Think about how much time it would save if you had one system that was accurate and up to date all the time.  It would interface with your other systems and update them with the latest information, making sure all systems stay accurate and dependable. This has several benefits – you always know where to look, and you only need to update one system instead of many to make changes across all of them. Plus, it prevents incorrect information from being used by mistake. While it still makes business sense to have multiple systems, life is much easier when you establish one system to rule all others.

How do you transition from multiple systems to a single system? As mentioned in our previous post, the first step before making any software decisions is to know your company goals and strategies. Technology should always align with your business, not the other way around.

In order to achieve the benefits of having a single system of record, consider the following steps:
1.  Identify your financial data.  Facilitate a meeting with all stakeholders to identify where your data currently lives. In most organizations, it makes sense for the ERP solution to be the system of record because it needs to interface across several different areas of the organization. This includes solutions like Dynamics NAV, GP and AX.
2. Identify your customer data.  If you are already using a CRM solution, make sure it meets your specific business and industry needs and is still supported by your partner or vendor. If not, it may be time to start looking at newer systems.
3. Focus on change management. Providing proper training and leadership will help your team transition seamlessly to the improved, more efficient way of working in the new system.

Obviously, there are many decisions to make on the road to improved data integrity, but let us worry about the complexities.  At OmniVue, we believe that technology decisions are secondary, and we won’t make recommendations to you without first having a clear understanding of your business strategy and goals.  Keep imagining what it would be like if you had one system to rule all the others.  We’ll be here to help when you are ready.

By OmniVue, a Georgia Microsoft Dynamics Partner

Microsoft Dynamics: One System to Rule Them All is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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Athletes’ Performance is the global leader in human performance. AP facilities train some of the world’s most elite athletes and teams, while the company’s corporate wellness business, Core Performance, provides integrated wellness solutions to companies like Intel. The company has four Athletes’ Performance training facilities across the United States, several on-site fitness centers at corporations, and a corporate office in Norwell, Massachusetts.  It is home to 15 employees who handle all payables and receivables for the company, including expense reports, vendor payments, rent and other items that must be processed on a weekly basis.  Norwell also happened to be right in the path of Hurricane Irene, one of the largest, most extensive storms in recent memory.  

In the aftermath of the hurricane, their corporate office lost power for an entire week.  To make matters worse, the office building itself was completely inaccessible, because of electric locks that secure the premises during power outages.  Because of this, employees weren’t able to get into the building at all, and it was physically impossible to print checks.

Despite these setbacks, business didn’t come to a grinding halt. The office didn’t have electricity, but other places did – including some employees’ homes, a few coffee shops and most reliably, the public libraries in southeast Boston.  Athletes’ Performance employees started working out of these locations, where they were able to access the company financials through Microsoft Dynamics GP.  Daily activities continued – hundreds of payables were entered, the month-end close stayed on track, and other company locations were able to do business as usual, despite the temporary shutdown of the corporate office.

“We process a high volume of payables each week, and even though the office was down, we were still able to conduct day-to-day business,” noted Amy Spurling, the CFO of Athletes’ Performance. “Thanks to OmniVue’s private cloud, we didn’t lose an entire week of productivity.”

This story would be very different if Athletes’ Performance were using an on-premise ERP solution instead of a cloud-based one. Let’s look at a hypothetical scenario: What if their ERP system was housed on a server in their office building? If this were the case, they would have no access to Dynamics GP or any financial data stored on that server.  Even with a disaster recovery plan in place and on-line backups, data can’t be restored if the system isn’t accessible. It would be impossible to access the system or the data until power was restored to the server.  In this case, it would result in a full week of downtime.

In addition to the corporate office being unable to function during the outage, other locations would suffer as well.  Athletes’ Performance has other offices across the country with access to the Dynamics GP system.  If the server at the corporate office in Norwell was down, then the system would be down for everyone.

At OmniVue, our success is tied to our clients’ success.  We know you have more important things to worry about than your financial software, especially in the aftermath of a hurricane.  With a cloud-based solution, your critical business processes can keep running even when the electricity isn’t.  So let us worry about your ERP system – after all, you’ve got a business to run.

By OmniVue, a Georgia Microsoft Dynamics Partner

Hurricane Irene: No Match for Microsoft Dynamics GP in the Cloud is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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1. Focus IT on the Business
Allowing your IT group the freedom to focus on the core business can have a direct, positive impact on revenue.  Surprisingly, many people don’t think about this when considering cloud-hosted offerings for line of business applications like ERP or CRM.  By entrusting your hosted applications to the professionals at OmniVue, it allows your IT staff to focus their talents on business-critical initiatives that can directly contribute to revenue today.  Imagine the effect it will have on your bottom line to take IT out of the ‘expense’ pool.  Investing in a powerful ERP system like Dynamics NAV, GP or AX can exponentially increase business productivity, so it only makes sense to deploy such a solution in the most efficient way possible. 

2. Economies of Scale
This is particularly relevant for manufacturing and other industries where the ability to grow and expand infrastructure on demand creates a huge competitive advantage.  Leveraging ERP and CRM solutions in the private cloud allows businesses to scale and meet growing demand, without having to purchase and maintain additional hardware. Let your cloud hosting provider manage the technology while you focus on business strategy.  This will result in increased efficiency for less money than traditional on-premise infrastructure.  Once you’re on track to increase production and decrease the cost per unit, you can sit back and watch the profits grow.

3. Smarter Support Resources
While your internal IT resources are essential, they probably don’t have time to specialize in cloud computing and business strategy.  As a cloud hosting partner, we can provide a deeper resource pool to manage your hosted applications, while making sure the technology also aligns with your business values and goals. The result is that you save money and your business becomes more agile.  Many organizations are just beginning to realize the benefits of the cloud, but it has been at the core of OmniVue’s business since the company was founded in 2003.  Does your internal IT staff have that kind of experience?

4. Guaranteed Uptime
If your current systems were to go offline for some reason, who would be held accountable for the downtime?  Your IT Director?  With an ERP or CRM solution in the private cloud, your dedicated environment is backed by an SLA (Service Level Agreement), which means your hosting provider owes you money for each minute of downtime.  Can your IT staff offer that?  Since there is no multi-tenancy in the private cloud – meaning you don’t share space with other companies – there is more control over security and who has access to what.  How many people in your company currently have access to confidential business data, and who controls it? The security risks of the private cloud are equal to or less than the current level of risk that most companies have.  

5. Hassle-Free Upgrades
Another advantage of the private cloud is that upgrades, backups and maintenance are handled for you.  A cloud hosting provider like OmniVue can easily perform the required maintenance without taking your IT staff away from their daily routines.  While this is also possible with the public cloud, the private cloud can accommodate more flexibility and customization to your particular business needs.

Conclusion
Sooner rather than later, all companies will have to make a decision around the future of technology in their organizations.  One of the most important ways to do this is to consult with a trusted advisor like OmniVue who has extensive experience with the cloud and with Microsoft Dynamics solutions that can support business processes and operations.  While all options should be evaluated when making technology decisions, the dedicated infrastructure of the private cloud offers more flexibility, security, and less hassle so you can focus on more important things, like growing your business.

By OmniVue, a Georgia Microsoft Dynamics Partner

Top 5 Benefits of the Private Cloud is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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1. The Project Team
The individuals on the implementation team are very important – this group of people will form the backbone of the project from beginning to end.  As a client, you should expect to work with consultants who appreciate the culture of your organization and communicate effectively with your team.  They should invest time with your staff to understand the requirements, both implicit and explicit.  Over the life of the project, the consultants will become an extension of your own team.  Even though you’re implementing a technology solution, don’t underestimate the importance of the people behind it. 

2. Domain Knowledge
The consultants conducting the implementation must be knowledgeable of your industry and your business. Just because they are an expert on Microsoft Dynamics GP, NAV or AX doesn’t mean they know the best practices for your particular needs. Make sure the consultants are experienced and have the ability to deeply comprehend your unique challenges.  OmniVue takes the time to understand the goals of your business and define how the ERP solution will align with them.  The initial investment in a detailed discovery process will go a long way toward ensuring the success of the implementation and maximizing your ROI.

3. Setting Expectations
As a client, it’s important to clearly identify why you are investing in this new system and what you expect from it.   OmniVue defines the roles and responsibilities of the project team early on, so both sides – consultants and the client – understand what is involved.  Documenting expectations is a great way to make sure the ‘right’ individuals and stakeholders are on the same page from the beginning, and it also helps the team effectively communicate the scope of the project.  Expect weekly status updates and meetings to make sure the project is on track with regard to budget, timeline, and scope.  As a client, you can expect to be heavily involved in the implementation process from the start – ownership is key.

4. Agility
We recognize that your needs may change after the project is underway, so OmniVue uses an agile implementation methodology that allows for this. Even with the best project management and the right expertise, the success of the project is at risk without agility.  Changes in scope may require resetting expectations and adjusting deadlines for deliverables, which makes good communication a key element of the project team.  Having a project management practice and strong internal leadership is also essential – in addition to a Project Manager, OmniVue also involves our Executive sponsors to make sure things stay on track while accommodating changes.

5. Change Management
What good is your ERP investment if no one wants to use it?  Organizations adopt new technology at different paces, so OmniVue evaluates your workplace and helps determine how much training is required for users to feel comfortable with the solution. It’s our job to make sure your ERP investment is used to its full potential.  We help you take ownership to be self-sufficient, and help your staff understand and comprehend the adjustments and requirements, regardless of their level of competency.

Conclusion
From the beginning, a successful ERP implementation must be mapped to the client’s growth strategy. Taking this approach, along with superior project management, documentation, communication and training will ensure the success of the implementation and maximize adoption of the software. The technology should align with organizational processes and structures so that it supports the company goals, not the other way around.  An ERP solution will become an integral part of your business, and OmniVue wants to make sure it lives up to your expectations.

By OmniVue, a Georgia Microsoft Dynamics Partner

Five Ingredients for a Successful ERP Implementation is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 is by far one of the most impactful technology investments for any organization – for several reasons.  New business intelligence capabilities include real-time dashboards that will empower employees at all levels to find the information they need to make informed decisions.  Advanced personalization tools allow users to customize their workspace for specific roles and needs.  Forms and views are designed to be role-based, which helps provide access to the right information and also prevents users from accessing unauthorized data.  It’s easy to incorporate CRM into employees’ daily tasks because it integrates tightly with Outlook and other existing Microsoft products.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM also offers multiple deployment options, including on-demand, hosted or on-premise, depending on your business needs. You can even change from one method to another as your organization grows and changes.  Users can continue to work through offline access, even when disconnected.  Salesforce.com can’t do these things, yet has a higher total cost of ownership. 

If you’re looking to enhance an existing investment, add Dynamics CRM to your current ERP system.  These powerful applications are designed to work together to provide a broader picture of your customer information.   It gives the right people in your organization access to the information they need, including invoices, orders, payment history and inventory.   It’s much easier for your employees to focus on customer satisfaction when they have the right data at their fingertips.  It also gives executives the visibility to make better decisions and adapt quickly to business change.  It makes perfect business sense to purchase hosted or on-premise Dynamics CRM now, and deduct the implementation cost on your 2010 taxes.

Whether your focus is on sales, marketing or customer service, the result of Microsoft Dynamics CRM is real-time visibility into your customer relationships and your business processes.  Why is that important, you ask? Because if you don’t have a true picture of ‘what is’, then you have no way of knowing the true impact of your decisions and whether or not they are bringing you closer to the goal.  Without visibility, there is no agility.

Please note that we aren’t tax attorneys – be sure to check with your tax advisor before making any purchase decisions related to Section 179 of the Small Business Jobs Act.

By OmniVue, a Georgia Microsoft Dynamics Partner

Add CRM to Your ERP System in 2010 and Deduct the Full Value is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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After January 11, 2011, Microsoft will no longer support earlier versions of Dynamics GP.  Though OmniVue will continue providing support to our clients on earlier versions, there are always risks associated with running software that is not supported by Microsoft.   After January 11, it will take longer to get back up and running after a system disruption if you’re not on the current version – which would be a complete nightmare if you’re knee-deep in year-end close.   It will also be easier and faster to make changes to your current setup if you are running the most recent version.  Without support from Microsoft, your system will miss out on security updates and regular improvements in functionality.

By planning ahead and scheduling your GP 2010 upgrade now, your business will have access to new features that will be helpful during year-end close – and beyond.  Enhanced business intelligence and dashboards provide greater visibility into your organization’s data and make it easier for employees to analyze and share information.  Plus, personalized business processes drive productivity while increasing efficiency and professionalism across your team.  GP 2010 also integrates tightly with your other Microsoft technologies, including CRM, SharePoint and Excel, which helps maximize your ERP software investment. 

Don’t get stuck in the perfect storm of year-end close combined with an unsupported version of Dynamics GP.  Make plans to upgrade now – before year end close – and manage to a better 2011!

By OmniVue, Georgia Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

Be Prepared: Upgrade Now to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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1. Someone Else Owns Your Data
Let’s clarify this prevalent misconception first.  By definition, hosting is not the same as owning. In most cases, your data will be safer with a hosting provider than it is right now. Think of it this way: how many of your employees currently have access to your financial data?  Two?  Twenty?  Who supports the system and runs your backups?  The SaaS or Managed Hosting options remove many of these access points, which means your data will be far more secure.

When entering into an ERP hosting contract, both parties need to sign a Service Level Agreement (SLA), which details the service level guarantees and associated penalties if that service level is not met.  It should never imply that the hosting provider owns your data, and it should clearly state who is responsible for what.  If it doesn’t, you need to find a new partner. 

 2. Disaster Recovery Concerns
How long would it take your company to get up and running after an unforeseen event, and who is backing up your data right now? SaaS and Managed Hosting platforms with built-in disaster recovery and back-up management ensure that you won’t lose time or data, and all you need is an internet connection to access your system from any geographic location.  If your system is only accessed and maintained in-house, even though it may be backed-up to an off-site location, how long will it take to recover your data and be able to use it?   By outsourcing disaster recovery services to trusted professionals, it allows your IT resources to focus on higher value business objectives, instead of operating in reactive mode to the unexpected.

3. Higher Total Cost of Ownership
Sure, the SaaS model is cheaper up front and takes less time to implement than an on-premise system, but won’t I end up paying more in the long run?  The truth is, the total cost of ownership for Microsoft Dynamics GP on-premise will be greater than a SaaS or Managed Hosting model over a 5-year period for most companies.  It is a more cost-effective choice for small, growing businesses because of lower up-front costs and faster implementation.  This allows them to take advantage of sophisticated systems that they otherwise might not be able to afford.  The result is the ability to compete more quickly in the marketplace and have more capital available to reinvest in the business.  It can also delay the need to hire high-cost IT resources, and allows a higher degree of scalability as the organization changes and grows.

4. Less Flexibility
Is a hosted ERP system less flexible than an on-premise system because it is less complicated?  The answer to this depends on your business needs.  If your goal is to make your organization more agile, it’s important to create a hybrid of on-premise, cloud and outsourced managed hosting solutions. The combination of these will increase flexibility and scalability. Trying to build and maintain one giant application architecture is far less flexible than using a combination of models. Concepts like SaaS and Managed Hosting are by no means designed to make the traditional on-premise solutions obsolete.  To further increase your business agility, look for a pure play Dynamics Hosting Partner who can manage your Dynamics ERP system and any interconnected systems, such as CRM or SharePoint.  Many large hosting providers do not specialize in Dynamics and may be less flexible when connecting to other cloud services.

5. System Downtime
Hosted systems are not as reliable as on-premise software. Really? How reliable are your company’s current internal systems?  Accessing hosted MS Dynamics GP via the internet from a secure data center may actually be more dependable.  Most hosted solutions tout a 99.5% network uptime, and can offer cash reimbursement for each minute of downtime. Whereas, if your internal system goes down, all you can do is fire or reprimand your resources, while losing valuable time and money.   

Bottom line
When exploring SaaS (On-Demand), hosted and on-premise models, the only right answer is what makes the most sense for your business.  Enterprises will always have a need for on-premise technology, but the value of these systems is exponentially greater when used together in the cloud.   Don’t limit your organization by not exploring all the options.

By Omnivue, Georgia Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

Top 5 Myths about Microsoft Dynamics ERP in the Cloud is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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Many companies have delayed the transition to a new ERP system because of either budget constraints or lack of resources, but those excuses won’t work anymore – especially since (drum roll please) OmniVue will host it for you.  Yes, really.  The hosted model of Dynamics GP is ideal for a growing business that doesn’t yet have the resources to maintain an in-house solution.  You can own the software without the hassle of purchasing or maintaining hardware to support it.  Plus, OmniVue will sweeten the deal for you by offering an additional 25% discount on monthly hosting services.  Really.

If your company is considering a new ERP or financial system, now is the time to take advantage of some serious cost savings.  This could be the best $1 you ever spent.

By OmniVue - Georgia Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

An Offer You Can’t Refuse: Three Microsoft Dynamics GP Users For $1 is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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Consider the costs of planning. Right out of the box, there is an implicit level of failure. Why? Because of risks. Risks can be known, unknown or unknowable; they are firm and they are soft.  Quantifying them may mitigate failure, but does it mitigate the time value of decision making?  And, is it always the case that everything must be decided up front? How can you make the right decisions if you don’t know what you don’t know?

Obviously, these issues should be overseen by skilled Project Managers who have the right tools. One way that Microsoft Dynamics GP addresses this is through the implementation methodology model known as Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step.  Sure Step helps manage risk through a proven process that is specific to MS Dynamics GP and other ERP projects.  The combination of methodology, project management, and proven best practices provides more control over your implementation, migration, or upgrade. 

Without proper estimation and decision making, risks can dramatically impact the delta between the value you receive as a client and the cost of the relationship.  Less control, a greater cost, a larger delta. In the end, a succesful deployment is a matter of satisfaction and value.  It’s critical to choose an ERP software provider with access to the right resources and a clear understanding of what a successful implementation means.

by OmniVue Business Solutions – Georgia Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

Planning For A Successful ERP System Implementation is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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It’s important to know what this means for your business, and what changes you need to make.    Your company’s ERP software is one of the most important pieces in accommodating the reporting requirements of both IFRS and US GAAP.  Of course, it will impact more than just financial reporting – information technology, tax requirements, internal reporting and other operations will need to be reevaluated to make sure they support the new process.

Transitions of this magnitude are never easy, but if your business runs the new version of MS Dynamics GP, it will be less complicated.  Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains Version 11, also known as Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010, is slated for release this spring.  It includes tools that will allow businesses to set up reporting ledgers for both U.S. GAAP and IFRS, which will be necessary for companies required to report in both formats.  For example, if you are a public company headquartered in the U.S. with subsidiaries in Europe, you may already have faced this challenge.  Even if your company operates solely in the US, you may be required to provide reports in both GAAP and IFRS during the adoption phase.  MS Dynamics GP 11 will also have stronger links with Office 2010, which will greatly improve Business Intelligence (BI) and analysis capabilities for users. 

 According to the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants), Canada and India are on the fast track to transition to IFRS in 2011.  Currently, all companies in Europe either require or allow IFRS.  If your business is looking for a simpler way to handle the IFRS transition, start by evaluating your ERP system.  Contact your local Microsoft Partner to learn more about the full range of MS Dynamics products and how they can optimize your business. 

by OmniVue Business Solutions – Georgia Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

IFRS And Your ERP System – How MS Dynamics GP Can Help is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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