So if you’re one of those people who need to be convinced that Microsoft is one of the good guys, there’s an article on The Enterprise System Spectator blog site that you should read.  The author, Frank Scavo, offers a pretty objective view and lays out 3 reasons why Microsoft is one of the good guys.  But if you’re not interested in reading the long version, I’m here to give you the short version.

1. “ Microsoft will be more successful by being a safe platform provider for other vendors, than it will be by hoarding its technologies only for use by its own applications business.”
2. Microsoft may not be the leader in moving its business software offerings to the Cloud, but that’s because they’re focused on providing value and they’re taking the time to do it right.
3. “Microsoft is enabling thousands of entrepreneurs and small businesses worldwide to grow and compete successfully. In fact, IDC recently estimated the total 2010 revenue of the Microsoft partner ecosystem at US $580 billion. Compare that to Microsoft’s revenue of approximately $60B, and you can see that every dollar Microsoft makes results in about 8 or 9 dollars of revenue for its partners. That’s a big opportunity for Microsoft’s 640,000 partners worldwide.”

Read #3 again.  Altico Advisors is one of those partners in the Microsoft ecosystem.  Sure, a portion of the revenue we generate by selling Microsoft Dynamics GP and Dynamics CRM licenses goes to Microsoft.  But we also get to keep a portion and we keep all of the associated service revenue.  We’re small potatoes compared to Microsoft, but we generate jobs and contribute to the community, too. 

And let’s not forget the tremendous work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  You get the point.  I’m a fan.  Are you ready to join me?

By Karen Jernstrom, Altico Advisors, Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner for Manufacturing and Distribution serving New Hampshire (NH)

Microsoft IS One of the Good Guys is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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Here at Altico Advisors we have an implementation methodology that works.  We call it the Altico Advantage.  And while we still need to be flexible in the execution of that methodology, because every Microsoft Dynamics GP implementation can be different, we don’t want to stray too far from the parts that consistently spell success.  And they do.  Time after time. 

Since I’m a fan of short blog posts for busy people with limited time in their often long work days, I won’t elaborate on the details of the Panorama article.  But here are the highlights in the form of the top four lessons learned:

1. Focus on organizational change management
2. Ensure effective project controls and scope management
3. Focus on business processes and workflows
4. Go live is not the finish line

Getting back to the Altico Advisors methodology, it doesn’t start or end with the deployment.  It starts with a business process review as the foundation for the project plan.  And it continues well after the go live date with training, support, ongoing maintenance, and periodic reviews of the client’s long-term goals to continuously optimize the solution. 

There’s nothing better than a satisfied client.

By Karen Jernstrom, Altico Advisors, Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner for Manufacturing and Distribution serving New Hampshire (NH)

What We Can Learn From Successful Microsoft Dynamics GP Implementations is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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Sounds pretty far-fetched, doesn’t it?

Well this book and movie aren’t too far from reality given today’s strategies for Microsoft Dynamics ERP in The Cloud and Microsoft Dynamics CRM in The Cloud.  Companies are moving their critical systems to The Cloud at record speeds because the benefits are obvious and abundant.

Lower Costs:  The biggest reason that clients look at Cloud Services for ERP and CRM is that it can save them a lot of money over time compared to keeping a data center in house.  If you eliminate the cost of the equipment, facilities, staff, maintenance, and myriad associated costs, you can save a substantial amount of money.

Flexibility & Scalability: Cloud Services for Microsoft Dynamics GP and Microsoft Dynamics CRM provide tremendous flexibility. Deploying your software in The Cloud means that your infrastructure can now match the pace of growth at your company, giving you what you need when you need it.  As your business grows, so can your infrastructure, but you only pay for what you need when you need it. 

Quicker Deployments:  Once you’ve obtained the go ahead for an ERP or CRM project, you often have to wait for the purchase and installation of the necessary infrastructure and operating equipment.  Cloud Services provide all the necessary capacity and equipment to meet your needs.  Deployment is nearly instantaneous and since time is money, reducing your wait time and speeding up the whole process is cost effective and it saves you money.

Mobile Usage:  Many if not most businesses today offer remote access. But remote access to on-premises servers is not trouble free.  Sometimes, remote access can only be granted to certain programs and only in certain locations. And printing out documents when and where you need them can be problematic.  Since a Cloud Solution is Internet-based, as long as you have Internet access (which these days is virtually anywhere) you can access all of your computing and printing needs without the problems often associated with on-premises, server-based systems.

Predictable Costs:  One of the major benefits that CEOs and CFOs alike enjoy is the predictable and consistent expense of cloud-based solutions. IT departments require capital expenditures for new and replacement equipment. Depreciating capital equipment can become an accounting hassle. When capital resources are used for IT, this can create variances in monthly profitability reports or available funds, depending on how these purchases are treated. With cloud solutions you establish an annual budget based on a fixed subscription price, thereby eliminating unforeseen expenses and budget fluctuations.

Simplification of IT:  The second biggest reason that clients are attracted to cloud solutions is that they want to simplify their IT department. If you’re not in the IT business, you’re probably better off letting the experts handle your IT so you can focus on your core business. 

Security:  If you compare ERP and CRM deployment options, you’ll find that storing your software and data in The Cloud is actually more secure than storing it on-premises. Few mid-sized companies have the wherewithal to provide the physical security that cloud providers offer, such as disaster recovery and fail over systems. Given the level of coding and encryption at the server level and through Internet portals, your data and software are more secure than ever.

Much like Flint, the hero in “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” you too can put your company’s most prized possessions in the cloud so you can focus on what you do best, which is growing and managing your own business, not managing IT systems!

By Joel Hatin, Client Partner, Altico Advisors, Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner for Manufacturing and Distribution serving New Hampshire (NH)

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There are 15 of these videos grouped into 5 headings:  IT, HR, Reporting, Finance and Supply Chain Management (SCM).  To pique your interest, here are a few examples of the topics covered:

Do you work for a medical device manufacturer?  If so, you might be interested in the “Regulatory Compliance with Dynamics GP” video.

Are you a finance professional?  Take a look at “Accessing Financial Data.”

Do you work for a Wholesale/Distribution company?  Try this one – “Supply Chain Management:  Automated Order Allocation via Microsoft Dynamics GP”

If you’re in the process of choosing an ERP system for your business and you want a quick and easy view of key features in Microsoft Dynamics GP, these videos are a great resource.  I’ve been loading them onto the Altico Advisors Youtube Channel.  The first 11 out of 15 are up there NOW for your viewing pleasure.  Check back over the next few weeks and you’ll find the remaining 4 videos as well. 

By Jim Hickey, Vice President, Altico Advisors, Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner for Manufacturing and Distribution serving New Hampshire (NH)

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If you’re running more than one software application, which is true for most companies, and these disparate programs don’t talk to each other, you have a problem.  It’s called duplicate data entry and it’s tedious, time consuming, and costly.

Based on my experience chatting with hundreds of prospective clients over the last 10 years, the #1 reason for moving up to Microsoft is that they’re currently entering the same information two, three, four or more times.  Once in an accounting system, once in a contact management system, once in a standalone payroll system,  yet again in an inventory system.  Perhaps their fixed assets is a standalone application.  Or time and expense tracking.  Do the math.  How many employees are being paid to enter the same data in multiple databases. 

And the nightmare doesn’t end there.  If you have a client, ABC Company, entered in several places and they move, heaven forbid!  How do you make sure their new address is changed in all of the different places it resides? 

The cure will cost money, I won’t deny that.  But in pretty short order you’ll recover the cost of new software by saving the incredible amount of money you’re spending to have several employees entering the same data in multiple locations. 

There are 2 parts to the cure I’m proposing.  First, Microsoft Dynamics GP right out-of-the-box is an all in one accounting, fixed assets, payroll, inventory, manufacturing, and distribution system.  So you’re already way ahead of the game.  But if you still have some very industry specific programs that you don’t want to give up, not a problem.    Because, the second part of the cure is the fact that Microsoft Dynamics GP can integrate with just about any application you’re running. 

 Submitted by Altico Advisors, Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner for Manufacturing and Distribution serving New Hampshire (NH)

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Choosing the right business management system is critical for your company’s success. Therefore you want a system that is fit for purpose, affordable, easy to use, and quick to adopt, and one that will add instant value to your business in terms of efficiency and productivity gains. Moreover, it must be sufficiently robust and flexible to grow with your business and be implemented with minimal business interruptions.

An increasing number of organizations are moving to Dynamics GP because it excels at meeting the primary needs of businesses today, such as turning data into insight, making smarter decisions, and increasing efficiency – all critical components for success.

Here are some great reasons for choosing Microsoft Dynamics GP NOW!:

       *Extensive pre-packaged functionality competitively priced on a user basis – spanning financial management, supply chain (distribution), business intelligence and reporting, project management, human resource management and manufacturing.

       *Comfortable and easy to use – works like and with the Microsoft Office applications you’re already familiar with (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.)

       *Tailored to your business – built-in and cost-effective add-on customization options.

       *More connected – cost-effective portal and built-in workflows to promote team completion of tasks, CRM integration to connect finance and customer-facing departments, 350+ Web Services and simple architecture to integrate with other applications and data sources.

      *Quick return on investment – rapid implementation and data migration tools to move you from existing legacy systems quickly, effectively and with less grief and cost.

       *Secure future – 10-year support life cycle.

*Work faster and smarter – role-based dashboards, KPIs (gauges, charts, and graphs) and business alerts relevant to people’s roles, keeping them informed and on task.

       *Scale and perform – using SQL Server technology, scale easily from 1 to 1,000 users without compromising system performance; ability to manage high-speed, high-volume transactions.

       *Innovate and evolve – backed by Microsoft’s commitment to continually improve and extend the software with new releases every 2-3 years.

       Microsoft Dynamics GP is not a “one size fits all” solution, even though companies in dozens of different industries use Dynamics GP to their advantage.  This is because there are fully integrated modules within GP for industry-specific requirements.  Here at Altico Advisors our clients include wholesalers and distributors, discrete and process manufacturers, software developers, nonprofits, educational institutions, moving and storage companies, financial firms, food services, bus and train lines, waste and recycling enterprises…to name but a few! 

And we’re proud to serve them all.

Submitted by Altico Advisors, Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner for Manufacturing and Distribution serving New Hampshire (NH)

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One of our clients, a manufacturer of industrial lubricants, was faced with the challenge of delivering concise, critical data to key personnel including executives who were not regular users of Microsoft Dynamics GP or CRM.  The data needed to be dynamically updated in real time and personalized for each individual. 

The solution was the development of several dashboards that provided key performance indicators (KPIs) and financial data in real time. 

The benefit was data that is always up to date, with each person seeing only the data that he or she needs.  Now, the accounting and IT staff spend considerably less time creating reports because the dashboards provide that information with a single click of the mouse. 

 Here’s what the IT Manager had to say about dynamic dashboards:

 “Like so many companies, we have a large number of people who actually use Dynamics GP and CRM every day and a somewhat smaller number of executives who mainly need access to key performance indicators (KPIs) and aggregated high level data.  When Altico Advisors explained the dashboard concept to us, we realized that the dashboards represented a way to satisfy both constituencies.  Executives from various departments can closely monitor the up-to-date stats they need without running multiple reports. The dashboards extract the numbers from Microsoft Dynamics CRM or GP and display them in real time.  Each person sees only the data that is relevant to him or her. I’ve used similar commercially available tools in the past and the Altico Dashboards are 10 times faster than any other Business Intelligence tool that I’ve evaluated, and they are exponentially easier to use.”

And we all continue to live happily ever after. 

Submitted by Altico Advisors, Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner serving New Hampshire (NH)

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Thanks to Jason Carter on PartnerCompete and the Microsoft team for this insightful piece on the cost and value of maintenance and support contracts. 

In a tight economy the big vendors are coming under more scrutiny regarding their maintenance fees and what customers receive for those fees, Microsoft says it does better than the other guys, particularly Oracle and SAP.

According to the article, Oracle gets the vast majority of its profits from maintenance contracts.  Some say that customers get comparatively little in return. SAP recently tried to force a major maintenance/support price increase on its enterprise customers. It backed off (sort of) after customers complained and they got a lot of bad PR, but the “concession” it announced apparently varies little from the original intent.  

 Here’s Microsoft’s approach (in Microsoft’s words) to maintenance and support contracts:

Our customers tell us they want more choice and flexibility in their maintenance and support plans. We recognize that one size does not fit all. Here are some ways in which Microsoft Dynamics differs from what Oracle and SAP offer:  

Microsoft Dynamics offers the option to purchase maintenance and support separately

• For Microsoft’s suite of Dynamics ERP products , of which Microsoft Dynamics GP is the flagship application,  after the initial purchase, Microsoft Dynamics offers maintenance and support separately so customers can make the right choice in the area of support based on their budget, specific business needs, and other requirements. Customers can get support directly from Microsoft or from a broad partner ecosystem that can address local verticalization and on-site needs. SAP and Oracle require customers to purchase support and maintenance together, making it a higher cost option for the customer.

More value with Microsoft Dynamics maintenance plan

• We provide more core value in our maintenance plan for a lower price. For instance, as part of our maintenance plan, we provide customers unlimited access to eLearning.  Individual partners also provide live, local training on Dynamics GP.
• Customers can also benefit from 24 hour self-support options, allowing them to efficiently solve issues on their own or through communities. Additionally, as part of our maintenance plan, customers get a minimum of 10 years of lifecycle support, longer than what Oracle and SAP offer.
• For those customers on a current Business Ready Enhancement Plan (BREP), Microsoft continues to add more value to their investments. For example, new online services, such as payment services, can be attached to the Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions.

• Microsoft invests several billion dollars a year in research and development – $9.5 billion in fiscal 2010 alone. As part of its commitment to customers’ long term success, Microsoft Dynamics products have one of the top 5 R&D budgets across Microsoft.  This investment, along with 25 years of experience and a strong partner network, helps support Microsoft Dynamics customers worldwide. 
• Lastly, Oracle and SAP expect customers to pay more for maintenance and support each year. When Microsoft Dynamics customers stay current on enhancement, the original purchase price will serve as the basis on which we calculate their future Business Ready Enhancement Plan re-enrollments.

• While other vendors, such as Oracle, have chosen to de-invest, we are building up our self-help communities in which customers, partners, and Microsoft employees participate. On average, we’re seeing about 1,000 new participants each month. Of the 100,000 visitors to our community site each month that benefit from content and support, about a third of those are registered members who have contributed to 26,000 threads and 30,000 posts which are essentially self-help conversations.Submitted by Altico Advisors, Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner for Manufacturing and Distribution serving New Hampshire (NH)
• By Altico Advisors, your New Hampshire Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

Microsoft Delivers a Better ROI on Maintenance and Support Versus Oracle and SAP is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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As vice-president of a company that is a Microsoft partner specializing in Microsoft Dynamics GP and Dynamics CRM, I’m in a position to look beyond the software applications and see the bigger picture.  And I can tell you that we are witnessing a growing trend in how companies are approaching the ERP & CRM software selection process.  Companies are abandoning the traditional process of creating a short list of vendors, providing an RFP and sitting through countless software demonstrations. In its place companies are following a process that aligns the following factors:

• Client industry competitive landscape and market trends
• Strategic objectives of their business with key business metrics
• Core business drivers
• Economic value

The reasons for the shift are fairly straightforward. First, the maturation of ERP and CRM applications is such that core functionality is safely assumed. Second, the above approach results in key business metrics which provide measurable results. These results are critical in justifying the required investment. Lastly, this shift also reflects a growing trend of companies placing greater value on the local partner who is implementing and supporting the solution than on the solution itself.  

When they choose Altico, the execution of this process is as follows:

• Conduct a workshop with key members of the management team
• Develop a strategic solution roadmap that quantifies the positive business impact.

The results of this process allow companies great insight as to whether there is truly any value in undergoing an implementation and determining their critical success factors.  

Submitted by Altico Advisors, Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner for Manufacturing and Distribution. Your New Hampshire (NH) Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

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When it comes to “cloud computing”, the buzz goes on and on.  Business owners are wondering, does it make sense for us to move applications and data to “the cloud”?  They ask their IT consultants to do the research and make a recommendation.  Our advice is, before you spend a lot of time investigating “the cloud”, you should understand that “cloud” come in many different colors.  

Pure Cloud Applications – Applications like NetSuite, Dynamics CRM Online and Salesforce.com are written and fully maintained by an Application Service Provider (ASP).  Everyone using the application is on the same version of the solution and the only option available is to use the application over the Web.  Typically the applications are paid for on an annual or monthly subscription basis.  The only thing you own is your own data.

Hosted Applications – These are typically applications that could be deployed on premise but are deployed at a hosting center instead.  The Microsoft Dynamics GP and Dynamics CRM solutions are great examples.  In most cases you can either rent or buy the software.  And then, in addition to the cost of buying or renting the software, you pay a monthly fee to access the application at a hosting facility.  This allows you to avoid maintaining the application and the hardware in-house.

Custom Cloud Applications – Using a platform like Windows Azure you can develop custom applications and only pay for the actual usage of these applications.  These types of platforms allow you to write software specific to your business and pay for it as you use it.  Many companies who have written applications in Microsoft Access and other tools can start to look to “the cloud” to solve unique business requirements.

We work with hundreds of Microsoft Dynamics clients and prospective clients every year.  In many cases we find that their businesses have changed over time and the result is islands of information and megabytes of redundant data that reside in various applications from Excel to software systems designed to address unique issues.  All of this data needs to be up to date, but due to redundancy and the multiple systems in which the data is stored, you can’t be confident that you’re accessing the most current and accurate information. 

[There’s a pretty good article that just appeared on Microsoft TechNet about “the cloud” from an IT perspective.  Check it out at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/ff934854.aspx.]

Moving to “the cloud” will not resolve this problem unless you spend time up front to understand your business needs and make sure you’re picking the “right cloud”.  The reality is that you can link multiple clouds, but this will require extensive time and effort.  “The cloud” is the future.  That’s a given.   Just make sure you stay focused on the overall goals you’ve established for your company and don’t lose your head in “the cloud”, whichever cloud that might be.

By Altico Advisors, Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner for Manufacturing and Distribution serving New Hampshire (NH)

Altico Advisors, a New Hampshire Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

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