Article by Andrew Karasev
For mid-size companies brand name Warehouse Management System might be too expensive from the software licenses standpoint. Another dilemma here is integration between external WMS and your accounting application. Microsoft Dynamics GP or how it was formerly known Great Plains Dynamics is popular Corporate ERP platform in mid-market niche. If you have it implemented in your organization and now looking for the Warehouse and Supply Chain Management solution we would like to give you some highlights on how to bring its functionality down to the warehouse floor:
1. Distribution modules. Most of the functionality that you expect to deploy in the warehouse is available in such modules as Sales Order Processing, Inventory Control and Purchase Order Processing. Let’s review generic WMS procedures. First of all it is sales order fulfillment as you scan the barcode labels of the items picked from the bins. Sometimes it is referred as allocation. In GP allocation is possible via disabling automatic line allocation in SOP Order or Invoice type by marking Use Separate Fulfillment Process. In this case you can allocate by document or by the whole batch of document. Second typical routine in the warehouse floor is restocking often also referred as replenishment. In Great Plains it is done in Purchase Receipt transaction where you can match the receipt towards purchase order or receive the merchandise without PO. If you are doing requisitions and select the best offer from several alternative suppliers then requisition management module is available in Microsoft Dynamics Business Portal. And finally there are various inventory transfers, adjustment (due to spoilage and other reasons) and cycle stock counting. All these features are available in inventory control module
2. How about barcode scanning and labels printing. Regarding barcode labels printing there are several options. The first one is modified or custom Report Writer report where you select the font which is not for human but instead for barcode scanner. Good idea is to consider professional reports design tool such as Crystal Reports. Now about barcoding directly in GP user interface. If your barcoding needs are limited in the number of scanned tags per day or per hour then you may use low profile USB or wireless scanner. Such scanners are typically cheap and perform the same function as computer keyboard however a way faster. Why we are talking here about volume limits? Well due to the fact that warehouse worker have to open Dynamics forms and do field switch by clicking keyboard tab button or using computer mice. But what if we have smart scanners or RFID tag readers and would like our workers to be committed just to their forklifts and scanners? In this case Warehouse Management Extensions might be an answer and keep reading
3. Warehouse Management Extensions for Dynamics GP. Modern day scanner in the middle or high price diapasons has internal computer processor and screen for user interface. WMS extension from Alba Spectrum is in fact software which runs on the scanner operating system and communicates with WMS server. Special technology Order Connector sends scanned label directly to SQL tables SOP10100, SOP10200 and others
4. SCM business logic and Great Plains. It is typically programmed in Microsoft Dexterity when you would like modification of the user interface. In the case when all you need to do is integration we recommend you to discuss such integration tools as eConnect or Integration Manager. It is possible to program such functionalities as just in time delivery, truck route optimization and other features
5. Other WMS and SCM options. Please request executive and technical presentations from brand name stand-alone Warehouse Management software vendors. These systems have higher circulation and due to that fact probably lesser vulnerability to software bugs. However the price tag might be exceeding the cost that you already paid for Dynamics software and implementation hours. External Warehouse Management application also requires integration and transaction mapping
6. What is the quintessence? We do recommend thorough homework to avoid over budgeting or other pitfalls down the road
7. For additional information, please feel free to call us 1-866-528-0577 or 1-630-961-5918 (this number works for international customers) or email us help@albaspectrum.com We serve you USA/Canada nationwide via remote support (web sessions and phone/Skype conferences). Local service is available in Western Michigan, Chicagoland, Southern California (LA, Orange County and San Diego), Houston area of the state of Texas
About the Author
Andrew Karasev, http://www.albaspectrum.com Great Plains Dynamics GP and eEnterprise Certified Master, Microsoft MVP and consultant with 15 years and plus experience and expertise. Alba Spectrum, 1-866-528-0577, help@albaspectrum.com. If you are thinking implement Dynamics GP in challenging environment, we recommend you to give us a call
