Microsoft Dynamics GP comes in two editions: Standard and Professional. This page gives you an overview of the capabilities and features in each edition. With this information in hand, you can determine which of the two is the best fit for your business.
This edition is a broad-based, integrated software solution for financial management, business analytics, e-commerce, supply chain management, manufacturing, project accounting, field service, customer relationship management, retail management, and human resource management. It offers smooth integration to other Microsoft products and technologies, efficient customization capabilities, the ability to extend the solution with tailored industry solutions, and world-wide, outstanding service and support from certified Microsoft Partners.
Companies should consider Microsoft Dynamics GP Professional if the following features are important to them:
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More than 10 concurrent users can work with the solution at the same time and more than 500 people need to have access to it
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Extensive, advanced business intelligence capabilities with advanced analytics
This edition is an integrated, powerful financial and business management solution, streamlined for ease of installation, rapid user adoption, and affordability. This solution gives smaller and mid-market companies an effective way to record, manage, and access the information they need to take their business to the next level.
Companies should consider Microsoft Dynamics GP Standard if the following capabilities are important to them:
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Up to 10 people use the solution concurrently and up to 500 need to have access to it
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Business Portal function for business insight, human resource self-service, and more
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Latest industry standard tools such as COM integration and XML documents
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General manufacturing and distribution capabilities
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Project management
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Human resource management
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Multicurrency, multicountry, and multilanguage capabilities
Compare the features and modules in the following table to determine which edition is best for you.
System
GP Standard
GP Professional
Maximum number of users
Unlimited, but limited to 10 concurrent
Unlimited
Database
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine – Service Pack 3a or later (2 gigabyte database maximum per company)
Microsoft Small Business Server Standard 2003 (2 gigabyte database maximum per company)
Microsoft Small Business Server Premium 2003 (no database limit)
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (Service Pack 3a or later) No database limit
Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 (Service Pack 4 or later)
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (Service Pack 3a or later) No database limit
Login
Required login
Required login
Backup and restore
Built-in backup and restore feature
Built-in backup and restore feature
Security
Includes the ability to grant or deny access to forms, windows, fields, and programs
Includes the ability to grant or deny access to forms, windows, fields, and programs
Currency
Multicurrency available
Multicurrency available
User classes
Includes the ability to set up user classes and assign new users to specific classes, reducing effort and time spent to set up new user records
Includes the ability to set up user classes and assign new users to specific classes, reducing effort and time spent to set up new user records
Posting
User-defined, optional setup supports batch posting "To" or "Through" to the general ledger; single transactions post to the general ledger
User-defined, optional setup supports batch posting "To" or "Through" to the general ledger; single transactions post to the general ledger
Reminders window
Opens by default upon launch; organizes documents and tasks assigned by one or more users by due date
Opens by default upon launch; organizes documents and tasks assigned by one or more users by due date
Letter Writing Wizard
Guided process for generating custom letters for vendor, customer, and employee mailings
Guided process for generating custom letters for vendor, customer, and employee mailings
Setup Wizards
No wizard. Includes comprehensive, user-defined setup features and functionality
No wizard. Includes comprehensive, user-defined setup features and functionality
Integration with Microsoft MapPoint
Available
Available
Integration with Microsoft Small Business Services
Not available
Not available
SmartTag integration
Available
Available
Windows Messenger integration
Not available
Not available
General ledger
GP Standard
GP Professional
Number of GL accounts
Unlimited
Unlimited
Accounts
Maximum: 66 characters, 10 segments (Financial and Statistical accounts)
Maximum: 66 characters, 10 segments (Financial and Statistical accounts)
Unit Accounts
Unit accounts can be used to track non-financial data
Unit accounts can be used to track non-financial data
Fixed/Variable Allocation Accounts
Fixed and Variable Allocation accounts can be used to track financial data
Fixed and Variable Allocation accounts can be used to track financial data
Account Alias
An Account Alias for each account number can be defined, to assist in searching for a particular account
An Account Alias for each account number can be defined, to assist in searching for a particular account
Cash Flow Calendar
View the current month, jump from month to month, or enter a specific date to view current cash balances and predict future inflows and outflows
View the current month, jump from month to month, or enter a specific date to view current cash balances and predict future inflows and outflows
Miscellaneous Checks
Available in bank reconciliation application
Available in bank reconciliation application
Account Level Security
Not available
Ability to restrict account access to users based on GL Account Segment
Payroll
GP Standard
GP Professional
Employees
Includes the ability to set up an unlimited number of employees, with system support for up to 500 active employees per company
Includes the ability to set up an unlimited number of employees
Workers Compensation
Includes Workers Compensation functionality
Includes Workers Compensation functionality
Payroll Setup
Includes user-defined setup features and functionality
Includes user-defined setup features and functionality
Shift Differentials
Available
Available
Payables management
GP Standard
GP Professional
Number of Vendor Accounts
Unlimited
Unlimited
Vendor Class
Supports the ability to set up vendor classes and assign new vendors to specific classes, reducing time and effort spent to set up new vendor records
Supports the ability to set up vendor classes and assign new vendors to specific classes, reducing time and effort spent to set up new vendor records
Aging Periods
Seven (7) user-specific aging buckets, including the current aging bucket
Seven (7) user-specific aging buckets, including the current aging bucket
Payables Checks
No wizard. Includes comprehensive, user-defined select check features and functionality
No wizard. Includes comprehensive, user-defined select check features and functionality
Scheduled Payments
Includes the ability to create payment schedules, calculate interest and amortization amounts, and perform "what-if" scenarios to determine the impact of various interest rates, payment amounts, frequency and installment number changes
Includes the ability to create payment schedules, calculate interest and amortization amounts, and perform "what-if" scenarios to determine the impact of various interest rates, payment amounts, frequency and installment number changes
Customer/Vendor Consolidations
Not available
Ability to consolidate balances for a vendor that is also a customer
Receivables management
GP Standard
GP Professional
Passwords
Includes the ability to set up a password for: maximum write off amount, waive finance charges, add a customer during transaction entry, print refund checks, change a customer’s status, and allow the customer to exceed their credit limit for greater security
Includes the ability to set up a password for: maximum write off amount, waive finance charges, add a customer during transaction entry, print refund checks, change a customer’s status, and allow the customer to exceed their credit limit for greater security
Receivables Statements
No wizard. Includes comprehensive, user-defined Receivable Statement options
No wizard. Includes comprehensive, user-defined Receivable Statement options
Receivable Statement Formats
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Blank Paper
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User Definable Forms
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Long Form
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Short Form
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Side Form
•
Short Form Continuous
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Side Form Continuous
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Multicurrency Long Form
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Multicurrency Blank Form
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Blank Paper
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User Definable Forms
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Long Form
•
Short Form
•
Side Form
•
Short Form Continuous
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Side Form Continuous
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Multicurrency Long Form
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Multicurrency Blank Form
Customer Types
Balance Forward and Open Item customer types available
Balance Forward and Open Item customer types available
Customer Classes
Includes the ability to set up customer classes and assign new customers to specific classes, reducing time and effort spent setting up new customer records
Includes the ability to set up customer classes and assign new customers to specific classes, reducing time and effort spent setting up new customer records
Refund Checks
Includes the ability to create receivables debit memos for customers who have credit balances, as well as print refund checks for those customers using Payables Management
Includes the ability to create receivables debit memos for customers who have credit balances, as well as print refund checks for those customers using Payables Management
National Accounts
Not available
Ability to create parent/ child relationships between customer accounts. Apply cash receipts across members of National Account.
Customer/Vendor Consolidations
Not available
Ability to consolidate balances for a vendor that is also a customer
Inventory Management
GP Standard
GP Professional
Unit of Measure
Includes the ability to set up multiple units of measure schedules for an inventory item
Includes the ability to set up multiple units of measure schedules for an inventory item
Price Levels
Unlimited
Unlimited
Track Serial and Lot numbers
Supports automatic assignment of serial or lot numbers to specific inventory items, enabling easy differentiation of similar items with the same item number
Supports automatic assignment of serial or lot numbers to specific inventory items, enabling easy differentiation of similar items with the same item number
Item Classes
Includes the ability to set up item classes and assign new items to specific classes, reducing time and effort spent setting up new item records
Includes the ability to set up item classes and assign new items to specific classes, reducing time and effort spent setting up new item records
Warehouse Locations
Includes the ability to set up multiple warehouse sites
Includes the ability to set up multiple warehouse sites
Quantity Types
Includes On Hand, Allocated, Available, Sold, Returned, In Use, In Service, Damaged, Back Ordered, Requisitioned, On Order, and Drop Ship PO quantity types
Includes On Hand, Allocated, Available, Sold, Returned, In Use, In Service, Damaged, Back Ordered, Requisitioned, On Order, and Drop Ship PO quantity types
Cost Methods
Includes FIFO Perpetual, LIFO Perpetual, Average, FIFO Periodic, and LIFO Periodic cost methods
Includes FIFO Perpetual, LIFO Perpetual, Average, FIFO Periodic, and LIFO Periodic cost methods
ABC Analysis
The ABC Analysis wizard assists in analyzing item usage and prioritizing items, helping users manage inventory more effectively
The ABC Analysis wizard assists in analyzing item usage and prioritizing items, helping users manage inventory more effectively
Item Types
Includes Sales Inventory, Discontinued, Miscellaneous, Kit, Service, and Flat Fee item types]
Includes Sales Inventory, Discontinued, Miscellaneous, Kit, Service, and Flat Fee item types
Assemblies
Includes the ability to enter bills of materials for all the Sales /Inventory items in inventory that are manufactured, as well as create phantom bills for kit items
Includes the ability to enter bills of materials for all the Sales /Inventory items in inventory that are manufactured, as well as create phantom bills for kit items
Multi-Bin
Includes the ability to not only track items within inventory sites, but also track item quantities in bins that reside within each site
Includes the ability to not only track items within inventory sites, but also track item quantities in bins that reside within each site
Landed Cost
Includes the ability to create a group or collection of landed cost records. Creating groups of landed costs enables the user to assign several landed costs to an item at once
Includes the ability to create a group or collection of landed cost records. Creating groups of landed costs enables the user to assign several landed costs to an item at once
Purchase order processing
GP Standard
GP Professional
Drop Ship Purchase Orders
Includes the ability to deliver goods directly from a vendor to a customer. The item will not be physically received or sold from inventory
Includes the ability to deliver goods directly from a vendor to a customer. The item will not be physically received or sold from inventory
Document Types
Purchase Order, Receipt, Receipt/Invoice, Invoice, Drop Shipment, Blanket, Drop Ship Blanket
Purchase Order, Receipt, Receipt/Invoice, Invoice, Drop Shipment, Blanket, Drop Ship Blanket
PO Returns
Includes the ability to remove items from inventory that have previously been received, or to decrease the amount owed to the vendor due to previous purchase order invoice activity
Includes the ability to remove items from inventory that have previously been received, or to decrease the amount owed to the vendor due to previous purchase order invoice activity
Automatic Purchase Order Generation
Not available
Available
Buyers
Available
Available
Dates Tracked
Includes automatic tracking of requisition date, required date, purchase order date, promised date, promise shipped date, released date, and released by date
Includes automatic tracking of requisition date, required date, purchase order date, promised date, promise shipped date, released date, and released by date
Combined Inquiry
Provides separate inquiry views for purchase order and payables transactional information
Provides separate inquiry views for purchase order and payables transactional information
User defined fields
Includes thirty-five (35) user defined fields
Includes thirty-five (35) user defined fields
Sales order processing
GP Standard
GP Professional
Document Types
Quotes, Orders, Invoices, Returns, Backorders
Quotes, Orders, Invoices, Returns, Backorders, Fulfillment Order
Bulk Order Processing
Available
Available
Process Holds
Includes the ability to set up process holds (user-defined restrictions that control the processing of sales documents at different stages of the sales cycle)
Includes the ability to set up process holds (user-defined restrictions that control the processing of sales documents at different stages of the sales cycle)
Separate Fulfillment Process
Provides the user the flexibility of a separate fulfillment process
Provides the user the flexibility of a separate fulfillment process
User Defined Fields
Seventeen (17) user defined fields
Seventeen (17) user defined fields
Commissions
Includes the ability to set up records for all salespeople and territories and enter, edit, and split salesperson commissions for accurate tracking. Reports can be viewed within the application where commission date is stored
Includes the ability to set up records for all salespeople and territories and enter, edit, and split salesperson commissions for accurate tracking. Reports can be viewed within the application where commission date is stored
Combined Inquiry
Provides separate inquiry views for sales order processing and receivables transactional information
Provides separate inquiry views for sales order processing and receivables transactional information
Sales Order to Purchase Order Integration
Available
Available
Fixed assets
GP Standard
GP Professional
Books
Unlimited
Unlimited
User Defined Fields
15
15
Depreciation Projects
Available
Available
Mass Transactions
Available
Available
Reporting
GP Standard
GP Professional
Business Analytics
Advanced Financial Analysis
Analysis Cubes for Excel Advanced Financial Analysis FRx Forecaster
Ability to add fields to a report
Available
Available
Reporting Tools
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SmartList
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Report Writer
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Crystal Reports Professional Edition
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FRx Financial Reporter (Designer User)
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FRx Drill Down Viewer
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Advanced Financial Analysis
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SmartList
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Report Writer
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Crystal Reports Professional Edition
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All FRx Components
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Advanced Financial Analysis
Toolsets
GP Standard
GP Professional
Customization and Integration Tools
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Modifier with VBA
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eConnect
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Integration Manager
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Integration Assistant for Excel
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SQL Direct Access
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Modifier with VBA
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eConnect
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Integration Manager
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Integration Assistant for Excel
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SQL Direct Access
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Dexterity
Professional services
GP Standard
GP Professional
Support and Services
Support:
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Customers can choose the service plan that’s right for their business – from Standard A, Standard B and Premier Services
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All service plans guaranteed response times (1 or 3 hours)
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Most service plans include educational elements
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Affordable pre-paid packs of support incidents
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Access to award-winning Web site
Training:
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E-Learning
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Training Kits
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Basic Procedures
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Training Manuals
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Classroom Training
Support:
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Customers can choose the service plan that’s right for their business – from Standard A, Standard B and Premier Services
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All service plans include choice of guaranteed response times (1 or 3 hours)
