For most SMB’s Dynamics GP provides the desired functionality in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. However, as a company grows it may require a solution that offers more support for material planning, process manufacturing, warehouse management, and quality control – to name a few. So, how do you know if you’ve outgrown Dynamics GP and should make the switch to Dynamics AX?
The following are requirements that drive customers to move from Dynamics GP to Dynamics AX
Multi-Site Material Planning
For those companies that require the ability to look across multiple inventory sites or even entities for purposes of material planning for manufacturing and purchasing decisions, Dynamics AX provides this functionality. With Dynamics AX, one can view all sources of inventory then provide recommended transfers from one site to another, where Dynamics GP can only effectively look at 1 site or company.
Process Manufacturing
There are many unique requirements for process manufacturing companies, from the number of decimal places that can be tracked on inventory, to co-products and by-products, control on dispositions and releases of raw materials, shelf-life or tracking separate units of measure per manufactured item (Catch Weight). Dynamics AX provides a suite of built-in functionality to address these industry requirements.
Advanced Inventory and Warehouse Management
Dynamics AX provides a much greater level of complexity in warehouse and inventory management, including the ability to add storage and site dimensions, perform transfer orders, manage sales and purchasing agreements and other powerful supply chain functional wrapped around items, warehouses, vendor and customers.
Quality Control / Quality Assurance
Key requirements for quality control and quality assurance are typically wrapped around the ability to provide a quality check and the time of inventory receipt and during the manufacturing process. Furthermore, companies need an ERP system that won’t allow a user to release material until it goes through a quality check. Dynamics AX provides all this capability where Dynamics GP only allows one to provide a quality check at the time of receipt, while still allowing you to release the material with no controls.
Integrated Retail Operations (POS)
For those companies that have retail operations as part of their core business, particularly with multiple location, Dynamics AX has integrated retail capability where inventory can be transferred and managed as part of the core ERP inventory. All sales and financials transactions are also part of the core ERP with AX. Dynamics GP requires integration to an outside or 3rd party retail application.
Workflow including Requisitions and AP, Sales or Journal Entry approvals
Dynamics AX provides a very robust and configurable workflow and approval management system as part of the core application. Many of the predefined workflows that can be further modified are in the areas of requisition management, accounts payable approvals, orders/invoice approvals or journal approvals. Dynamics GP requires custom development or 3rd party products to address these requirements.
Multi-language / Localizations
Outside of Spanish, Dynamics GP is only available in English. Dynamics AX is available in over 41 languages and over 35 localizations.
Imbed Unique Business Processes into Core ERP
For those companies that have unique business processes that requires a custom application or process, Dynamics AX gives you the tools and flexibility to embed, then manage these customizations much more effectively, even seamlessly embed them in the core ERP system.
Shared Master Records Amongst Entities (vendors, customers and items)
Companies that have many entities as part of their corporate structure often require ease in intercompany and shared records. Many times these companies work with the same companies, vendors or items and want to easily inquire or report on these records across all the companies. Dynamics AX provides great flexibility to share this information in a single database with flexible transactions, inquiries and reports.
Flexible and Powerful Chart of Account Structure
Financial Dimensions in Dynamics AX provides a means to create additional segments to the main or natural general ledger account in order to track revenues, costs or expenses by a specific attribute, without having to have the segment be imbedded in the natural account itself. Additionally, these dimensions can also be linked in any combination to vendors, customers and the chart of accounts, creating one or more Financial Dimension sets or structures. These dimension sets can then be used to establish reporting structures, as well as in the validation of data entered for transactions, minimizing errors. Financial Dimensions offer the flexibility to continue to customize your chart of accounts and data analysis based on your business’ growth and needs.
About Tridea Partners
Tridea Partners is a Gold Certified Microsoft Dynamics AX, Dynamics GP, and Dynamics CRM Partner serving the life sciences, healthcare, high-tech, and manufacturing industries in San Diego, California since 2004. Tridea Partners provides flexible and integrated financial, supply chain, and manufacturing solutions based on the Microsoft Dynamics platform.
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