Cloud Computing

Although many of us already suspected this to happen sooner than later, the word is out! An announcement was made while in Atlanta that each of the ERP products will be available on the Windows Azure platform in their next release. That means that future versions of Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, and Microsoft Dynamics SL will all take advantage of this new platform to allow customers unparalleled flexibility in deploying cloud solutions throughout their organizations.

E-learning

Dale Scruggs from Dale Carnegie & Associates presented a workshop, “Succeeding in the Recovering Company” and discussed the speedy growth of e-learning. New products are sold and delivered online and businesses are expected to leverage the technology out there while also trying to engage their employees. Whether your company is providing e-learning or taking part in an online class for your job, it’s important to note this trend is not going away.

Microsoft Dynamics® GP

Pam Misialek, Senior Product Manager of Microsoft Dynamics GP presented GP’s general session and shared a few updates. One of which was around Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2. The new version is releasing May 1^st, 2011 and comes with new features such as online travel and expense reporting, business analyzer, and email customizations.

If you were able to attend Convergence this year, please share your takeaways from this year’s conference. Was it all you had dreamt it would be? What would you like to see more of? Either way, we would love to hear your thoughts.

By Rimrock Corporation, Toronto Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

Warm Climate at Convergence 2011 Brings Exciting Microsoft Announcements is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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1. Appropriate Planning- Appropriate planning for implementation and future upgrades gives you financial and process management insight needed to a successful project. Make sure to define your objectives, concrete goals, and timelines in order to stay on track and keep focused.
2. Executive Support – It’s extremely important for you and your CEO to take full ownership of the implementation project in order for everything to go smoothly and to make sure you cover all the bases.
3. Proper Training- True for almost anything, proper training from the get go is essential to streamline business processes. Everyone within your organization has to be on the same page and understand the system to ensure efficiency. Microsoft Dynamics GP is extremely user friendly, but there are lots of tips and tricks out there. Make sure you’re aware of everything.
4.  Community Resources- There are oodles of online forums, blogs, and user groups that can help you through a number of issues. They are a great resource to keep at hand if you need a quick answer to a question.
   1. Microsoft Dynamics Community site
      http://community.dynamics.com/ or http://community.dynamics.com/forums/32.aspx
5. Dedicated Partner- A dedicated partner you can trust is crucial when changing your business processes. A partner should be there for you through training, implementation, and ongoing support to ensure your user experience is helping your business succeed.

Mix these ingredients together and you’re sure to enjoy the best Microsoft Dynamics GP you’ve ever “tasted”. We are a Chicago IL Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Microsoft Inner Circle member serving the Midwest specializing in the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics SL and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Follow us on Twitter at @Sikich_Tech. We work with over 4000 throughout the Midwest in a variety of industries with a focus on manufacturing and distribution, professional services, education, not-for-profit and multi-site international organizations.

By Sikich, a leading St. Louis Microsoft Dynamics GP partner

Cooking with Microsoft Dynamics GP: Five Ingredients to Ensure Success! is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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As is the cycle of any career, you will find yourself one day either needing help with your current processing or wanting to know more about it.  Microsoft Dynamics and your Microsoft partner (Value Added Reseller) provide options of where to turn when these situations arise.

Support for Microsoft Dynamics GP:

Customers that are current on their Microsoft Dynamics GP Enhancement Plan have access to CustomerSource – a Microsoft website abundant in resources.  Knowledge Base is a self-support tool accessed on the website that is the same support database used every day by senior support technical engineers.  It contains thousands of technical tips, solutions to common problems, usability recommendations, and answers to frequently asked questions.  It is useful not only for troubleshooting errors and issues, but also is a resource for finding useful how-to descriptions with step-by-step instructions.

Microsoft also provides assisted support to Microsoft Dynamics GP customers.  Depending on the plan a customer chooses, support can be requested directly from a Microsoft engineer ranging from a pay per incident basis up to unlimited support with a one-hour guaranteed response time!

Your Microsoft partner (Value Added Reseller) is also an excellent resource for support.  Since they did the implementation of your system, they will have a clear understanding of your specific business processes and should be able to answer your questions quickly.  At The Resource Group we have an experienced team of consultants and systems engineers, along with dedicated in-house technical support.  Trouble-shooting through to resolution can be provided both remotely and onsite when needed.

Training for Microsoft Dynamics GP:

One of the biggest values of a Microsoft Dynamics GP Enhancement Plan is unlimited access to online training for Microsoft Dynamics GP.  This benefit is delivered through the CustomerSource website.  It enables you to easily find the training you need using learning plans as a training roadmap.  Downloadable training materials can be used as a study tool or as a desktop reference.  Best of all – receive free classroom-equivalent online training on specific modules and topics through the eLearning catalog!

Your Microsoft partner provides valuable options for training as well, especially if you are looking for local, in-person training.  The Resource Group offers Microsoft Dynamics GP classroom training located at our Renton office (near Seattle).  Our updated training center promotes the ability to focus on the course topic, away from distractions.  A wide variety of courses are offered regularly, and you are able to repeat any class for up to one year after the original class date at no additional charge!

When classroom training does not fit your timeline, you can also schedule onsite custom training with a Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant.  This provides the ability for you to create your own agenda and work with your own data set.

Microsoft and Microsoft partners work together to enable customers to receive the help and training they need – and with options to fit each customer’s budget, timeline, and preferences!

To learn more about support and training options for Microsoft Dynamics GP customers, contact The Resource Group at 425-277-4760.

By Sheri Carney, Customer Support Lead
The Resource Group – Seattle, Washington Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

Getting The Help You Need: Options for Microsoft Dynamics GP Support And Training is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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Nearly everyone receives initial training when Microsoft Dynamics GP is first implemented, but how many of us continue to train on the finer points of GP? A great article on MSDynamicsWorld.com lists out pros and cons of GP training and its methods.  Check it out and learn how you can work smarter with Microsoft Dynamics GP:

Types of GP Training

Classroom (onsite or offsite)

Pros

• Interaction with others provides immediate response to questions
• Formal classroom setting requires participation and completion of work on a set schedule
• Isolation from distractions (unless you allow your cell phone, Blackberry, laptop, etc to distract you in class)
• Networking
• Training delivered generally by professional trainers      

Cons

• More costly than other training methods
• Requires time away from the workplace
• May require overnight travel
• Available only on someone else’s schedule 

E-Learning

Pros

• Nominal or no cost
• Can be done in the comfort of your pajamas
• Can be done anytime
• Doesn’t require travel
• Microsoft training materials are excellent, high-quality resources, written by experts in the community

Cons

• No interaction with others, no immediate feedback to questions/comments
• Can be done anytime – no structure forcing you to complete in a given timeframe
• Can be easily sidetracked with distractions at work or at home
• You’re pretty much on your own and get out of it what you put into it

For more information about Microsoft Dynamics GP Classroom training, check out this link and for E-Learning opportunities, follow this link . 

I encourage and challenge you to think about how training can make you and your organization more competitive in the market place.  This is particularly important as we’re exiting the recession. Companies need more output from the same number of employees because business is picking up, but employers are still reluctant to hire until they’re sure the recession is over. Stay ahead of the game with GP training!

As an organization focused on customer success, Blue Moon Industries is dedicated to helping businesses define, implement, and support information systems to meet their strategic business goals. Blue Moon Industries is a leading provider of ERP systems based on Microsoft Dynamics GP software and is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner with competencies in Microsoft Business Solutions and ISV Software Solutions.

By: Blue Moon Industries – Rhode Island Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

Working Smart- Stay Ahead Of The Game With Microsoft Dynamics GP Training is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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With Microsoft Dynamics products, training webinars are available on CustomerSource 24×7.  The class material is broken down into setup, daily routines, reporting and inquiry.  Dynamics GP General Ledger, for example, has 6 webinars:  Overview and Setup Procedures, Daily Procedures, Additional Functionality, Maintaining Records, Period-End Procedures, and Appendix.

While new clients use on-site consulting and training during setup and initial implementation, the online training webinars are good for re-training – I recommend you watch these webinars 3 to 6 months after your initial implementation.  The webinars are also an excellent introduction for new employees; with the webinar being “on demand” they can watch it concurrent with use of the system.

An excellent 7-minute presentation points out why most training “doesn’t stick.”  With on-line Dynamics training, you can overcome this problem.

Computeration re-structures the textbook training provided by Microsoft into a topic schedule that works extremely well for our clients during implementation.  We start new clients with a Navigation class that covers the basics of logon, navigation, home page setup, inquiry, posting and reporting.  These functions are so similar across all modules, the class is a real time-saver!

 We teach a separate 6-hour class on setup options for the core financial modules and another for the distribution modules.  Then we teach daily procedures and maintaining records for each module the day before implementation of the module, keeping the material fresh in mind.

And to wrap up training on each module, we provide a Closing class that covers month-end and year-end procedures, again by financial or distribution module group.  The structure of our classes helps our clients learn and retain the material when they need it most.

Turn to Computeration in the Pacific Northwest—Idaho, Oregon, and Washington—for your Microsoft Dynamics GP support and training.

by Computeration, an Idaho Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

A Great Advantage To Owning Microsoft Dynamics GP—Reinforced Training is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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Too often training is poorly planned or sloppy due to time or budget constraints.  Neglecting this step is a mistake that can prove very costly for the company in the long run.

Training during implementation
The more the implemented management system monitors company operations, the more training should be planned, since it will affect the members of your staff that much more.  For example, if you implement a project accounting solution, your project managers should be as well trained on the new system as your accounting staff.  You should also take into account the ability of employees to use computerized tools.  For example, if you install an integrated solution for manufacturing and factory workers must enter production data into the system,  it is possible that some of them may have difficulty using a computer.   Since the data that these workers are supposed to enter is crucial for the proper performance of your system, you must ensure that employees are properly trained during implementation.

At this stage, training should also include methods that ensure maximum system performance.  System managers should be trained not only to use the system correctly but also to take advantage of all its capabilities according to your company’s special needs.  Your choice of management system will also have an impact on training.  If you opt for a management system such as Microsoft Dynamics GP, your staff will more quickly become familiar with the application because it offers an interface similar to Outlook and Microsoft Office.

If your company has an IT department, employees who work there should receive training when the ERP applications are installed.  Your provider should be sure to provide all the technical and practical information.  For example, knowledge can be conveyed by demonstration, by explaining the interaction of the components and by testing the installation of each product at the time of implementation.   Following this training, your IT managers should be able to install, support and understand the installations on both the server and client side.

The post-implementation training
Specific training should be offered by your staff to update their knowledge and deepen their use of the applications.  In this sense, your provider should be able to offer short training courses – at the company’s offices or even on the Web – presenting new products, advanced features or updates.  Make sure you include in your annual budget amounts to cover this training because technology evolves rapidly and your staff will need to update their knowledge to stay effective with the management system.

In conclusion, underestimating your staff’s training needs could be costly to your company.  Conversely, a well-trained staff will reach the goals you established when you chose the new business management solution.  Make sure your provider offers excellent training service and that their staff is competent.  By planning your training needs, it’s a safe bet that you will achieve the expected results when you purchase your new management system.

by Jean-Claude Coutu, JOVACO  Montreal Microsoft GP Partner 

Training: An Essential Key To The Success Of Any New ERP Software Implementation is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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