GP ver 8 2

[PTina]

Has anyone upgraded to version 8 as yet? We're looking to upgrade next month and would like to know of any upgrade issues that anyone may have had.

Thanks.

 

[klewis10367]

I have upgraded to 8.0 on my test server and had no upgrade problems. Just follow the instructions and it should be fairly simple. I am sure you are aware though with the upgrade to 8.0 eReq goes bye bye, just in case you are using eReq.

 

[Dukester0122]

We upgraded one test server and had minor issues with manufacturing but otherwise it was smooth. I don't see any major improvement on the functionality except for the look and I don't want 80 users calling my department because they can't find a window.

eReq will be part of BP 2.5.

 

[PTina]

Thanks for your responsed klewis10367 and dukester0122. Are you partners or customers? If you are customers did you do the upgrade yourselves or did your partner do the upgrade?

We are also planning to upgrade a test server before doing the live. I've also downloaded and read the instructions which seem pretty standard and easy to follow. However I notice that there are very few service packs out - I'm a bit concerned about this.

 

[klewis10367]

I am a customer and I did it myself. Also just to clarify, eReq is not with BP2.5 it is a new product called Requisition Management, and great plains does not even know at this time if the information from eReq can be transfered over to the new product. I also agree with Dukester, you will get more calls based on the look change than what it is worth. Also, BP2.5 is not even out yet either and who knows how that is going to work. I have advised my company to not do this upgrade this year and possible even wait til the next upgrade which I believe is sometime next year 2nd or 3rd quarter.

 

[PTina]

Thanks klewis,

We do not currently use eReq although it is something that we have looked at. Thanks for the heads up.

We will need to upgrade this year to take advantage of some of the features in Manufacturing and Purchase Orders.

 

[klewis10367]

If we used those modules we would definetly be upgrading too. It seems that is where they put all there efforts as far as upgrading the functionality of the product.

 

[Dukester0122]

I know BP 2.5 isn't out yet because I'm waiting to upgrade. During Convergence they said BP2.5 will include eReq and probably PDK so if you claim that it's not then where did you hear from it because my VAR hasn't updated me yet.

 

[klewis10367]

My VAR just sent us a confirm on the new Requisition Management and I also participated in the Web Demos for Great Plains 8.0 and Business Portal 2.5 and they both mentioned that it was changed. Also, at Convergence they actually showed the Demo of Req Management in the USO presentation.

 

[Luvsql]

We use eReq and are also not going to upgrade to version 8. I would have to spend a major training budget just on orientation in the new version. I don't know how and why MBS can get away with using our huge enhancement fees to put all development into changing the interface and adding lots of functionality to modules we aren't even registered for.

How about enhancing basic accounting functions and having a real inventory?

 

[Dukester0122]

We'll sorry klewis you have to check with your VAR again because I saw it in Convergence - MBS Requisition Management for Business Portal. I also called my VAR yesterday to check if anything change they said no. Maybe our VARs are just anticipating what's going to happen. Anyway, my concern is losing the functionality when I upgrade later.

 

[klewis10367]

Dukester, MBS Requisition Management is not eReq. They are two entirely different products. Take a look at this, this is right from Great Plains.

: We currently use and rely on eRequisitions for approving purchase orders across all our locations. We have eRequisitions sitting on our Web server, assigned to an IP, so that anyone can easily access it from within our firewall. (Other locations can tunnel in.)
With Great Plains 8.0, eRequisitions is gone and replaced with a module within Business Portal. We really do not want to have to implement Business Portal just to have purchase order (PO) approvals. If we must have all our eRequisitions users now use Great Plains, we are talking a lot of licenses needed at more than $3,000 a pop. Plus, if we have to implement Business Portal, we need Microsoft Windows Server 2003 but then can't use Crystal Enterprise 9 Standard, as it won't work on Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) 6. Plus, 95 percent of our users still log into Novell, so Business Portal is not an option for us right now.
That leaves us with either not upgrading, or upgrading and losing PO approvals. Boo.
In addition, if we had to use the module within Business Portal, would all our setup and transaction detail for eRequistions be transferred, or would we lose everything? (In other words, would we have to start from scratch and re-setup all our users, approval trees, and so on?)
KY: You are correct here about eRequisitions. It is going away as a stand-alone product. It is now combined into Business Portal 2.5 for Great Plains 8.0 as Requisition Management. Requisition Management contains new features that were not available in the past.
Also, Business Portal 2.5 contains several features that you can utilize. Business Portal 2.5 is still in development, so we do not have a feature list just yet. However, you can stay tuned to PartnerSource and CustomerSource for updates.
Finally, the update path from eRequisitions to Requisition Management in Business Portal is still being developed. We do not have a definite answer right now as to what will transfer from eRequisitions. Once Business Portal 2.5 is available, we will have a better idea of what will come across and what will not.

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[Luvsql]

I wrote that one!

 

[klewis10367]

Yours was the question right? How funny.

 

[Dukester0122]

This is what's on CustomerSource for MBS Requisition Mgmt for Business Portal:

Help increase control and visibility over your entire purchasing process, reduce paperwork, and automate approval processes. With Requisition Management for Microsoft® Business Solutions Business Portal, employees can enter purchase requisitions online for manager approval and automatic transfer to Microsoft Business Solutions–Great Plains® Purchase Order Processing.

 

[klewis10367]

I think we are comparing apples and oranges. The one you are refering to is a completely different product that I was referring to in the original repsone to LuvSql. The current requisition product with version 7.5 is called Electronic Requisition(eReq for Short). You are referring to the product that is taking over for eReq with the upgrade to version 8.0. This product is not eReq and quite possibly eReq might not even be able to be converted to the new product. Hope this clarifies. I would feel bad if you went and upgraded thinking that eReq and MBS Requisiton Management where the same and found out that they weren't during the upgrade itself.

 

[Dukester0122]

That's what I've been saying, the new Requisition system is in BP. I didn't say its an upgrade.

i'll eat my orange now!!!

 

[stef315]

There is also the General Ledger ehancements in version 8.0: voiding and copying journal entries. That's a big one to many of my clients who have large journal entries. Don't know if it would be a reason to switch though.

Letter writing assistant? lol...if it were me, I'd know ways to use Excel, Word, and SQL to get what I want.

Oh, one decent improvement that should have been there all along....decreased use of the sa login!!

Ability to kick yourself when you attempt to login.

PO blanket POs are cool.

Just a few of the main ones.