Comments on: Microsoft Dynamics for Manufacturing – Understanding the Difference Between GP, NAV, SL and AX http://blog.softwareadvice.com/articles/manufacturing/understanding-the-difference-between-gp-nav-sl-ax-1111709/ Software Advice Articles, News & Best Practices Guides Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:11:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Microsoft Dynamics from Tectura http://blog.softwareadvice.com/articles/manufacturing/understanding-the-difference-between-gp-nav-sl-ax-1111709/#comment-2258 Microsoft Dynamics from Tectura Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:29:28 +0000 http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/?p=2036#comment-2258 Microsoft’s appetite in this market place seems to be growing. The confusion between each of the offerings seems to be calming down now there Project Green has been stopped. The lack of clarity impacted the sales process and allowed the competition to capitalise on the lack of decisive direction, this has now been cleared with the statement of direction for each product. The apparent geographical split of products is causing some concerns as more and more global companies are looking at Dynamics options as a real alternative to the traditional large deployment ERP solution – SAP and Oracle. The Dynamics AX solution is real option with significantly lower implementation costs for global businesses and the functionality is proving to be at least capable for these larger global companies. The key differentiator is the lower deployment costs and a much quicker return on investment, vital in today’s economical climate. Microsoft’s appetite in this market place seems to be growing. The confusion between each of the offerings seems to be calming down now there Project Green has been stopped. The lack of clarity impacted the sales process and allowed the competition to capitalise on the lack of decisive direction, this has now been cleared with the statement of direction for each product. The apparent geographical split of products is causing some concerns as more and more global companies are looking at Dynamics options as a real alternative to the traditional large deployment ERP solution – SAP and Oracle. The Dynamics AX solution is real option with significantly lower implementation costs for global businesses and the functionality is proving to be at least capable for these larger global companies. The key differentiator is the lower deployment costs and a much quicker return on investment, vital in today’s economical climate.

]]> By: Toni Savage http://blog.softwareadvice.com/articles/manufacturing/understanding-the-difference-between-gp-nav-sl-ax-1111709/#comment-1054 Toni Savage Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:19:10 +0000 http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/?p=2036#comment-1054 Another thing I note about the grid is that it goes into a lot of detail about the "Distribution" area (inventory, etc.), but only one line about "projects"... as we get to be more and more of a service-oriented economy rather than manufacturing and distribution, the detail lines of things like Project budgeting, quotes, contract management, "service plan" tracking and invoicing, etc., become more important to an increasing number of clients. I think this is one of the main reasons that Microsoft has committed to keeping the 4 products separate for a while (besides user-interface preferences of different companies). Another thing I note about the grid is that it goes into a lot of detail about the “Distribution” area (inventory, etc.), but only one line about “projects”… as we get to be more and more of a service-oriented economy rather than manufacturing and distribution, the detail lines of things like Project budgeting, quotes, contract management, “service plan” tracking and invoicing, etc., become more important to an increasing number of clients.
I think this is one of the main reasons that Microsoft has committed to keeping the 4 products separate for a while (besides user-interface preferences of different companies).

]]> By: Nick Doelman http://blog.softwareadvice.com/articles/manufacturing/understanding-the-difference-between-gp-nav-sl-ax-1111709/#comment-1053 Nick Doelman Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:59:26 +0000 http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/?p=2036#comment-1053 Great article. One thing missing from the list is Microsoft Dynamics CRM. While not an ERP, it does belong to the "Dynamics" family. That story could be a blog post on its own. Also the name "Dynamics" is interesting because it was the original name of Great Plain's original ERP product that evolved from Great Plains accounting. Its quite obvious who was in charge when that name was picked! Great article. One thing missing from the list is Microsoft Dynamics CRM. While not an ERP, it does belong to the “Dynamics” family. That story could be a blog post on its own.

Also the name “Dynamics” is interesting because it was the original name of Great Plain’s original ERP product that evolved from Great Plains accounting. Its quite obvious who was in charge when that name was picked!

]]> By: Matt Landis http://blog.softwareadvice.com/articles/manufacturing/understanding-the-difference-between-gp-nav-sl-ax-1111709/#comment-1046 Matt Landis Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:49:33 +0000 http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/?p=2036#comment-1046 Considering the very robust and thriving community surrounding Dynamics GP in the USA I would expect it to find itself among the surviving products. Matt Landis Considering the very robust and thriving community surrounding Dynamics GP in the USA I would expect it to find itself among the surviving products.

Matt Landis

]]> By: Veerendra http://blog.softwareadvice.com/articles/manufacturing/understanding-the-difference-between-gp-nav-sl-ax-1111709/#comment-1028 Veerendra Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:05:57 +0000 http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/?p=2036#comment-1028 Nice Post. Nice Post.

]]> By: Ingrid Byllemos http://blog.softwareadvice.com/articles/manufacturing/understanding-the-difference-between-gp-nav-sl-ax-1111709/#comment-1026 Ingrid Byllemos Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:15:31 +0000 http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/?p=2036#comment-1026 Houston, Great article - thumbs up from here :-) As already mentioned by Mike - NAV has Portal function in shape of SharePoint. NAV is not 100% .NET but with the NAV 2009 SP1 and especially with the next versions it is getting closer and closer to it :-) You mentioned that NAV is strong as a single-site, which is correct - but I must say that NAV also does perform well in multi-sited implementations. On strong side is that each site can run with localized installations. Which means, that for example a Site in USA can have an English language layer where as a Site in Denmark can have a Danish layer - and they will still be able to "talk" with each other without any problems. Houston,

Great article – thumbs up from here :-)

As already mentioned by Mike – NAV has Portal function in shape of SharePoint.

NAV is not 100% .NET but with the NAV 2009 SP1 and especially with the next versions it is getting closer and closer to it :-)

You mentioned that NAV is strong as a single-site, which is correct – but I must say that NAV also does perform well in multi-sited implementations. On strong side is that each site can run with localized installations. Which means, that for example a Site in USA can have an English language layer where as a Site in Denmark can have a Danish layer – and they will still be able to “talk” with each other without any problems.

]]> By: Barbara Archer http://blog.softwareadvice.com/articles/manufacturing/understanding-the-difference-between-gp-nav-sl-ax-1111709/#comment-998 Barbara Archer Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:13:36 +0000 http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/?p=2036#comment-998 Of all four ERP products, only SL is 100% .NET. The package is also the product of choice for Professional Services (although AX is coming on strong but not quite there yet) and Construction/Engineering (none can even come close in this space). One of our customers has 25 sites workwide and has 350 back office users and 3500+ Business Portal users so I would say the it scales very well. Of all four ERP products, only SL is 100% .NET. The package is also the product of choice for Professional Services (although AX is coming on strong but not quite there yet) and Construction/Engineering (none can even come close in this space). One of our customers has 25 sites workwide and has 350 back office users and 3500+ Business Portal users so I would say the it scales very well.

]]> By: Andy Hayler http://blog.softwareadvice.com/articles/manufacturing/understanding-the-difference-between-gp-nav-sl-ax-1111709/#comment-991 Andy Hayler Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:20:29 +0000 http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/?p=2036#comment-991 Nice article. Microsoft's move into the enterprise applications via these acquisitions has not been a pretty sight, and they clearly bit off more than they could easily chew with this rather confused flurry of purchases. However Navision in particular has a good reputation, and certainly there is a place in the market for ERP solutions at a lower level of complexity than SAP and Oracle's offerings. Nice article. Microsoft’s move into the enterprise applications via these acquisitions has not been a pretty sight, and they clearly bit off more than they could easily chew with this rather confused flurry of purchases. However Navision in particular has a good reputation, and certainly there is a place in the market for ERP solutions at a lower level of complexity than SAP and Oracle’s offerings.

]]> By: Toni Savage http://blog.softwareadvice.com/articles/manufacturing/understanding-the-difference-between-gp-nav-sl-ax-1111709/#comment-986 Toni Savage Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:09:42 +0000 http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/?p=2036#comment-986 Seems like SL needs a bit of a spokesperson here. No one has mentioned that SL also has Business Portal/Sharepoint support. I've been a SL dealer since 1981, and it definitely is strongest in Not-for-profits and Projects (professional services especially. Much more felxible and easy to use (though tricky to set up because of its flexibility) The original advantage GP had over SL was that it was customizable, and it served many "vertical markets", from real estate to printing. But with the Windows version, SL became much more easily customizable that GP. I have always liked the SL user interface... things like being able to directly paste a journal entry from Excel to the JE screen (or any screen with a grid) SL is the only package originally designed by an accounting firm (Price Waterhouse) and has always been the "package of choice" in its class for accountants. Seems like SL needs a bit of a spokesperson here.
No one has mentioned that SL also has Business Portal/Sharepoint support. I’ve been a SL dealer since 1981, and it definitely is strongest in Not-for-profits and Projects (professional services especially. Much more felxible and easy to use (though tricky to set up because of its flexibility)
The original advantage GP had over SL was that it was customizable, and it served many “vertical markets”, from real estate to printing.
But with the Windows version, SL became much more easily customizable that GP. I have always liked the SL user interface… things like being able to directly paste a journal entry from Excel to the JE screen (or any screen with a grid)
SL is the only package originally designed by an accounting firm (Price Waterhouse) and has always been the “package of choice” in its class for accountants.

]]> By: Mike http://blog.softwareadvice.com/articles/manufacturing/understanding-the-difference-between-gp-nav-sl-ax-1111709/#comment-978 Mike Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:49:39 +0000 http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/?p=2036#comment-978 Houston, Great article, follows in line with in what we see and have experienced in the Dynamics market as a whole. Just a few quick corrections. Both AX and NAV have Portal functions. They both leverage SharePoint to accomplish this and have done quite a bit to integrated with SharePoint with the their current versions. GP and SL both currently use Business Portals to leverage SharePoint as well and have been doing it a few years longer than AX and NAV, but the 4 of them have this done. Also SL does have inventory management as it pertains to distribution. It may not be as nice as say NAV or AX, but it has been there for quite a while. Also a comment that AX is Microsoft fastest growing product may be true, but when you move from a very small number any growth is a large growth percentage. Microsoft loves to play with percentages. Food for thought: That SL, GP, and AX total combined installed base is still smaller than NAV’s installed base. Mike Houston,

Great article, follows in line with in what we see and have experienced in the Dynamics market as a whole.

Just a few quick corrections. Both AX and NAV have Portal functions. They both leverage SharePoint to accomplish this and have done quite a bit to integrated with SharePoint with the their current versions. GP and SL both currently use Business Portals to leverage SharePoint as well and have been doing it a few years longer than AX and NAV, but the 4 of them have this done.

Also SL does have inventory management as it pertains to distribution. It may not be as nice as say NAV or AX, but it has been there for quite a while.

Also a comment that AX is Microsoft fastest growing product may be true, but when you move from a very small number any growth is a large growth percentage. Microsoft loves to play with percentages.

Food for thought: That SL, GP, and AX total combined installed base is still smaller than NAV’s installed base.

Mike

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