ERP Software Blog » Frank Nisenboum, Socius

What do Google+ and Microsoft Dynamics ERP Have in Common?

Frank Nisenboum, Socius — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:45:42 +0000

I was reading a blog post this morning about the ways that Google+ is changing how people use the internet, even though people don’t really want to use it. As I read, I was struck with how familiar the language was. Especially phrases like:

“Features don’t matter. In fact, focusing on features does nothing more than over-complicate a message and reduce the adoption speed of a software product.”

AND

“Users care about a set of minimally viable features and a simple, user-focused design. Google is getting past focusing on features and working more on points of integration with other products.”

Those are the exact same concepts that Microsoft has been embracing when developing updates to their Dynamics ERP solutions.

Focusing on Features will Slow You Down

In the world of competitive mid-market ERP solutions, side-by-side feature comparisons are becoming increasingly futile on account of the fact that the features sets are so similar. Sure, some products offer different industry focused functionality, but the core feature sets promise similar financial and operational deliverables. Putting too much emphasis on the features of an ERP system can bog down your selection process. While Microsoft Dynamics ERP products do contain industry leading features, that is not what makes them stand out from their competition.

User Adoption Relies on Usability

Like Google+, Microsoft Dynamics developers have created ERP solutions that are unique in their usability. Microsoft Dynamics ERP systems have a similar look and feel to familiar Microsoft Office products. In addition, they work seamlessly with Microsoft Office products to provide a cohesive user experience. Microsoft Dynamics ERP systems are geared around role-tailored user interfaces with individualized homepages and dashboards so that each user has quick and easy access to the information that is most relevant to their role and daily tasks. All of these facets work together to make Microsoft Dynamics systems the most usable and quickly adopted ERP solutions in the marketplace.

It’s All About Integration

Like Google, Microsoft and their partners have focused a tremendous amount of development effort on making Dynamics ERP solutions easy to integrate. Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions offer out-of-the-box direct integration and interoperation with other business tools like Microsoft Dynamics CRM, SharePoint, Windows® AzureTM, Microsoft Lync, SQL Server Reporting Services, and more. They also leverage a straightforward integration platform based on Web services technology that connects applications to and from Microsoft Dynamics, and enables internal or external developers to create independent integration adapters that are not dependent on Internet Information Services (IIS)—eliminating the need to buy separate servers and greatly simplifying infrastructure and IT management.

Unlike Google+, Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions are NOT the industry latecomers trying to carve out a niche. Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions are business management software stalwarts, helping companies across the globe streamline operations and enhance their financial and operational processes for over a quarter of a century.

Considering a Microsoft Dynamics ERP solution? Request a complimentary Business Strategy Assessment today for assistance selecting the right Dynamics ERP system for your unique organizational needs.

By Socius, a Microsoft Dynamics ERP partner in Ohio, Kansas City and California

What do Google+ and Microsoft Dynamics ERP Have in Common? is a post from: ERP Software Blog

ERP in the Cloud vs. On-Premise Cost Comparison

Frank Nisenboum, Socius — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:35:16 +0000

When considering an ERP solution, there are a number of options that need to be weighed, like which solution is right for your organization, how many users you will need, what functionality you will have implemented, and more. However, with the increasing capacity and security of cloud computing, you now have another choice to consider: How you are going to deploy your ERP solution – whether you will maintain your own data on your own servers or if you will have it hosted in the cloud.

A major that factor that will weigh into your decision between a cloud ERP solution and a more traditional, on-premise ERP solution is cost.

A cloud ERP solution will enable you to control and predict costs by:

Avoiding up-front hardware acquisitions or updates
Paying a predictable, monthly, per-user subscription fee
Getting software maintenance without annual fees
Taking advantage of software updates without paying for additional services

Because there is very little up-front cost, the time it takes to realize a Return on Investment (ROI) on your cloud ERP solution is accelerated.

On the flip side, an on-premise ERP solution requires a larger up-front investment and longer pay-back period before an organization would benefit from a ROI. However, since you are only paying for your users licenses once, over the long-term, an on-premise ERP solution can have a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) than a cloud system.

Regardless of whether you select an on-premise or cloud ERP system, you will most likely pay for some implementation and training services when you begin use.

If the ERP solution that you are considering is Microsoft Dynamics GP, there is a quick and easy way for you to compare the costs of both the software and services associated with an on-premise or cloud deployment. Simply submit your requirements and a Microsoft Dynamics GP Quick Quote will be emailed to you that outlines what your initial investment would be for an on-premise deployment. You can also use our Cloud ERP calculator to determine what your costs would be for Microsoft Dynamics GP cloud and email your results to yourself to compare with the on-premise options!

By Socius, an Ohio Microsoft Dynamics ERP partner

ERP in the Cloud vs. On-Premise Cost Comparison is a post from: ERP Software Blog

Dynamics GP vs. NetSuite: A True Story of Flexibility

Frank Nisenboum, Socius — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 03:29:21 +0000

One of the greatest selling points of NetSuite is its packaged cloud functionality that reduces upfront IT costs and speeds up and simplifies deployment. While this is what drives many businesses to select a NetSuite solution, it is also the reason they leave NetSuite. NetSuite lacks the one thing that organizations need to thrive in a dynamic marketplace: flexibility.

We are currently working with a company that is using NetSuite OneWorld. They contacted us because their business has changed since they implemented the solution. However, they are locked into their current solution package with NetSuite and unable to adjust the system’s functionality to fit the needs of their organization. When they reached out to us for an alternative, they said:

“I do not need the same level of functionality, but it appears I’m ‘trapped” at the OneWorld level with NetSuite.”

This is a common problem for NetSuite users. Another problem that this organization will be faced with is probable data loss. Because NetSuite basically “owns” the data in its cloud, retrieving and migrating financial data to a new solution is very difficult.

It’s no wonder this organization is looking for a new ERP solution that provides them with the agility and flexibility to meet their business needs now and in the future. The solution they are considering to fulfill this need is Microsoft Dynamics GP.

Dynamics GP is a great fit for this organization because, with Socius, they can choose whether they want it deployed on-premise (on their own servers) or in the cloud. If they choose a cloud deployment of Dynamics GP, they will have all of the industry leading ERP capabilities of the on-premise deployment but with a predictable and affordable per-user monthly subscription. If this organization chooses Dynamics GP, they will retain full control over their business data so that they can easily migrate between deployment types if they wish, integrate with other business solutions, or even move to a new solution in the future.

With Socius Cloud Services Dynamics GP Cloud packages, they can get up and running quickly and only pay for the functionality that they need. If their business needs change and they need to alter their solution, they can do that at any time.

If you are like this organization and looking for an alternative cloud ERP solution to NetSuite, find out what Dynamics GP in the cloud would cost you today!

For more information on how Microsoft Dynamics GP and NetSuite stack up on flexibility, functionality, affordability, and vendor stability, download this white paper.

by Socius, Ohio Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

Dynamics GP vs. NetSuite: A True Story of Flexibility is a post from: ERP Software Blog

How Much Does Dynamics GP in the Cloud Cost?

Frank Nisenboum, Socius — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:58:04 +0000

When you are assessing ERP software options, cost will no doubt be a major factor in your decision to go with a cloud or an on-premise deployment.

By using an ERP solution in the cloud, you will:

Avoid costly up-front hardware acquisitions or updates
Make predictable, monthly, per-user payments
Get software maintenance without annual fees
Take advantage of software updates without paying for additional services

Regardless of your deployment type, one of the biggest unknowns going into a new ERP solution purchase is the cost for implementation services, because this number is dependent on your business needs.

However, Cloud Services by Socius now offers a fixed-fee implementation schedule that enables you to know upfront your total cost for a cloud ERP solution, like Microsoft Dynamics GP in the cloud. While you can request a quote from Cloud Services for any of our Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions, our new pricing tool enables you to instantly calculate your costs for Microsoft Dynamics GP in the cloud.

When you use this tool, you will be quoted a cost for the specific functionality of Microsoft Dynamics GP Advanced Management that you need, for the number of users you require, and for the proven implementation services that has made Socius one of the top Microsoft Dynamics GP partners in the world.

See what Microsoft Dynamics GP in the Cloud would cost you!

By Socius, a Microsoft Dynamics ERP Partner in Ohio, Kansas City, and California

How Much Does Dynamics GP in the Cloud Cost? is a post from: ERP Software Blog

Do I Really Need to Customize My ERP Software?

Frank Nisenboum, Socius — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 21:15:58 +0000

In a perfect world, the ERP system that you spent so much time and effort selecting would automatically fit every criteria on your checklist and naturally work with each of your unique business processes. In the real world, however, only 3%* of businesses that implement ERP solutions have a custom developed system that is designed to fit the specific way they do business. If you are part of the other 97% of companies, you simply pick the solution that is the best possible fit and then you are left with two choices:

Use it as-is and adapt your processes around the solution (like 15% of organizations with ERP solutions)
Make customizations to the out-of-the-box system so that it suits your processes and provides the data you need the way it makes sense for your business

If your organization is like most, you’ll be taking the second approach. While customizing your new ERP may seem like a frustrating additional step to your implementation process, having a system that optimizes your business processes, is accessible and intuitive to your people, and addresses every necessary aspect of your business makes the extra effort worthwhile.

ERP customization does not need to be a painful process, especially if you take your customization needs into account during your software selection. By selecting an ERP software solution that is easily customizable, you can empower your internal IT resources and system administrators to adapt the solution to fit your needs quickly and cost effectively. For example, all of the Microsoft Dynamics ERP products allow you to interact with them using the .Net programming platform which simplifies customization. They also include Web Services and developer tools to enable ties between existing systems and further in-house customization of the system.

If your customization needs extend beyond your IT resources, there are software development companies that can do the work for you and train you on how to use the new functions within your system. You can save yourself several steps in this process by engaging an ERP partner that can do your custom development for you. A partner, like Socius, who goes through the software selection process with you, already knows your requirements, processes, needs and the intricacies of your ERP solution. Therefore, they make an ideal choice for your ERP custom development needs. Plus, they are your one-stop for all aspects of your ERP solution for the duration of time you are using the software.

To find out if a customized ERP solution is right for your business, consider beginning your software selection process with a Business Process Review!

By Socius, a Microsoft Dynamics ERP Partner in Ohio, California, and Kansas City

*The statistics provided in this post are provided by Panorama Consulting, an independent ERP consulting firm. Full results and analysis are available in their 2011 ERP Report

Do I Really Need to Customize My ERP Software? is a post from: ERP Software Blog

Better Business Intelligence with Dynamics GP

Frank Nisenboum, Socius — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:49:54 +0000

Business Intelligence isn’t just for enterprise organizations. Every company can benefit from tools that turn data into insight, enable smarter decisions, and increase efficiency. That is exactly what Microsoft Dynamics GP provides to businesses large and small.

With more than 220 built-in, customizable reports and sophisticated data analysis capabilities, Dynamics GP helps you proactively identify trends and risks. Because this advanced functionality works like and with familiar Microsoft Office tools, your people get easy access to the information they need in a manner they can use, improving overall organizational efficiency.

Dynamics GP helps your organization:

Find answers and trends, providing the insight you need to run your business at peak performance.
Plan for success by capitalizing on trends and predicting potential futures.
Improve agility when you implement new processes, monitor the results against statistical goals, and adapt business strategies.

Although Dynamics GP provides you greater visibility to your data, it also helps you manage that data (and its permissions and security) so that your people spend less time hunting for information and more time using it to improve your business. One of the tools that makes this a reality is the Business Analyzer which is part of the new Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2. Business Analyzer enables end users to define which reports they want to see, when those reports are run, and where they are available, empowering your people to customize their own user experience in the way that makes the most sense for them and their role. To learn more about Business Analyzer, watch this recorded demo of the tool!

By Socius, a Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner in Ohio, Kansas City, and California

Better Business Intelligence with Dynamics GP is a post from: ERP Software Blog

5 Ways to Sabotage Your ERP Software Selection Process

Frank Nisenboum, Socius — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:23:31 +0000

Obviously, the first step toward a successful ERP project is selecting the right solution for your business. After implementing almost 2000 ERP solutions for businesses since 1984, we’ve seen the dramatic and long-lasting effects that selecting the wrong software solution can have on an organization. From our experience, we’ve compiled a list of the five biggest mistakes you should avoid when deciding on an ERP software solution.

Think price before fit

When the price-tag becomes your focal point, it can blind you to the true benefits of the solution. If you rule out software based on price alone, you may be eliminating solutions that would save you time and costs over the long-term in order to save some money in the short term. Plus, if you select the wrong solution because you are only looking at price, you can end up replacing your software, costing you more in the long run.

Hire outside consultants

No one knows your business the way you do and no one knows ERP solutions and the way they work in the real-world the way the partners who implement them do. Often the benefits of bringing in an outside consultant do not outweigh the costs. An outside consultant will need to learn the intricacies of your business in order to help you select the solution, but then the software partner will also have to learn those same processes and requirements in order to customize and implement the solution to fit your needs. The added step of hiring the outside consultants can add time and cost to the project as well as put you at risk for missed information.

Fail to consider who you are buying from

ERP software is intended to be a long-term solution for your business and it follows that you will have a long-term relationship with your software vendor and your software partner. Therefore, you need to consider the background of the organizations that you are working with and how their business will affect yours. By selecting a solution that was created by a creditable vendor with a strong history and choosing a partner with integrity and expertise in your industry, you can feel more secure that your ERP solution and your business will have the support they need long into the future.

Focus on features not value

If you go into your software selection process with a checklist of features that you think you want, you can easily overlook the total value of the solution. The right ERP solution for your business will include functionality that enables enhanced reporting and business intelligence, leverage other investments you have already made in technology, and deliver a timely return on your investment. All of these value-added elements cannot be attributed to a single feature in an ERP solution. That is why it is important to look beyond the features to the benefits that the total solution can provide.

Get bogged down in time-wasting RFPs

Many organizations think that the best way to find a solution that fits their business requirements is to send out a request for proposals (RFP). They then use the responses to the RFP to conduct a side-by-side comparison of solutions. However, the process of developing the RFP and reviewing the responses can be very time consuming and costly. Additionally, a partner can give you a much more effective recommendation on a solution once they have spoken to people in several roles in your organization and seen your business processes in action than they ever could from gathering some basic background information off of sheet of paper.

For assistance in avoiding these pitfalls and starting your ERP software selection process on the right foot, begin with business strategy assessment today!

By Socius, an ERP Software Partner in Ohio, California, and Kansas City

5 Ways to Sabotage Your ERP Software Selection Process is a post from: ERP Software Blog

Beyond Software: 6 Effective Inventory Management Practices

Frank Nisenboum, Socius — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 03:38:13 +0000

Many distributors are lured to new software solutions based on their promises to help manage inventory. Because inventory is the largest and most important asset for many distributors, managing it efficiently is critical to remaining profitable and competitive. So, it’s no wonder that inventory management is such a driving factor in distribution software selection.

However, effective inventory management goes beyond what any software solution can provide. Because any software is only as good as the data that goes into it, you need to implement effective inventory management processes and procedures in order to get the most from your inventory management solution.

According to Jon Schreibfeder, president of Effective Inventory Management, Inc., there are six areas of inventory management where practices and standardized processes within your software solution are the keys to success:

Getting Control of Your Inventory –Unless you know exactly what inventory is in your warehouse, and whether that material is in a usable condition, you can’t properly determine when to reorder products. You have to control your existing inventory before you can manage your future inventory processes.
Keeping Accurate Stock Balances – Having accurate, reliable counts of your actual inventory on-hand empowers you to keep your customers happy and saves you costs by helping you avoid the need to over-order.
Improving Your Forecast Accuracy- Gain the power to do more with fewer resources by accurately forecasting demand for your stock products.
Managing Effective Replenishment Parameters – Blindly trusting your software solution to help you make replenishment decisions without fully understanding the parameters that are set in your software can cause serious problems. By understanding these parameters, and how they are intended to function, you can replenish your recurring usage stock with improved efficiency.
Maintaining Stock in Your Branch Locations – Ensure that your branches are all appropriately stocked to keep your multi-location distribution organization performing equally well across all areas.
Achieving Inventory Analysis Efficiencies – With solid inventory analysis, you can ensure that you are investing in the right amount of the right products to remain competitive. By developing and using a comprehensive set of tools to closely monitor the performance of your inventory, you can achieve more of your goals more efficiently.

Jon Schreibfeder has expounded upon these six keys to success in a series of whitepapers geared toward helping distributors like you increase efficiency, customer service, and profitability through inventory management. Download the Effective Inventory Management whitepapers here!

By Socius, a Microsoft Dynamics Partner serving Distributors in Ohio, Kansas City, and California

Beyond Software: 6 Effective Inventory Management Practices is a post from: ERP Software Blog

4 Outside Pressures Pushing You Toward ERP

Frank Nisenboum, Socius — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 03:48:54 +0000

Above and beyond the countless business benefits that an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solution can provide to your organization, there are four key external factors that can have a profound impact on your decision to implement an ERP system. Because these factors are forces outside of your control, they actually may have a greater bearing on your need for an ERP solution than any of the internal reasons you may be considering. They are…

The Market – One of the most critical ways to stay competitive in a tough market is to streamline your processes so that you can do business more efficiently. It is incredibly dangerous to buy into the myth that your back-office processes has no bearing on the perception and position of your business in the marketplace. Your ability to compete and thrive is affected by every facet of your business and since ERP systems impact every area of your organization, they are a logical way to gain better control over your business, data, and position in the market.
Your Network – No business is an island – you interact with and depend on suppliers, distributors, customers and clients, and other organizations every day. An ERP solution can make these interactions streamlined and seamless while making it easier to respond to and meet the requirements of the organizations and individuals you interact with quickly and efficiently.
Shareholders & Stakeholders – Whatever your business structure or function, you have people relying on it to succeed. The internal benefits that you gain by implementing an ERP system also have direct benefits for those individuals. An ERP solution that helps you cut costs and improve profit margins means pleased and confident shareholders.
Government – Regardless of your industry, there are undoubtedly government imposed regulations that require your compliance. The right ERP system will automate your various compliance processes which will prepare you to efficiently handle audits and reduce the time and burden of complying with these regulations.

If your organization is feeling the pressure of these four external forces on your business, download these “Five Tips to a More Successful Software Selection” to get off to a solid start on your ERP software selection process.

By Socius, an ERP solutions partner in Ohio, Kansas, and California

4 Outside Pressures Pushing You Toward ERP is a post from: ERP Software Blog

Experiencing QuickBooks Issues? Get Smart Solutions

Frank Nisenboum, Socius — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 19:24:21 +0000

Were you told by Intuit that you needed to upgrade your QuickBooks software, only to have it not work?

This has been the reality for many QuickBooks users this week, causing business to grind to a halt. If this has been the case for you and your organization, or if you are noticing unacceptable delays in the menus and screens when navigating QuickBooks or when reports take an unacceptable amount of time to print, then it may be time to consider making a move to a business solution that can more efficiently support your business needs.

As a QuickBooks user, one of the easiest products to migrate to is Microsoft Dynamics GP, thanks to a proven migration path and implementation methodology. Transitioning to Microsoft Dynamics GP is a smart move for growing businesses because it:

Has more features than QuickBooks
Provides better financial reporting
Directly integrates with Microsoft Office

A 2008 analysis by The Accounting Library found that Microsoft Dynamics GP met 84% of typical user requirements whereas QuickBooks met only40%. And the Dynamics GP product has taken giant leaps forward from where it was in 2008 with the release of GP 2010 last year and GP 2010 R2 in early 2011.

To learn more about why Microsoft Dynamics GP might be a “smart move” for your business, visit www.asmartmoveohio.com and request a QuickBooks Replacer Kit.

By Socius, an ERP software partner in Ohio, California, and Kansas City

Experiencing QuickBooks Issues? Get Smart Solutions is a post from: ERP Software Blog

ERP Software Blog » Frank Nisenboum, Socius

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