Using Microsoft Dynamics GP:
A Complete Guide

What is MS Dynamics GP?

Microsoft Dynamics GP offers a comprehensive suite of features to help businesses manage their financials, supply chain, and inventory. With Dynamics GP, you can manage your general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliation, and cash management. You can also manage your inventory, procurement, sales, order management, and project management. Moreover, Dynamics GP offers advanced reporting and analysis capabilities, allowing you to gain insights into your business’s performance and make informed decisions.

Why Is It Called Microsoft Dynamics GP?

Microsoft Dynamics GP, formerly known as Great Plains, was initially developed by a company called Great Plains Software. In 2001, Microsoft acquired Great Plains Software and rebranded the product as Microsoft Great Plains. Later, in 2005, Microsoft renamed the product to Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains (GP), with "GP" standing for "Great Plains".

The decision to retain "Great Plains" in the product name Microsoft Great Plains was likely made to leverage the established brand recognition and reputation that the software had built up over the years before its acquisition by Microsoft.

Additionally, the "GP" acronym helps to differentiate the product from other Microsoft Dynamics products, such as Microsoft Dynamics NAV (formerly Navision) and Microsoft Dynamics AX (formerly Axapta).

What Is Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP?

Microsoft Dynamics GP is a comprehensive enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution designed to help small and medium-sized businesses manage their financials, inventory, sales, purchasing, and operations.

Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains (GP) provides a range of powerful tools and features that enable businesses to streamline their processes, gain greater insight into their operations, and make more informed decisions.

Here are some of the key features and capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics GP:

• Financial Management: The software provides robust financial management capabilities, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash management, and bank reconciliation.
• Supply Chain Management: Microsoft Dynamics GP includes inventory management, order processing, purchase order management, and bill of materials management to help businesses manage their supply chain effectively.
• Sales and Service Management: MS Dynamics GP software provides tools for managing sales orders, customer invoicing, service calls, and contract administration, helping businesses improve customer service and satisfaction.
• Project Management: Microsoft Dynamics GP includes project management capabilities that allow businesses to track project costs, manage resources, and analyze project profitability.
• Business Intelligence and Reporting: Dynamics GP CRM software includes various reporting and analytics tools that give businesses greater visibility into their operations, helping them make data-driven decisions.
• Human Resource Management: Microsoft Dynamics GP includes human resource management features such as payroll, employee benefits, and HR compliance tracking.

As you can see, MS Dynamics GP is a robust and versatile ERP solution that can help businesses of all sizes manage their operations more efficiently and effectively.

What is MS Dynamics GP Manufacturing Automation?

The manufacturing automation feature within Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains (GP) is a set of tools designed to help manufacturers streamline their production processes and improve efficiency.

With the manufacturing automation Microsoft Dynamics GP, businesses can automate the entire production process, from planning and scheduling to materials management and quality control. This allows manufacturers to reduce lead times, improve production quality, and optimize inventory levels.

Specific features of the manufacturing automation module in Microsoft Dynamics GP include Bill of Materials (BOM) management, work order processing, production scheduling, shop floor control, and product costing. These tools enable manufacturers to manage their production processes more effectively, reduce waste, and improve overall efficiency.

As you can see, Microsoft Dynamics GP's manufacturing automation is a set of tools designed to help manufacturers automate and streamline their production processes, improve efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize inventory levels.

What is Microsoft Great Plains Analytical Accounting Reporting?

Microsoft Great Plains, also known as Microsoft Dynamics GP, has a powerful Analytical Accounting module. This feature in Microsoft Dynamics GP provides advanced reporting and analysis capabilities for financial data.

Analytical Accounting in Microsoft Dynamics GP enables businesses to create custom reports and analyze financial data based on specific dimensions, such as department, project, product, or location. This allows businesses to gain insights into their financial data at a granular level and make more informed decisions.

The reporting capabilities of the Analytical Accounting module in Microsoft Dynamics GP include a variety of financial reports, such as balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, and budget reports. These reports can be customized to include specific dimensions or filters and can be exported to Excel or other formats for further analysis.

Additionally, the Analytical Accounting module in Microsoft Dynamics GP provides tools for budgeting and forecasting, allowing businesses to create and track budgets and analyze their financial performance against those budgets over time.

Overall, the Analytical Accounting module in Microsoft Dynamics GP provides powerful reporting and analysis capabilities for businesses looking to gain insights into their financial data and make informed decisions.

Microsoft Dynamics GP Pricing

Microsoft Dynamics GP offers flexible pricing options depending on your business’s needs and requirements. You can choose from perpetual or subscription licensing.

Perpetual licensing of Microsoft GP involves a one-time upfront cost and provides software access without recurring payments.

Subscription licensing involves monthly payments, and you can scale up or down your licensing requirements based on your needs.

Microsoft Dynamics GP Support Services

Microsoft Dynamics GP is user-friendly software, but it’s always reassuring to have the option of getting support when needed. Microsoft offers a range of support options, including self-help resources, community forums, and online training programs.

You can also opt for paid support options such as Premier Support or MS Dynamics GP support plans, which offer support from Microsoft’s technical experts.

Customization of Microsoft Great Plains

One of the significant advantages of Microsoft Dynamics GP is its highly customizable build. Using its customization tools, you can tailor the software to your business’s specific needs and requirements. This means you can add new functionalities, modify existing ones or create entirely new ones.

What is Microsoft Dynamics GP Web Services?

Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) Web Services is a feature in Dynamics GP that allows external applications to communicate with and access MS Dynamics GP data and functionality over the internet using web services technology.

Web services are software that provides a standard way of exchanging data between different systems and applications over the Internet. They use standard protocols and formats, such as HTTP, XML, and SOAP, to allow different systems to communicate and share data with each other.

With Dynamics GP Web Services, developers can create custom applications and integrations that can interact with Dynamics GP data in real time without having to use proprietary integration methods or tools. This can enable businesses to extend the functionality of Dynamics GP to meet their specific needs or integrate it with other systems and applications they use.

Some of the functionality that can be accessed through Dynamics GP Web Services includes creating, updating, and retrieving records in Dynamics GP, as well as running reports, and performing other system tasks.

Overall, Dynamics GP Web Services is a powerful tool that allows developers to create custom applications and integrations that can interact with MS Dynamics GP data and functionality over the internet using web services technology. It enables businesses to extend the functionality of Dynamics GP and integrate it with other systems and applications to streamline processes and improve productivity.

How Can I Find Microsoft Azure Dynamics GP Partners List?

To find a list of Microsoft Azure Dynamics GP partners, you can visit the Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner Finder page on the Microsoft website. Here are the steps to access the Partner Finder:

• Go to the Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner Finder page: https://partner.microsoft.com/en-us/solutions/dynamics-gp-partners
• On this page, you'll see a world map with a search box below it. Type in your location or the location you are interested in, and click the "Search" button.
• You'll be taken to a page with a list of partners in the location you searched for. You can filter the list by Partner Type (e.g., Reseller, ISV, VAR), Competency (e.g., ERP, CRM, Cloud), and Industry (e.g., Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare) to find the partner that best fits your needs.
• Click on the partner's name to view their profile and learn more about their services, products, and contact information.

Alternatively, you can search for Microsoft Dynamics GP partners using search engines like Google or Bing. Simply type in your location and keywords like "Microsoft Dynamics GP partners" or "Azure Dynamics GP partners" to find a list of partners in your area.

However, the Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner Finder is the official resource Microsoft provides for finding partners, and it is recommended to use this resource for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Microsoft Dynamics GP Integration with Artsyl

Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) can be integrated with Artsyl intelligent process automation software, allowing businesses to automate their document-based processes and workflows and streamline their operations.

Artsyl's intelligent process automation solution docAlpha can capture, classify, and extract data from documents such as invoices, purchase orders, and other business documents and then route that data to the appropriate Dynamics GP module or workflow for further processing. This can help businesses to eliminate manual data entry, reduce errors, and improve the speed and accuracy of their financial processes.

docAlpha offers a very tight integration with Dynamics GP, using the web services and APIs of Dynamics GP. Once the software is installed and configured, users can initiate document processing, either from within Dynamics GP, from other business applications, from docAlpha platform, or just by setting watched e-mail addresses to automatically pick up any incoming financial documents from mail. docAlpha then extracts, classifies, GL-codes the data and automatically enters it into the appropriate Dynamics GP fields, eliminating the need for manual data entry. The workflows you have set up already on Dynamics GP side can be expanded outside it, and include tight control of all flows of data and documents in your company using the docAlpha automation platform.

Some of the benefits of integrating Dynamics GP with Artsyl's docAlpha solution include:

• Improved accuracy and speed of financial processes
• Reduced costs and errors associated with manual data entry
• Increased visibility into document-based workflows and processes

As you can see, integrating Dynamics GP with Artsyl's intelligent process automation software can help businesses to automate their financial processes, reduce manual data entry, and improve the accuracy and efficiency of their operations.

How Artsyl Makes Microsoft Dynamics GP Even More Intelligent

Dynamics GP uses Microsoft SQL Server to store data and is developed using the Dexterity programming language. It is part of the Microsoft Dynamics suite of intelligent business applications. Artsyl docAlpha, OrderAction and InvoiceAction currently support the export of the following document types using Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016:

• Purchase invoices
• Sales orders
• Sales quotes
• Sales invoices
• Purchase shipment invoices
• Checks
• And more

There are numerous instant data validation rules against database that ensure data quality. This is useful, for example, for obtaining all vendor data by phone, checking for the presence of any value in the system, or simply obtaining a list of values.

• You can also obtain or check any values at the table level
• You can compare the quantity and price of ordered goods with the quantity and prices in the source document
• You can check if such a transaction already exists in the system

In addition to the built-in rules for Microsoft Dynamics GP integration, Artsyl docAlpha also uses custom rules for validation of items and customers and generating GL codes and receipts.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Microsoft Dynamics GP is a powerful financial management solution that offers a comprehensive suite of features with flexibility and customization options that cater to small and medium-sized businesses. With its advanced reporting and analysis capabilities and seamless integration with other Microsoft products, MS Dynamics GP allows businesses to make informed decisions and gain a competitive edge.

Choosing the right financial management solution is crucial for the success of your business, and we hope this blog has helped you in your decision-making process.

FAQ

Where can I download Microsoft Great Plains?

Microsoft Great Plains, now known as Microsoft Dynamics GP, is not available for download as a standalone product. It is a licensed software product that must be purchased from a Microsoft Dynamics GP partner or reseller.

To get started with Microsoft Dynamics GP, you can visit the Microsoft Dynamics GP website and use the "Find a Partner" tool to locate a partner or reseller in your area. Once you have found a partner, you can work with them to determine the best licensing options and deployment strategy for your business needs.

It's important to note that Microsoft Dynamics GP is a complex software solution that typically requires professional installation and configuration services to ensure that it is set up and running correctly. Working with a certified Microsoft Dynamics GP partner or reseller can help ensure that your implementation is successful and that you can leverage the full benefits of the software.

How many versions of Microsoft Dynamics GP are there?

Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) has been available in the market since the early 1990s, and several versions have been released since then.

It's worth noting that Microsoft has been shifting its focus toward its cloud-based ERP solution, Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations. As a result, there have been less frequent releases of new versions of MS Dynamics GP in recent years.

However, Microsoft still offers support for MS Dynamics GP and continues to release updates to address any critical issues or to ensure compatibility with new operating systems and software.

Overall, while there have been many versions of Microsoft Dynamics GP over the years, the latest version as of September 2021 was version 18.3.

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What is Microsoft Dynamics GP Rest API?

The Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) REST API is a web service interface that allows external applications to interact with Dynamics GP data and functionality.

REST stands for Representational State Transfer, which is a standard architectural style for building web services that are scalable, flexible, and easy to use. The MS Dynamics GP REST API allows developers to use HTTP requests to access and manipulate data in Dynamics GP using standard HTTP verbs like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.

With the MS Dynamics GP REST API, developers can create custom applications and integrations that can interact with Dynamics GP data in real-time without using proprietary integration methods or tools. This can enable businesses to extend the functionality of Dynamics GP to meet their specific needs or integrate it with other systems and applications they use.

Some of the functionality that can be accessed through the Dynamics GP REST API includes creating, updating, and retrieving records in Dynamics GP, as well as running reports, and performing other system tasks.

In summary, the Microsoft Dynamics GP REST API is a web service interface that allows developers to interact with Dynamics GP data and functionality using standard HTTP requests. It enables developers to create custom applications and integrations that can extend the functionality of Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains and integrate it with other systems and applications.

What is the Dynamics GP Power User role?

In Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains), the Power User role is a user role that provides a high level of access and permissions within the system.

Users with the Power User role can perform a wide range of tasks and activities within MS Dynamics Great Plains, including creating and editing records, running reports, managing security and access levels, and performing system maintenance tasks. They can also perform tasks related to financial management, supply chain management, and project management.

The Power User role is typically assigned to users who require a high level of access and permissions within Dynamics GP, such as IT administrators, system administrators, and senior managers.

However, it's important to note that with great power comes great responsibility, and users with the Power User role in Microsoft Dynamics Great Plain software must exercise caution and ensure that they follow best practices when working with sensitive data and making changes to the system.

In summary, the Dynamics GP Power User role is a user role that provides a high level of access and permissions within the system. Users with this role can perform a wide range of tasks and activities within Dynamics GP and are typically assigned to users who require a high level of access and responsibility within the system.

How to find Microsoft Dynamics GP cloud providers?

To find Microsoft Dynamics GP cloud providers, you can follow these steps:

• Go to the Microsoft Dynamics GP product page on the Microsoft website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/gp-overview
• Click on the "Find a partner" button at the top of the page.
• On the partner page, you can select "Cloud Solution Provider" under "Partner Type" to filter the list of partners who offer cloud-based solutions.

You can also enter your location or the location you are interested in to filter the list of partners further. Click on a partner's name to view their profile and learn more about their cloud offerings.

Alternatively, you can search for Microsoft Dynamics GP cloud providers using search engines like Google or Bing. Simply type in keywords like "Microsoft Dynamics GP cloud providers" or "Azure Dynamics GP partners" to find a list of partners who offer cloud-based solutions. However, it is recommended to use the official Microsoft partner search tool for the most up-to-date and accurate information.