Microsoft Great Plains Project Accounting – Overview For IT Director/Controller

Microsoft Business Solutions is now in process of creating so called Microsoft Suites: Microsoft Financials, Microsoft Logistics, Microsoft Manufacturing, Microsoft Professional Services - this last one will be based on Solomon Project module. The long story of Great Plains Software Project Accounting - it was originally created by MatchData, which was bought by Great Plains in late 1990-th and renamed into Great Plains Project Accounting. Great Plains Project accounting future is uncertain - it will not ( according to rumors in Microsoft) become the base for one of the Microsoft suites. However right now it is used by variety of businesses and has good functionality to fit general project accounting needs.

Strong Points:

1. It is very simple and intuitive - if you are certified accountant and know the GAAP on project accounting - you should be able to understand all the data flow and distribution in GL - Great Plains Project Accounting is following the rules.
2. Simple budgeting and project tracking - if this is your goal - consider it, especially if you already have Great Plains implemented in your company.
3. Microsoft SQL Server platform allows you to deploy all the industry tools, such as Crystal Reports, SQL Stored Procedures and Views
4. Seamless integration into Great Plains interface - Great Plains Project Accounting is Dexterity-written module, so it is in Dexterity interface and security model.

Weak Points:

1. Poor customization possibilities - I would say that Dexterity is now a good option here, because Project Accounting is itself Dexterity third party dictionary - Dexterity is good to customize core DYNAMICS.DIC, not third parties. VBA/Modifier are available but we would not recommend them, because they are now legacy technologies.
2. Poor integration with Microsoft Office tools - as of right now Microsoft is in process of moving all its ERP packages: Great Plains, Navision, Solomon into .Net platform. So, this is where all the efforts are applied. Microsoft Office is now the second priority

Good luck deciding and implementing and if you have issues or concerns – we are here to help! If you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, based in Chicago, California, Texas, Florida, New York, Georgia and having locations in multiple states and internationally (www.albaspectrum.com), he is CMA, Great Plains Certified Master, Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer. You can contact Andrew: andrewk@albaspectrum.com

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