Are all Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system really right for a company? This is probably not only a question about functionality of the system, but also about the ease of use and compliance with local country requirements. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Enterprise Resource Planning systems are tailored to each region of the world, country, in a way that suits the local requirements and national laws. Microsoft Dynamics 365 localization includes:
- Availability of solutions in your country.
- Storage servers.
- Language.
- Local solutions.
A number of Microsoft Dynamics 365 applications are available on the Lithuanian market, and new functionalities and hotfixes are continuously released. Some of the functionality is market-specific, giving users secure internationalization of the systems and the ability to expand their business without limiting the system’s capabilities.
Dynamics 365 localization solutions developed by Microsoft and partners
Microsoft provides the entire group of Dynamics 365 localization solutions for the Lithuanian market, making sure they are available in the local language.
However, while Microsoft Operations Apps such as Dynamics 365 Finance or Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management are available on the Lithuanian market, they do not support all the legal or regulatory requirements in our country. This allows companies to use complementary solutions. Microsoft verifies the localization solutions developed by partners and hosts them on the Microsoft AppSource platform for business applications. GO-ERP Dynamics 365 localization solutions for Lithuania are the first to be approved and hosted on the Microsoft platform. They enable companies to adapt their business management system to the requirements of the Lithuanian market. Examples of such solutions (the list is continuously updated in response to market needs):
- GPAIS is a packaging accounting module integrated with the unified product, packaging and waste accounting information system.
- SAF-T – a solution for preparing a file for transfer to the VMI (National Tax Institution) standardized accounting data collection and management subsystem.
- i.SAF – integration with the VMI electronic invoice subsystem.
- i.VAZ – integration with the VMI electronic waybill subsystem.
- A collection of key financial documents in Lithuanian.
Projects can also include solutions that are not hosted on the Microsoft AppSource platform. In this case, it is important to get to know the Micorosoft partner well and to assess its experience and capabilities.
At GO-ERP we started working and researching Microsoft Dynamics as soon as it was available, thus gaining considerable experience in the field – more than 10 Microsoft Dynamics 365 deployments, 6 of which are in the Cloud, and we have been localizers in 6 international projects. So we help our clients find the best Enterprise Resource Planning solutions.
Choosing a data centre
An important aspect of Microsoft Dynamics 365 deployment projects in the planning phase is the right choice of data center. Technical advisors guide the customer through the options. The client can choose the region where the data is stored, and can replicate the data in other regions in the same area to ensure data persistence. Wherever customer data is stored, Microsoft does not control or restrict the locations from which customers or their end-users can access their data.
Microsoft’s global network of data center offers three levels of localization to help you meet your data locality, sovereignty and compliance requirements.
- Global. Access highly scalable, globally connected cloud services over the public internet, deployed from regional Microsoft data center.
- Local. Please note the local data storage requirements when allowing all public cloud users in a country to store their data in that country.
- Sovereign. Keep your data in your country of residence. Access high-volume cloud services isolated from global cloud services and deployed from local data center.
Additional options for localization solutions
It is important to note that Microsoft has extended the capabilities of Dynamics 365 localization solutions by adding no-code/low-code methods to the application family. This makes it easier, faster and more cost-effective to create or expand the number of local solutions. This can be done using the Power Apps technology capabilities, which can be easily adapted to any business needs
The process of Dynamics 365 localization
There are several ways in which Microsoft partners carry out localization projects:
- The partner is carrying out a full implementation of the Enterprise Resource Planning system across several countries.
- The partner carries out the localization work in a specific country, usually the country of residence, but the main installer of the system is someone else.
In the first case, GO-ERP deploys locally available solutions and engages a local Microsoft partner in the respective country to help the customer communicate and coordinate requirements.
In the second case, GO-ERP becomes part of another installer’s team and tailors the country-specific solutions, trains the client and usually remains as the maintenance company for that country.
Successful examples of localization
Two recent successful examples of GO-ERP’s localization of Dynamics 365 are the projects of AJ Produkter and Peikko Group Corporation (hereafter Peikko) to customize their ERP systems to local country requirements.
Swedish company AJ Producter operates in 20 European countries and improves the workplaces of more than half a million of its customers every year. As part of the migration from AX2012 to Dynamics 365 Could, GO-ERP was used to tailor the financial part to Lithuania. The choice of a local installer ensured easier involvement of AJ Produkter’s Lithuanian team, while the GO-ERP localization solutions GO-SAF-T, GO-i.SAF and GO-Intrastat ensured the system’s market readiness.
Peikko Group Corporation is a leading global supplier of slim floor structures, wind energy applications, and connection technology for precast and cast-in-situ construction. Peikko’s innovative solutions offer a faster, safer, and more sustainable way to design and build. Peikko has sales offices in over 30 countries, including Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and North America, with manufacturing operations in 12 countries. Peikko generated a turnover of EUR 314 million in 2022. Peikko is a family-owned and managed company that employs over 2,000 professionals. Peikko was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Lahti, Finland.
In order to manage business processes and make decisions efficiently and quickly on the basis of unified data, the company chose Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management. GO-ERP localization solutions and expertise were selected for the deployments in Lithuania and Latvia: the GO-i.VAZ, GO-i.SAF and GO-SAF-T solutions for the Lithuanian market, and the VAT return package for the Latvian market.
In summary, it is not only the choice of a Enterprise Resource Planning system and its smooth implementation that is important, but also the adaptation to local requirements and the continued support of the systems in the local language, with an understanding of the specific market. This is best advised by experienced Microsoft partners.
Why GO-ERP?
As a certified long-term Microsoft partner, GO-ERP has proven that it helps its customers to leverage the power of Microsoft Dynamics business applications to manage their day-to-day processes and operations more effectively. Get in touch and our experienced specialists will be happy to share their expertise and accelerate your company’s digital transformation.
