Vehicle Management - Dynamics GP Extender

Dynamics GP is a core provider ERP that delivers added value for the organization regarding their financial and supply chain functions primarily. Although, in certain cases, there are certain processes which requires to be automated and to be supported by the ERP system due to the fact that they are highly interconnected with financial or suppl chain functions in the system. 

In a recent implementation of Dynamics GP for one of the big 5 trading and distributions companies here in Jordan, there has been a strong demand to automate the vehicles management processes which represents a very essential function in the company, processes include but not limited t:

• To define drivers, vehicles profiles, vehicle expense types, preventive maintenance schedules and vehicle cost centers (which will be later on reflected on the Analytical Accounting module)
• To capture the daily meter reading of the vehicles and provide distance reports and analytical details
• To capture the daily vehicles expenses registry details (which will be integrated with the Accounts Payable with analytical accounting details)
• To provide notifications on the routine tasks for vehicles as derived from the preventive maintenance schedules
• To record and process vehicle custody and ownership, which means that each vehicle is associated with a driver. In case a vehicle custody is assigned to another driver, transfer vehicle transaction must be recorded in order to keep track
• Many other vehicle management processes which could partially have a financial impact.

The only robust solution for such complicated requirement is represented with one product only, eOne Extender. The various capabilities provided by Extender omits any obstacles in Dynamics GP and open the limits for unlimited horizon for the clients requirements.

Backed with complex SQL procedures and Crystal Reports, Extender allowed us to create a complete new module in Dynamics GP to manage the vehicle management processes. Cards, Transactions, transnational and analytical reports. 

Dynamics GP Extender - Cards

Dynamics GP Extender - Transactions

Vehicle Expense Registry

In the next posts, further more details about the vehicle management module for Dynamics GP will be illustrated.

Best Regards,
Mahmoud M. AlSaadi

Item Maintenance Window - How to Handle the variety of Dimensions and Variants? - Extender.

Inventory items varies in nature, and it is highly important for companies to keep track of these variations of the same item in an intelligent way, it is highly essentials for reporting purposes and it absolutely differentiates between intelligent and traditional inventory management systems. 

The item maintenance window in Dynamics GP doesn't support such variation, each SKU in your inventory should be defined as an item, which doesn't provide a lot of information to track. 

Extender > Link

It is one of the greatest third party applications for Dynamics GP, through which the functionality of the system can be extended an unlimited levels. You can create new forms, new windows and apply the required business logic and workflow in a way that removes any obstacles in the standard functionality of Dynamics GP. 

In this example specifically, you create an unlimited number of dimensions with setup forms, so that end users can add as many item dimensions as required. Furthermore, they can be assigned to the item card so that important item dimensions are captured and reported accordingly. 

Lets review how Extender could serve this functionality in Dynamics GP.

Item Dimensions - Setup Windows  (Extended)

Under Cards, I have created a new menu which includes all the required setup definitions for the item. Such as but not limited to:

• Commission Type
• Category
• Nature
• Brand
• Flavor

Each of the dimensions above has a specific setup window, for which a specific serial number will be assigned automatically along with the other descriptive details, such as the category for instance:

 

Item Dimension - Category Setup (Extended)

 

On the item maintenance card level, an addition is added to link each item to all these definitions so that they can be captured for items as illustrated below:

Item Maintenance Window - Item Definition Addition

Item definition Window

In future posts, I will shed a light on the functionality of Extender in further more details and show how new modules can be added to the system to manage business areas and associated it with the financial or supply chain modules accordingly.

Best Regards,
Mahmoud M. AlSaadi