designed to empower a workforce to succeed by optimizing your Core Human Resources ERP processes. It can help leverage SAP ERP software to automate, streamline, and extend Core Human Resources processes. Additionally, it will help achieve profitable growth and outperform the competition by leveraging employees’ skills and talents, while giving them every opportunity to achieve their career goals. This software automates employee administration, time management, payroll, and legal reporting processes. The two applications included in this module are:

* The Core Human Resources application to support your organizational growth and employee engagement with a single system for global and local HR and payroll processes.

* A Time & Attendance Management application to provide the workforce with multiple ways to access the data, applications, and analytical tools they need to perform their work as efficiently as possible (SAP ERP Core Human Resources, n.d.).

Core Finance

Core Finance focus is on streamlining and automating financial operations, while ensuring regulatory compliance and gaining real-time insight into overall performance. It is designed to further a company's success by managing spending, optimizing resources, complying with financial reporting requirements, capturing growth opportunities and streamlining financial operations better than the competition. There are three applications included with Core Finance which include:

* An Accounting and Financial Close application to help run compliant, real-time financial accounting processes more quickly, more accurately, and more efficiently.

* A Management Accounting Application to ensure sound decision making with reports that provide detailed profitability and margin information, down to customer and product level.

* A Travel Management application that helps manage the entire lifecycle of every business trip, including everything from pre-trip approval to online booking, expense reporting, and data warehousing (SAP ERP Core Finance, n.d.)..

Technology Platform

Technology Platform is an ERP foundation extension that is designed to turbocharge enterprise resource planning. The SAP ERP Foundation Extension includes essential innovations in analytics, cloud, mobile, and user experience to help maximize return on investment when running SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) on the SAP HANA platform. This extension includes the nine applications listed below.

* SAP Fiori for Enterprise Apps on Desktop & Mobile to gain instant access to a collection of enterprise apps that support the most broadly and frequently used SAP software functions.

* SAP Mobile Business Intelligence which is designed to easily access business intelligence to make critical decisions, anytime, anywhere, on any device, with interactive visuals and intuitive search capabilities.

* SAP Crystal Reports to help produce pixel-perfect reports that are clear and customizable for easy-to-understand, actionable business insight.

* SAP Access Control to help automate the process of detecting, remediating, and ultimately preventing access risk violations.

* SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence to provide business users with flexible, self-service access to ad hoc reporting tools and intuitive analytics on the Web, desktop, or mobile device.

* SAP BusinessObjects Analysis, Edition for Microsoft Office provides compatibility with the Microsoft Office environment to enable access to business data from that format using multi-dimensional data analysis software.

* SAP NetWeaver Single Sign-On assigns single sign-on identity credentials and support sophisticated authentication such as digital signatures and encryption for reduced risk and cost.

* SAP Cloud for Sales is a sales solution that is designed to help with knowing the customers and to help close deals faster.

* SAP NetWeaver Process Integration allows systems to connect across business networks by using the power of SAP NetWeaver to connect heterogeneous systems and achieve application-to-application (A2A) and business-to-business (B2B) integration (Technology Platform, n.d.).

Request to Service is designed to deliver real-time service and build customer loyalty with SAP ERP Request to Service processes. This solution will help an organization increase sales, profit margins, enhance customer satisfaction, and differentiate its brand by delivering exceptional service in every customer experience with SAP ERP software that supports ERP Request to Service processes. There is a set of three applications included with this module to help with this process:

* A Service Management application to optimize service delivery through integration in SAP ERP and to incorporate agile service processes into daily customer interactions.

* A Service Parts Management application that will help establish an efficient and integrated service-parts supply chain, and improve real-time visibility into data for customers, suppliers, and operations.

* A Service Project Management application to align resources and service projects with business objectives to help minimize project delays and prevent business interruptions (Request to Service (ERP), n.d.).

Human Resources discussed

After looking into all of the capabilities of SAP’s ERP solutions, it is easy to see why they are one of the industry’s leaders. For over 40 years, SAP has a proven track record of providing a superior product at a competitive price. Their products strive to provide solutions to every back office function of today’s highly competitive business world. SAP has develops solutions that work well and can be tailored to meet the needs of any industry in any market today. Everything from aerospace and defense to utilities and wholesale distribution can be run effective and efficiently on a SAP system.

Their ERP solutions are easily integrated with existing hardware and software applications which eliminates the need to upgrade entire IT systems just to gain the benefits that SAP has to offer. Today’s fast paced business markets have force companies rely heavily on their information systems to remain competitive. A reliable ERP system is a must. Any business that is trying to get by without keeping up to date with their ERP system is asking for trouble and could find themselves falling behind the pack. If a business were in the market for an ERP upgrade, SAP should be among the top contenders’ bases on their products adaptability, versatility and scalability.

Microsoft versus Sap

	General
	SAP ECC 6.0	Microsoft Dynamics GP10
Interface	More training is necessary here. This is because; users really need to understand what to do earlier, unlike the case with Microsoft.	Has an Intuitive interface - the folder scheme is set up as an easy point and click atmosphere. Setup very much like a Windows interface. In this system, the menu's pull up immediately when you click on a functionality .
Functionality	It becomes much more methodical once the user is in the module. The system helps the user in the step by step creation of the various departments, divisions, companies, etc.	Windows tend to pop up with the majority of information in the first window. However, it wouldn't necessarily require users to go through the process of clicking on different buttons to get different options
Report	Uses crystal reports to export to various file types like word or excel	This system exports directly to MS office files without use of any intermediary system unlike SAP
Ease of use	Easy to use because of the 'Manager's Desktop' which allows for managers to quickly pull up information and reports on employees	The interface is Standard. Its intuitive set-up allows for HR managers to quickly navigate through windows
	Creating divisions
	SAP ECC 6.0	Microsoft Dynamics GP10
Name	Organizational Unit	Division
Creation	Many units created at a time	Single division at a time
Division	Data is edited after the units are created	All information is entered during division creation

References

Aamer, M. (2013). Microsoft Dynamics GP10 2012 Financial Management. Packt Publishing.

Boll, M. (2003, August 25). SAPinfo. Retrieved January 29, 2013, from SAPinfo website: http://en.sap.info/sap-software-for-small-and-medium-size-businesses-has-become-much- less-complex%e2%80%9d/1687

Business Suite. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2013, from SAP website: http://www54.sap.com/lob/financial-management/software/business-suite- apps/index.html

Fertig, T. (2004). Just how difficult is SAP to implement? Retrieved January 29, 2013, from SAPtips website: http://www.erpgenie.com/publications/saptips/Project%20Management%20EMconvt.pdf

Sherman, M. (2012). Inside Microsoft Dynamics GP10 2012. Redmond, Wash.: Microsoft Press.

Wolenik, M., Sinay, D., & Bhaiya, R. (2011). Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 unleashed. [S.l.]: Sams Pub.