While there are many articles written on HOW to find a local Microsoft Dynamics GP partner with the best qualifications to support your Microsoft Dynamics GP system, there still remains an outstanding question of “WHY do I need a partner to support my ERP system?”

While working with our own GP customers for over a decade, we have heard these comments over and over again during our implementations, support calls, and ongoing emails.

1.       How did you know what I meant?

2.       I didn’t know I could do it that way!

3.       That’s great news and just what I could use!

4.       That’s why I should upgrade!

5.       I’m so glad I called you ~ you saved me so much time!

As a Microsoft Dynamics GP partner, we work intimately with each of our customers, designing the proper implementation plan, business processes, and automation techniques that will work best for the type of business, size of company, and IT knowledge of the employees we discover they have.  We use our decades of knowledge in ERP systems and the customer’s specific industry to meld a perfect match of computerization and personal touch while streamlining their procedures.  

In doing so, we get to know each of our customers ~ their individual businesses; their idiosyncrasies; their preferences; their expectations; and their outstanding challenges.  It doesn’t cost extra, these are just benefits of using a consistent, certified, local partner to implement and support your Microsoft Dynamics GP system.

So, why have our customers said “This is the benefit of having a partner” ! (This link will provide you with specific customer examples ). 

We truly work with our customers to continue to provide them information, assistance, and consulting ~ when we know they could use it!  That is why we provide Newsletters, Blogs, and continuing correspondence with each of them!

By Abra Lynne Gilman, Borek Business Solutions ~ Oregon Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

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In researching why customers have chosen Dynamics GP over Sage MAS products – and even switched to Dynamics GP after implementing MAS 90 and 500,  we have found some truly revealing differences in the products.  These differences concern both large multi-location companies all the way to smaller family-run businesses who rely on ease of use and ability to connect to industry standard products at a low cost. 

 Familiar/Intuitive Windows – If businesses are already using Microsoft Office and Windows, then the learning curve for new implementations is made much shorter and simpler, because the users are familiar with the windows, toolbars, and the products Microsoft Dynamics GP integrate with ~ like Excel, Word, and Outlook! 

 Commitment to Technology and Development - Microsoft Dynamics GP is backed by technology that gives you the speed, power, and functionality to grow with your business. Microsoft’s level of investment in business software is unprecedented in the accounting software industry. Wouldn’t you rather run your company on an accounting system that is more likely to embrace and leverage new technologies as they emerge?

 User Processing Made Quicker and Easier – With Mas90 and 200 you have to post in batches at all times, and kick people off the system in order to post.  Case Studies have shown a 25% speed increase in processing invoices and sales orders within Dynamics GP over the MAS products.  It is not easy to close the month in MAS as the Month-end closing is procedure driven and you cannot deviate. You must complete step 1 before moving to step 2. With Microsoft Dynamics GP closing a month can be a simple as ticking a box…and if you need to re-open the month, un-tick the box.  As far as multi-national accounting processing is concerned, only 17% of the user requirements were met out of the box with MAS as compared with 84% of the requirements immediately being met with Microsoft Dynamics GP.

 Inherent Integrations – MAS90 is not “Mapi” compliant. What does that mean?  Well, being Mapi compliant means you can easily generate an email document from within Dynamics GP. Also, MAS hasn’t earned the Microsoft Backoffice logo. Why? Not enough testing. This Logo indicates that there has been enough testing on the Microsoft SQL server and that they found it to be a stable SQL server solution.  MAS doesn’t use Microsoft Biztalk and XML compliance protocols. Having industry standard XML capability means you can build that electronic (EDI) supply chain with your customers and vendors far easier and for less money.  That’s what Microsoft Dynamics achieves!  MAS doesn’t use COM components so is not taking advantage of more efficient programming techniques that are out there.

 Flexibility in Setup – What is the Maximum Periods in a fiscal year in MAS products?  13, while Microsoft Dynamics GP can handle 368 periods in a fiscal year.  And the number of times a budget can be modified?  Well, it’s 3 for MAS and 99,999 for Dynamics GP.  What about the number of open periods in the General Ledger?  That would be 26 for the MAS products and 99,999 for Dynamics GP. 

 To read about some of the advantages other companies have achieved and differences they have found, you can go to http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/product/compare/sage.mspx and gain access to several case studies.

 So why make the switch now?  Well, Microsoft has given you TWO huge financial advantages to go along with the accounting advantages! 

1.  If you are a current SAGE customer, you can receive up to 50% off the license price of Microsoft Dynamics GP users and modules!
2. With your initial purchase, you can receive up to 25% of the original price as a rebate to use for your implementation and training services with your Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner!

** Full offer details are available through Borek Business Solutions.

By: Abra Lynne Gilman – Oregon Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

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What really makes a good VAR ~ or what should your Microsoft Dynamics GP partner be doing for you?  Well, in my expert opinion, they should at least be…

1.  Communicating with you through regular newsletters, emails, & phone calls.

2.  Sending you helpful Tips and Tricks to use with your current products.

3.   Providing free web-seminars on existing & new applications and their features.

4.   Sharing what you can get for FREE on the Microsoft Website-Dynamics GP on-line tutorials, access to technology support issues, links to updates.

5.   Living the values that they write in their marketing brochures — putting their clients first, keeping your interests and expenditures in mind, being available to you.

6.   Answering your support questions through both email or phone support with a direct connection to many expert product consultants.

7.   Continuing their education in the Microsoft Dynamics modules, tools, & certification programs.

8.   Holding both themselves & your projects in the highest level of integrity, treating all individuals and companies with respect.

9.   Exceeding your expectations by being PROactive with upcoming renewals, releases & downloads, and closing procedures-not Reactive back-peddling.

10.  Creating mutually beneficial relationships based on professionalism & TRUST.

11.  Communicating the current Microsoft Promotions available to you.

12.   Promoting creativity, initiative and personal growth within their own organization, allowing their employees to be empowered to make the right decisions on your behalf.

13.  Modifying your system the way you need it to process effectively and efficiently-whether that is achievable by configuration settings, modifications/development, integrations/conversions or additional training.

 Before you choose an accounting software partner, make sure they can provide ALL of these essentials for you ~ for a partner that will pass the test look at  BOREK BUSINESS SOLUTIONS!

By Abra Lynne Gilman, Borek Business Solutions – Oregon Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

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Do you have trouble searching the internet (Google) and finding exactly what you were looking for?  For example, you want to find a Great Plains partner who sells and implements the Microsoft Dynamics GP product line in your area, but you keep getting a link to the biggest reseller for other Microsoft services instead?  Try some of these tips, and then read below to see a link  for some additional tips noted on one Dynamics reseller’s blog.

 Tips for Google search that may not be obvious to you:

• Using the + Term.  When you search for often used words, like how, where, or the, they will be ignored. But if you want to have them in your search string you have to put a ’+’ directly to their left, e.g. “+how +to Dynamics GP product demo”
• Using the – Term. Use this when you want to exclude pages with certain words. That is most useful when you search for someone who has the same name as a celebrity, or is known for more than one reason e.g. “Bill Gates -Microsoft -you -tube -senate -whistleblower +foundation”
• Using ‘*’. Replaces one or more words, e.g.  “Microsoft Dynamics * consulting Eugene, Oregon”  (Yes, that will  lead you to our award-winning company!

More Google Search tips available at this blog.

By Abra Lynne Gilman, Borek Business Solutions – Oregon Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

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