Microsoft Great Plains in Aerospace & Defense industries ? implementation & customization highlights

Microsoft Great Plains fits horizontal markets clientele and in case of Aerospace and Defense industry we'll talk about contractors ? parts and subsystems for government contracts. We do not necessarily talk about large corporation, however models described could be implemented for large publicly traded company. As a rule ? market is represented by established companies with long history, including long history of its ERP and Computer Business System. It is difficult to stake on the computer operating systems future, however you may try to give high level of trust to the ERP coming from Microsoft Business Solutions, especially considering the fact of acquisition of such market leaders as Great Plains Software and Navision Software.

? Service Model. Typically your product has service contract with hourly or annual payments and you track repair and preventive maintenance cases, have a list of replacement parts. Microsoft Great Plains has several options to automate these services. You can use customized version of Inventory Control Module, where you track serial/lot number, locations, item replacements, etc. In Great Plains Dexterity you can write light customization, tracking service cycle. Another way is to deploy Field Service suite, where you have Service Call Management, Contract Administration, Preventive Maintenance, Return Management as well as a set of eXXX modules such as eService Call, eReturn. You usually have to tailor these modules to fit your unique requirements ? do it via Dexterity, VBA/Modifier, SQL Stored Procedures or Web Application, working with Inventory and Field Service tables. Assuming your product has serial number ? then by looking up serial number you can see all the service history.

? Bidding. Great Plains Sales Order Processing (SOP) module allows you to have Quotes, Sales Orders, Invoices. You might need bidding and negotiation documentation system. In the case of Great Plains the best and future-oriented approach is to implement Sales side in Microsoft CRM, integrated with Great Plains via MS CRM-GP integration tool. All the calls and emails, plus contracts will be logged and documented in MS CRM and quotes are moved to or from Great Plains

? Purchasing. Your company might use tenders procedure and you would need requisition, proposals and quotes against the requisition, then purchase order and receiving. Deploy Requisition Management and Purchase Order Processing/ Receiving modules

? HR. If you have unionized employees ? you may need to take a look at HR module, where you track employees certification, skills, training programs, hiring process and promotions

? ISO 9000. You can cover ISO compliance reporting, assuming that you have either customized Inventory Control system or Field Service suite implemented. The best and recommended reporting tool ? Crystal Reports. Usually you create SQL views and stored procedures and base your Crystal Report on these views and procs.

? Technology Advise. When you implement your new system and making modifications to the existing one - you should try to predict which technology will stay for maximum number of years, plus you should try to avoid dependence on one vendor/provider - if you need to change Microsoft Business Solutions partner - how difficult to find new one with technical skills and customization expertise to maintain and further advance your custom system?

We encourage you to analyze your alternatives. You can always appeal to our help, give us a call: 1-866-528-0577 or 1-630-961-5918, help@albaspectrum.com

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer at Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ), serving Microsoft Great Plains, CRM, Navision to mid-size and large clients in California, Illinois, New York, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Washington, Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan

In The News:

pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Scheduling of Additional Auto Detailing or Mobile Car Wash Units

If you own a mobile car wash business or auto... Read More

Take A Systems View To Ensure Your Business Stays Healthy

How are you feeling today? Good, not so good, great?... Read More

The Tables Have Turned - Its Officially a Sellers Market

Private equity firms have raised so much capital over the... Read More

The Best Entity to Hold Real Estate

Possibly THE most frequently asked question of me is "What... Read More

Consolidation in the Software Industry is Hardly New: Obsess About It or Risk Losing it All

Some analysts credit [Larry] Ellison with anticipating the consolidation in... Read More

Ten Steps To A Great Strategic Plan

Ask a small business owner about their strategic plan and... Read More

How Copying the HBO Schedule Can Boost Your Business

I'm not talking about posting the HBO schedule on your... Read More

Defining Go for It Business Goals

Many business start-up kits or consultants will tell you one... Read More

Executive Summary for Business Plans of Franchisees

Writing a business plan for a franchised outlet of a... Read More

Be Like Bill - Think!

Twice a year, Bill Gates goes to a remote island... Read More

Vision Getting Dim?

A recent conversation started with a typical question, "How's business?"... Read More

Why Create an Annual Plan?

Can you imagine going on a road trip without knowing... Read More

The Accountability/Alignment Process: Three Steps to an Accountable Organization

The Accountability/Alignment Process: Three Steps to an Accountable Organization Generating... Read More

Secrets Of Effective Brainstorming

Have you been in a "brainstorming" session where each person... Read More

Will and Vision

Remember Chux? The disposable diaper that took the market by... Read More

Why Do a Business Plan?

To Grow (Catapult) Your Business That's Why.When it's in your... Read More

Nine Succession Planning Mistakes Small Businesses Should Avoid

1. Attempt Succession Planning Without Other Strategic Plans. Succession plans... Read More

College Students and Graduates to Run Company Outlets or Franchises

Does your overall business strategy include the recruitment of college... Read More

How To Get More Business During The Winter Months

Business seems to drop, slow or even stop during the... Read More

The 7 Critical Steps to Formulating Your Annual Strategic Business Plan

Businesses tend to avoid doing their annual business plan thinking... Read More

A Rough Cut on Feasibility

A piano tuner recently moved to Buffalo, NY, and would... Read More

Home Improvement Construction Project Planning

The first task before hiring a contractor for home remodeling... Read More

Why You Need a Business Planning System NOT a Business Plan

When someone mentions business planning we have been conditioned to... Read More

The Power of Strategic Thinking: Creating Meaningful Success

Too much goal setting and strategic planning can leave you... Read More

Connecting Your Offline Business to Your Online Business

These may sound like no brainers, but you'd be surprised.... Read More

Five Crucial Components of a Business Plan

The format of a Business Plan is something that has... Read More

Cost-cutting Essential to Maintaining Profits

Why cut costs now? Efforts are multiplying to cut costs... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Implementation: Healthcare/Hospital example ? overview for consultant

Microsoft Great Plains fits multiple services market niche and healthcare... Read More

More Uses for Your Business Plan

You have invested a lot of time and energy on... Read More

GOT MEME? How to Attract Your Clients and Customers Attention

No "meme" isn't a typo and Got Milk, the more... Read More

Abstract Thought; Business Strategies and Biological Systems

To stop a computer virus you must understand how it... Read More

Rules to Setting Business Goals and Objectives: Why and How to be SMART

We all know that nothing runs without a plan, and... Read More

How to Write a Business Plan in Five Steps

People often ask "What makes a good business plan? Or,... Read More