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><channel><title>ERP Software Blog &#187; Illinois Great Plains</title> <atom:link href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/tag/illinois-great-plains/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><link>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com</link> <description>Microsoft Dynamics vendors provide comparisons and opinions to professionals in the ERP/Accounting software selection process</description> <lastBuildDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:45:10 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1</generator> <item><title>How to Know When to Upgrade Your ERP System</title><link>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/09/how-to-know-when-to-upgrade-your-erp-system/</link> <comments>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/09/how-to-know-when-to-upgrade-your-erp-system/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:14:30 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Crestwood Associates</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Dynamics GP 2010]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Area Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[illinois Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Great Plains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft GP Partner]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/?p=13693</guid> <description><![CDATA[Customers sometimes stay on a version of their ERP system too long. There are many reasons for this:  The users are used to the system and their processes in it.  The system has been customized so much to meet their needs that it is very expensive to upgrade.  In a company with a large user [...]<p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/09/how-to-know-when-to-upgrade-your-erp-system/">How to Know When to Upgrade Your ERP System</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/12/successful-upgrade-of-microsoft-dynamics-gp-9-healthcare-customer-to-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/" rel="bookmark">Successful Upgrade of Microsoft Dynamics GP 9 Healthcare Customer to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/03/five-things-to-consider-when-searching-for-an-erp-system/" rel="bookmark">Five Things To Consider When Searching for an ERP System</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/08/tips-and-tricks-for-securing-your-erp-system/" rel="bookmark">Tips and Tricks for Securing Your ERP System</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Customers sometimes stay on a version of their <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/dynamics-GP.cfm">ERP system</a> too long. There are many reasons for this: </p><ul><li>The users are used to the system and their processes in it. </li><li>The system has been <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/customization.cfm">customized</a> so much to meet their needs that it is very expensive to upgrade. </li><li>In a company with a large user base, change has to be planned and managed well and this takes time. </li><li>The company is using old technology that it is no longer supported, but it doesn’t have the money to upgrade the software and hardware, so it does neither. </li><li>No one has sold it on the functionality of the latest version.</li><li><a
href="http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/customer/en-us/expand-and-upgrade/gp-upgrade.aspx">Enhancement plans for Dynamics GP</a> and ISV products have been dropped because the version in use was no longer supported, and the perception was that the maintenance plan had no value.</li></ul><p>When we ran across a large process manufacturer in the Chicago area that was looking for a new partner, we were glad to meet with their team to discuss their plans. We were under the gun as its current “one-man-shop consultant” was leaving town and the team needed to find a replacement to support over 150 Microsoft Dynamics GP users. The system was difficult to support because when things like Crystal reports didn’t work correctly, or the Excel linked spreadsheets were not correct, or batches would get stuck, the company’s “guy” was responsible for fixing this 24 hours a day.</p><p>After an extensive discovery, we determined that an upgrade was absolutely necessary to support the company’s growth plans and to get it on the most stable environment. To do this would involve replacing the source code customizations and replacing them with Extender windows or more up to date <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/dynamics-GP-technology.cfm">technology with tools like .Net</a> in its own Dynamics GP dictionary. Most of the custom reports would need to be rewritten in Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) or SmartList Builder to utilize the latest tools in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 and SQL Server 2008. We also needed to get the client current on its enhancement plan to enable it to purchase additional users or modules. With the support plan renewed, the company was able to purchase additional functionality, take advantage of eLearning, and get a copy of the latest version of Dynamics GP 2010.</p><p>We estimated the project to take six months and over 1000 hours. It was all hands on deck to manage a project this large with great cooperation and communication between the teams. We had a project manager, a technical project manager, and six consultants working on the project at various times. The customer sales manager was closely involved in the oversight of the project and working through additional requirements at the executive level. Our client education manager was there to lead the team through the training plan for the large number of new features and users that were to take advantage of them.</p><p>We upgraded this client from Great Plains 8.0 to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 on time and under budget with a great effort from the project team at the client and the Crestwood team. The client’s involvement and dedication was a part in this success. The client is now ready to focus on an integrated warehouse management integration project already in progress and a Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 implementation in 2012.</p><p>Written by Mary Lenehan, Client Education Manager at Crestwood Associates, your <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/">Chicago, IL area partner</a> holding Microsoft Gold Accreditation in Dynamics GP.</p><p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/09/how-to-know-when-to-upgrade-your-erp-system/">How to Know When to Upgrade Your ERP System</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/12/successful-upgrade-of-microsoft-dynamics-gp-9-healthcare-customer-to-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/" rel="bookmark">Successful Upgrade of Microsoft Dynamics GP 9 Healthcare Customer to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/03/five-things-to-consider-when-searching-for-an-erp-system/" rel="bookmark">Five Things To Consider When Searching for an ERP System</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/08/tips-and-tricks-for-securing-your-erp-system/" rel="bookmark">Tips and Tricks for Securing Your ERP System</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/09/how-to-know-when-to-upgrade-your-erp-system/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>ERP Business Intelligence for Mid-Sized Companies</title><link>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/06/erp-business-intelligence-for-mid-sized-companies/</link> <comments>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/06/erp-business-intelligence-for-mid-sized-companies/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:34:34 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Crestwood Associates</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Financial Reporting]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Area Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Microsoft GP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[illinois]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Great Plains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/?p=11526</guid> <description><![CDATA[Business Intelligence (BI) and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are finally affordable and easy to use for a mid-sized company. With Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2, you have plenty of reporting tools to get the business information out to those that can use it in their day to day lives. One of the most exciting tools is Business [...]<p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/06/erp-business-intelligence-for-mid-sized-companies/">ERP Business Intelligence for Mid-Sized Companies</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/04/special-delivery-business-intelligence-for-diversified-non-profit-organizations-with-dynamics-gp/" rel="bookmark">Special Delivery:  Business Intelligence For Diversified Non Profit Organizations With Dynamics GP</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/11/business-intelligence-campaign-intelligence-its-what-you-elect/" rel="bookmark">Business Intelligence, Campaign Intelligence&#8211;It&#8217;s What You Elect</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/01/why-business-intelligence-should-be-a-part-of-your-business-practices-within-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/" rel="bookmark">Why Business Intelligence Should Be a Part of Your Business Practices within Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/reporting.cfm">Business Intelligence (BI) and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators</a>) are finally affordable and easy to use for a mid-sized company. With Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2, you have plenty of reporting tools to get the business information out to those that can use it in their day to day lives. One of the most exciting tools is Business Analyzer (a desktop BI delivery system) that links users to the data. You can share SQL Reporting Services (SRS) Reports with team members, customers, and vendors. Graphs and charts can be generated and customized dashboards are available per user.</p><p>Business Portal is another valuable tool which can be opened to the internet to allow customers and vendors to view their transactions with your company through the sales and purchasing process. There are ways to track the order details and also to see when a payment for an invoice has been paid. Business Portal provides the same data for your internal team members as well and has a Requisition Management system, employee self-service modules, and time and expense entry.</p><p>Over 300 pre-built SRS and Excel Reports can reside inside of Dynamics GP on a user customized dashboard as well on a SharePoint server or in Business Portal. They have an active link to the Dynamics GP database, so they can be accessed by team members on the network and provide an easy way to get information out of the accounting/ERP system and into the hands of the users without having to rely of reports being “pushed” to them. The data is refreshable with live up-to-date information in a few clicks.  Financial information on revenue, expense, profits and margins can be displayed graphically. Reports can be built to show manufacturing information like units manufactured, manufacturing time, defects, and fulfillment information like number of days to ship, inventory levels and return rates.</p><p>Read more about linking your Dynamics GP system with your <a
href="http://www.crmsoftwareblog.com/2011/05/crm-business-intelligence-for-mid-sized-companies/">Microsoft Dynamics CRM system</a>.</p><p>Crestwood Associates holds a Microsoft Partner Network Gold Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) competency with over thirteen years of experience serving <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/index.cfm">Microsoft Dynamics GP customers in the Chicago Illinois</a> Area.</p><p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/06/erp-business-intelligence-for-mid-sized-companies/">ERP Business Intelligence for Mid-Sized Companies</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/04/special-delivery-business-intelligence-for-diversified-non-profit-organizations-with-dynamics-gp/" rel="bookmark">Special Delivery:  Business Intelligence For Diversified Non Profit Organizations With Dynamics GP</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/11/business-intelligence-campaign-intelligence-its-what-you-elect/" rel="bookmark">Business Intelligence, Campaign Intelligence&#8211;It&#8217;s What You Elect</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/01/why-business-intelligence-should-be-a-part-of-your-business-practices-within-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/" rel="bookmark">Why Business Intelligence Should Be a Part of Your Business Practices within Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/06/erp-business-intelligence-for-mid-sized-companies/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Attend a User Group to Learn How ERP Software is Really Used</title><link>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/05/attend-a-user-group-to-learn-how-erp-software-is-really-used/</link> <comments>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/05/attend-a-user-group-to-learn-how-erp-software-is-really-used/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 24 May 2011 11:55:57 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Crestwood Associates</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Choosing a VAR/Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Area Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Great Plains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/?p=11224</guid> <description><![CDATA[We had two people from a prospect attend our user group last week and they got great insight into what kind of services a Microsoft Partner Gold Certified for ERP can provide. First of all, we have user groups. We are holding three user groups this year. Our focus in these is to make sure you have updated information [...]<p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/05/attend-a-user-group-to-learn-how-erp-software-is-really-used/">Attend a User Group to Learn How ERP Software is Really Used</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/02/how-gpug-microsoft-dynamics-gp-user-group-has-changed-my-life-and-how-it-can-change-yours/" rel="bookmark">How GPUG (Microsoft Dynamics GP User Group) Has Changed My Life And How It Can Change Yours!</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/06/is-your-erp-software-user-friendly-10-ways-to-evaluate-erp-software-usability/" rel="bookmark">Is your ERP Software User Friendly? 10 Ways to Evaluate ERP Software Usability</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/07/make-your-employees-happy-with-user-friendly-erp-software-for-manufacturing/" rel="bookmark">Make your Employees Happy with User-Friendly ERP Software for Manufacturing</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We had two people from a prospect attend our user group last week and they got great insight into what kind of services a <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/client-education.cfm">Microsoft Partner Gold Certified for ERP</a> can provide. First of all, we have user groups. We are holding three user groups this year. Our focus in these is to make sure you have updated information about the software, but also to help you to network and build relationships with other users in your geographic area or industry. It’s always good to be able to share a success or horror story with people that know what you go through on a day-to-day basis and have been using the same software for years.</p><p>Our user groups are a mix of what’s new and what’s tried and true with your ERP system. This group, we spent some time talking and showing the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2 features. We usually feature add-on products from ISVs that are available to help you be more productive. This month we spotlighted <a
href="http://www.azox.com/">Azox e-Commerce Solutions</a> and <a
href="http://www.infiniatech.com/iei/default.asp">Infinia’s Excel Integrator</a>. Azox is a storefront and e-payment (credit card and online bill payment) solution that allows direct connection with your Dynamics GP system. Infinia’s Excel Integrator allows you to work in Excel and copy, paste and import your General Ledger, Payables, Receivables and Payroll transactions directly into a Dynamics GP batch. Tips and tricks with Dynamics GP is always a focus including regular maintenance and common tasks like year-end processing.  We like to encourage customers in the same industry to discuss what works best for them, what ISVs, what add-ons, what reports, etc. This makes for interesting conversation and learning and builds relationships.</p><p>If you are interested in joining <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/">Crestwood’s Microsoft Dynamics GP User Groups</a> held for free in Downers Grove, IL and Madison, WI, (next one is planned for September) please send an <a
href="events@crestwood.com">email </a>to be put on the list. Feel free to send us topics you are interested in discussing.</p><p>by Crestwood Associates,<a
href="http://www.crestwood.com"> Illinois Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner</a></p><p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/05/attend-a-user-group-to-learn-how-erp-software-is-really-used/">Attend a User Group to Learn How ERP Software is Really Used</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/02/how-gpug-microsoft-dynamics-gp-user-group-has-changed-my-life-and-how-it-can-change-yours/" rel="bookmark">How GPUG (Microsoft Dynamics GP User Group) Has Changed My Life And How It Can Change Yours!</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/06/is-your-erp-software-user-friendly-10-ways-to-evaluate-erp-software-usability/" rel="bookmark">Is your ERP Software User Friendly? 10 Ways to Evaluate ERP Software Usability</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/07/make-your-employees-happy-with-user-friendly-erp-software-for-manufacturing/" rel="bookmark">Make your Employees Happy with User-Friendly ERP Software for Manufacturing</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/05/attend-a-user-group-to-learn-how-erp-software-is-really-used/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Go Green with Financial Reporting in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</title><link>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/05/go-green-with-financial-reporting-in-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/</link> <comments>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/05/go-green-with-financial-reporting-in-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2011 02:58:26 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Crestwood Associates</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Financial Reporting]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Area Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Microsoft GP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Great Plains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/?p=10928</guid> <description><![CDATA[Management Reporter is a scalable client server Financial Reporting tool developed by Microsoft using Microsoft SQL Server as a database. It is used by Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 users to create Financial Reports such as Income Statements, Balance Sheets, and Statements of Cash Flow. MR’s easy to use building blocks (rows columns and trees) allow [...]<p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/05/go-green-with-financial-reporting-in-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/">Go Green with Financial Reporting in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/02/microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010-and-multicurrency-financial-reporting/" rel="bookmark">Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 And Multicurrency Financial Reporting</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/07/financial-reporting-standards-compliance-with-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/" rel="bookmark">Financial Reporting Standards Compliance with Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/08/cash-basis-financial-reporting-with-microsoft-dynamics-gp/" rel="bookmark">Cash Basis Financial Reporting With Microsoft Dynamics GP</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Management Reporter is a scalable client server <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/reporting.cfm">Financial Reporting</a> tool developed by Microsoft using Microsoft SQL Server as a database. It is used by Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 users to create Financial Reports such as Income Statements, Balance Sheets, and Statements of Cash Flow. MR’s easy to use building blocks (rows columns and trees) allow you to slice and dice your account structure by account, location, cost center, etc. and give you summarized data as well as allowing you to drill down to details. </p><p>Reports can be published to printers, PDF, Excel, XML, email attachments, and a web server. Users that want to go green and get rid of paper can publish the monthly financials to a web server and they can review the reports and drill down to the detail without the paper. Finding last month’s financial package is as easy as opening a web application and printing or reviewing from there.</p><p>All current Dynamics GP customers using FRx for financial reporting will be migrating to MR at a time that is convenient for them. FRx is supported for existing customers on the current version &#8211; Dynamics GP 2010 until mainstream support ends. We find some customers are excited about publishing reports to the web server and have made the leap. There are others that find the currency translation feature added in February, 2011 to be superior. More and more features are added each month. </p><p>When you need financial reporting assistance, work with a partner that has over thirteen years of experience and is staffed with seasoned CPAs &#8211; Crestwood Associates.  We are your <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/">Chicago Illinois Microsoft Partner &#8211; Gold Certified for ERP</a>.</p><p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/05/go-green-with-financial-reporting-in-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/">Go Green with Financial Reporting in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/02/microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010-and-multicurrency-financial-reporting/" rel="bookmark">Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 And Multicurrency Financial Reporting</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/07/financial-reporting-standards-compliance-with-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/" rel="bookmark">Financial Reporting Standards Compliance with Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/08/cash-basis-financial-reporting-with-microsoft-dynamics-gp/" rel="bookmark">Cash Basis Financial Reporting With Microsoft Dynamics GP</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/05/go-green-with-financial-reporting-in-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Choosing the Right ERP Partner Can Be Almost as Difficult as Choosing the Software</title><link>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/04/choosing-the-right-erp-partner-can-be-almost-as-difficult-as-choosing-the-software/</link> <comments>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/04/choosing-the-right-erp-partner-can-be-almost-as-difficult-as-choosing-the-software/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:13:18 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Crestwood Associates</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Choosing a VAR/Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Area Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Microsoft GP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[illinois Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Great Plains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft GP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft GP Partner]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/?p=10349</guid> <description><![CDATA[The explosion of  internet purchasing has taught consumers to pit vendors against each other in relatively short order to compete for your business via comparison shopping. In a market where anything can be purchased from anywhere in the world, we all want the best products without paying the most expensive prices. Merchants of these goods all compete [...]<p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/04/choosing-the-right-erp-partner-can-be-almost-as-difficult-as-choosing-the-software/">Choosing the Right ERP Partner Can Be Almost as Difficult as Choosing the Software</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/05/when-choosing-an-erp-software-partner-sometimes-the-%e2%80%9chidden-gem%e2%80%9d-is-better-than-the-%e2%80%9ctop-10%e2%80%9d/" rel="bookmark">When Choosing an ERP Software Partner Sometimes The “Hidden Gem” Is Better Than the “Top 10”</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2009/07/9-tips-to-choosing-the-right-outsourcing-partner/" rel="bookmark">9 Tips to Choosing the Right Outsourcing Partner</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/07/11-tips-for-choosing-your-accounting-partner/" rel="bookmark">11 Tips For Choosing Your Accounting Partner</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The explosion of  internet purchasing has taught consumers to pit vendors against each other in relatively short order to compete for your business via comparison shopping. In a market where anything can be purchased from anywhere in the world, we all want the best products without paying the most expensive prices. Merchants of these goods all compete to prove to you that they are the best choice. In the ERP business, the contractors competing for your loyalty are called  Value Added Resellers or VARs for short. These companies <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/implementation.cfm">implement, train on and support your ERP system</a> and consult with you on other IT or finance matters depending on your needs. When choosing the right VAR for your company, consider the following ideas to make sure that the relationship flourishes into the future.</p><ol><li>Beware of the “used car salesman.” Unfortunately, these people, by nature, are predators that hover or circle the economy waiting to pounce on the next unsuspecting prey. Don’t take your salesperson at face value, gut check yourself as well as others within your organization to get a sense of sincerity and integrity. A deal isn’t just about the dollars involved, but the joint effort of forming a mutual partnership that you can build on as your organization grows. Even though the task of the salesperson is to win your trust, remember that after the deal is closed only the respectable ones will keep in touch.</li><li>References within a business environment, in my opinion, have become a concept that everyone is aware of, but very few investigate. It is common knowledge that nobody will give you the name of a bad reference, but that doesn’t mean each reference is glowing. Ask about different people within the organization, interactions with team members, challenges (because nobody uses the word problems anymore) and their solutions. Ask specifics about what kind of work was done with that reference to gauge the comparison to your business needs.</li><li>Turnover, longevity, flexibility, and years in business can also be distinguishing factors in how well a company is managed along with its personnel. Your position within your organization has goals and deadlines as well as the need to stay within a budget, so you need to get things done more efficiently and effectively. If a particular VAR lacks flexibility or longevity, you may need to wait longer periods of time to get the assistance that you require or you may have to settle for a junior level consultant that doesn’t yet have the ability to adapt to your environment without costing you time and money. Consider a partner who has committed to the Microsoft Partner Network Gold <a
href="http://dailysn.com/2011/01/28/crestwood-associates-attains-microsoft-partner-network-gold-erp-competency/">ERP competency</a> because it shows that the partner has enough depth on the bench to handle your projects and has obtained the necessary training and exams required for this rigorous certification.</li><li>The <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/about.cfm">goals of the VAR organization</a> may assist in the decision making process as they may give some insight into the way their business is directed. Is the company only in it to make money? Do they see that you are only going to buy a certain amount so they figure they will get you in and out as fast as possible so they can move on to the next sale? Are they overly cautious, which means that they may take up valuable time thinking and rethinking strategies, testing and retesting solutions?  Are they self-serving in that you will need to seek out their support every time the most simplistic problem arises?</li></ol><p>Look for companies that exude integrity and professionalism. These companies usually employ philosophies and goals that mirror those of your own company. Remember that the more cohesive the unit, the more time and money it saves you. Most of all, find the companies that aspire to be a partner rather than your crutch, because it sets a good foundation as you build toward the future.</p><p>By Mark Kowalski, Project Manager, at <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/index.cfm">Crestwood Associates, the Illinois Microsoft Partner Network with Gold Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) competency</a>.</p><p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/04/choosing-the-right-erp-partner-can-be-almost-as-difficult-as-choosing-the-software/">Choosing the Right ERP Partner Can Be Almost as Difficult as Choosing the Software</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/05/when-choosing-an-erp-software-partner-sometimes-the-%e2%80%9chidden-gem%e2%80%9d-is-better-than-the-%e2%80%9ctop-10%e2%80%9d/" rel="bookmark">When Choosing an ERP Software Partner Sometimes The “Hidden Gem” Is Better Than the “Top 10”</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2009/07/9-tips-to-choosing-the-right-outsourcing-partner/" rel="bookmark">9 Tips to Choosing the Right Outsourcing Partner</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/07/11-tips-for-choosing-your-accounting-partner/" rel="bookmark">11 Tips For Choosing Your Accounting Partner</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/04/choosing-the-right-erp-partner-can-be-almost-as-difficult-as-choosing-the-software/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Five Things To Consider When Searching for an ERP System</title><link>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/03/five-things-to-consider-when-searching-for-an-erp-system/</link> <comments>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/03/five-things-to-consider-when-searching-for-an-erp-system/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:43:17 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Crestwood Associates</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Accounting Software Selection Tips]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Area Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Microsoft GP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[illinois Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Great Plains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft GP Partner]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/?p=9757</guid> <description><![CDATA[After spending over 10 years as an end user, decision maker, and stakeholder in the ERP selection process, I have compiled a short list of elements to consider when choosing your next purchase. ERP systems can be very similar in certain aspects, but very different in others. Some systems are more economical, others offer ease [...]<p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/03/five-things-to-consider-when-searching-for-an-erp-system/">Five Things To Consider When Searching for an ERP System</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/02/know-the-rules-of-the-game-when-searching-for-an-erp-software-solution/" rel="bookmark">Know the Rules of the Game when Searching for an ERP Software Solution</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/09/how-to-know-when-to-upgrade-your-erp-system/" rel="bookmark">How to Know When to Upgrade Your ERP System</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2009/06/choosing-an-erp-system-so-many-things-to-think-about/" rel="bookmark">Choosing an ERP System &#8211; So Many Things to Think About!</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>After spending over 10 years as an end user, decision maker, and stakeholder in the ERP selection process, I have compiled a short list of elements to consider when choosing your next purchase. ERP systems can be very similar in certain aspects, but very different in others. Some systems are more economical, others offer ease of use, and even more will try to sell you on their flexibility.  When looking for an ERP system, it all boils down to what makes the most sense for your company, so make sure to ask all the pertinent questions to make your switch as seamless as possible. Here are five key topics to consider when making your decision:</p><ol><li>One of the top functions of an ERP system is the capability to produce the <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/reporting.cfm">output, measurements or reporting.</a> If you can’t get timely, almost instantaneous, reporting that assists in key management decisions, than the output is outdated in today’s rapidly changing environments. Make sure that getting information out of the system can be comfortable for all users and that translating that information into a usable format is efficient.</li><li>Safeguarding the integrity of the data is becoming increasingly prevalent in all sectors of business. Even the private sector has seen additional pressures to make sure that the IT group and the Finance group are in compliance with proper standards and verifying these standards on a periodic basis. Make sure to involve the IT group in your decision and confirm that the ERP system can accommodate simple or complex security to ensure that your internal controls continue to be bulletproof.</li><li>Don’t shoot for a Lamborghini when a nice midsize will do just fine. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the “bells and whistles” of an ERP system, but these usually come at a cost, not only up front, but in complexity as well. Your company has probably already assembled a team of key personnel from the IT, HR, and Finance groups to compile the company needs, five to ten year growth plan, and significant functionality required from your ERP system. Make sure to rank each need so that the new system will fit your business model without exceeding your budget.</li><li>Flexibility of the software can be a major role in making your decision. The flexibility to mold an ERP system to your business atmosphere is crucial, but if a system is too flexible you may lose some reliability or internal controls along the way. Remember that some procedures may need to change to accommodate functionality or more specifically there may be a need to customize, but be cautious if this list starts to take on a life of its own because the more you customize, the more you subject yourself to potential nightmares during expansions, service packs, and upgrades.</li><li>The capability of increasing efficiencies through import and export tasks can make the bottom line surge. Too many organizations get bogged down in the everyday data entry process. Some companies still employ the idea of entering once to a spreadsheet and then again to the ERP system. <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/integration.cfm">Importing data directly from a source</a>, albeit potentially a spreadsheet, will eliminate the data entry need and cut down on user error. Exporting figures or statistics from the system allows the end user to carve out KPI’s used in upper management or board of director decisions.</li></ol><p>These ideas will all be part of your decision making process, but by no means all of the things to take into consideration. Again, decisions need to be dictated by the specific business needs of your organization and generally those can vary greatly from company to company. So make sure to consider all aspects of the ERP system, specific modules, and which add-on products to use to assist in coming to your conclusion.</p><p>By Mark Kowalski, Project Manager, at <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/index.cfm">Crestwood Associates, the Illinois Microsoft Partner Network with Gold Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) competency</a>.</p><p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/03/five-things-to-consider-when-searching-for-an-erp-system/">Five Things To Consider When Searching for an ERP System</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/02/know-the-rules-of-the-game-when-searching-for-an-erp-software-solution/" rel="bookmark">Know the Rules of the Game when Searching for an ERP Software Solution</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/09/how-to-know-when-to-upgrade-your-erp-system/" rel="bookmark">How to Know When to Upgrade Your ERP System</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2009/06/choosing-an-erp-system-so-many-things-to-think-about/" rel="bookmark">Choosing an ERP System &#8211; So Many Things to Think About!</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/03/five-things-to-consider-when-searching-for-an-erp-system/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Microsoft Dynamics GP and SharePoint 2010:  A Perfect Match</title><link>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/01/microsoft-dynamics-gp-and-sharepoint-2010-a-perfect-match/</link> <comments>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/01/microsoft-dynamics-gp-and-sharepoint-2010-a-perfect-match/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:42:45 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Crestwood Associates</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[About Microsoft Dynamics GP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Area Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Microsoft GP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[illinois Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Great Plains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft GP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft GP Partner]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/?p=8990</guid> <description><![CDATA[One huge benefit from purchasing a Microsoft ERP system is the Microsoft “stack” of products that stand as the backbone and seamlessly integrate with each other.  Products such as Office, SharePoint, SQL, Access, Virtualization products, and of course, Windows operating systems all work much easier with a Microsoft ERP system. SharePoint 2010 is a product [...]<p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/01/microsoft-dynamics-gp-and-sharepoint-2010-a-perfect-match/">Microsoft Dynamics GP and SharePoint 2010:  A Perfect Match</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/04/8-microsoft-sharepoint-features-that-can-make-your-business-more-productive/" rel="bookmark">8 Microsoft SharePoint Features That Can Make Your Business More Productive</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/07/microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010-expands-the-reach-with-sharepoint/" rel="bookmark">Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Expands the Reach with SharePoint</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/03/rave-reviews-for-microsoft-sharepoint-2010-and-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010-external-lists/" rel="bookmark">Rave Reviews For Microsoft SharePoint 2010 And Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 External Lists</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One huge benefit from purchasing a Microsoft ERP system is the Microsoft “stack” of products that stand as the backbone and seamlessly integrate with each other.  Products such as Office, SharePoint, SQL, Access, Virtualization products, and of course, Windows operating systems all work much easier with a Microsoft ERP system.</p><p>SharePoint 2010 is a product that allows users to <a
href="http://sharepoint.microsoft.com/en-us/Pages/default.aspx">collaborate across documents</a>, projects, and other data.  It is a document management system, workflow processor, report silo and data management tool.  It also allows user to create forms and load data into databases. </p><p>Many Microsoft customers already use SharePoint to share data.  They create intranet sites to share company information and share information about the company party or human resources forms for new hires.  They create project sites to share project status reports, calendars, and task lists.  They create document management systems for departments to share commonly accessed reports, contracts, images, etc.</p><ul><li>SharePoint can also be used as a report depository.  Published reports in various formats can be posted on SharePoint and access to them can be restricted to the users that need the information. </li><li>If you need to accumulate information in a database, you can create forms that users can fill out and it will populate databases such as SQL or Access that can be reported on with other Microsoft tools such as SQL Reporting Services (SRS).</li><li>SharePoint can disseminate information to your customers, prospects, partners and vendors via the web services that grant access to certain folders or websites.</li><li>Searching for data is key to finding documents in a timely fashion and SharePoint helps by providing search tools using relevance, refinement, and social cues.</li><li>Every company still has manual processes that require approvals.  Some use paper, some use Outlook, and some use other applications to capture the processes.  SharePoint has workflow automation where you can allow those approvals to happen in SharePoint.  Enter a request for a new laptop and your manager will get an email that tells him the approval is waiting in SharePoint with a hyperlink to the approval site. </li></ul><p>All of these features are built into SharePoint.  And they are <strong>FREE</strong> with your Windows server operating system.  We haven’t even started to talk about all the <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/dynamics-GP-technology.cfm#Sharepoint">SharePoint integration</a> available with your Microsoft Dynamics GP system. </p><p>SharePoint excels as a report depository, storing the most up-to-date information of your data.  You can choose to house these reports in SharePoint so that they are accessible to users all over the organization, not just Dynamics GP users:</p><ul><li>Excel Reports – There are hundreds of pre-built Excel workbooks included in Dynamics GP 2010 that house a dynamic link to the Dynamics GP data so that when you click on a workbook, it brings back the most up to date information in your database. </li><li>SRS Reports – These are dynamic reports as well that contain your Dynamics GP data and maybe more data in a format that can be displayed graphically.  The reports can be displayed in SharePoint and drill back to the underlying data in Dynamics GP.</li></ul><p>Business Portal consists of pre-built windows (or web parts) that sit on top of SharePoint and <a
href="http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics/using/gp-business-portal.aspx">display your Dynamics GP data</a> in key performance indicators (KPIs), lists and forms that are searchable and allow  users to create and save queries on the Dynamics GP data.  You can even enter sales orders, time and expense, and requisitions and have the data feed directly to your Dynamics GP system.</p><p>Human Resources Self Service and Open Enrollment allows the update of the HR data to take place by the users themselves.  They can enter a change in status, change deductions, and enroll in the benefit plan by accessing a website instead of filling out paperwork.  There are approval processes along the way to ensure that the data is accurate.</p><p><a
href="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=52F7D165-6F7A-4A57-9980-E0C0F4C4F5AE&amp;displaylang=en">Workflow Management</a> is a feature in SharePoint that has been integrated with Dynamics GP 2010 and allows you to create workflows in Dynamics GP (such as Batch approval, Credit Limit approval, Purchase Order approval, etc.) that can contact users outside of GP.  You can go to SharePoint and see the items waiting for your approval, click on a link that is delivered in an e-mail or approve directly from the e-mail.</p><p>Crestwood has 13 years of experience working with Dynamics GP and the related Microsoft products and would be glad to help you with your project.  Please contact <a
href="mailto:sales@crestwood.com">sales@crestwood.com</a> for more information.</p><p>By Mary Lenehan, Client Education Manager, at<a
href="http://www.crestwood.com"> Crestwood Associates, your Chicago, Illinois partner recently awarded the Microsoft Gold competency in ERP.</a></p><p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/01/microsoft-dynamics-gp-and-sharepoint-2010-a-perfect-match/">Microsoft Dynamics GP and SharePoint 2010:  A Perfect Match</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/04/8-microsoft-sharepoint-features-that-can-make-your-business-more-productive/" rel="bookmark">8 Microsoft SharePoint Features That Can Make Your Business More Productive</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/07/microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010-expands-the-reach-with-sharepoint/" rel="bookmark">Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Expands the Reach with SharePoint</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/03/rave-reviews-for-microsoft-sharepoint-2010-and-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010-external-lists/" rel="bookmark">Rave Reviews For Microsoft SharePoint 2010 And Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 External Lists</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/01/microsoft-dynamics-gp-and-sharepoint-2010-a-perfect-match/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Year End Tips for ERP Customers</title><link>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/01/year-end-tips-for-erp-customers/</link> <comments>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/01/year-end-tips-for-erp-customers/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:46:35 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Crestwood Associates</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[ERP Software Information]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[illinois Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Great Plains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/?p=8336</guid> <description><![CDATA[We are in full Year End mode.  Everyone is working to get their year-end process to move smoothly.  We have some suggestions to help make your Microsoft Dynamics GP or any ERP system year end close easier: Check the posting types of your accounts.  Make sure to check that your accounts have the correct posting [...]<p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/01/year-end-tips-for-erp-customers/">Year End Tips for ERP Customers</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/11/year-end-closing-tips-in-microsoft-dynamics-gp-payroll-module/" rel="bookmark">Year-End Closing Tips in Microsoft Dynamics GP Payroll Module</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2012/01/frustrated-when-closing-the-2011-year-with-your-current-accounting-software-microsoft-dynamics-gp-can-help/" rel="bookmark">Frustrated When Closing the 2011 Year with Your Current Accounting Software? Microsoft Dynamics GP Can Help!</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/12/how-dynamics-gp-simplifies-year-end-processing-and-saves-your-sanity/" rel="bookmark">How Dynamics GP Simplifies Year End Processing (And Saves Your Sanity)</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We are in full Year End mode.  Everyone is working to get their year-end process to move smoothly.  We have some suggestions to help make your Microsoft Dynamics GP or any <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/news-events.cfm#34">ERP system year end close</a> easier:</p><ul><li>Check the posting types of your accounts.  Make sure to check that your accounts have the correct posting type – Balance Sheet or Profit and Loss.  If not, this will cause incorrect entries during the year end close.  Although there are fixes, this is very easy to check during the year and in Dynamics GP by running a SmartList.</li><li>Check for service packs.  This year for Microsoft Dynamics GP 9, 10 and 2010, the year end update with the appropriate service pack may be required.  You want to have the updated forms in place for 1099-MISC, 1099-INT and 1099-DIV and W-2s.</li><li>Backup, Backup, Backup.  Make sure you know when to do backups and that you have enough hard drive space for all the backups you need.  Engage your IT team so they are available, if needed.</li><li>Plan time and disk space for maintenance.  Some customers only do maintenance on their system (reconcile and checklinks for Microsoft Dynamics GP) once a year.  Be sure to plan to do this when there are no users in the system before year end.  Start off the year with good data.</li><li>Close the years for general ledger at a convenient time.  If you need to make correcting entries, Microsoft Dynamics GP allows you to post entries in the last closed year.   An entry is made in the historical year and the balance sheet entries (retained earnings or beginning balances) flow into the <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/dynamics-GP-software.cfm">current year automatically</a>.</li></ul><p> </p><p>By Cindy Brand, Support Analyst, at your <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/">Chicago Area Gold Certified Partner, Crestwood Associates.</a></p><p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/01/year-end-tips-for-erp-customers/">Year End Tips for ERP Customers</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/11/year-end-closing-tips-in-microsoft-dynamics-gp-payroll-module/" rel="bookmark">Year-End Closing Tips in Microsoft Dynamics GP Payroll Module</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2012/01/frustrated-when-closing-the-2011-year-with-your-current-accounting-software-microsoft-dynamics-gp-can-help/" rel="bookmark">Frustrated When Closing the 2011 Year with Your Current Accounting Software? Microsoft Dynamics GP Can Help!</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/12/how-dynamics-gp-simplifies-year-end-processing-and-saves-your-sanity/" rel="bookmark">How Dynamics GP Simplifies Year End Processing (And Saves Your Sanity)</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/01/year-end-tips-for-erp-customers/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Successful Upgrade of Microsoft Dynamics GP 9 Healthcare Customer to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</title><link>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/12/successful-upgrade-of-microsoft-dynamics-gp-9-healthcare-customer-to-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/</link> <comments>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/12/successful-upgrade-of-microsoft-dynamics-gp-9-healthcare-customer-to-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 22 Dec 2010 04:37:31 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Crestwood Associates</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Dynamics ERP for Healthcare]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Area Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Microsoft GP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[illinois Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Great Plains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft GP Partner]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/?p=8099</guid> <description><![CDATA[A health care association in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago recently upgraded from Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010.  The organization has been using Microsoft Dynamics GP for over 10 years.  Because of both the tremendous additional functionality and the fact that mainstream support for Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 ends on January [...]<p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/12/successful-upgrade-of-microsoft-dynamics-gp-9-healthcare-customer-to-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/">Successful Upgrade of Microsoft Dynamics GP 9 Healthcare Customer to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/09/how-to-know-when-to-upgrade-your-erp-system/" rel="bookmark">How to Know When to Upgrade Your ERP System</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/09/success-story-investment-firm-combines-two-versions-and-upgrades-to-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/" rel="bookmark">Success Story:  Investment Firm Combines Two Versions and Upgrades to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/08/success-story-with-dexterity-customization-in-microsoft-dynamics-gp/" rel="bookmark">Success Story with Dexterity Customization in Microsoft Dynamics GP</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/associations.cfm">health care association</a> in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago recently upgraded from Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010.  The organization has been using Microsoft Dynamics GP for over 10 years.  Because of both the tremendous additional functionality and the fact that mainstream support for Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 ends on January 11, 2011, many customers recognize that now is an important time to pursue their system upgrades.</p><p>The association started by looking for a new partner to help it with its upgrade, provide ongoing support, and offer sound insight into how the application can best support its daily operations.  Crestwood Associates was selected from a field of several value-added resellers (VARs) and we are utilizing our Microsoft Dynamics GP Help Desk, our Client Education Manager, and our team of seasoned professionals to realize continued return on the client’s technology investment.</p><p>Included in its upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010, the client invested in a new server and sought to take advantage of Crestwood’s significant knowledge relating to the solution.  Through the years the finance team had experienced turnover and “application erosion” via the loss of product knowledge.  To address this topic, Crestwood’s <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/training.cfm">Client Education Manager</a> (CEM), who is both a CPA anda long-standing consultant on Microsoft Dynamics GP, provided valuable training on the core functionality most relevant to the operations.  The CEM also provided a business process review prior to the upgrade in order to shore up the business processes after the upgrade.  Going forward, the client will take advantage of Crestwood’s fully staffed and always available Support team to assist with quick questions and issues. </p><p>As part of our post-project review, the association noted that the Crestwood team members were incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and consistently professional.  We appreciated the opportunity to assist this association in this most critical initiative.  </p><p>By Mary Lenehan, Client Education Manager at Crestwood Associates , a <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/index.cfm">Microsoft Gold Certified Partner in the Chicago Illinois</a> area.</p><p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/12/successful-upgrade-of-microsoft-dynamics-gp-9-healthcare-customer-to-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/">Successful Upgrade of Microsoft Dynamics GP 9 Healthcare Customer to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2011/09/how-to-know-when-to-upgrade-your-erp-system/" rel="bookmark">How to Know When to Upgrade Your ERP System</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/09/success-story-investment-firm-combines-two-versions-and-upgrades-to-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/" rel="bookmark">Success Story:  Investment Firm Combines Two Versions and Upgrades to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/08/success-story-with-dexterity-customization-in-microsoft-dynamics-gp/" rel="bookmark">Success Story with Dexterity Customization in Microsoft Dynamics GP</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/12/successful-upgrade-of-microsoft-dynamics-gp-9-healthcare-customer-to-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Overview</title><link>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/10/microsoft-sql-server-reporting-services-overview/</link> <comments>http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/10/microsoft-sql-server-reporting-services-overview/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 13 Oct 2010 23:26:30 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Crestwood Associates</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[About Microsoft Dynamics GP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Financial Reporting]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Area Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chicago Microsoft GP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[illinois Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Great Plains]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft GP]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Illinois Microsoft GP Partner]]></category><guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/?p=6423</guid> <description><![CDATA[Microsoft has released Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 with almost 200 SQL Server Reporting Services (“SSRS” or “SRS”) reports.  They are accessible from the home page as a dashboard consisting of customizable metrics (SRS reports) with drilldown capabilities.  They can also be deployed to a Microsoft SharePoint Services site where consumers outside of the Dynamics GP [...]<p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/10/microsoft-sql-server-reporting-services-overview/">Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Overview</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/02/crystal-reports-vs-sql-server-reporting-services-clash-of-the-microsoft-dynamics-gp-reporting-titans/" rel="bookmark">Crystal Reports vs SQL Server Reporting Services:  Clash of the Microsoft Dynamics GP Reporting Titans</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/11/sql-server-reporting-services-versus-crystal-reports/" rel="bookmark">SQL Server Reporting Services Versus Crystal Reports</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/06/faq-integration-of-sql-server-reporting-services-with-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010/" rel="bookmark">FAQ: Integration of SQL Server Reporting Services with Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010</a></li></ol> <br/> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Microsoft has released Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 with almost 200 SQL Server Reporting Services (“SSRS” or “SRS”) reports.  They are accessible from the home page as a <a
href="http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/en/us/products/gp-overview.aspx">dashboard consisting of customizable metrics</a> (SRS reports) with drilldown capabilities.  They can also be deployed to a Microsoft SharePoint Services site where consumers outside of the Dynamics GP users can utilize these key performance indicators.  Microsoft Dynamics CRM relies on SRS reports as the key <a
href="http://crm.dynamics.com/en-us/technology/business-intelligence.aspx">business intelligence tool</a>.</p><p>Microsoft released <em>SQL Reporting Services </em>back in 2004 as a free download to SQL Server 2000 that allowed Web-based reporting using the SQL Server platform.  Report definitions are stored in two SQL Server databases, <strong>ReportServer </strong>and <strong>ReportServerTempDB</strong>, and displayed in Internet Explorer using Web services.  Given its name and storage technology, one common misnomer of SRS is that it can only report on data stored in SQL Server.  This is incorrect since SRS can report on virtually any data source, as long as an ODBC driver exists for the data to be output.  This includes, of course, SQL Server, but it also encompasses Microsoft Excel files, Microsoft Access databases, text files, Oracle, and just about any other data storage technology that exists.  If an ODBC driver exists, SRS can retrieve and display the data in textual format or with any number of included charts and graphs.</p><p>For anyone that has used the Access report writer tool, the SRS interface should appear similar.  In fact, reports written in Access can be imported into the SRS Integrated Development Environment (“IDE”) and converted to the SRS report definition language (“RDL”).  The data sources would need to be changed since the reports are being pulled out of the Access environment into SRS, but the general layout of the report, which many users say is one of the more difficult aspects of report writing, would remain.  Defining a data source in SRS follows the now-standard Microsoft method of encapsulating connection information by prompting the user for the ODBC driver and credential information.  The DSN attached to the ODBC driver must only exist on the server, thereby giving SRS and the related reports a minimal footprint on the client machines (more later).</p><p>SQL Reporting Services operates under three principles:  data sources, data sets, and presentation.  The most granular level of definition with an SRS report is the data source, which defines the location of requested data.  Data sets, on the other hand, are tied to data sources and define the data that will be pulled.  These are synonymous with <em>queries</em>.  The presentation or <em>rendering</em> of an SRS report pulls data from the data sets and lays it out on the report as tables, lists, and free-form formats.  Multiple data sets can be sorted and grouped on one report, allowing heterogeneous data to be displayed in a homogeneous fashion.  Adding to the power of SRS is the ability to have dynamic parameters—having one or more parameters define the possible values of one or more other parameters—displayed to the end user to drive the data retrieval.  Parameters themselves can be tied to data sets, giving the users lists of values for a given entry.  An example of this is a data set that pulls a list of customers from a data source and displays these as a drop-down list to the user.  We could then tie a dynamic parameter to this list such that selecting a customer will fill another parameter with a list of possible invoices for the selected customer.  Selecting from the list of invoices—a parameter tied to another data source—will populate a report displaying the invoice in a tabular format in a Web page, thereby displaying the power of SRS.</p><p>Reports written in SRS are delivered via two Internet Information Services (“IIS”) sites:  <strong>ReportServer </strong>and <strong><a
href="http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/reporting.aspx">Report Manager</a></strong>.  The <strong>ReportServer </strong>site is a collection of Web services that can be called from applications to render reports on the Web and in a number of other flat formats, such as PDF files and Excel files.  (Microsoft SQL Server 2008 also allows reports to be rendered as Word documents.)  The <strong>Report Manager </strong>site is the out-of-the box Web site containing all deployed reports, organized as a folder hierarchy with a full security model.  User would browse to an internal site with a name similar to <a
href="http://srsserver/Reports">http://SRSServer/Reports</a>, and this site would display the data sources, top-level folders, and any reports deployed (published) to the root site.  Navigating through SRS is identical to navigating Web sites, which makes for a nominal learning curve for end users.  Further, since all reports are deployed to a centralized server, there is no need to update client machines whenever a data source or report definition changes.  The only component downloaded to the clients is an ActiveX applet that allows local printing and previewing of the SRS reports.  This feature was added in Service Pack 2 of the initial release of SRS and has been maintained in all subsequent versions.  The SRS site can also be made into a domain-enabled extranet to allow users outside the corporate firewall to view and print the deployed reports.</p><p><a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/dynamics-GP-reporting.cfm">Developing SRS reports</a> can be tricky for folks without a report design or development background since it uses a variation of the Microsoft Visual Studio IDE called Business Intelligence Development Studio, colloquially known as “BIDS.”  However, with a bit of training, it is not difficult to learn to use the SRS tools.  Creating a new report invokes the New Report Wizard, which takes the user through the sequence of required steps, including the creation and definition of data sources and data sets, to create a new SRS report.  The report can then be modified and tested from within the development environment to make certain data is retrieved, sorted, grouped, and displayed properly.  To publish the reports to the reporting server, the server configuration needs to be entered as part of a setup option and then the report can be deployed via the <strong>Deploy </strong>context menu option.  This activity will deploy reports to the configured location for the current environment specification, whether it is <strong>Production</strong>, <strong>Debug</strong>, or <strong>Local</strong>.  These options allow different SRS servers to be set up for development (<strong>Local</strong>), testing/QA (<strong>Debug</strong>), and production (<strong>Production</strong>) scenarios.  The environment specifications can be changed and new ones can be added to ensure that in-progress SRS reports do not accidentally overwrite production SRS reports.  However, since SRS is tied to the Visual Studio IDE, source code control can be wrapped around reporting projects, allowing current versions to be rolled back to previous versions within the IDE in the event of an accidental overwrite.</p><p>Finally, SRS is much more than a simple reporting engine.  Programmatic logic can be incorporated into reports so that launching a report will invoke other activities.  An example of this is to update a “times printed” column in a SQL database every time a report is printed.  By nature, SRS is an extensible technology via .NET assemblies or SQL Server stored procedures.  Given this extensibility, entire applications can be written solely using SRS and deployed to the Report Manager Web site to drive business processes, such as automatically running a data migration/integration from one SQL Server to another SQL Server.  E-mail can be sent automatically whenever reports are printed and, since SRS is a Web application, hyperlinks can be included in the published reports to make the reports truly dynamic and data driven.  Additionally, sub-reports can be added to published reports and all of these components working in concert provide a rich reporting and BI experience.</p><p>Crestwood has been working with SQL Reporting Services since it was released in 2004 and has written hundreds of reports for Dynamics GP and CRM.  Please contact us at <a
href="mailto:sales@crestwood.com">sales@crestwood.com</a> for more information about using this tool.</p><p>Written by William Schroeder, Practice Manager, at your <a
href="http://www.crestwood.com/index.cfm">Chicago, IL area Gold Certified Microsoft Dynamics partner</a>.</p><p><a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2010/10/microsoft-sql-server-reporting-services-overview/">Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Overview</a> is a post from: <a
href="http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com">ERP Software Blog</a></p><h2>Related Posts</h2><ol><li><a
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