Microsoft Dynamics Convergence

Convergence Attendees: Continue the Learning!

ConvergenceTeam — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 22:55:00 GMT

Now that you've returned from Convergence 2013, be sure to continue the learning! In addition to viewing the session downloads and recordings, extend the value of your Convergence attendance by leveraging the enhanced learning opportunities that are available with online Hands on Labs. To take the labs, all you need is your computer, so set aside some time during your day – or night! – for this informative, hands on training.

To get started, log into the secure portion of the Convergence website (using the same login credentials as when you registered for the event--either your username and password OR your Microsoft account), and navigate to Schedule Builder; search by session type “Hands on Lab”. You can also filter by product to drill down even further. When you’ve found the lab you want to take, launch the lab by clicking on “View Lab”.

The 5-step Solution To ‘Information Overload’

Tabitha Baker — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:28:32 GMT

How do you avoid Convergence 2013 overload and ensure the best ideas actually come into action?

By Adra Match

Here in New Orleans attendees are being spoilt with so many great demos, talks and stands that it's going to be tough remembering all the interesting things you saw, all the people you met and all the ideas you had throughout the conference. Cognitive overload is common at conferences, especially those as epic as Microsoft's Convergence 2013.

Here’s some tips on how to remember your ideas and to put them into action:

1. Outsource your memory to Twitter

Kills two birds with one stone: Update your Twitter community (including all your new conference followers) with all the latest goings-on from the event and create a timeline of the key points, ideas and connections you made along the way.

By using the #Conv13 hashtag and by tagging people you meet at the event you can expand this note-taking into a public arena and boost your reach at the event too

We will be tweeting throughout the event from @AdraMatch – follow us for updates!

2. Make notes...and find them again!

A really great thing about Convergence is that they've created a mobile and tablet app that allows you to make notes and email them to yourself while also providing:

- Schedule Builder

- Session info

- Quick contact exchange

- Social media and more

You can download the handy app for free from the MS Convergence site.

3. More than notes - Put your 'cognitive surplus' to use

Putting your ideas into action requires more than just notes: it requires you to have time and space to organise your thoughts, test them out in practice, and then formalise them.

We call this “cognitive surplus’ time, and it has been used by companies such as Microsoft and Google to innovate a huge number of widely used products and processes. Read more about cognitive surplus and how to make the most of it...

You may not believe it – but allowing cognitive surplus time actually work wonders for innovating your business across the board. Plus it is especially useful for the post-conference follow-up period.

4. Did you know – heaps of time is lying about

You know the benefit of ERP automation, but there is one area that isn’t automated, and it can save your Finance Team heaps of time...every month. Streamline your financial close process for a faster, more reliable financial close without the typical “mad dash” and get that extra time.

Find out more about the Balancer software in our short presentation video and book your free trial today.

5. Frankie says Relax!

One of the most important things to remember when at a conference like Convergence 2013 is to relax at the end of the day and allow all your thoughts to settle. New Orleans is a wonderful city to be in: rich in sound, colours and flavours. Enjoy yourself a little and you will be surprised how much more you take in over the course of the conference. Here’s a few quick tips to gives you some of the those great New Orleans experiences on a short time-frame:

- Live music – Frenchman street

- Beignets – square Creole doughnuts (with no hole and powdered sugar) Café Monde is open 24hrs

- Test out the free pedicabs to see the real NOLA

- Dress up – get in to the spirit of Mardi Gras

If you'd like to unwind at the end of your Tuesday sessions come to our stand number AA113 from 4.30-6pm on Tuesday the 19th for a drink and wind-down. That's right, we've got a bar!

Miss Convergence this year? Check out Virtual Convergence! Keynote, general sessions and concurrent sessions on demand, for free!

Microsoft Dynamics Reimagines and Unites the Worlds of Business and IT

ConvergenceTeam — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:10:00 GMT

NEW ORLEANS — March 19, 2013 — Microsoft Corp. today opened a sold-out Microsoft Dynamics Convergence 2013 with a keynote address from Microsoft Business Solutions President Kirill Tatarinov featuring Microsoft Dynamics customers Chobani Inc., Habitat for Humanity International, Revlon Inc., Shock Doctor Inc. and Weight Watchers International Inc.

Speaking to more than 11,000 attendees, the largest in conference history, Tatarinov addressed how business leaders can reimagine the way they engage with customers, build brand relevance and collaborate with employees to stay ahead of the changing roles across all levels in business. Observing the increased influence of marketing and other areas of business over a company’s technology investments and the value of collaboration, Tatarinov reinforced the idea that business functions can work more effectively when they unite with their IT counterparts. Tatarinov noted that Microsoft Dynamics is uniquely positioned to serve as a catalyst for unity, and he announced new advancements in integrated marketing, embedded social capabilities, and new cloud and mobile scenarios enabled through Microsoft Dynamics solutions that will help businesses unite with their customers, unite their organizations, and unite their people and technology.

“To realize the promises and possibilities of a world ahead, organizations must be united” Tatarinov said. “Microsoft Dynamics solutions reimagine what’s possible for businesses, helping them unite to unlock innovation and creativity in people and to enable more meaningful experiences for their customers. When a business is truly united, great things happen.”

Revlon, one of the strongest consumer brand franchises in the world and a Microsoft Dynamics customer, brings the concept of unifying IT and business to life. The company is transforming the way people work and collaborate, starting by replacing 21 disparate business systems and 531 point systems with Microsoft Dynamics AX.

“The speed of beauty and glamour is unforgiving,” said David Giambruno, chief information officer of Revlon. “We are in a hypercompetitive market, and Microsoft Dynamics provides our employees with real-time information to access business-critical information virtually anywhere, anytime on almost any device, helping unite them with each other so they can innovate in a collaborative way across product development, manufacturing, sales and marketing.

Unite With Customers

Strengthening relationships by successfully engaging with customers is vital to business growth. Marketing, sales and customer service are essential to effective customer engagement, and the right business solution can unite these various functions. In addition, integrated marketing management has emerged as a critical strategy for companies that want to reach and engage with new customers while differentiating their brands, driving market excellence and making the most of their investments.

To help businesses achieve true integrated marketing, Microsoft announced a new version of the recently acquired MarketingPilot, which features a simplified user experience, a familiar look and feel, and seamlessly works with Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Through MarketingPilot, marketers get access to a complete marketing automation solution with rich business intelligence, enabling them to successfully plan, track and optimize customer interactions across digital, social and traditional channels. This capability, when combined with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, fulfills the Holy Grail of marketing: omnichannel marketing that enables top-line revenue growth while managing costs and measuring return on marketing investment. The new version of MarketingPilot will be available to customers in the United States in March 2013. Microsoft plans to make MarketingPilot available to additional international markets later this year. More information is available at https://community.dynamics.com/crm/b/crmconnection/default.aspx.

“Marketing is changing and evolving rapidly, and we need business solutions that help us grow top-line revenue while managing costs. Our marketing needs require us to engage and interact with our customers, while providing technical solutions to efficiently distribute the appropriate information to our dealers to complement and enhance the sales process,” said John Johnston, director, Digital Marketing at Volvo. “We’ve been using Microsoft Dynamics to better align our marketing and sales processes and are constantly developing our solutions to increase our sales potential and personalize our customer interactions.”

Microsoft’s vision is to deliver social monitoring and analytics features as an integral part of the user experience and provide these capabilities to all roles and functions in an organization. To help businesses analyze and act on market intelligence from social conversations, including measuring sentiment across a wide array of social channels, Microsoft today announced an initiative to seamlessly embed social monitoring capabilities across Microsoft Dynamics CRM offerings. This effort has been accelerated with the acquisition of Netbreeze GmbH, which delivers cutting-edge native language analytics combined with data mining, transactional and text analysis capabilities. More information is available at https://community.dynamics.com/crm/b/crmconnection/default.aspx.

Chobani, maker of America’s No. 1-selling yogurt brand, uses a wide range of Microsoft technologies, including Microsoft Dynamics AX and CRM to keep pace with its aggressive plans for future global growth. The company uses Microsoft Dynamics CRM to communicate and connect with its consumers around the clock.

“As our company grew, so did the volume of messages from consumers across the world. We receive hundreds of contact messages and phone calls daily,” said Maureen Hurley, vice president of information technology at Chobani. “Microsoft Dynamics solutions have enabled us to make that feedback actionable, better track and understand what our customers want, and continue to provide best-in-class service. This has helped us build deeper, more immediate connections with our fans and continue our growth.”

Chobani also recently opened a new domestic manufacturing facility in Twin Falls, Idaho — considered the world’s largest of its kind — and was able to bring it online with Microsoft Dynamics AX in just 27 days.

Unite With Technology

Microsoft today announced a set of new applications for phones and tablets, which will be available with the next update to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. Designed to be personal, social and immersive, these mobile applications will provide a more relevant experience based on people’s roles and devices, help them connect with their social networks, and provide an engaging and actionable experience. In addition to the Business Analyzer application, which is currently available in the Windows Marketplace, the company unveiled a new set of application capabilities for mobile usage, targeting the following:

• Expense management. Helps workers both capture and reconcile expenses while traveling, cutting down time and effort — meaning getting money back more quickly; helps organizations implement expense policies more seamlessly

• Time. Captures time on projects “on the go,” simplifying this administrative burden while providing businesses with the opportunity to improve working capital through decreased billing cycle times

• Approvals. Enables managers to approve business requests such as budget requests, time sheets, submitted expense reports and purchase requisition to cut down on administrative task and time spend

These applications will be available for Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets, Windows Phone 8, Android phones, and iOS phone devices.To ensure extensibility and encourage innovation, Microsoft is also releasing documentation for its mobile APIs to help customers and partners build their own mobile applications. Learn more about these new applications at http://blogs.msdn.com/b/dax.

In addition, Microsoft will deliver a mobile CRM sales application with the next Microsoft Dynamics CRM release in the second half of 2013. Optimized for tablets, this application will help people manage an opportunity from lead to close and easily connect with customers and colleagues, regardless of location. The application brings guided selling to Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets as well as the iPad. Businesses can configure this application, enabling them to tailor the experience to fit their sales processes and approaches.

Microsoft today announced the availability of the Community Technical Preview of the new Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services helping IT professionals simplify the application lifecycle experience. These services help organizations improve predictability of Microsoft Dynamics AX implementations by simplifying and standardizing implementation processes. They also allow them to proactively manage the application and reduce downtime. As an online service, Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services helps minimize an organization’s IT burden. Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 and Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 were released in Q4 2012 and were received positively by customers and partners. Enabled for the cloud, these solutions offer customers a complete choice of deployment both in the cloud and on-premises. In addition, these products will be available through partners to customers hosted on Windows Azure in June 2013.

Reaffirming the road map for Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft expects to release updates to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 in the second half of 2013. In addition to new mobile scenarios for phone and tablet devices, this release will also include capabilities such as warehouse management and transportation management, giving customers a real-time global view of supply chain operations. The company also reaffirmed availability of the next major release of Microsoft Dynamics AX in the cloud on Windows Azure and on-premises with early adoption programs commencing in 2014.

Microsoft Dynamics Momentum

Microsoft announced the latest Microsoft Dynamics CRM adoption numbers, with more than 3 million users and more than 39,000 customers. Microsoft Dynamics AX continues on a strong growth path with more than 18,000 customers and an increase of more than 50 percent license growth in North America in the last Microsoft fiscal quarter. Microsoft Dynamics also announced a number of global independent software vendor (ISV) partners supporting Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM, including Acorn Systems Inc., Bull, Flintfox International Ltd., Dominion, Hitachi Solutions Ltd., Hubwoo and XAPT Corp. These partners join Microsoft’s broad portfolio of other leading global ISVs, which view Microsoft Dynamics as a critical component in helping propel customers become Dynamic Businesses.

More Information

More information about Microsoft’s Dynamic Business vision can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics/about.aspx. More information and news from Convergence 2013 is available at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/presskits/dynamics. The opening keynote presentation and general session keynote speeches are available on the new virtual event platform for Convergence 2013 at http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/convergence. Those who want to follow and engage with the Microsoft Dynamics Twitter community can do so at @MSFTDynamics and @MSFTConvergence using #CONV13.

About Microsoft Dynamics

At the heart of every successful business are the people who make things happen. Microsoft Dynamics designs modern business solutions that empower individuals with intuitive tools that allow them to do their best work. Our proactive, easy-to-use business applications adapt to the way people and systems work, enabling businesses to rapidly deploy and be forward-looking in an ever-changing world.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.

We Have a Winner! 'Share Your Story' Contest Winner Announced

ConvergenceTeam — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:43:16 GMT

Congratulations to Jerry Weinstock from CRM Innovation LLC —winner of the Convergence 2013 Share Your Story contest! For being chosen as the People’s Choice award winner, he will receive a free all-event pass to Convergence 2014. Thanks to Jerry and all those who contributed their compelling stories about the amazing things that can happen during Convergence. Check out his excellent tale on the Convergence contest site, and don’t forget to wrap up any last-minute registration or event plans for an tremendous conference next week. See you in New Orleans!

Convergence 2013, a BIG DEAL for Partners

MetaViewer from Metafile — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:39:37 GMT

It’s the start of Convergence.

As the Metafile team makes our way to New Orleans for this year’s festivities, one thing is for sure, this year promises to scratch that creative itch inspired by recent technology updates and new product releases.

For the past four years, our team has attended the conference, and we always return home ready to reinvigorate our offerings and propel our customers’ businesses forward. Each year provides something new and different from the previous, making the trip a worthy investment for Partners eager to learn about new releases and how to best implement them based on customer and vertical needs.|

To say Convergence is a BIG DEAL would be an understatement and here are a few reasons why:

Exciting sessions and educational product demos. There is no better opportunity to learn about the future of product development than at Convergence. Each session uniquely addresses a specific offering under the Microsoft Dynamics solutions and provides key insights into what is coming down the pipeline. We are especially excited about the 60-minute Deep Dive Sessions that allow Partners to comb through new product offerings and access solution materials previously presented.
Great opportunities to network with peers and learn best practices. With product experts on hand and hundreds of partners under the same (expansive) roof, the real-time conversations with other partners and Microsoft experts provides invaluable, and sometimes impromptu, knowledge sharing.
The keynote speakers never disappoint. Bookending the numerous sessions, roundtables and activities are two keynote speakers that are sure to inspire all in attendance. This year former Secretary General of the United Nations and winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2001 (United Nations) Kofi Annan will deliver the Closing Keynote on Thursday, March 21.

As you can see, there are numerous benefits to attending Convergence, and we would love the opportunity to connect with you at our booth #531. Those who stop by will get a first look at the latest upgrades to our flagship solution, MetaViewer and how a Paperless ERP solution integrates with Microsoft Dynamics to maximize efficiency.

Nick Sprau, VP of Marketing
Metafile Information Systems, Inc.
www.metaviewer.com

Not Able to Attend Convergence 2013? Be a Virtual Attendee!

ConvergenceTeam — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 21:47:36 GMT

If attending Convergence 2013 wasn't in your budget this year, or schedule conflicts arose, never fear--Virtual Convergence is here! Virtual Convergence is our free online event experience. Beginning March 19, 2013, Virtual Convergence will live broadcast the event keynote and our product-focused general sessions, with integrated social media so you can join the conversation online. In addition, concurrent sessions and deep dive sessions will be available on Virtual Convergence within 24 hours of their designated time. You'll be able to view as much of the session content as you wish, picking up much of the same information and knowledge as in-person Convergence attendees. Virtual Convergence will remain available for 12 months following the event.

While Virtual Convergence can never replace the in person experience, by making select content available, we hope to raise awareness about Convergence and build momentum with your future attendance.

Attendee Sales Offer Announced

ConvergenceTeam — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 21:19:19 GMT

For a limited time, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, and Microsoft Dynamics SL existing customers who attend Convergence 2013 to be held in New Orleans, LA March 18-21, 2013, are eligible to receive a 20% discount on additional GP, NAV and SL users and/or modules meeting a minimum System Price List value of USD $2,400 (EUR €1800 for EU/EFTA countries). The discount may be applied across certain product line or edition transition fees.

For all the promotion details, including the terms and conditions, visit the Attendee Offer page.

"Upgrading and Deploying Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013” Session a Hot Ticket at Convergence

Tabitha Baker — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 04:43:00 GMT

Standing squarely amidst the swirl of rock stars, world leaders, and visionaries at Convergence this year will be Kelly Youells, one of the main reasons many customers come back to Convergence again and again.

Youells, a nine-year Convergence veteran and senior support escalation engineer, focuses on system and implementation issues for Microsoft Dynamics GP. In addition to staffing the Help Desk whenever possible, Youells will be leading the “Upgrading and Deploying Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013” concurrent session.

With more than 125 new enhancements in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013, Youells’ session will be one of the hottest tickets in town.

“The Web client is probably the most talked-about new feature in GP 2013,” said Youells. “Our customers want to know how it works, when they should consider it, and how to deploy a Web client environment.”

Youells says her favorite part of the Convergence experience includes connecting with customers and sharing knowledge.

“I’m really excited about going to Convergence and helping our customers with the questions they have, and sharing what we know so they can take that knowledge back to their organization and share with their users.”

IT and Systems Analysts, Register Now for Convergence 2013!

Four Reasons Why Metafile is Ready for Microsoft Convergence 2013

MetaViewer from Metafile — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:36:37 GMT

Year after year, the Microsoft Convergence Conference continues to be one of the most significant events on the Metafile calendar. It’s a wonderful opportunity to stay connected to others in the industry and share some of our expertise as well.

With Convergence 2013 New Orleans in a few weeks, here are several reasons why we at Metafile are eagerly packing our bags:

Sharing our Microsoft Dynamics expertise. On Wednesday, March 20 from 12:30p.m. – 1:30 p.m. in Room 291/292, Metafile’s Regional Sales Manager Doug Bertram will discuss how a “Paperless ERP” solution can bring control and visibility to your organization and help leverage your investment in Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, and Microsoft Dynamics SL. Attendees will learn how to bring organizational efficiencies to their business processes and better leverage an investment in Microsoft Dynamics.
Creating a dialogue with industry colleagues and prospects. One of the best aspects of Convergence is the opportunity to have real, substantial discussions with members of organizations who are looking for the right solution. At our booth (#531), our team will be on hand to take prospects step-by-step through the evaluation process to help determine if MetaViewer is right for their company.
Offering a sneak peek at the latest capabilities of Metafile’s MetaViewer solution. Without giving too much away, we are excited to showcase the brand new capabilities of MetaViewer, which will be unveiled for the first time at Convergence 2013. Those who stop by our booth will get a first look at the latest upgrades as our team showcases how a Paperless ERP solution integrates with Microsoft Dynamics to maximize efficiency.
Hearing the latest news from the Microsoft Dynamics team. Each year, Microsoft delivers exciting and dynamic (pardon the pun) keynotes that help inform Metafile’s strategic direction and product offerings. Convergence 2013 promises to be a big year, and we’re looking forward to hearing Microsoft’s thoughts on how cloud, mobility and Big Data will impact the Dynamics community.

This is just a quick look at what we are looking forward to this year, but what are you anticipating the most at Convergence 2013?

By Nick Sprau, VP of Marketing
Metafile Information Systems, Inc.
www.metaviewer.com

Tips for Navigating the Expo @ Convergence

ConvergenceTeam — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 21:52:00 GMT

By Tonya Jones

The Expo at Convergence is analogous to a software and services candy store….lots of amazing technology and services to compliment and/or improve the functionality of your Dynamics business systems. Just about every business process is represented in the Expo with an accompanying solution to make you a hero back home at the office. Here are some tips that I’ve used that have helped me navigate through the Expo – I hope you find them helpful as well.

First, make a list of any gaps that your company has relative to business processes or functionality and prioritize the list. Next, review the layout of the Expo…there should be one in the booklet which comes with your badge. There is a larger version available in the conference literature you receive at check-in. Map out those exhibitors that will address your needs and make sure to visit those when you first hit the exhibit hall.

If your schedule permits, try to hit the Expo when it first opens for the day as it can become rather crowded as the day progresses…and you won’t have to rush through conversations due to queues of other attendees. Once you have had a chance to meet with all of the vendors, you may want to schedule time for more thorough discussions during the week for those that you’re seriously considering. Make a point to attend the Expo Reception on Monday evening as this provides another opportunity to speak with potential ISV’s in depth…..if there are lines, don’t worry..there is plenty of food and drinks to help pass the time while you wait. You can also check out ISV Central’s website for information on ISV products for the Dynamics communities .

Another thing to keep in mind while visiting the Expo - be sure to stop by your respective User’s Group booth. They can possibly provide you with additional assistance in your search. Also, it’s just good to touch base with them to check on roundtable discussions or just networking. Here are the links to the respective user groups… www.axug.com; www.crmug.com ; www.gpug.com; www.navug.com; http://www.solomonusersgroup.com

Convergence provides an incredible chance to network with other users as well as find those niche ISV’s that can help eliminate bottlenecks or issues in your business. Take advantage of the opportunities in the Expo to meet and network with others. Have fun and enjoy the conference!

Tonya Jones is with WC Bradley IT

Check It Out: Attendee Details Now Available

ConvergenceTeam — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:18:21 GMT

Registered attendees: it’s time to dig into the details. We’ve launched a new Attendee Info page on the Convergence website that contains housekeeping and information details you should know before you arrive in New Orleans. And for those that are concerned with our environmental footprint, we’ve posted information on the Environmental Sustainability initiatives that we deploy at the event.

In addition, we’ve launched a new Networking page, so that you can review all the various ways – both structured and informal—for you to make connections at Convergence.

Stay tuned to the Convergence website as we continue to roll out information and attendee tools to enhance your event experience!

Plan Ahead! How to Get the Most out of Convergence

ConvergenceTeam — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:28:00 GMT

by Marc Allman

Convergence is a whirlwind of activity. It is four days of volunteer opportunities, keynotes, educational sessions, interactive discussions, expo hall exhibits, partner dinners, and most importantly, networking! Sadly, you can’t do it all. A little advance planning, however, can ensure that you’ll get the most out of the week.

Here are some tips that I’ve picked up over the years at past Convergences:

- Bring a flashlight – As with any international event in New Orleans, there’s a chance that the lights will go out at a crucial moment (maybe during the second half of Kofi Anan’s keynote speech), thus shifting the momentum of the whole event. ;)

- Know why you’re going – Know some of your goals for Convergence in advance. Poll your boss and coworkers. Hopefully reason number one for attending doesn’t involve Bourbon Street. Maybe you want to learn about what’s new in the next version of your ERP. Maybe you want to solve a specific challenge your company is facing. Knowing what you want out of Convergence will help you make smart choices when planning.

- Plan your session schedule in advance – I use the Convergence Schedule Builder to pick any and all sessions that might interest me. I’m not too discerning at this point – I’ll often double or even triple book myself for any given time slot. Then I send all of the sessions over to my Outlook calendar using the sync tool.

- Make game-time decisions – With my options already narrowed by what I sent to my calendar from the Schedule Builder, I can make an easy decision on which session to attend based what I’m feeling at the time. If nothing sounds good at the time, head to the Convergence Experience Center.

- You can retake a class, but you can never relive a party – What was true in college is true at Convergence. At Convergence, though, concurrent sessions are “classes” and interactive discussions are “parties”. Remember: concurrent sessions are recorded and available to you after Convergence. Interactive discussions are not recorded! Once they’re over, all that’s left is the knowledge you’ve gained and the valuable connections you’ve made. When you have a schedule conflict, always go with the interactive discussion!

- Be prepared to throw it all out – Just when you get into a groove at Convergence, an amazing opportunity will present itself. Maybe you’ll meet another user who’s already solved that problem you’re having. Maybe you’ll meet the Microsoft program manager who developed your favorite feature. If a networking opportunity throws your schedule for a loop, just go with it! You can always get back on track later.

There will be 10,000+ unique Convergence schedules this year. Make yours the best by planning ahead!

Marc Allman is Chief Operating Officer at AMS Controls Inc.

Counting down to the Convergence Closing Celebration: Spark The Future!

ConvergenceTeam — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:43:17 GMT

We hope you’ve made plans to join us as we cap off what’s sure to be a terrific Convergence 2013 with a fantastic closing celebration! The Convergence Closing Celebration will take place on Thursday, March 21 from 7:30-11:00pm at the Woldenberg Riverfront Park located in the heart of the city. You’ll enjoy great local cuisine, refreshing beverages, fabulous music, and exclusive access to the city’s state-of-the-art aquarium.

And after 9:00pm, chart-topping, multi-platinum rock band Matchbox Twenty takes the stage! The concert will be held on the Great Lawn with the beautiful Mississippi River as the backdrop. You definitely won’t want to miss this amazing concert and celebration – it’s the perfect way to bring Convergence to a close and spark a bright future with friends and colleagues!

(An informational flyer with a detachable wristband will be handed out at the Registration Desk at the Convention Center upon conference check-in that will include more information about guest passes, transportation, weather and other details.)

If You Had the Chance, What Would You Ask Kofi Annan?

ConvergenceTeam — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:05:22 GMT

The great news is: you DO have the chance! Our keynote speaker on Thursday, March 21, Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of United Nations, will be sharing his worldly perspectives with us and we’d like to ensure that he covers the topics that you’re most interested in. Take a few minutes today to send off an email to us with your questions and--your question just may be discussed!

A Few Tips and Tricks for Convergence

ConvergenceTeam — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:16:00 GMT

By Linda Reno

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you get the most out of Convergence.

My top tip is to PLAN. The Convergence web site has great tools to help you prepare to get the most out of your Convergence experience. I use Schedule Builder (available from the My Convergence menu on the Convergence web site) to plan which sessions I want to attend. Schedule Builder gives you access to the session catalog so you can review session descriptions, skill level, intended audience, etc. and flag the sessions you are interested in. Flagging a session builds a schedule in the My Schedule section of Schedule Builder and your schedule can be printed or it can be synced to an Internet Calendar or Outlook calendar. I go through and flag all of the sessions I am interested in and then use the My Schedule section to see where I have conflicts and determine how I may be able to address the conflicts with sessions that are repeated. I don’t necessarily eliminate all of the conflicts so I can easily adjust my schedule while I am at Convergence.

Many of the presentations that will be used in sessions will be attached to the session information in Schedule Builder prior to Convergence. I put these documents on my mobile device and make electronic notes on them during the sessions. This helps me focus on the sessions since I am not trying to capture everything that is being said. These documents also help me decide which session to attend when I am interested in more than one session during a given timeslot.

I use My Convergence Expo Experience (select Expo from the Convergence web site) to review the exhibitors who support the Dynamics products my organization uses and flag the ones with products or services I am interested in. I walk through the entire Expo hall to get a feel for what is available but flagging the exhibitors I definitely want to visit helps ensure I don’t miss a vendor I want to be sure to connect with.

After all of this talk about planning, once you are at Convergence, be willing to deviate from your plan. One of the best things about Convergence is there are so many different opportunities in one spot including keynotes, general sessions, concurrent sessions, hands on labs, the Microsoft Solutions Experience, and networking with Microsoft Product Specialists, knowledgeable partners and other attendees. Planning helps ensure you make the best use of your time while being flexible helps ensure you make the most of unexpected opportunities at Convergence.

If you haven’t already, update your registration to opt into having the Microsoft Tag virtual business card printed on your Convergence name badge. Sharing contact information is a big part of Convergence and, with the addition of the virtual business card, now we can do it electronically. In addition, carry business cards throughout the event. Presenters are often willing to take your card and provide additional information after the session and you will want a quick way to share contact information with those who aren’t ready to embrace virtual business cards.

Be sure to check the Convergence web site in March to download the mobile Convergence application for your favorite mobile device. I am excited to see and use the new applications.

Here are some additional tips you may have heard before but bear repeating:

--If you expect to meet an associate during a break, at the Expo or for a meal, plan a meeting place ahead of time. It is very hard to spot people when the attendees are moving from place to place and it can be difficult to hear cell phones above the din of the crowd.

--The value of networking can’t be overstated. Even if you are attending Convergence with others you work with, make a point of networking with others. Networking is rated as one of the top benefits of attending.

--Get to sessions early, the most popular sessions will fill up.

--If you are attending Convergence with co-workers, when applicable, attend different sessions and then share the information with each other.

--Pace yourself, as one of the other bloggers stated, Convergence is a marathon. New Orleans and vendor events offer the opportunity for lots of after-hours entertainment and Convergence will keep you more than busy during the day. You will want to be sure you have something left in the tank for Thursday’s keynote, breakout sessions and, especially, the Convergence Closing Celebration featuring Matchbox Twenty.

--Wear comfortable shoes; you will be doing lots of walking.

I hope you are looking forward to Convergence as much as I am.

Linda Reno is the IT Manager at Hitachi Medical Systems America.

Convergence Community Outreach SPOTLIGHT: St. Paul's Homecoming Center

Tabitha Baker — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 23:50:00 GMT

This year, Convergence attendees who choose to volunteer for Community Outreach will be working with St. Paul’s Homecoming to revitalize a neighborhood traumatized in Hurricane Katrina. St. Paul's is a non-profit created as a result of the hurricane, focusing on "boots on the ground" rebuilding and recovery of impacted neighborhoods around New Orleans.

Whether or not you're able to volunteer during your time at Convergence, you can still help St. Paul’s by voting for them online in the Gulf Coast Bank Community Rewards program. The bank will be giving away $50,000 to the top ten non-profits that receive the most votes online. Let's rally our Convergence audience of over 9600 attendees and counting! You can vote every day now until March 4th.

Give back even before your feet even touch down in the Big Easy. To learn more about St. Paul’s Homecoming visit their website at www.stpaulshomecomingcenter.org THEN go online to http://www.gulfbank.com/communityRewards.asp and VOTE every day, now through March 4th!

Still not registered for Convergence? Register today! And check the Convergence 2013 website for the latest Convergence news and information.

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Desiree Rogers to Kick off the Business Leadership Track at Convergence 2013

ConvergenceTeam — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:58:00 GMT

Desiree Rogers, CEO of Johnson Publishing Company, LLC, will be the featured presenter for the Business Leadership general session on Tuesday, March 20 at 2:00pm.

Through leadership roles that include White House Social Secretary (2009-2010) and president of People’s Energy’s two natural gas utilities, she has earned a reputation as one of America’s most successful businesswomen. With a Harvard Business School degree and stellar business experience, Rogers has redefined every leadership position that she has held while playing a major philanthropic role in the communities in which she has lived. She is widely credited for her ability to identify and motivate talent to challenge existing assumptions using brand discipline and superior communication skills thus creating new pathways for success.

During her Convergence presentation, Rogers will share some of her brand expertise and experiences to help us gain greater insight into “Connecting to the Customer.” For more information on the general session or on Desiree Rogers, visit Session Catalog on the Convergence website.

What Are You, a Comedian? Rodney Sherwood Shares Tips for Getting Smart and Having a Ball at Convergence 2013

Tabitha Baker — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:23:00 GMT

Comedian entertainer Rodney Sherwood and his team have been hard at work for months to make sure you have a fun time at Convergence 2013 in New Orleans this year. As host of the Keynote Pre-show, Sherwood will be bringing his “A” game to Convergence with hilarious videos, smokin’ tunes, and lots of surprises. He’s also presenting at the Convergence 101 sessions to give you tips and tricks for making the most of your Convergence experience. Rodney’s advice to get you stoked for this great conference:

On the Value of Attending Convergence:

“Convergence is a super-fun conference, it’s an unbeatable opportunity to connect with partners and customers face to face. Because we all do so much of our work online these days, I think it’s even more important to make connections with real people, to ask the questions, share ideas, and find out how others are solving the same issues you’re facing.”

Advice for First-Timers:

“My advice is to plan ahead, make sure you’re hitting all the important sessions, attending the Expo, and meeting the people you want to meet with. But you should also be planning to have a good time! Talk to your peers and find out what’s fun. Find the parties, come hungry, get up early and stay up late. The nightlife in New Orleans is like nowhere else—it’s such a great city and they really know how to have fun at night!”

On New Orleans:

“Convergence gives you a chance to experience one of America’s greatest cities. New Orleans is a show all by itself, with beautiful neighborhoods, outstanding restaurants and music, and incredible night life. New Orleans is a scrappy town and they’re battling back! You really owe it to yourself to visit New Orleans, and Convergence gives you that opportunity.”

On the Pre-show:

“The thing I love about the Keynote Pre-show is that you people are up for anything! This year we’re putting together some really fun, funny videos, and we’ve got Nick Brophy and the Heroes playing the hits. I’ll be out in the audience interacting with people–you’ll find I’m pretty user-friendly, with a highly intuitive interface and almost lifelike expressions, and I just can’t wait to share some surprises with you again this year. You’ll definitely want to get there early. Get your morning started with some laughter and good music, and get ready to get some really great content from the leaders of Microsoft.”

On the Expo:

“The Expo hall is just indescribably huge. It’s so big, you can’t see from one end to the other because of the curvature of the Earth.”

On Closing Night:

“One of the things I’m really excited about this year is the closing party with Matchbox Twenty —this is just going to be a tremendous party and a great way to finish out the conference! You’ll remember it for the rest of the year.”

On Being Prepared:

“I just want to assure everybody, we’re working with the general staff now to make sure we don’t lose power halfway through the show. We’ve got backup systems on the backup systems, and then we have another backup system on top of that, so I think we can safely predict that the power will stay on for the duration of this conference.”

If You Haven’t Pulled the Trigger Yet:

“If you’re thinking about coming, talk to your boss, watch the videos on the website, and see how people have changed their business by attending Convergence. The Convergence team does so much to make sure everything is ready. You’re not going to get this anywhere else. And then you get to listen to Matchbox Twenty before you fly out. You’ll remember it for the rest of the year.”

Get updates on Convergence 2013 happenings, contests, and more throughout the week by following us on Facebook and Twitter!

What's Your Favorite Thing About Convergence

ConvergenceTeam — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:15:27 GMT

(Please visit the site to view this video) In preparation for Convergence 2013, several Microsoft Dynamics customers and partners share their favorite thing about Convergence....(read more)

Convergence Tips From a Tech Veteran: Bring your Questions And Get Ready To Learn!

Tabitha Baker — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 21:15:00 GMT

Sure, Convergence 2013 offers plenty of “wow factor” activities, with keynote speeches from world leaders, the stadium-sized exhibition hall, fabulous food, and late night parties in a city famous for its night life. But when it comes right down to it, one of the main reasons for attending Convergence is the support you receive for the products you already use.

Microsoft Dynamics escalation engineer Terry Heley has attended Convergence every year since 2003, and can’t wait for the excitement to begin again. Heley offers tips for Convergence attendees, whether this is your first time or if you’re a regular:

Bring Your Questions: Write down the issues or ideas you have for improving your processes and find answers at the Help Desk!
Ask Your Coworkers: Not everyone in the company can make it to Convergence, so ask your team mates for their questions and issues.
Prepare for Remote Access: Sometimes the only way to explain a situation is to show us using your own system. At the Help Desk, we can stream into your system with you, so you can show us exactly what’s going on, and we can work with you to come up with a solution.
Talk to Other Customers: Creating relationships with other customers is an important part of Convergence, and will help you long after you return to the office.
Build Your Schedule: Don’t just sit and work in your hotel room! Block time for as many concurrent sessions, keynotes, expo visits, Help Desk sessions, and meetings with customers and partners as you can possibly fit in, and make sure you plan to use the evening events to meet people and have a great time!
Find Out What’s New: New features and enhancements can make a huge difference to your business, and Convergence is the best way for you to truly see, hear, and understand the value of these enhancements.

“The experience of Convergence is really amazing,” says Heley. “There are a lot of customers that never get this opportunity. Come feel the love, make connections, and talk to other customers who really understand the system. The relationships you make can last a lifetime, and they’ll help you long after you return to the office.”

Get updates on Convergence 2013 happenings, contests, and more throughout the week by following us on Facebook and Twitter!

Cory Hudepohl named it, now it’s time to claim it--Winner Announced in Contest

ConvergenceTeam — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:09:00 GMT

We're proud to announce the winner of our Name It. Claim It. Contest, who not only named the closing celebration at Convergence 2013, but who'll be enjoying a meet-and-greet with Matchbox Twenty.

Congratulations to Cory Hudepohl of Cincom Systems in Cincinnati, Ohio. His winning entry, "Spark the Future," captures the energy and spirit of Convergence, and hits just the right note for the finale of what promises to be a superb event in New Orleans.

Thanks to all the contest entrants and your great ideas. It was a close race!

If you're still on the fence about attending the premier Microsoft Dynamics event of the year, check out www.microsoft.com/convergence to discover the rich selection of keynote speakers, educational sessions, discussions, and networking opportunities that await. Register now to make the most of your Microsoft Dynamics investment.

Never Been To Convergence? Here’s What To Expect

ConvergenceTeam — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:51:00 GMT

by Brandon Hoog

If you have never been to the Microsoft Dynamics Convergence conference, you have no idea what you are missing! I like to think of Convergence as a one stop shop for all things related to Microsoft Dynamics. Customers of the Microsoft ERP products have a single place to go for training, networking, and information on additional software solutions.

It's best to think of Convergence as a marathon through a great amusement park with 10,000 of your closest friends. Everyone starts with a bang at the opening keynote during which you will get a broad overview of all the Dynamics products and will hear some great customer stories. Then, everyone heads to their favorite land. Your favorite may be AX or SL or perhaps GP or NAV, and many may head toward CRM.

Once in your land, there are many great rides to choose from. No matter what your product focus is, there are many different types of sessions you can attend on the ERP that interests you. There are high level overview sessions and deep dive technical sessions as well as interactive discussions. So whether you're a thrill seeker or a novice (or for that matter an accountant or IT professional or business leader), there is a session for you. You may need to attend both GP and CRM sessions and thankfully the extensive schedule offers plenty of time for learning about multiple products.

Much of your learning at Convergence also comes from networking. Whether it is during a meal, in the vendor expo, or at another social event, you will be amazed at how much insight you may receive from a brief conversation with someone who has shared the same difficulty as you or has determined a new and improved way of handling a process in your system.

Just when you think it may be time to go back to your hotel room, the fun continues (remember this is a marathon)! There are receptions, vendor dinners, and the big Convergence closing party....and enough great food for an army. Therefore, when you finally exit this great multi-day experience, you will return to work invigorated and excited about your Microsoft ERP environment and the new relationships you have formed. But it is important to note, as with any good marathon or amusement park visit, don't forget your comfortable shoes!

Brandon Hoog is Chief Information Officer at Harrison, Walker & Harper in Paris, Texas.

Our Top 4 Reasons To Attend Convergence

Tabitha Baker — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:55:00 GMT

Still not sure if you’ll attend Convergence 2013? We checked with numerous customers to see why Convergence is worth it for them. They gave plenty of reasons why they love Convergence, so we picked out a few favorites. Here are four top reasons customers plan to go to Convergence 2013.

1. Heather Thigpen of IHS, Inc., tells how Convergence has helped her make the most of her Microsoft Dynamics solution for her company. And she says this year will be the best Convergence yet. Find out why here.

2. When Kerry Rosvold of Augsburg Fortress Publishers attends Convergence, some of the best value comes not from the information she learns from the presentations and demonstrations, but from what happens between them: Serious, hard-core, effective networking. Read the full post here.

3. Kim Congleton of Supply O Chain Solutions makes a point of seeking solutions at Convergence that eliminate inefficiencies for her company. And she always finds them. Click to find out more.

4. For Jim Noblett of Morpho Trust USA, Convergence is his best opportunity to learn about the latest innovations and effective solutions for his business. Read his post here.

Get updates on Convergence 2013 happenings, contests, and more throughout the week by following us on Facebook and Twitter!

Celebrating Customer Achievements

ConvergenceTeam — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:45:35 GMT

Please join us in celebrating the 2013 Customer Excellence Award winners. These winners will be highlighted at Convergence and you'll have the opportunity to hear from them in person during Q&A sessions in the Convergence Theater, located within the Convergence Experience Center. Watch the Session Catalog for the arrival of the dates and times of these special customer Q&A sessions in early March.

Community Outreach: Giving Feeds the Soul

Tabitha Baker — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:15:00 GMT

By John Kleb, from Sikich

Microsoft Dynamics Convergence is the coming together of all things good. My first Convergence giving experience was in New Orleans some years ago. Not knowing what to expect, I boarded the bus for ½ day of volunteer work. We built a house. That was unexpected. A house! In just ½ day I was hooked.

I don't know the details of the arrangement, but Microsoft hooks up with Projects With Purpose and together they create an environment where a diverse group of volunteers can accomplish astonishing results. In a single day we can frame several houses. We can build a bath house, pool house, beach, retaining walls and more for a disadvantaged children's camp. We can ride into a devastated neighborhood and refurbish an entire neighborhood with a senior organic garden, plant fruit trees, refurbish a food pantry, and - oh, while we are there - frame up 16 homes. ;-) We can turn the bare dirt lawns of a low-income housing project into brand new playgrounds full of smiling and singing children.

Each volunteer event we have been surrounded by grateful neighborhood residents who provide the visual confirmation of the good deeds we are engaged in.

I no longer volunteer one ½ day. I always accept the full-day option as the smile formed on my face and in my heart by the morning work is cemented for life by the end of the afternoon.

Interested in making an impact in the New Orleans community this year? We will have both offsite and onsite outreach opportunities. Registration is required for the offsite opportunity. Click here to get involved!