Microsoft Great Plains / Dynamics GP

[griffgrog]

I posted this query in the computing forum but didn't get a response. We're thinking of upgrading our Sage software to a more flexible ERP system. One of the systems that keeps getting talked about is Microsoft Dynamics GP. I've never worked with this before. Does anyone have any experience of this?

[plasticpig]

I have played with it. It has some very nice features. My only comment would be is that that at £1100 - £2K per user it is a tad on the expensive side. You need the Advanced Management version if you want project accounting or field service management or manufacturing so thats 2K per user. For a 10 user system I would suspect you will not get any change from £40k unless you want to try an implement it yourself without any assistance.

Edited by plasticpig on Monday 26th November 11:56

[griffgrog]

We're not looking at doing it ourselves. We don't know anything about it. The costs you quote sound like what I was expecting. In the online demo's it looks great. One of the big things for us is the ability to integrate with our suppliers systems who provide us with stock feeds using XML. Additionally we are planning for an e-commerce element in 2008 and need to be able to process sales orders, place purchase orders, deal with fulfilment and raise customer invoices automatically. Sounds exciting, probably a right headache!

[tvrolet]

griffgrog said:

I posted this query in the computing forum but didn't get a response. We're thinking of upgrading our Sage software to a more flexible ERP system. One of the systems that keeps getting talked about is Microsoft Dynamics GP. I've never worked with this before. Does anyone have any experience of this?

Nooooooooooo

GP is one of the 3 main Dynamics products AX (formerly Axapta), Nav (formerly Navision) and GP formerly Great Plains. GP was the first ERP product Microsoft purchased to form Microsoft Business Solutions; and some might argue if it had been much cop they wouldn't have had to go and buy Axapta/Navision later.

There are clearly a great many happy reference sites, but primarily in the US as it is a US product. Funtionally, it isn't as rich as Nav or AX (there isn't even a production/manufacturing module supported in the UK). Also, it is on older technology. That's not to say that you wouldn't be mightily impressed comparing it to sage, but it's maybe like comparing a V6 Mustang to an Allegro. It's a whole lot better. But the BMW (NAV) and Porsche (AX) are strides better again.

Depending on your company size, you should be looking at Dynamics NAV or Dynamics AX. I've been to Microsoft presentations where they've tried to pidgeon-hole the products, and the usually end up by saying AX is global and 'top-end', while NAV and GP are the slightly lower-end products with a focus US or ROW. In reality, that just accounts for the fact that historocally most of the GP sales have been in the US. AX and NAV knock the spots off GP at every turn.

I am, of course, slightly biased as we are Gold Partners for Dynamics AX and also Gold Partners for Dynamics NAV. But, we weren't just handed these products - like end users, we had to look at the marketplace and see what was best for us to 'buy'; to maximuse our sales and revenue and minimise our costs; in short, to base our business on. And GP fell way below our radar! We became AX partners, simply because it is the best product out there taking 'everything' into consideration (funtionality, look and feel, ease of use, ease of upgrade, architecture, development, long term future etc). But, AX was just too large for some of our legacy clients, so we looked for something to cover the 'bottom end' for us (maybe 5-50 seats), and came up with NAV.

Drop me a note offline if you want to know more. I am the product director of Index Computer Systems (www.IndexSystems.co.uk); my background is AX rather than NAV, but I can get one of the NAV guys to respond if that's more applicable.

[Robbed666]

We use Navision. Totally customisable, but fricken expensive for a small company.

[Carsie]

Bit of my speciality this one- I've had a lot experience over the past couple of years with ERP systems understanding their different pro's and cons and the ROI; feel free to drop me a line.