Archive for July, 2010

Microsoft Dynamics GP SOP, POP and Inventory modules Barcode extensions

If you need standard Warehouse Management System business logic to be implemented for Corporate ERP application, you should consider two options.  First one would be external WMS, which has rich Order Fulfillment, Inventory reordering and receiving, Inventory Adjustments and Transfers business logic and having connections , or integration packages to major ERP platforms.  And the second option would be to look for just WMS extensions for your ERP application – extensions mean that the system works out of your ERP objects and transactions and doesn’t require integration.  Each approach has pluses and minuses and we would like to discuss these options, assuming that your Corporate ERP and Accounting application is Microsoft Dynamics GP, also often referred as Great Plains Dynamics, especially older versions:

1. Warehouse Management System typical business logics.  You may have something that is not listed, but required in your case, which is also possible.  However classical WMS has three components: Sales Order Fulfillment, Merchandise Replenishment and Inventory Moves and Adjustments.  The core for WMS is Barcoding technology

2. How WMS logic fits to Dynamics GP modules infrastructure?  We have to basically open Barcode scanning for Great Plains Distributions modules: Purchase Order Processing, Sales Order Processing and Inventory Control.  Let’s review how Order Fulfillment works.  First of all, you have Customer Sales Order or Invoice created in Dynamics GP (often via EDI or B2B or B2C ecommerce interfaces and created in GP automatically).  It is important to have SOP Type to require manual allocation, as allocation is what you later do on the warehouse floor by scanning items in picking and packing or assembly on order routines.  WMS client application runs directly on your barcode scanner operating system and it is coded in VB (traditional pre .Net technology is used due to the Barcode scanner computing power restrictions).  When you scan barcode label of the item to pick, WMS client transmits this info to the WMS Server via wireless connection and WMS Server, being on your network, talks to Dynamics GP company DB via ODBC connection to allocate the SOP document item line (where item ID matches the scanned Barcode Label).  Similarly WMS extensions open POP Purchase Receipt GP screen for Barcoding as well as Inventory Transaction and Transfer screens in Inventory Control Module

3. Some elaboration on External Standalone Warehouse Management System versus WMS extensions.  As good plus of Standalone WMS is its reliability (it probably has huge number of installations and you expect that most of the software development bugs are already fixed and you do not have to participate in beta testing or pilot implementations).  As the minuses you should probably think about the fact that you already have similar distribution logic in your ERP application, and in order to implement external WMS, you will need to purchase the same or very similar business logic software licenses.  Another potential minus is the fact, that External WMS requires Integration “Implementation” phase, which might be not initially expected or at least not emphasized.  WMS extensions in their turn might have lesser number of installations (as they extend only specific ERP platform, Microsoft Dynamics GP as in our example).  However they do not require you to pay second time for the distribution business logic (assuming that you already have Dynamics GP SOP, POP, Inventory modules licenses).  Second plus might be the fact that it is already integrated by its nature and doesn’t require “integration” phase or hidden budget

4. Custom logic in Warehouse Management System.  It is natural, as WMS is not something that comes out-of-the-box.  If you are in Manufacturing, or Wholesale business – we expect each industry to have unique requirements, regulations.  Plus is you are successful competing in your industry niche – you probably have unique way, allowing you to compete successfully (often based on knowhow, where WMS modification might be required)

5. Second opinion or Warehouse Management System recovery scenarios.  If you are reading these lines, your story might be unique about failed WMS implementation.  From our perspective we see some trends in having external WMS to be integrated with your ERP application, where “integration” phase goes over budget and even into limbo, where you WMS vendor tells you that they are not really Dynamics GP consultants and your Dynamics GP Reseller tells you that they are not familiar with WMS integration connector or package.  Feel free to call us, if the situation seems familiar

6. If you need help, please call us 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918 or email us help@albaspectrum.com  The nature of our Dynamics GP and Warehouse Management System consulting is Nationwide (USA and Canada) and even international, where we are doing sales cycle via web and phone (or skype) conferences with required visits onsite to shake hands and introduce our key project managers and consultants.  We are also available for local service in Western Michigan: St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Holland, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, South Haven, Grand Haven, Ludington, New Buffalo.  Plus we server you locally in Southern California: Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County, Northern Illinois and Chicagoland, Houston, Texas.  We also are happy to help you with recovering failed Great Plains implementation, where something like data conversion, integration or reporting is in limbo or maybe where you would like to hear second opinion.  Or specializations are Dynamics GP Dexterity, eConnect customizations and integrations, Crystal Reports, FRx, Integration Manager, Extender, custom EDI and eCommerce for Great Plains, challenging version upgrades (where you are migrating from Great Plains Accounting for DOS, Great Plains on Pervasive SQL 2000 or Ctree, Great Plains Small Business Financials), Great Plains data repair (stuck batch recovery, historical year reopening, automatic batch posting from your eConnect projects)

Free CyberCafePro 6

CyberCafePro is the most trusted name in the Internet cafe software market since 1999. The software is reliably used in 175 Countries. Version 6 is free and manages any timed public access computing environment (cyber cafes, gaming centers, telecentres, schools, libraries, community centers, and business centers). CyberCafePro provides security, timing, administration, easy use and flexible customer pricing options to securely control, better manage and maximize profits. A full-featured POS system is included which integrates most receipt printers, barcode scanners, touch screens, cash drawers, and biometric readers. CyberCafePro 6 is Windows 7 compatible, including 64 bit systems. All Windows versions supported. Updates are free for all Version 6 users. The free CyberCafePro 6 also includes a 30 day Trial of OneRoof Reports Premium. OneRoof Reports gives 24×7 online access to graphically reports sales, hourly utilization, programs, customers, expenses, profit/loss, and much more.

Accu-Sort Bar Code Scanning for Swiss Colony

www.accusort.com | 1-800-BAR-CODE :: Accu-Sort bar code scanners play a pivotal role in Swiss Colony’s Match Code system.

Dynamics GP implementation in Distribution: eCommerce and Warehouse Management with Barcoding

In order to achieve high wholesale or retail trade volume with lower expenses your sales cycle should be automated completely (with lowest number of phone calls, which are transferred to technical support call center).  If you are in Wholesale, then ideally customers should reorder merchandise through B2B ecommerce shopping cart or EDI (Electronic Document Interchange) channels.  If you are also in retail, the best case is to have your new or existing customers order merchandize via B2C ecommerce shopping cart.  In all scenarios customer orders go to your Corporate ERP application, in our publication we are giving you example, where ERP is built on Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly known as Great Plains Dynamics/eEnterprise).  Dynamics GP in its turn exposes Customer Order or Invoice via Warehouse Management System add-on to the warehouse floor for immediate fulfillment, picking and packing and shipping.  If you think about further automation (maybe due to the high trust level to customer payment via Credit Card or on account, typically directly through your ecommerce shopping cart, such as Magento/PHP or ASP.Net Storefront or another platform) – you can post Dynamics GP Sales Batch directly from your ecommerce web application deploying Alba Spectrum Posting Server add-on.  Let’s review the options and technologies:

1. Microsoft Dynamics GP as ERP platform.  This application is hosted in Microsoft SQL Server, meaning maximum possible scalability and virtually unlimited number of EDI or eCommerce originated transactions could be processed in real time (automatic sales batch posting in GP) or in quasi real time(scheduled batch posting process or triggered by GP user).  In Great Plains you should review so-called Distribution set of modules: Sales Order Processing, Inventory Control, Purchase Order Processing

2. Sales Automation: EDI.  Electronic Document Interchange is pretty generic term and there are various technologies, from precisely formatted EDI text file (with header, lines and trailer) to EDI format in XML styles.  EDI channel could be done via ftp upload, http post, or even via email.  If Sales Order placement rules are reasonably simple, we recommend you to do custom EDI programming, by processing XML, text file and importing preprocessed EDI records via Dynamics GP Integration Manager, the same results could be achieved in eConnect SDK programming (if you are comfortable to do Microsoft Visual Studio C# or VB.Net programming and have some exposure to Great Plains objects, such as Sales Order, Customer, Inventory Item)

3. Sales Automation: B2B and B2C e-commerce.  This is very popular method in B2C retail ecommerce, as internet customers are typically very technology savvy.  In Wholesale B2B ecommerce scenarios you should still expect reasonable competition between EDI and ecommerce merchandise restocking.  Let’s review ecommerce extension for Dynamics GP.  We encourage you to trust ecommerce shopping cart platform, such as Magento, ASP .Net Storefront or you can pick another popular one – here you should expect reliability (as they have huge clients base and most of the bugs are already beta tested and fixed).  Done deal from ecommerce shopping cart goes to Dynamics GP SOP Invoice or Sales Order with Customer Deposit (Credit Card payment, or sometimes debit card, if technology permits).  Alba Spectrum eCommerce add-on have Wizard driven setup interface, where if you ecommerce doesn’t require customization – you can do it yourself within the matter of hours

4. Order Allocation on the warehouse floor in real time.  Warehouse Management Extension works directly out of Sales Order Processing tables and paid Sales Order or Invoice is ready for being picked and packed.  Your warehouse worker has barcode scanner with operating system, where WMS client application is installed.  Client application has customer documents handy and ready for fulfillment.  Each Order line is fulfilled by scanning item barcode label.  We setup your WMS SOP Documents to require manual allocation – allocation is done on the warehouse floor by barcode scanner.  WMS client application talks to WMS Server via wireless connection or RFID and in its turn WMS Server being on the wired network (or even on wireless, if the volume of barcode scanning is low) uploads scanned documents to Dynamics GP via Order Connector ODBC mechanism

5. Further automation – posting eCommerce or EDI originated Sales Documents automatically.  Microsoft Dynamics GP architecture requires Sales, Purchasing, GL Batches or the batches of other origin to be reviewed by Accounting, AR, AP managers (to review the discounts given, credit limits, and other give away to be reasonable and if required adjust sales commission, etc.).   We do not think that you would oppose such business logic, but if you are in high confidence to your ecommerce originated transactions and you would like your ecommerce application to do all the job up to paid ecommerce customer order to show up on the warehouse floor for assembly on order or items picking and packing and shipping to the customer – we have special product Alba Spectrum Posting Server which allows you to schedule the batch for automatic real time posting (every 30 seconds) directly from your eCommerce web application

6. How to contact us?  Please, call us 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, or email us help@albaspectrum.com  International customers are welcome, we naturally provide USA and Canada Dynamics GP, WMS, EDI and eCommerce software licenses sale, installation and implementation by travelling to your office for initial software deployment and user training and following remote support via web sessions and phone conferences.  If you absolutely require local walk in service, we are happy to help you in Michigan: St. Joseph, Kalamazoo, Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon, Saugatuck, South Haven, Ludington, Grand Haven, Battle Creek.  We are also serving you locally in Southern California: Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County (from Irvine office).  Next business metro, where we are available locally is Chicagoland – Chicago Downtown, Naperville and all the Southern, Western and Northern suburbs, including North West Indiana and Southern Wisconsin.  We are also serving you with local support in Houston, Texas

HectorCanonge SchemaCorpoReal

Documentation of New-media Performance & Installation created by Hector Canonge for his solo exhibition Schema CorpoReal at Topaz Arts, Woodside, Queens-NYC. The performance treats issues of gender and identity where users are invited to scan the barcode labels on various parts of the artist’s body. Each scanning triggers a narrative in relation to that part of the body. Written, directed and performed by Hector Canonge. June – July 2009.

Spielereien mit einem Barcode Scanner

Test eines Barcode Scanners

MX8 and MX7 Handheld Computers from LXE

The MX7 and MX8 are LXE’s vertical mobile terminals. These devices are ideal for distribution centers where a rugged, lightweight data collection terminal is required. They feature all range scanning capabilities and vibrate when a good scan occurs. These barcode scanners are also voice enabled.

Video Request For Trainmaster1212

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(a) Route Distribution Software by bMobile Technology

Route accounting for route distribution and DSD. Reduce operating costs and increase profit with route optimization and automation for route sales and route delivery. Affordable route management solution for small and mid-size wholesale distributors. Use handheld computers with barcode scanners and mobile printers for rapid order delivery and presales for food distribution, beverage distribution, C-store distribution and prepaid products and services using consignment sales. Use with Intermec , Symbol Motorola , Psion Teklogix , HHP Honeywell hand held computers and mobile internet devices. DEX capable and wireless data exchange using your accounting software.

Asset Report with Physical Inventory Dates from www.asapsystems.com

Passport Assets: Add An Asset Report Showing The Most Recent Physical Inventory Date For Each Asset Track computers, equipment, furniture, vehicles and other valuable assets using this comprehensive PC application and an easy-to-use barcode scanner. Whether you are looking to track fixed assets or consumable inventory, we have the product for you. Track the movement of materials by using barcodes, RFID and barcode scanners to receive, move, checkout, Checking and issue items within your warehouse, distribution center, stockroom or store ASAP Systems Passport makes tracking items simple. Scan and track via Barcode or RFID. We’ve seamlessly integrated bar code and RFID scanning and bar code or RFID label printing into our software and SQL or SQP Express databases. ASAP Systems Passport offers a full line of barcode or RFID based software for scanning equipment, Inventory items, Fixed Assets, Capital Assets and bar code labels — everything you need to get started today. Our solution is by far the most flexible, user configurable and user customizable RFID, and bar code Assets, Evidence, Inventory & Stock Tracking solutions. www.asapsystems.com