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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Our hosting services include a superior backup system, security and file management system.  These controls are mandatory in order to meet the certification requirements to maintain Microsoft’s Gold Certified Partnership.   Hosting your applications allows you to focus your resources on building your business and not on significant IT investments.

Here are some things you should consider when choosing your application deployment platform:

• Small Upfront Investment – Lower the cost of ownership by reducing fixed costs and overall expenditures for hardware, applications and administration. Save thousands in upfront costs and have the ability to utilize applications which may not be otherwise affordable to install and run.
• Predictable Monthly Costs – Hosting Services allows a business to better control the total cost of technology ownership.
• Faster Time to Market – Hosting Services already has the equipment, applications and expertise in house so applications can be rolled out within weeks instead of months
• Focus on Core Competencies – Focus your staff on the core business, not on administering a complex IT network internally. Our certified professionals manage the critical data – helping to ensure business systems run securely and smoothly.
• Available Resources – No need to compete for hard-to-find and expensive-to-retain IT personnel. McGladrey’s Hosting Services has certified professionals available.
• Growth Potential – You grow – we grow! Hosting Services can easily increase user capacity by adding additional infrastructure on demand. Ability to rapidly implement upgrades or customizations in response to business growth or change.
• Reduced Security Risk – Hosting Services meets or exceeds industry standards by taking every precaution, including disaster recovery planning and annual third-party security inspections. RSM McGladrey’s Hosting Services is SAS 70 Type II compliant by a third-party auditor.

RSM McGladrey can host your purchased Microsoft Dynamics solution or rent you a solution in a secure environment.

By Michelle Olson, RSM McGladrey, Inc. - Microsoft Dynamics Hosting Partner, NY Metro Microsoft Dynamics Partner

To Host or Not to Host, That is the Question – Learn the Benefits of Hosting and What It Can Bring to Your Organization is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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2. Explore the Benefits of Hosting Your Microsoft Dynamics GP Solution
3. New Hosting Offer For Microsoft Dynamics GP: Get Started With $1 And Your Server Is Free

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online  is well known for its on-demand subscription offering.  But it is relatively recently that Microsoft has been offering Microsoft Dynamics GP on a monthly subscription cost. This model makes sense for some companies who want to conserve cash up front or who want the flexibility of not purchasing the system.  But customers who chose a subscription lost one critical piece of their Dynamics GP systems – CustomerSource! This is the user focused website portal that contains access to training, techknowledge and all things Dynamics.  (check out this post for more explanation of Customersource)

But I think the pleas of Microsoft partners across the world, especially Rose ASP one of the most well know Dynamics GP hosting companies, has finally paid off. I know Linda Rose has been working on this for months and she confirmed in an announcement on Linked In yesterday that ”all of their Dynamics SPLA Hosting Customers have access to Customer Source. Finally!!!!!”

If you read the blogs on this site regarding SaaS (software as a service/on demand) you will see that there is still some controversy among the experts about which deployment model is best – but I do think this announcement about CustomerSource gives the SaaS players an extra point.

By CAL Business Solutions, Connecticut Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) Partner

One More Reason To Consider Subscription Pricing for Microsoft Dynamics GP is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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Software Plus Services provides 3 options:  1) hosted, subscription model (SAAS),  2) purchasing software in a hosted environment, or 3) purchasing the software to deploy on-premise.  In the subscription-based, hosted model, initial cost outlays are limited and responsibility for the customer’s IT department is low.   Again, a great idea.  However, over the long run this can be a significantly more costly approach, and can have some impact on customizations, integrations, etc.    At some point in time, the customer may opt to bring the solution in-house, purchase the software, and maintain it internally going forward.  With a SAAS solution, this is impossible.  With the Microsoft approach, it’s completely possible, on the same version of the software.  Customizations, data, reports, etc. are simply moved into the customer environment – no need to migrate, upgrade, redo, etc., etc.     This approach gives the customer the flexibility to operate as their business needs dictate, not as their software company dictates.

If the SAAS model is appealing, evaluate the reasons why and consider Software Plus Services instead.

By RSM McGladrey Inc – NY Metro Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

What does Software Plus Services really mean? is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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