At a high level, here is some information to hopefully help the typical end-user in what all the hype is about.

On-Premise

Your Dynamics GP reseller or IT company should evaluate your current IT infrastructure to determine if it is suitable for the Dynamics GP and associated products deployment. Network speed and health are critical to end-user adoption of a new system.  If it is slow, then the software is blamed.  CIS can recommend upgrades if needed to ensure a secure and fast software experience. 

• Do you have an investment already in server and network environment?
• Do you have regulatory requirements that require your data to be onsite?
• If you have poor Internet or problems with Internet, the on-premise might be your best option.  However, this can sometimes be corrected with the right vendor.

Cloud (SaaS)

Cloud ERP deployments can be a good option if the long term costs are not a lot higher than buying the software out right.  Keep in mind that with the Cloud you are renting the software and do not own it.  Things we help you consider are:

• Do you have a redundant Internet source? If your Internet is down, then processing on the Cloud application will stop.
• Over a 3 year period will you be paying more for this rental than deploying on-premise or hosted?  Keep in mind though network servers are usually obsolete after 3 – 4 years.
• Would you benefit from an on-premise server to install other programs for your business? 
• As always, check with your auditors about off site data.  Some regulatory agencies do not allow for data to be off-site regardless of the security that is in place. 
• Some Cloud providers state that you can get updates to your software at anytime, including upgrades.  This would concern me if I were a business owner.  I would not want a provider to update my software anytime that there is an update.  Your system should never be ‘upgraded’ without a test system setup first and that you the end-user has thoroughly tested your business processing and data.  I may change my mind in the future, but for now that is my recommendation.

These are just a few of considerations.  To find out more, please read this whitepaper that CIS and the ERP Software Blog published: 35 Questions Every CFO Needs to Ask About ERP Software In the Cloud.

Hosted

Hosted deployments give you the best of both worlds; you own the software, but with less of a hardware investment. 

Cloud and hosted options both require a very good Internet source.  Software is usually ran through a Terminal Server and accessed through Remote Desktop.  This can reduce your workstation costs since the software is not actually running on the desktop.  However, you can also have an on-premise deployment with a Terminal Server. 

Hosting providers such as CIS ensure your data is secure and is available from more than one hosting facility in the event of a disaster.  Redundant backups make sure you are not at risk for data loss. 

Keep in mind that most ERP vendors say that they are in the cloud but in reality the software is still accessed through a terminal server since most are not truly web enabled yet…

CIS also wrote a very good article that you might find helpful: The Difference Between Virtualization and Cloud Computing

Dynamics GP Quick Quote Tool

The Microsoft Dynamics Quick Quote Tool is intended to give accounting software buyers in the beginning stages of research a quick and easy way to estimate the costs of ERP software, including the hosted option to determine if it makes sense to continue the evaluation process. To receive a complete and accurate price for the total cost of an ERP project we recommend that you work with an ERP software expert such as CIS.

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

Deployment Options: On-Premise, Cloud or Hosted is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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Cloud past: An ethereal presence

Rising up out of the mist of the Internet, virtualization, offsite data centers and even ancient concepts like computer time sharing and grid computing, the Internet Gods have smiled on us. The Wise Men (and women) that control our modern-day ethers have taken technology to the next level, but where did it come from? Clouds past brought up images of chain-rattling slowness, surrounded by thieves ready to take advantage of its weak state and pounce unrelentingly. Would we, ten years ago, have used the cloud to run mission-critical, transaction-based apps and deliver them to trusted users around the world? Not likely. It was unproven, the security was not in place, and valid concerns over latency and data reliability and recoverability prevented all but minor apps to move over the cloud. It was a spectral curiosity. To paraphrase Dickens, “‘You don’t believe in me,’ observed the Cloud.”

There was no way to know in those early days, what that shaky little abstract concept would bring. Because by nature, the cloud is mostly hidden, we thought it to be nonexistent, and it was largely misunderstood to be some single giant mythical beast perhaps, which some ghostly group of Internet geeks conjured out of duct tape and Cat-5 cable for their own amusement.

Cloud present: “Rise and walk with me.”

Once we started to understand that the cloud wasn’t a cloud at all, but rather, a set of very concrete pieces of equipment located at individual data centers staffed by smart people, which delivered software and infrastructure services over a secure Internet connection, we slowly started to realize the enormous power that it held. Nothing has been the same since.

And like a fat Christmas goose, the cloud has enough capacity for everyone, and even more. It is infinitely scalable. Those who sell the cloud now have the knowledge to do it effectively, and the assurance that what they are selling really is worthwhile and capable.  When people say, “I don’t believe,” point resolutely to state-of-the-art data centers with 24×7 staffing, two-factor authentication, virtualization and built-in redundancies with disaster recovery capability.  And to paraphrase still another old Christmas passage, “Yes, Virginia, there is a cloud.” And now that we know what it is, businesspeople everywhere are rushing to embrace it, and it’s no longer just a curiosity—it’s a competitive necessity.

Cloud yet to come: “No fog, no mist . . .”

We are today on the verge of something even greater. Perhaps the only mistake those early conjurers made when they came up with the concept of the cloud, was to name it so. The very name “cloud” created an environment of distrust, creating an illusion of something that couldn’t be seen or touched.

What is incredibly remarkable about the time in which we now find ourselves is that we are seeing the beginning of a Renaissance of sorts. Remember the dotcom boom of the ’90s? The dotcloud boom of the current decade will make that heady time seem like a flash in the pan. Because the mist has cleared and the cloud is today better understood—and the underlying technology mature enough to handle just about anything—new opportunities are being created. Yes, it has created a new and disruptive business model, but when Mr. Scrooge himself finally embraced a new business model for himself, he found a better life. So it is with the cloud. Instead of a start-up requiring millions of dollars to launch, it can do so with only a few thousand. Capital expenditures that would have gone to building on-premise data centers in the past, can now be diverted to innovation.  Take that to your counting-house!

NetStandard, Inc., established in 1996, is a leading information technology business and SSAE 16 compliant data center headquartered at 2000 Merriam Lane in Kansas City, Kansas. We deliver IT managed services, scalable secure data center service and hosted/cloud computing services under the name Myappsanywhere through a nationwide reseller network to small and mid-size businesses.

Technology Review of Cloud Past, Present and Future: No Ghostly Visitations Necessary is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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If you are currently running software solutions in-house or are looking to implement your first software solution – consider a move to cloud computing and start seeing benefits including:

• Reduced costs and increased efficiency – You pay only for what you need, when you need it. You reduce capital expenditures and get enterprise-class capabilities that are within your budget.
• Tailored Solutions – Each solution is pre-built to provide a faster time-to-value and includes end-to-end functionality for your specific business. We’ve incorporated best practices and designs for a variety of industries so it is more than just a basic cloud service.
• 24/7 Availability – Your cloud solution is accessible 24/7 via any internet connection – from mobile, laptop or desktop devices
• IT Staff Productivity – Enable your IT staff to get beyond the set up and administration of business applications to focus on more strategic initiatives

SBS Group provides cloud-based Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions through Stratos Cloud Solutions. Available both by product and industry, Stratos offers varieties of pre-configured clouds for business of all sizes. SBS defined these out-of-the-box solutions delivered in your own private cloud. If you are interested in learning more, try it free for 30 days or call 732.476.5917.

By: SBS Group – New Jersey Microsoft Dynamics GP, SL, CRM & AX Partner & Master VAR

Is Cloud Computing Right for My Business? is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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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

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CFO’s ultimately hold the responsibility for managing corporate risk and they must fully understand the implications of technology choices.  IT professionals may not be objective in the cloud evaluation process, using technical jargon and vendor-skewed evidence to support their position. 35 Questions Every CFO Needs to Ask About ERP Software in the Cloud gives CFO’s a cheat sheet that levels the playing field so they can ask the right questions.

The 35 jargon-free questions cover topics the CFO needs to understand to make an informed decision including: Cloud Definitions, Potential Benefits of Cloud ERP, Common Concerns of Cloud ERP, Compliance Considerations for Cloud ERP, and Licensing Questions for Cloud ERP. High level answers to each question provide the foundation for CFO cloud knowledge.

Included in the guide are nine informative graphs and a sample cost comparison chart providing a simplified 5-year model to help CFOs evaluate ERP deployment models including: on-premises, on demand and hosted. Business drivers critical to organizational growth, risk. and operations are also compared for each ERP deployment model through an easy-to-understand checklist.

When asked to review the white paper, accounting software industry expert Charles Chewning from The Accounting Library said, “This white paper gives users a step-by-step guide to the Cloud that’s easy to understand. Rather than using a technical approach that many people would find hard to interpret, this article sets forth a series of questions and answers that address the primary issues firms need to consider when evaluating a move to the Cloud.”  

This white paper is the second release of the ERP PANEL PAPERS presented by the nationwide panel of ERP experts at ERP Software Blog. A group of 14 ERP and accounting software experts from the US and Canada, with backgrounds using various ERP product lines, provided input for this white paper.  The content is based on their extensive, real life experience helping organizations make informed decisions about the transition to the cloud.

Contributors to this white paper include:  Altico Advisors, BroadPoint Technologies, CAL Business Solutions, Collins Computing, Computeration, Custom Information Services, Myappsanywhere, myGPcloud.com, OmniVue, SSi Consulting, Sherwood Systems, Sikich, The TM Group and WebSan Solutions Inc.

The topic of moving business management systems, including ERP, to the cloud is reaching the boardroom. CFOs must be ready to join the conversation with a thorough understanding of the corporate implications. This straightforward white paper gives CFOs the foundation not only to hold their own…but to lead the discussions.

The white paper, 35 Questions Every CFO Needs To Ask About ERP Software In the Cloud, can be downloaded at www.erpsoftwareblog.com/cloud-erp

by ERP Software Blog Editors

ERP Software Blog Members Collaborate on New White Paper: 35 Questions Every CFO Needs to Ask About ERP Software In The Cloud is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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RoseASP  is now offering HOSTING ONLY pricing for the “Give Me 5″ promotion. Our Give Me 5 in the Cloud offer includes a special reduced $900 install and $900 per month hosting fee (includes all 5 users).  Customers can now take advantage of the best on-premise pricing coupled with a hosted solution!!!

To allow you to take full advantage of the “Give Me 5” promotion from Microsoft, RoseASP offers hosting-only packages that allow you to sell to the customer the Dynamics license, but yet host it at RoseASP.  This also includes any ISV solutions that the customer may want to purchase in the process.  No SQL licenses need to be purchased as part of this offer. The customer can continue to work with their Microsoft Dynamics Partner of choice but then turn to RoseASP who has been hosting Microsoft Dynamics solutions since 2000.

Hosted customers receive the following benefits:

• 24/7/365 support for connectivity and printing
• 99.5% uptime guarantee of their software
• Retain the rights of the software and the ownership of the data
• Receive software updates and services packs at no additional charge. (The customer must remain current on the annual enhancement package.)
• Daily, weekly, month and annual backups that are kept for seven years
• The ability to customize their application and still remain in the cloud
• SOX compliant and SAS 70 Type II Audit reports available

The current month hosting offer is good for 12 months, after which monthly hosting fees are $195 per user/month.

By RoseASP.com,  the Microsoft Dynamics ERP Cloud Partner of the Year – U.S. 2011

Give Me 5 in the Cloud – Hosting Only Pricing for the Microsoft Dynamics ERP Promotion is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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No Upfront Investment
Having your ERP online, on-demand will allow your company to eliminate software purchase, hardware and infrastructure expense, the costs associated with deployment, and the hidden costs it takes to operate and maintain on-premise software. With your ERP in the cloud, there is no upfront investment which is an instant lift to your bottom line.

Cloud technologies always map expenditure to usage and allow you to budget for a predictable monthly expense that aligns with your needs. Along the way, you’re improving ROI and paving the road to better business agility.

Slash IT Budget
In today’s competitive business landscape, having the ability to slash your IT budget is key in planning for future growth and prosperity. With Cloud technologies, companies are able not only to cut budgets but reallocate funds to more strategic areas of the business. And when an organization maps software purchase to need, they begin to benefit from the Cloud or Managed Service model.

Cloud technologies allow you to better utilize smart technology, extend your IT budget and make purchase decisions based on usage.

Eliminate Integration, Deployment and Infrastructure Expense
One of the top advantages of hosting your ERP in the Cloud is the ability to have a convenient and predictable monthly fee – that is, locking in the right pricing structure that meets the needs of your budget. Since TCO is based on usage, you have the power to better control the monthly expense and to expand ERP functionality and use when needed. Today, many small and medium businesses are leveraging Cloud to move their technology expenses from CAPEX to OPEX.

Cloud technologies continue to provide flexibility where on-premise applications fall short. And being able to lock in the right price is important for organizations wanting to better manage cash flow and remain competitive.

Lock in the Right Pricing Structure
One of the top advantages of hosting your ERP in the Cloud is the ability to have a convenient and predictable monthly fee – that is, locking in the right pricing structure that meets the needs of your budget. Since TCO is based on usage, you have the power to better control the monthly expense and to expand ERP functionality and use when needed. Today, many small and medium businesses are leveraging Cloud to move their technology expenses from CAPEX to OPEX.

Cloud technologies continue to provide flexibility where on-premise applications fall short. And being able to lock in the right price is important for organizations wanting to better manage cash flow and remain competitive.

If you’re a small or medium business with an existing on-premise ERP solution, consider migrating to the cloud. Having your ERP on-demand will allow you to lower your total cost of ownership per user; eliminate integration, deployment and infrastructure expense; and benefit from the Managed Service model. Your ability to slash IT expense will greatly improve ROI and influence your financial model in a positive way.

For more information on ERP Cloud, visit www.smbsuite.com.

How Cloud ERP Can Help SMBs Leverage the ‘Managed Service Model’ to their Advantage is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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Sheperd sums up the key issue as this: “The real business problem that today’s manufacturers and distributors are struggling to manage takes place between companies, not within them.”  Tensoft’s customers in the semiconductor industry know this problem well – the fabless semiconductor model grew when semiconductor foundries began to offer outsourced manufacturing, and assembly, test, and shipping providers followed.  ERP systems were designed to handle traditional manufacturing though, not the complex supply chains that have resulted from this trend.

The solution posited by Sheperd would have elements of today’s e-commerce, sourcing and supply chain solutions, but would also need to “include finance, asset management, traceability, order management, and service.”  And, although he makes it clear that putting ERP in the cloud doesn’t solve the problem, the new solution needs to be “cloud-based services, rather than a series of on-premises systems hidden behind various firewalls.” 

With its FSM Supplier Gateway, Shipper Portal, Distributor Point of Sale (POS) tracking, streamlined production order process that assumes outsourced manufacturing, all tied in with planning, WIP, and inventory tracking, and product costing, Tensoft’s solutions for the fabless semiconductor solve most – if not all – of the issues discussed.   Cloud-based delivery is almost a necessity in this industry, where many companies have operations on several continents, in addition to their highly distributed supply chain. 

Tensoft has delivered business solutions to public and private Technology companies – as well as supported the extreme growth ramps that can occur in the Technology Industry.  I would suggest one more key characteristic to the challenges of multi-enterprise commerce – today’s tech companies may experience the challenges that Sheperd describes very early – often by the time they get to 50 to 75 employees.   Tensoft recently delivered a cloud-based solution to a start-up fabless manufacturer of light-modulating panels, Syndiant.  While they aren’t yet using all of Tensoft’s fabless semiconductor solutions, Syndiant’s cloud-based ERP case study points out some of the innovative ways that the challenges of multi-enterprise commerce are being met today, beyond ERP.  

by Tensoft, Inc. – Solutions for the Technology Industry

Best ERP Software, or Beyond ERP? is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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The next big step in cloud computing is applications.  Google apps and Microsoft Office 365 are the two big players that come to mind.  Microsoft Office 365 provides all of the standard office products like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in the cloud allowing for easy collaboration.

But what about other business applications?  It seems clear that CRM applications were the first to take the market by storm, they are widely accepted, and in many cases preferred.   It is not uncommon for sales organizations to need client information while on the road, and sales managers need to rely on workflow which allows them to analyze future sales.

Regardless of a company’s size, everyone needs an accounting application.   Microsoft Dynamics applications in the cloud are now allowing organizations of all sizes the ability to take advantage of a full suite ERP solution without the large initial capital investment.   Why shouldn’t the deep functionality of Dynamics GP (Great Plains) and SL (Solomon) be made available for all businesses and non-profits?  Well, now they are.  For a low monthly payment, these solutions are now available.

Even if you purchase a cloud accounting offer, there are still services.   Many times the cost of services can put an application out of reach for many small to medium firms.  Now, SSi Consulting is offering a low monthly fee which includes services.  No more guessing what your costs will be, everything wrapped up in one monthly fee….software, services, support, maintenance!

So let me go back to my first question, “when is the cloud NOT right”, so far I am still searching.

By Karen Riordan, SSi Consulting, offering cloud accounting solutions to the Mid-Atlantic

When The “Cloud” May NOT Be Right For You is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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Many companies implement one solution at a time, adding on functionality as they need it or as they can afford it. The problem with this is that it really costs you more time and money if you take this step by step approach. Let’s say you implement Microsoft Dynamics® GP. You get the solution running the way you need it, train in all your employees, and continually optimize the solution as you go. Then you realize your customer service and sales departments need insight into GP as well so they can evaluate their sales margins, etc. Now you need to implement Microsoft Dynamics CRM, train  your employees yet again and manage it as a separate solution on top of GP.

With packaging options, you can implement both Microsoft Dynamics GP and Microsoft Dynamics CRM in tandem, train  your employees to leverage functionality of both systems (working together), and optimize the solutions so that they talk to one another from the very beginning.

Some companies do not have the upfront funds to benefit from implementing an ERP and CRM solution at once, such as GP and CRM on-premises. The cloud options available today help companies in this situation afford this functionality. Instead of implementing both solutions on-premises, you can implement CRM online along with GP on-premises. And soon, you could have the option of putting both GP and CRM in the cloud.

Cargas Systems is a software and consulting company, specializing in Microsoft Dynamics GP and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. If you’re interested in learning more about the Microsoft Dynamics line, please contact me by emailing JFuller@cargas.com or by calling 717.455.1090.

By Jullie Fuller with Cargas Systems, Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

With over 400 successful implementations and a 95% customer retention rate, Cargas is one of the largest Microsoft Dynamics partners in Pennsylvania.

How Cloud Friendly Packaging of ERP Software Can Save You Money is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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