After Y2K, we realized that much of the panic was not warranted, but most of the actual software upgrades were. The world was changing, and many companies had been trudging along with antiquated software for far longer than they should have been anyway.

A decade later, a multitude of businesses are again in a similar position.  Software is much more sophisticated than it was ten years ago, but many are still using their old Y2K-ready ERP/ accounting software.

2011 is an excellent time to upgrade, and Microsoft Dynamics GP offers “next gen” features such as SQL Server database management, business intelligence analysis and reporting, hybrid cloud computing, and integration with the latest Microsoft software and services, including SharePoint, Office, and Outlook.  Above all, using modern ERP software ensures your company stays in compliance with new accounting and reporting standards, which have certainly matured over the past ten years.

According to George Mackiewicz, President of CAL Business Solutions: “I feel the biggest advance in ERP systems in the last 10 years since Y2K has been the flexibility for users to modify their own screens and reports without customization.  They can change the screens, drag and drop columns, build reports and more and it only effects their individual  views. Users now have the freedom to create a different experience and change the way they want to view information, without the help of a programmer and expensive customization. For example, the last time I did a demo of Microsoft Dynamics GP with SalesPad for a Connecticut distribution company, and showed them how each user can change his screen without changing the system, this feature sold the system.”

In order to keep up with hardware advancements, some companies upgrade every other year.  Few, if any, would wait ten years to upgrade their servers, desktops, and laptops.  Why should software receive any less attention?  The perception is that implementing a new ERP solution will be painful and possibly even disastrous, but with proper planning and the help of a trusted Microsoft Dynamics partner, like CAL Business Solutions, at your side you can wash away most of those concerns.

With ERP now playing an even more pivotal role in the success of enterprise operations, 2011 is the perfect time to take the bold step into the next generation of ERP software.

By CAL Business Solutions, New England Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

Was Y2K The Last Time You Evaluated ERP Software? See What Has Changed in 2011. is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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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

Can I Run My Business In 1 Cloud? And By The Way, What Is “the cloud?” is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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By CAL Business Solutions – Connecticut Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

Sage CTO Admits: “Some of our products have fallen behind the technology curve” is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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We recently wrote a white paper about the cost of accounting software - and I had over 200 downloads in a little over a month! (trust me, this is a huge # in my world)  This is a sign to me that people are researching and planning and preparing for new accounting software purchases.  This is important because they say that the life span of accounting software is about 7-10 years and many companies upgraded to their current system to prepare for Y2K. So right now many people are overdue for a change and limping along on old technology, just waiting for their own “sign” that the economy is getting better.  I hope that time has come!

While we have added more new new clients this year than last year at CAL Business Solutions, I personally believe that when the economy does show concrete signs of stabilizing there will be a flood of activity for accounting software buyers.  And we are ready for the flood!

What does your business consider as a sign that the economy is recovering?  Leave a comment and let me know.

by CAL Business Solutions – Connecticut/Massachusetts Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

What Do You Consider a “Sign” of Better Economic Times Ahead? is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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Back in August 2008 Microsoft released this statement:

 “Microsoft Small Business Financials (SBF) will be officially discontinued, along with product support and maintenance, on January 11th, 2011. Sales to new customers of SBF 9.0 will end on January 1st, 2009. At this time, Microsoft has no current plans to introduce a new product to replace SBF. However, existing SBF customers do have many options that ensure their investment is secure while providing them a strong roadmap with the Microsoft Dynamics business applications moving forward.”

 So if you own Small Business Financials already you have 2 options:

 1) Keep using it! Heck, if it’s not broken don’t fix it. Microsoft will stop officially supporting it as of 2011 but there are still some VAR’s out there who will certainly take your money long into the future to keep the old system running.  (but probably not too many).

 2) Buy Microsoft Dynamics GP before June 26^th. Even if you can’t afford to install it right away, it is definitely the only time you will pay 10% of list price for any midmarket accounting software package. Ever!  In my opinion, some deals are just too good to pass up.    (See the full Microsoft Dynamics GP price list here)

 So contact us at CAL Business Solutions or your local Microsoft Dynamics GP partner and ask for details on the “Step up to Microsoft Dynamics® GP” offer before June 26^th!

Some Lucky People Can Get a 90% Discount on Microsoft Dynamics GP Licenses if They Act Fast! is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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