Microsoft recently announced their plans for cloud related technology that will be included in their next major release of GP – currently dubbed Dynamics GP 12.  This solution promises a variety of strong enhancements around the themes of simplicity, productivity, easier deployments, and likely the beginnings of what will eventually be a tight integration with Microsoft’s overall, well-planned cloud strategy.

First and foremost, Dynamics GP 12 will include a web client.  This represents a key component towards a more complete migration to the cloud.  And in itself, it provides much greater flexibility in deployment methods, simplifying the time required to get new users access to the GP application.  To deliver on this requires tremendous redesign of the underlying components, taking advantage of newer Microsoft web technology such as Silverlight and .Net C#.  Taking a deeper dive into the technology behind this transition is beyond the scope of this post.  But for those technology aficionados that want to understand more of how this will be delivered, I highly recommend the three part blog series by Mariano Gomez.  These posts can be found at:

Part 1 – http://dynamicsgpblogster.blogspot.com/2011/05/microsoft-dynamics-gp-12-web-client_09.html

Part 2 – http://dynamicsgpblogster.blogspot.com/2011/05/microsoft-dynamics-gp-12-web-client_11.html

Part 3 – http://dynamicsgpblogster.blogspot.com/2011/05/microsoft-dynamics-gp-12-web-client_16.html

Also included in this next major release of GP will be multi-tenant functionality.  This too is a major step to simplifying hosting deployments, allowing hosting companies to host multiple customer organizations in a single SQL Server instance – a current limitation today.  This will certainly make this hosted option less expensive for hosting companies, which should trickle down to the price the end customer pays – making this a more viable and cost effective alternative.  And it has advantages as well to those companies deploying on-premise.

But the real value of Microsoft’s cloud strategy is when you step back and look at the big picture.  Microsoft’s real progress in cloud computing to date has been in other non-Dynamics areas.  Microsoft’s CRM Online solution continues to be one of the strongest, most flexible and most tightly integrated solutions with the Microsoft stack (Office, Exchange, etc).  Recently Microsoft announced the availability of Office 365 – their hosted solution that includes Office, Exchange, SharePoint and Lync (presence, instant messaging, audio/video calling and rich online meetings).  CRM will become an optional part of this platform in the future.  Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Skype adds another interesting component of their cloud portfolio.  So with those pieces getting in place, I feel you can bet your last dollar that GP will also be able to leverage the other cloud components such as Office 365.  This is where Microsoft is uniquely positioned to deliver the most complete, comprehensive and integrated cloud solution of any  company.

You may argue that Microsoft does not quite yet have the ERP cloud solution.  But you cannot argue with their overall vision and where they are heading.  When they said they were “all in” with cloud computing, they meant it – and they are uniquely positioned to deliver on it.  What they will be able to deliver in the future as a fully integrated, collaborative ERP solution will be unmatched by any other option.

Rick Feterick / Feterick & Associates, Inc – an Indiana Dynamics Partner
Ph:  847-795-8200             Email: rfeterick@feterick.com

Microsoft’s Dynamics ERP Cloud Vision Becomes Clearer is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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I also have no doubt that there will continue to be a gradual acceptance of ERP in the cloud.  Netsuite really pioneered this and many others are jumping on this deployment option. 

For now, if you are looking for a cloud-based Dynamics option, your only real option is to have it hosted by one of many third party co-location or hosting companies.  But because these systems haven’t been redesigned for web deployment, this option really consists of the hosting companies providing servers (virtual or non) and processing requirements needed to run your applications.  You connect in remotely and access your system.  This can work well as an interim bridge to a true cloud alternative, for those that don’t have or don’t want the responsibility of an internal IT support staff to assist with an on premise deployment.  The only big downside of this is the cost.  For example, a GP hosted user might be charged approximately $250-$350 per month per user.  Under this type of subscription licensing model, you are likely paying for what would have been the one-time cost of the software, if purchased and deployed on premise, each and every year.  Like an ERP Cloud version of Groundhog Day.

There are other cloud ERP alternatives.  One alternative with which we recently have become more involved is Acumatica.  They offer a different approach than what you are seeing from the other cloud providers as well as your current options from Microsoft.  Some of their most interesting features or components include:

• Acumatica was developed for the cloud but can also be deployed on premise.
• Licensing is either available via purchase or subscription.
• Licensing is not by user but instead by module suite (Financials, Distribution, CRM).  So if you have a fairly large number of users, it can be very cost effective.
• Its interface looks much like the Dynamics SL solution which is a very user friendly, easy to use interface.
• Its typical online deployment is run on Microsoft Azure platform in the Microsoft data centers. 
• Acumatica is very easy to customize and integrate.

However, because Acumatica is a relatively newer player in this field, it does not yet have the breadth or depth of functionality that Microsoft Dynamics GP or other solutions have.  So in those cases an on-premise deployment or a third party hosted Dynamics deployment will still likely be the best fit until the time comes when Microsoft has a true cloud ERP alternative.  But for those companies whose needs are not overly complex and want a true browser based solution with the flexibility of either cloud or on-premise deployment, and have a number of users where the current options are cost prohibitive, Acumatica is worth a look. Want to learn more and see it in action? Join us for an Acumatica Lunch & Learn this Friday, May 20^th, in Des Plaines, IL. 

by Rick Feterick / Feterick & Associates, Inc – an Indiana Dynamics Partner
Call us at 847-795-8200 or email: rfeterick@feterick.com

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Overall Useability – the menu system and user interface has been enhanced in many ways, including:

• Login to multiple companies at once, with color coded cues.
• “Print screen” function
• Export from SL to Excel from screen grids
• Attach documents to any screen or record

Reporting – the ways to get data out of your system has been greatly enhanced:

• New Quick Query tool –robust query tool with predefined views, the ability to create your own custom view, user-friendly column names, views defined by user security, and export to Excel.  Think GP’s Smartlist–only in some ways more powerful!
• Management Reporter – the next generation of FRx Financial Reporter is now available for SL.  This product is FRx rewritten on the latest technology to utilize SQL, VB.Net, 64-bit, etc.

Integrations and the rest of the Microsoft Stack – additional enhancements and “hooks” to the rest of the Microsoft solution stack you may be using:

• Quick Send (electronic document delivery) enhancements – print a document via Quick Send, correct emails and resend, one time sends.
• Doc Share (automatic interface with SharePoint to store key documents) – save to different formats, use subfolders, and a new Doc Share SDK to build out other SL to SharePoint document based interactions.
• Web Services – Customer and Customer Activity web services are now available (great for CRM related integrations).  Project budget and financial information available.  Framework and SDK for additional web development.
• Better reporting of Crystal or SSRS reports to SharePoint.

Project Related Enhancments – SL’s already powerful Project Management and Accounting Capabilities have been improved further. So if you were looking for an excuse to upgrade your Dynamics SL system, here it is:

• Tight Integration with Inventory and Order Management modules
• Two allocation methods per project
• Project to GL Reconciliation Report
• Report Pack for Government Contractors, adding 13 new reports.
• Project Transaction Transfer to easily move transactions from one project to another.

Dynamics SL 2011 has been in beta for a while, but is planned to release in the second quarter of 2011.  I feel this new release makes a very powerful mid-market ERP solution even more formidable and well worth a close look for those considering a new ERP solution.

Rick Feterick / Feterick & Associates, Inc – an Indiana Dynamics Partner
Ph:  847-795-8200 x203  Email: rfeterick@feterick.com

Top 4 Features in Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011 is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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The typical steps for year-end include:

-the standard closing of other modules,
-posting adjusting entries,
-printing critical Trial Balance Reports,
-making a backup,
-and then running the closing processes. 

But there is one step that if overlooked can lead to inaccurate results that are not always easy to resolve.

When you first set up your accounts, you identify the posting type as either Balance Sheet or Profit and Loss.  This not only drives how that data is used in financial reporting but also determines how it is impacted during a year-end close.  Any profit and loss account is zeroed out with the corresponding update going to Retained Earnings.  Balance Sheet accounts do not get cleared to Retained Earnings.  If you mistakenly identify one account as the other, you will either clear an account that should not be cleared, or leave an account balance that should be cleared and moved to your Retained Earnings.  Either way, this leads to incorrect financials and a big mess to clean up.

So, as part of your year-end processes, include a review of your accounts to make sure they are coded properly.  This can most easily be done by either running an Accounts report or by creating a Smartlist.  If your chart of accounts is organized in such a way where you use a consistent starting number for all assets, liablities, revenue and expenses, it will be easier to identify the cases where an account has the wrong posting type.  Do this one simple check and save yourself a big headache in trying to clean up a mess!

Submitted by Indiana Dynamics GP Partner Feterick & Associates, Inc.

Year End Close – Avoid This Gotcha in Microsoft Dynamics GP is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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This is certainly a case of Microsoft “walking the walk” and not just “talking the talk”.  For some time Microsoft has said their priorities include tighter integration of all their solutions (the so-called “Microsoft stack”).  They’ve also promised easier and better insight into the valuable data within your ERP system.  Well answer the door, because they’ve delivered.  And they have really raised the bar with Release 2 for Dynamics GP 2010.

Some of the key features you can expect:

• Further build out of reports– totaling 400 Excel or SQL Reporting Services reports and 600 Report Writer Reports.
• Improved interface and further enhanced role-based user approach, including tailored dashboards that provide personalized Business Intelligence.
• Improved workflow.
• Additional connections to their instant messaging tools now rebranded under their Unified Communications solution Microsoft Lync.
• Fact Boxes and Action Shortcuts—two handy little tools that allow you to see information about the people you are chatting with real-time.

I have to admit that my knee-jerk reaction was to think why would I want an integration between Instant Messaging and Dynamics GP?  But then I think about the initial perceptions of such wild ideas as the internet, e-mail, and cell phones.  Seriously – a phone that you carry around with you all the time? We use IM more and more in our business environment.  So why not tie in that instant communication to your ERP system?  Imagine seeing real-time information or being able to enter an order from an IM!

We are still a ways away from the release, so the details are still emerging.  But for a mid-version release, it appears that Microsoft will add some significant features to Dynamics GP and continue to walk the walk they have been preaching.

Submitted by Indiana Dynamics GP Partner Feterick & Associates, Inc.

Dynamics GP 2010 R2 – Microsoft is Walking the Walk is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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First, a brief history lesson.   The predecessors of each of these products have been around for over 20 years.  Throughout the 90’s, these two solutions were competitors of each other and were considered two of the best solutions available in the market.  Then in 2000 Great Plains acquired its biggest competitor –Solomon.  And only about a year later, Microsoft made a huge splash in the mid-market by acquiring Great Plains – effectively adding both solutions to their fold. 

There had been talk about a plan to merge these solutions into one best-of-breed solution.  But that plan has faded away and instead Microsoft continues to improve each of the products with common technology.

We have worked with both solutions for many years.  Both Dynamics GP and SL are robust and flexible solutions.  They both offer powerful financial and distribution modules, ease of use, and advanced reporting (although done in different ways).  They also both use common Microsoft technology such as SQL Server, SharePoint, Financial Reporting via FRx / Management Reporter, and integrations to Office.

Some of the ways they differ include:

Dynamics GP 

• Role-based user interface with some additional user friendly tools including customizable dashboards.  SL has customizable menus but will be building out home page dashboards in future releases.
• Smartlist – Still one of the best features offered by GP, this easy to use data query tool remains the optimal way of getting at data and getting it out into Excel as needed.
• Additional breadth of modules – GP offers more modules than SL, including its own Fixed Assets, National Accounts, some NFP focused modules such as Grant Management.  (SL addresses some of these needs through some very capable third party add-ons).
• Ribbon interface – GP has fully adopted the Microsoft Outlook / Office ribbon interface.  SL is currently rolling out parts of that in stages.

Dynamics SL

• Project Series – For project based companies (Professional Services, Construction, etc), SL far exceeds GP.  Its project series may be the best in the mid-market, offering deep capabilities and flexible configuration and automation that is difficult to match.
• Strong Financial Capabilities and Multi-company / Intercompany – In the GL, SL separates its Natural Account field from it Sub-account field (departments, divisions, lines of business) and uses flex keys.  This approach leads to a more powerful and flexible financial configuration.  SL also has more robust multi-company, inter-company, and consolidation capabilities than GP.
• Strong Distribution Series – Although both are capable, SL offers some very powerful features including Customizable Order Type which can handle very well different types of order processing.
• Development Environment – Although both solutions have strong development tools, the SL VB.Net SDK allows for easier and more seamless customizations to the solution.
• Reporting – GP’s proprietary report writer that has been deeply imbedded in its product for some time leaves something to be desired.  However, there continues to be a move to SQL Reporting Services and even Word for forms in its latest and future releases.  SL has always used Crystal Reports for its standard reports, which may be an advantage to those companies with existing Crystal skills sets.  SL is also rolling out SSRS as a reporting tool.

In summary, Dynamics GP remains a can’t-miss tremendous solution for most companies.  But for those companies that are either project based, distributors, have multi-company / inter-company needs, or want to develop against their ERP solution, you might consider Dynamics SL.  You won’t be disappointed.

We have deep knowledge of both solutions.  For anyone that wants to discuss the pros and cons of these two great solutions, please reach out to me rfeterick@feterick.com.

Submitted by Indiana Dynamics GP Partner Feterick & Associates, Inc.

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The previous version of GP (GP 10) provided for enhanced metrics that could be customized as part of an individual’s home page.  But you were limited to a set of pre-defined metrics from which to choose.  In GP 2010, you now use SQL Reporting Services to develop customized metrics.  This greatly expands what you can define as a metric to pretty much anything represented by data in your system.

Why do I see this as so valuable?  There has been a steady trend in mid market ERP solutions to not only focus on getting data into the system, but also how to get data out, how to make it look pretty, and to make it easy to understand.  This focus on information presentation is seen as one of the real value propositions of these systems now and into the future.  By opening up these user specific home page metrics (dashboards, KPIs, etc) to anything in your database, you can map the graphical information presented to the most critical needs of each individual.

Furthermore, there are additional enhancements to what you can with the data in a Home Page metric.  There is now a Drill-through feature that allows you to go from an initial data representation in a report to the more detailed record within GP.  For example, a drill through of a master record will take you back to the respective Edit windows (subject to user security).  Similarly, a drill through of a transaction will take you to that edit or inquiry window for that record, again dependent on the user’s security.  You can create the combination of immediate visual metrics you want with ease, leading to enhanced productivity and better decision making.

Don’t overlook this feature.  Spend some time creating user specific metrics and drill-throughs and see how much it improves your life, and your business.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have: Rick Feterick, Feterick & Associates, Inc  847-795-8200 x203 or rfeterick@feterick.com.

Submitted by Indiana Dynamics GP Partner Feterick & Associates, Inc.

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The design of forms differs greatly from your typical tabular report.  They usually require very specific formatting demanding almost pixel-perfect precision.  They often include graphics and other aspects to make them easy to read and pleasing to the eye.  And they often require very specific data to be included on the output.  Because of all of these reasons, they are also the most highly customized reports.  Every company wants their forms to look a certain way. 

For some time Dynamics GP has developed their forms in their own proprietary reporting tool, GP Report Writer.   Although this tool addressed the basic needs of form development, it remains a less-than-ideal design environment and a real challenge for complex form development.  As a result, this capability gap is very well addressed by some third party tools such as Accountable’s Forms Printer.  This solution allows you to develop more complex forms in SSRS or Crystal Reports and incorporate that into the Dynamics GP processes.

 But as most of you know, Dynamics GP 11 (soon to be known as GP 2010) is coming soon.  And I recently learned that the forms development tool available with this product is none other than your old friend – Microsoft Word!  I think this is a fabulous decision.  First of all, who doesn’t know Word?  And because of the detailed data and graphic placement requirements of many forms, Microsoft Word should be an ideal tool for this purpose.  This is yet another example of Microsoft’s commitment to making Office (mostly Excel and Word) an integral part of their Dynamics ERP solutions.  This will  to continue to grow over time, which can only be a good thing as most users can work with Excel and Word in their sleep.   So for those people considering moving to Dynamics GP, this should make your decision even easier.

 Now just how easy this all is to actually use will be the key.  We will be checking this out soon.  But the direction is very promising.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have: Rick Feterick, Feterick & Associates, Inc  847-795-8200 x203 or rfeterick@feterick.com.

Submitted by Feterick & Associates, Inc – an Indiana Dynamics GP Partner.

Ladies and Gentlemen Let Me Introduce Your New Dynamics GP Report Design Tool – Microsoft Word! is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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 First of all, Microsoft has developed a course to help you with developing Dynamics GP reports in SQL Server Reporting Services.  Course 8917 – “Using Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services with Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0”.  So if you are an existing Dynamics GP customer, you can look to your local Certified Partner in Learning Solutions (CPLS) for classroom training that may help.  But alternatively, if you are current on your annual software maintenance support plan, you can download the electronic version of this Microsoft Official Curriculum from CustomerSource.    Some of the points I am making here come from this training kit.

 Your report design environment is actually Microsoft Visual Studio, which is delivered as part of SQL Server as the Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS).  For first time visitors to Visual Studio, this can be somewhat intimidating.  But once you get a little comfortable with the navigation, you find your progress increasing rapidly.

 Microsoft, in their deployment of SSRS for GP, has provided a number of aids to help you get started.  There is a Report Wizard that is available from the BIDS environment to develop a basic tabular or matrix report.  Report Builder is a client based tool that allows you to create reports based on Report Models.  Report Models present the Dynamics GP data in a simplified structure based on a more business focus that gives you a drag-and-drop environment to develop your reports.

 So these various tools will allow you to get started.  And no matter how you develop your SSRS report, the result is an RDL files (XML based) that can be then modified further within the full Visual Studio / BIDS report designer.  And once you have some familiarity with the SSRS development environment you will be making changes to existing reports and creating new ones in time.

 And if you are considering Dynamics GP as a new ERP solution, know that there is a big commitment to SSRS as the tool of choice for robust report design, and you’ll have the tools to get your users productive in this environment.

 Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have: Rick Feterick, Feterick & Associates, Inc  847-795-8200 x74 or rfeterick@feterick.com.

Submitted by Feterick & Associates, Inc – an Indiana Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner.

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In a previous blog, I discussed the value of developing your reports in SSRS.  But regardless of which of these tools you use, there is a report planning process you should go through.  Too many people immediately dive into the report development process without much planning.  This can work at times, but more often than not it will lead to a much longer process to get to the desired result.  If you are a user doing this development for yourself, at the least this will result in a longer time to complete.  But if you are bringing in an outside consultant for this development, this lack of planning will likely cost you.  And another less-than-desirable outcome of lack of planning is an incorrect design.  We see this happen more than it should.  We have been given the specs for a report, designed to those specs, and then upon delivery and review we get a lot of “Ok, that’s great but now can you….”.  Minor follow-up changes are normal and to be expected.  But major post-development changes result in more complex modifications.  And if it happens multiple times, you can get to the point (which we have) where the developer says “well if you would have told me that is what you wanted from the beginning, I would have designed this a whole different way…” .  And these potential 11^th hour re-designs  can add time and $$$ to your effort. 

So what should you think about when you plan a report?  Here are our 6 easy steps – some may seem obvious but you would be surprised how often they aren’t followed!

1. Think backwards.  Picture the output first and then work towards what you need to arrive at that.  Mocking-up a report in Excel is a good way to do that.  Come up with a general format and the design you desire.
2. Identify what data you need in the detail of the report.  In some cases the most detail level is simply some form of summary.
3. Determine what grouping and totaling you need.
4. Determine what sorting and ordering you need.  This means for the overall report and within groups within the report.
5. Determine how the user will run the report.  What filters of the data will need to be applied?  Are these filters something that will change each time they run the report (e.g date range, run for a specific customer, etc)?  If so, these will likely be parameters designed and applied to the report.
6. Determine where the data is that you need.  This can be one of the most difficult yet most critical aspects.  Dynamics GP provides a tool within their application to help you locate the correct table and fields. 

 So the moral to this story is that spending some time thinking before you dive into a new report will save you time and maybe $$$, and give you the results you need.

 Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have: Rick Feterick, Feterick & Associates, Inc  847-795-8200 x74 or rfeterick@feterick.com.

Submitted by Feterick & Associates, Inc – an Indiana Dynamics GP Partner.

6 Easy Steps to GREAT Dynamics GP Reports is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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