A change to a new ERP system is going to have a dramatic effect on the way your business is run.  Since your company is going to be transitioning its IT to new hardware anyway, choosing that time to move to a new ERP means you only have one major transition rather than two.

Moreover, implementation and training for any new technology will take a great deal of time and money.  By combining your ERP implementation with the new hardware upgrade, you can minimize “down time” spent on training in your office.

In some cases, you may only be upgrading your server or replacing your server hardware.  This is still a great time to upgrade or change your ERP system.  You will likely have to reinstall your ERP system on the new server anyway, so if you plan your budget accordingly, you can move to the new server and install your new ERP software at the same time.

The best reason to consider a new ERP when you are performing upgrades is that it is something you have probably been putting off for a long time.  If your company has been using workarounds and compromising with your ERP system because of its limitations, you are probably overdue for a change.  Now may be your best opportunity to make it happen.

Ready to check out your ERP system options, learn more by contacting us directly.

MIG & CO. – MIG is a Professional Consulting Firm that specializes in the implementation of business management software solutions including Microsoft Dynamics GP, SL, NAV, AX, and CRM. We automate business processes to ensure our customers work efficiently. A New York City based Microsoft Dynamics Gold Partner, primarily serving New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Upgrading Your Hardware? Consider an ERP Upgrade is a post from: Accounting Software Blog

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The number of tablets sold worldwide in 2010 compared to 2011 saw a dramatic increase, which far exceeded industry expectations. An estimated 19.7 million tablet PC’s were shipped worldwide in 2010 with an estimated 35 million predicted for 2011.

The popularity of the tablet has made organizations think outside the box in terms of their desktop computers. With mobility needs increasing, businesses need to realize the tablet is their next ticket to advanced functionality, flexibility and…the future. Businesses that have mobile capabilities have an advantage over their immobile competitors. And with more employees asking for convenience and choice in hardware, tablets are being sought to accommodate accounting and business enterprise needs.

Despite some limitations, many organizations with field workers see an advantage to equipping their workforce with tablets to take advantage of the instant-on ability, longer battery life, ease of use, and portability. The truth is that portable computers have a low rate of adoption for most applications and the tablet offers a viable way to change that.

Organizations reluctant to consider tablets may change their minds as iPads become increasingly popular in the workplace and tablets running a tablet-friendly Windows 8 debuting sometime in 2012. A tablet running Windows 8 blends the flexibility of a tablet with the functionality of a laptop by running Microsoft Office applications such as Word and Excel, which are not available on the iPad. Microsoft has released a video overview of Windows 8 running on a tablet and the initial reactions are positive.

As you consider your mobility needs, don’t rule out tablets. The next several months will see significant improvement in the software becoming available for the mobility market. Contact Open Door Technology for more information on what a tablet offering can do for your organization.

By Malcolm Roach of Open Door Technology, Microsoft Dynamics NAV and TBS Mobility Solutions Partner based out of Calgary, Alberta

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1. Greater Security – yeah you read that right, greater security. There is this feeling and concern that moving applications to the cloud takes things out of one’s control, and (there) is a higher likelihood of a security breach. What we’re finding is that, in a lot of cases, our clients’ data is more secure on the cloud than it is on their premises because of the measures taken by US-based data centers whose sole purpose is to provide secure space for your application.  Most Data Centers are staffed 24 hours a
   day, are backed up to multiple facilities and offer state of the art security systems.
2. Optimal Operating Conditions – With on premise applications, you have to maintain the right temperature and dust-free environment for the computers that run them.   Most small companies have a hard time providing this type of environment and thus usually don’t.   This results in down time, server crashes, hardware malfunctions, etc.  With a hosted solution, servers are placed in optimally cooled and heated facilities combined with state of the art ventilation systems and an open floor plan suited for growth.
3. Access Anywhere – remote access is one of the biggest challenges to companies.  You need to have a firewall, secure access, fast access to and from the server.  Remote
   access is an inherent benefit of a hosted solution.  Remote workers and executives can access real-time dashboards, business data, and important information from anywhere.
4.  Lower IT Costs – With an on-premise solution, there is the barrage of security updates to the server, service packs, antivirus considerations, backup concerns, and vulnerability to damage of that server.  This all takes time and money to manage; taking valuable time and resources away from your core business.  You transition these varying costs to The Cloud; a place where the associated costs are shared with other customers.  There are benefits to such a shared environment; Benefits most small companies could never afford.   Data centers offer high redundancy and power outage protection. You share the costs of multi-million dollar state of the art facilities with other customers thus bringing down the cost.
5. Quicker implementation time frame – In most cases, you have immediate access to your software application.  It is turned on like a utility. The time and money you save on the installation and maintenance can be directed toward implementing and improving the system.
6. Lower Initial Costs – with software as a service, you have the option to purchase the software under a subscription model and pay for the software as you use it.  You only pay for the number of users you need at any given time.  For companies that are seasonal, this can cut back on software fees because you only pay for the
   number of users that are accessing the system each month.  Unused user access licenses are not sitting idle.  This lowers the barrier of entry into an enterprise class system because you are not laying out a big chunk of money on software at the start, your budget can be directed toward implementation and process design.

While Cloud Computing is not the best solution for every customer, a Cloud-based Solution can take some of the burden off of a company and provide assurance that the backbone of it’s business is well managed and secure.

By Robert Smith of eIS Business Solutions, Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM Partner out of California

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Information as important as financials should be easy to find, quick to report out and analyze, and even quicker to deliver to the tax authorities.  Disparate software systems and old-fashioned spreadsheets can only get you so far before you start seeing the ominous red flags.  With Microsoft Dynamics GP, you can organize all of your critical business financials into a single software platform.  This powerful business management software can connect all of your operations with your financials – supply chain, payroll, manufacturing, project management, and more.  Having a better ‘big picture’ view of your financials will give you more accurate data about your corporate fiscal health.

Moving from spreadsheets to Microsoft Dynamics GP will automate much of the common daily data entry, making your employees jobs more productive.  The risk for human error is reduced and your people have more time to focus on other important aspects of their jobs.  Minimal training is needed at implementation because this software solution is easy to use like other common Microsoft products.  The real-time data that is collected in Microsoft Dynamics can be shared throughout the company so that your key players have reliable data to use when making critical business decisions.  Instead of chasing information, you can print off almost any number of reports that can be used for taxes, budgeting, predictive modeling, and other important decision-making reports.

Most of the time, we dread tax season because of the time-consuming reporting that goes into tax reporting.  Microsoft Dynamics GP can make the tax reporting process go much faster and with far fewer late nights.  For more information about how Microsoft Dynamics GP can make tax preparation and organizing your financials easier and more accurate, please contact Express Info.

By Express Information Systems, Microsoft Dynamics partner serving businesses throughout Texas.

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ERP software like Microsoft Dynamics GP works successfully for many industries, including distribution, healthcare, service businesses, and others.  This comprehensive business management software can manage inventory, procurement, warehouse, supply chain, shipping, sales and marketing, as well as corporate financials.  The flexible deployment options that Microsoft Dynamics GP offers makes this powerful software quick and easy to implement and available to employees in and out of the office – it works on mobile devices including most Smartphones and tablets.

Connecting financials with supply chain, inventory, and customer needs will help you maintain just the right amount of inventory you need to satisfy customer requirements.  When sales or service takes place right out of the truck, your field staff can update the office within mere moments using mobile devices.  This collaboration is particularly efficient for the food and beverage industry, equipment support, and similar operations.  The real-time insight into financials will give you the ability to spot trends and create more accurate budgeting and financial forecasting.  Having real-time financial data will allow you to react quickly to new opportunities, which leads to greater customer service.

No matter how complicated your accounting may seem, comprehensive ERP software like Microsoft Dynamic GP can rein it all in.  Organizing disparate accounting systems and paperwork into a single software platform will increase productivity, profitability, and your ability to provide unsurpassed customer service.

By Robert Smith of eIS Business Solutions, Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM Partner out of California

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• Microsoft Dynamics AX – mid-market to enterprise-level ERP solution, designed to operate across multiple locations and countries by standardizing processes, providing visibility across the business and helping to simplify compliance.
• Microsoft Dynamics GP – mid-market level ERP solution that exends the reach of insight, productivity, and collaboration across your entire business. From basic reporting to sophisticated analyses Microsoft Dynamics GP meets many industry-specific needs, and integrates seamlessly with the rest of the Microsoft solution stack.
• Microsoft Dynamics SL – mid-market level ERP solution that can help meet specialized customer, project accounting, and regulatory requirements for professional services, government contractors and construction management organizations.

The presentations will review and compare functionality of each application as it relates to Financials, Project Accounting, Inventory Management and more.

What we will cover for each solution:

• See all three Dynamics ERP products demonstrated
• Weigh the strengths/weaknesses of each solution
• Discover which solution best fits your industry
• Compare the functionality of each solution
• Hear about different deployment and support options
• Get a cost comparison of the solutions

The Microsoft Dynamics ERP Software Shootout is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for you and your team to see the best in Microsoft Dynamics ERP software all in one place, all at the same time!

Register now to save your spot! Or contact Boyer & Associates for more details.

Looking for a New ERP? Evaluate Leading Microsoft Dynamics ERP in a Half-Day Event is a post from: Accounting Software Blog

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User Conferences always have educational opportunities for the attendees, but how can the learning opportunities become sessions that penetrate our brains because they have been sparked by particular “enhancers”?   Well, Microsoft has done an exceptional job at allowing users to tap into their senses during their Annual Customer Conference called Convergence!   But, before giving you a list of “Reasons to Attend Microsoft’s Customer Conference” this year, I need to get to know a bit more about YOU

Which of your senses are the most powerful to help you get all you can out of a User Conference?

If music has a positive impact on your attitude, with syncopated beats or even ambient music moving you to a relaxed state of mind, or if listening to a story from a well known national leader might motivate you to learn, then here are a few reasons you might take advantage of the events scheduled for Microsoft Convergence in March 2012!

• Welcome Reception with American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry and his band.
• Live Music on the main stage prior to every General Session.
• Opening Keynote by Microsoft Executives, Kirill Tatarinov & Kevin Turner.
• Closing Keynote headlined by General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret), world leader & former U.S. Secretary of State, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and National Security Advisor,

Now, if you remember subject matter better by seeing it, and your senses are enhanced by particular colors and images that reach into your neural networks, perhaps some of these reasons to attend might resonate for you:

• General Sessions featuring content such as a “Field of Dreams” that is coming true with Microsoft Dynamics.
• Over 200 solutions available to  review and see demonstrations of at the Expo Center each day.
• Color-Coded Sessions, Expo Booths, Help Desks, and Product Logos to help you find your way around the Conference.
• Presentations fine-tuned for users to keep it easy on the eyes, but nourish the minds.

However, if you actually need to touch something to invoke your memory muscles and creativity, then I have a perfect set of activities happening at Convergence!

• Volunteer opportunities during the conference assembling amenity kits and candy cups for the children at the MD Anderson Cancer center or before the conference with Habitat for Humanity rebuilding the Independence Heights community.
• Hands-On-Labs where users can experience module tutorials or Community-sourced best practices and “Tips & Tricks” content.
• Each year I’ve seen the opportunity to get a 15-minute Neck and Shoulder Massage while in the Community Experience center (okay, I’ve actually experienced this part…)
• A Gaming area open between sessions to take a break between the intensity of the presentations & solutions featuring Xbox 360 and Ping Pong.

But if smells are the only thing that trigger your enthusiasm, excitement, and brain chemistry, then perhaps these activities will emotionally charge your receptive mood:

• Breakfasts, with coffee or tea, garden-fresh fruit, and sweet syrup or biscuits to get your motor running.
• Lunches to meet with your partner or vendors while tasting Southern dishes and drinking revitalizing refreshments.
• Evening Receptions – Minute Maid park welcome party, home of the Astros and Chef Bryan Caswell, plus the Expo Reception and Customer Appreciation dinners at signature Houston restaurants!
• Quick pick-me-ups lining the hallways at most session breaks.

Now of course all these activities are bookended by over 200 offerings in the concurrent session catalog, ‘birds of a feather’ networking sessions, Deep Dives into subject matter, and interactive discussions to complete the learning process.  But appealing to our specific sensory stimulant before engaging in the sessions, may help you get MORE out of your experience that you previously imagined.

For more tips on improving your Microsoft Convergence Conference experience, talk to your partner, or contact us at Collins Computing, a Gold Certified Microsoft Business Partner.  We have specific Collins Customer Webcasts and emails like these prepared for our customers to make sure they get their investment dollars back, with ‘special’ interest!

By Abra Gilman, Collins Computing, Inc. – Count on Collins, Count on Success!

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Customization can lead a software implementation down the wrong path.  The focus becomes more on what the software does not do and more on what the customer wants it to do.  This causes implementations to fail or cost a lot more than they should have.  Sometimes I think that clients are not focusing on how the new system really works and not learning the features and functionality; they want to wait for the customization.  A good software consultant should be able to identify possible work arounds, or in some cases an even better way to accomplish this business need within the software rather than with a customization.  Customization can also delay projects – you are waiting on a bus after all.  Always think customization all the way through before making a commitment to a vendor.

Once upon a time a lot of customization MIGHT have been warranted.  I have worked in the ERP business for 15 years and it has changed a lot!  Software companies such as Microsoft spend 9 BILLION dollars a year on new features, new technology tool sets, etc.   There just is not a lot of custom work that needs to be done to business software anymore.  If you are working with a software vendor and they are on-board with making a lot of customization changes then please talk to some other vendors before writing a check.

Most customization now are breadboxes, not buses and are for things like adding a field to a window, creating custom tables to connect data in live system tables to create reports that are unique to your business.  Usually when something is unique to a business, it really boils down to a manager that wants to see the data a certain way to make better business decisions.  Customization is also commonly used for creating SharePoint pages to display data for analysis and distribution.

There are also many add-on products now that are specific to line of business such as commission, sales tax,  MICR check writing, document management and even process manufacturing solutions that are built and integrated for specific accounting software packages.   These add-on products are usually certified by the software vendor and created their applications because they saw a niche need.

Here are a few tips if you do in fact need customization the size of a bus.

1. Are you sure there is not a reputable add-on product available?
2. Do you have your customization and business requirements clearly defined?  You should provide your consultant with as much information on this as possible or you won’t’ get what you want!
3. Make sure you are committed before spending the consultant’s time and your time creating the details and specs.   Consultants do not usually like customizations and you should respect their time and efforts in working on the design.
4. Do not panic over the pricing; you want customization then expect to pay for it.  It never is as easy as it looks and therefore an experienced programmer is needed and they cost money to employ and keep trained on the latest technologies.
5. Do get a reference for the consulting firm.
6. Make sure that the consulting firm (like CIS) has the resources to upgrade the custom work when you have a software upgrade.  This can be a BIG deal sometimes.  Consider this when you are getting your quote.  Talk to your consultant about how the customization can be upgraded cost effectively.
7. Do expect to test, test and test the customization and give a final approval on the system.

I am not trying to sway folks away from customization if it is truly needed.  Just keep in mind that you should consider how much you really need to add a bus to your list of assets…

By Nancy Phillippi with Custom Information Services (CIS), Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner based out of Texas.  Your feedback and comments are welcome.  Contact Nancy at nphillippi@customis.com or by phone at 817-640-0016 x 109.

ERP Software Customization – Breadbox or Bus? is a post from: Accounting Software Blog

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Customers are always going to need some level of support from service providers, but small businesses often need more than larger companies.  They do not have large, experienced IT staffs or the resources to seek private training for business management software.  Those that relied on NetSuite’s customer service for support found themselves wallowing in a pool of frustration and disillusionment. Unfortunately for some, reality sunk in a little too late.

As reported on in the article, “Netsuite Stops Selling to Small Businesses.Congratulations”, at the Pacific Crest Technology Leadership Conference, NetSuite CFO Ron Gill made it clear that the company had all but abandoned its small business customers during its race to the top. It stopped selling and marketing to the sub-$10k market, which is good for future customers who will no longer stumble upon NetSuite and mistakenly think it might be a good idea to dive into the enterprise cloud without guidance.

Small business customers need a personal touch when it comes to ERP systems.  Even big and clunky software seems less intimidating with a friendly face and voice from customer service, but when you combine big, clunky software with sub-par customer service, you get customers banging their heads against the wall.  That is the lesson NetSuite finally learned. Now, their small business customers can stop blaming themselves and move on to something better.

By Accounting Software Blog Editors

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With powerful ERP software, you not only can position yourself to jump on opportunities when they arise, but you can actually identify those opportunities in real-time. The ERP software advantage is what can greatly set you apart from competitors, and help you attend to your customer’s needs.

Core capabilities within Microsoft Dynamics® ERP include financial management, supply chain management, business intelligence, performance management and so much more. The intuitive user interface of Microsoft Dynamics ERP works the way your employees prefer. It’s easy to use; therefor they’ll actually use it, connecting your company and increasing the ROI of your software solution.

Role tailored tools within Microsoft Dynamics ERP also helps each department customize to their needs. For example, your accounting department needs different insight compared to your marketing department. Although they should intersect at times, they shouldn’t have to shuffle through large amounts of data that doesn’t pertain to their job description.

Timely access to data is just as important as the type of data you’re pulling and Microsoft Dynamics ERP makes it possible to pull that data in real-time. With advanced integration with third party solutions and easy access through SharePoint web portals or mobile solutions, anyone at your company gets the information they need to jump on opportunities or even prevent issues before they occur.

If you’re interested in turning your organization into a more proactive work environment, read this brochure to learn more about how Microsoft Dynamics ERP can help. If you have any questions after reviewing this information, please contact us at eIS Business Solutions.

By Robert Smith of eIS Business Solutions, Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM Partner out of California

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