Alternatives to Integration Manager?

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We've been told by our GP implementation partner that we need Microsoft Integration Manager in order to import files from our employee timeclock into Dynamics GP 2013 R2 payroll. These are very basic csv and/or txt files with paycodes and hours for less than 100 employees. Between the purchase price of Integration Manager and the first year's maintenance, it would come to over $7,000. This seems steep considering the basic nature of the data. Are there any more practical alternatives out there? Thanks for any ideas.

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Community Member on at

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RE: Alternatives to Integration Manager?

Hi Glen,

The Integration manager is the tool comes with the Microsoft Dynamics GP.The module comes included with your GP purchase, However, the free license period only last for 9 months beyond the date of your GP installation. This temporary license is designed to give you enough time to execute an initial data migration to GP, but for ongoing GP integrations you’ll need to purchase a license.

There are some 3rd party tools available in the market to meet your requirement.

Note: Kindly check with your partner about the licencing details for IM .

Refer the below links:

www.erpsoftwareblog.com/.../3-ways-to-import-data-into-microsoft-dynamics-gp-integration-manager-econnect-web-services

www.erpsoftwareblog.com/.../four-options-for-integrating-your-dynamics-gp-the-case-for-scribe

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Bill Campbell 12 on at

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RE: Alternatives to Integration Manager?

Glen, first question, what does you Timeclock vendor provide?

We have been using a timeclock system with a few of our clients for about 10 years now and neither of them have to 'import' their own data. The timeclock vendor does that.

Where are you trying to get the time data? Are you taking it to Payroll or to Financial? Are you getting completed Journal Entries, if so, there is an option to 'copy / paste' the JE to the GL - but, if you are going to payroll, that is a different matter.

As to Integration Manager - it is a steep price no question - but for what it does it is pretty hard to beat.

Shan comments on the 'free' portion of the IM licence is related more to the practice of having IM available during the start up of the implementation and to assist in the migration from an existing system.

Sending in a bit more data on the nature of the Timeclock might help as well.

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Redbeard 12,931 on at

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RE: Alternatives to Integration Manager?

Another alternative is explained in this post.

dynamicsgpblogster.blogspot.com/.../often-overlooked-yet-powerful-table.html

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Bill Campbell 12 on at

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RE: Alternatives to Integration Manager?

I am a huge fan of Table Import. I am huge non-fan of the fact that it does not validate the application logic. So you can get the data forms all correct, but still put junk in the system.

I am pretty clear with clients I only use Table Import for Tombstone Data input.

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Community Member on at

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RE: Alternatives to Integration Manager?

Understood. Thanks.

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soma 24,410 on at

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RE: Alternatives to Integration Manager?

You can also use Macro file to upload your data into GP.

Please have a look on the below links to create a macro file with using word mail merge.

community.dynamics.com/.../how-to-use-word-mail-merge-and-macros-to-import-data.aspx

www.isolutionspartners.com/importing-data-into-microsoft-dynamics-gp

Hope this helps!!!

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Heather Roggeveen 9,146 on at

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RE: Alternatives to Integration Manager?

I was about to say the same as Soma - macros can be very useful, but can be tricky in some windows. I have a video on how to do it using Mail Merge:

One thing to consider is whether you may have wider use of Integration Manager. You can use it to import monthly journals, transactions to bank, sales and accounts payable invoices. If there is wider use, you will certainly find that the price tag is not so large - the functionality is very good.

However, if this is the only thing you will use it for, definitely consider other options.

I personally have never used table import, and I think Bill's comment on validation of data is important.

Question for the forum - does table import put the transactions into a work state enabling posting? If so, then I think it is definitely worth playing with. The posting process for transactions would then help reduce, if not eliminate rubbish coming in.

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Bill Campbell 12 on at

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RE: Alternatives to Integration Manager?

Heather, just to jump on that comment on Table Import - the challenge is more related to getting the data good. If you enter a number into a date field, the system will do with it what it can and create the 'best date' possible. Conversly, dates going into number fields seem to fail with a bang - but again - if you leave off the formatting - it is just a number.

If Table Import goes to Batch - then it would be better - but I seem to recall that you can enter data into a number of tables directly - I might be wrong - but . . .

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Heather Roggeveen 9,146 on at

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RE: Alternatives to Integration Manager?

Oh - technically, you can enter data into any table you like - but I don't think any of us with experience in GP would recommend that. It is bad enough when we have delete data because of interrupted postings etc. The table structure is complex!

The beauty with things like Integration Manager is the validation.

I have had a few clients over the years that have in house developers (and we do ourselves). Any custom integration work we do we always use web services or otherwise to write to work tables so posting can be the final validation.

Card files I have less of an issue with because they can either be deleted or modified in most cases. But transactions I will insist on using posting. If the client chooses to do otherwise, I am not going to clean up!

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kdraper on at

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RE: Alternatives to Integration Manager?

We use Kronos Workforce Ready, a cloud app. They create the files for GP but we must still import them. We must also export on a regular basis for new employees, projects etc... I think the best tool for the job is eOne SmartConnect.

https://www.eonesolutions.com/Products/SmartConnect

The price is reasonable and much more capable than IM. However if I did not have a bunch of other integrations to manage I would probably consider Table Import. There is no scheduling features and it does not have data validation or any logic that you can add to your import, like get next transaction number but it works and it is free.

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