By Mirko Theiss
PROSTEP is following up on the announcement that it intends to concentrate on the development of new ERP connectors for the OpenPDM integration platform this year: the PLM consulting and software company recently presented a connector with which the cloud-based ERP Solution Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP can be connected to common PLM or ALM solutions.
The triumph of the cloud is unstoppable, especially in the ERP environment. Many ERP manufacturers have recently introduced new software versions with new application programming interfaces (API) that are designed for use in the cloud. In order to connect these systems to other enterprise applications installed in the cloud or on premises via our integration platform, we need to develop new ERP connectors that support these cloud architectures. This allows our customers to exchange article master data and bills of materials as usual using the latest systems.
The MS Dynamics 365 ERP connector is the first in a series of new developments that will be followed by integrations to the cloud applications of SAP and other ERP providers in the coming months. The ERP system from Microsoft is widespread in Germany, especially among medium-sized companies. Some shipyards also use MS Dynamics 365.
Some of our American customers use MS Dynamics 365 in conjunction with the cloud-based PLM system PTC Arena, to which we have already developed a connector, so the new ERP connector is a perfect match for them.
In the near future we will offer you a standard integration between PTC Arena and MS Dynamics 365 as Software as a Service (SaaS) based on our OpenPDM cloud platform. This underscores our growing commitment to the US market.
The new MS Dynamics 365 ERP connector is available to customers from OpenPDM release 9.6.1 and can be used either in connection with other cloud applications or in hybrid scenarios with a PLM system installed on premises. Regardless of the new developments, we will continue to maintain the OpenPDM connectors to the well-known on-premises systems.