Microsoft Dynamics Community

GPTip42day - Transferring Inventory Items between Projects

GP2themax - Helping users get the 'max' from Dynamics GP — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:32:00 GMT

How do you transfer an inventory item from one project to another in Project Accounting ? Use the Inventory Transfer transaction. Project>Transactions>Inventory Transfer * click image to enlarge Use the Return Transaction Type to return the item to inventory from Project A, then use the Standard Transaction Type to transfer the item from inventory to Project B....(read more)

5 More Reasons to Use Microsoft CRM

CRM Software Blog — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:30:03 GMT

Here are 5 reasons to use Microsoft Dynamics CRM : 1. Targets your marketing campaigns so you’re always in touch with the right customers . Today, it’s more important than ever that customers know about special offers and new services a business offers. Microsoft Dynamics CRM offers a marketing automation module that simplifies the following tasks: Building customer and lead lists, developing marketing campaigns targeted at specific c customers, measuring the results of these campaigns, and developing...(read more)

Big Bang, Phased Rollout or Parallel Adoption – Tell Us What Flavor of ERP Implementation Works for You!

ERP Software Blog — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:11:30 GMT

Have you been involved in an ERP implementation? Was it successful? Our fellow blogger, Houston Neal, wants to hear from you! He is hosting a survey to find out which implementation strategies are the most popular and most successful. He will collect results over the next two weeks and we will present his findings towards the end of the month. Your ERP Implementation choices are: Big bang - Implementation happens in a single instance. All users move to the new system on a given date. Phased rollout...(read more)

Serializing CDATA tags in eConnect XML Documents

Developing for Dynamics GP — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I had a recent support incident where the customer was trying to update a field to a blank value using the eConnect serialization assembly and the value was not being removed. Specifically, they were attempting to remove the existing value in the ADDRESS2 column of the RM00101 table by setting the string value to a blank value. The reason why this was happening was really by design with the eConnect stored procedures. If you do not pass a value, eConnect will use the setup in Dynamics GP to default...(read more)

Planning For A Successful ERP System Implementation

ERP Software Blog — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:35:49 GMT

Like most organizations, your company wants the best of both worlds: an ERP system that aligns with your business and an ERP software provider who can exceed your expectations. The process of evaluating different ERP systems and providers can be daunting. Let’s fast-forward to the implementation process - the countless number of decisions that must be made up front; the myriad of risks that must be considered. Choose your ERP software and provider wisely – your satisfaction and resulting value will...(read more)

11 Microsoft Dynamics GP Features That Make Reporting Easy

ERP Software Blog — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:30:48 GMT

Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) offers various reporting advantages over other accounting software systems. Here are 11 Dynamics GP features that provide auditing, monitoring, analyzing, and planning capabilities: Inquiry windows – Quickly find and trace a transaction throughout the system or view and drill on summary information. SmartList – Easily filter and display multiple data records in a way that makes sense. User-defined links can be used to zoom to details and related data...(read more)

Dynamics GP – 3 Users For A Buck? What?

ERP Software Blog — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:19:29 GMT

I am going back to my “roots” here, and do an old school blog – just me, typing my thoughts on a topic. A lot of people by now have heard about Dynamics GP Three Users for $1 promotion. My first thoughts were: ”And the catch is….?”, as well as: ”And how many years of maintenance do you have to pay up front?” Well, it turns out there is no catch, the only maintenance required up front is the first year, which is standard anyway. So what does this mean...(read more)

Ten Tips To Ensure The Success Of Your Microsoft Dynamics CRM Project – Right From The Very Start (Part 1)

CRM Software Blog — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:05:06 GMT

Properly implemented, Microsoft CRM will deliver major benefits to your organisation. It will help you manage your marketing campaigns and lead management, help prevent losing customers to your competition, and help you identify new opportunities. It will make it easier for your sales people to sell, improve your customer service and case management, and generally improve a whole range of other business processes. And that’s just with the ‘standard’ CRM functionality. With the flexibility of Microsoft...(read more)

Convergence 2010 Atlanta (April 24-27)

Microsoft Dynamics NAV Team Blog — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:02:00 GMT

Convergence 2010 Atlanta, the premier Microsoft Dynamics event, offers "a unique opportunity to network with your peers, partners, Microsoft team members, and industry experts together to share ideas and knowledge—all in one place." For more information and registration details, see the Convergence 2010 Atlanta site. Also on this site, check out the Session Catalog to find the latest and greatest information about sessions, roundtables, workshops, labs, and interactive discussions. You...(read more)

Debug::assert

Dynamics AX Daily — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:36:00 GMT

This method allows to check if some Boolean condition evaluates to true and if it doesn't - stop further execution and show stack trace. Debug::assert() should be used to validate some assumptions made in the code which should never happen if nothing is broken in the application. It means that wrong user input should not be asserted but rather validated by normal if statement and exception should be thrown if the input is wrong. However, if the code relies, for example, on query data source name...(read more)

Microsoft Dynamics ERP Edging Ahead In The Downturn, Study Says

Ina D — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:46:00 GMT

By Pam Derringer | MSDynamicsWorld.com

In the current economic downturn, the market share of Tier II smaller ERP providers has risen significantly while those of ERP heavyweights SAP and Oracle have dropped proportionately and Microsoft Dynamics edged slightly ahead.

According to a 2010 survey by vendor-neutral ERP consultants Panorama Consulting Group, the market share of Tier II ERP vendors grew from 23% to 30% last year while ERP leader SAP dropped from 35% to 31% and Oracle from 28% to 25%. Microsoft Dynamics held its own, growing slightly from 14% to 15% during the same period. Panorama's 2008 survey was based on 1,300 respondents worldwide from 2005 to 2008 while the 2010 survey was tallied from 1,600 participants last year.

Panorama President Eric Kimberling said the market changes reflect that small- and medium-sized companies have been moving ahead with ERP implementations in the downturn while larger firms have been holding back on upgrades and modifications.

"Microsoft is a better fit and more appealing in a downturn," Kimberling said. "It has a much lower cost and is very predictable (in implementation)."

Even though the rise in Dynamics' market share is slight, it is still significant in light of the declines for SAP and Oracle, he added.

The 2010 survey also ranked Microsoft Dynamics No. 2 behind SAP on ERP vendor short lists by prospective buyers and seventh of the top 10 in selection.

In its 2008 report, the Denver, Co.-based consulting firm pointed out that the cost savings for Microsoft Dynamics is great, with an SAP implementation averaging $16.8 million in total costs compared to $12.6 million for Oracle, $2.6 million for Microsoft Dynamics and $3.5 million for Tier II applications.

In that detailed study, Panorama concluded that Dynamics was gaining in popularity because of its markedly lower pricetag; Dynamics was favored by users, who like the familiar Microsoft interface, but less popular with executives, who cited a somewhat higher business risk.

Business Intelligence
One cause for higher risk worries in the earlier study was Dynamics' lack of business intelligence tools, Kimberling said. However, Microsoft may have alleviated that concern with Dynamics' addition of FRx financial reporting tool, he said. FRx is already slated to be replaced by Management Reporter and augmented with self-service reporting in Office 2010. Also contributing to a higher perceived risk factor with Dynamics is the small- to mid-sized market it serves rather than the software itself, he said. Smaller customers lack the sophistication of larger enterprises and often try to cut corners and/or implement the software without recognizing the need for specialized help, he said.

Project Duration and Cost
Comparative marks for project implementation in the earlier study also were a mixed bag for Microsoft Dynamics, which averaged two weeks to two months less than Oracle and SAP, respectively, but, on the downside, showed the largest variability in project completion.

The major factors extending project duration for Dynamics ERP installs are large numbers of modules and/or users and complex business processes, Kimberling said. In the latter case, companies often are too quick to customize the software to existing business workflows rather than change their processes to accommodate the software, he said. While minimizing the ERP impact to the workforce, customizing software with alterations to the source code delays the project and complicates maintenance down the road, he said.

In its 2010 report released early this month, Panorama concluded that more ERP implementations last year took longer than expected (57%) and cost more than expected (59%) but, on the plus side, they consumed 20% less as a percentage of annual revenue (6.9% in 2009 vs. 9% in 2008). However, the "savings" came with a price: 41% of responding companies failed to achieve at least half of the benefits they anticipated from their ERP installations. These results have not yet been broken down by vendor.

"The path to lower costs is cutting the scope or key project activities that are critical to success," Kimberling said, citing factors like training, hardware and project management. "You don't necessarily need to spend more but you need to have realistic expectations and take the right steps to make sure you succeed. This is even harder now with less resources."

Managing Organizational Change
In addition, the 2010 study concluded that most companies do not effectively manage the organizational changes that ERP sets in motion, with nearly half citing poor communication between management and employees as a contributing factor. Many companies also were adjusting to a new CEO during their ERP implementations while significant numbers were coping with layoffs or a merger or acquisition.

The problem is that there is a management/employee "disconnect," Kimberling said. New ERP systems impose change and stress on the workforce when employees are already worried about their future, he said. But management wants to push ahead with ERP systems now to retain "head knowledge" and increase efficiency to do more with less, he said. In this environment, some companies are cutting organizational change activities related to their ERP installs, which "doesn't bode well" for their projects, he said.

The Cloud
Panorama's latest survey found that SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) and hosted ERP solutions are faster to implement and cost less than on-premise applications. The downside: they are far more likely to exceed budget estimates due to excessive vendor hype, the report said. In addition, SaaS and hosted solutions tend to be more appropriate for small- and mid-sized companies and narrow functions such as CRM or purchasing, the report said.

Microsoft Dynamics does not currently have a SaaS or hosted ERP offering (although various partners and resellers do offer hosted solutions), but Kimberling predicted that Microsoft will develop one because so many mid-market companies perceive that SaaS/hosted is a way to tiptoe into ERP without a big, upfront cost, he said.

Kimberling also predicted that IT budgets are beginning to loosen up and companies that skimped to get by last year are beginning to look at adding tools like FRx that can improve operations.

As for other future trends, Kimberling said that SAP and Oracle will try to grow their respective markets by extending down from the enterprise to the mid-market. Although this will provide more competition for the Dynamics product line, Microsoft is already "well entrenched," and has its name and branding on its side, he said.

GP 2010 – Adding Extender Data to the GP Home Page

Rose Business Solutions Dynamics GP — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:22:00 GMT

Extender has always been a handy tool for collecting additional data in GP. The reporting options are improving. With the release of GP 2010, it will be easy for you to add data collected from an Extender Form, to the GP Home Page. The process is really pretty easy: Create the Extender Form Create an Extender View Use the Report Builder in SQL Reporting Services to create a chart Customize the Home Page to include the new chart O.K. There’s a lot there. But look at this video that...(read more)

Consultant Tools Series - Password Management

Dynamics GP Land — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:13:00 GMT

How many passwords do you have to know or remember? I think if you took the time to count them all, you would be pretty surprised. Multiple e-mail accounts, web site logins, client VPN connections, RDP server logins, GP logins, GP system passwords, and FTP sites are just some of the passwords I have to manage. Multiply these by the number of clients you have to manage, and you will quickly exceed your ability to remember them, especially if you haven't used them for several months. I used to...(read more)

Microsoft Dynamics GP Promotion: Three Users for $1

Merit Matters Blog — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:06:45 GMT

We are excited to announce the new Microsoft Dynamics GP Sales Offer - Three Users for $1 This is a Microsoft Dynamics (U.S.) promotion for growing and medium-sized businesses that wish to take advantage of the rich functionality, low cost of ownership, and rapid deployability offered by Microsoft Dynamics GP. The promotion allows customers to purchase up to 3 Advanced Management (AM) or Business Essential (BE) user licenses for $1 (US). This offer applies to new customers making their initial purchase...(read more)

Jerry York, Iconic CFO, Dies at 71

CFO.com: Today in Finance — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:00:00 GMT

The former finance chief at Chrysler and IBM predicted the downturn six months before Lehman Brothers collapsed. Jerome "Jerry" York, a pioneering and prophetic finance chief who served as CFO of IBM and Chrysler, died on Thursday after being hospitalized in Pontiac, Michigan, with a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 71. York was one of a handful of CFOs "who first put the title on the map," says Julia Homer, vice president and chief content officer of CFO and founder of the magazine...(read more)

Maximize Your Tradeshow Success

cstrege — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:43:00 GMT

Feeling overwhelmed with Microsoft Convergence right around the corner? If you’re like me, checklists are your best friend. Thanks to www.trade-show-advisor.com , you have something to follow that will be sure to maximize your tradeshow success.

Establish Specific Event Objectives… such as number of product sales, leads generated, publicity secured, image and awareness initiatives, etc.
Set a Realistic Budget… that includes a projected return on investment
Develop a Compelling Sales Message… to use in all tradeshow marketing and sales initiatives, including booth graphics, banners, brochures, advertisements, and sales presentations.
Create a Trade Show Marketing Plan… that is divided into three sections: 1. Pre-Show Marketing, 2. At-Show Marketing, and 3. Post-Show Marketing. You’ve got to aggressively pre-sell prospects before they arrive, fully engage them during the show, and promptly follow-up with them after the show to generate additional sales.
Create a "WOW" Exhibit… that attracts people and instantly conveys your image and product message. Whether you are interested in custom-designed booths, tabletop displays or rental exhibits, the graphics and lighting must deliver your marketing message with a powerful punch.
Confirm Booth Location in the Exhibition Hall… with the sponsor as part of your trade show planning process. Try to secure a high traffic location at the event. In addition, confirm access to electrical outlets, lighting, and other needs you may have.
Print Marketing Materials… including sales literature, product sheets, business cards, and promotional items you will use at and after the show.
Train and Schedule Staff… to effectively convey your sales message and ensure your booth is always staffed adequately.
Prepare Follow-up Information Packets… so they are ready to immediately use with new leads after the show is over
Make Travel Arrangements… to ensure you, your staff, exhibit booth, materials and supplies arrive in plenty of time for the show.
Follow-up with Attendees… prioritize your leads and make follow-up contact promptly.
Evaluate Trade Show Success… to determine if you met your objectives and identify changes to make in the future.

Check out more ideas in the Consultants' Corner at www.thepartnermarketinggroup.com and opt into the monthly e-newsletter.

Using Command Patterns for Integration Scenarios

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Team Blog — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:36:12 GMT

One of the most common IT projects for business application developers is integration solutions between multiple systems. In the CRM world it is not uncommon to see integrations to/from various application and services such as ERP systems, social networks Read More......(read more)

Using Command Patterns for Integration Scenarios

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Team Blog — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:36:12 GMT

Sporočilo za medije: Slovenska različica Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 v zadnjem četrtletju 2010

Microsoft Dynamics Slovenija — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:10:13 GMT

Microsoft obvešča, da bo v zadnjem četrtletju letošnjega leta na voljo slovenska različica celovite rešitve za upravljanje poslovanja Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009. Microsoft Dynamics NAV je celovita rešitev za upravljanje poslovanja (ERP), namenjena predvsem malim in srednje velikim organizacijam, ki zaposlenim omogoča hitrejše delo, podjetjem pa večjo prilagodljivost na nove priložnosti in rast. Različica 2009 prinaša nove zmožnosti za povečano uporabo rešitev načrtovanja virov podjetja ter izboljšuje...(read more)

Shamrocks at Microsoft

A CRM Riff — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:04:49 GMT

In yet another of those weird threads at Microsoft, we have people comparing their shamrock plants. First there was the Leprechaun who deposited these all over the building on St. Patty’s Day 2009. A year later we discover some folks with some serious green thumb skills. Here we see the many flavors of the plant: Then there was the mine is greener picture; it’s really stunning actually: And then there is the biggest one that seems to thrive in that corner of the building: Hope you had a great St...(read more)

Jobs Bill Becomes Law

CFO.com: Today in Finance — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:00:00 GMT

Will new incentives prompt reluctant employers to hire again? President Obama signed the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act into law Thursday morning, taking aim at the nation's persistent 10% unemployment rate, which is widely seen as one of the biggest obstacles to a sustained economic recovery. The law, which passed the Senate on Wednesday with bipartisan support, provides employers with new incentives for hiring and retaining workers. The core provision of the act is ...(read more)

Convergence Tip of the Week Festival – Part VII

Ina D — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:02:00 GMT

By Jenny Davis, ThePartnerChannel Magazine

This week you’re hearing from Jesse Byam of Etelligent Solutions and Lisa Steinhart of vSync, an Accellos company.

If you’d like to supply a Convergence tip for a future post, please contact Jenny@thepartnerchannel.com.

VAR Tips from Jesse Byam

1. Create a plan specific to your customers. Each year we make an easy-to-review agenda that details the day’s activities which most apply to them and their needs. Be sure to include where they can meet with your team and some customer focused events.
2. Sit down with each customer and discuss the sessions that will be best suited to the needs of their organization. Most of our customers have questions about which sessions offer the most value and you get to showcase your value in helping them make good decisions.
3. We always keep the attitude that we are there for the customer. Making sure they have the right information and access to the right people is a key factor in the success of the conference to them. Be available to your customers throughout the conference and make sure to take an interest in what they are trying to achieve (Even if that is having a good time at night!).

ISV Tips from Lisa Steinhart

Six logistical tips to save time and money when planning for your exhibit…

1. Prepare and think through logistics ahead of time to save money. For example, be sure you coordinate with the AV provider and talk with them about your booth setup so they’ll be prepared with the right brackets and other equipment needed for mounting your video screens. Anything that you order at the show site is going to cost double what you would’ve paid with some advance preparation.
2. Bring 3-4 pairs of shoes and switch them every 3-4 hours, more if you didn’t order double padding and 40 oz carpeting.
3. Think about storage in your booth for your staff’s “stuff” (bags, laptops, etc). Consider renting a lockable cabinet for these items, or install magnetic hooks on the back of your booth for coats, etc.
4. Pack a supply kit of office supplies (stapler, paper clips, scissors, cleaning wipes, etc.) and include products such as blister covers, band-aids, shoe inserts, breath mints, aspirin, Velcro, and duct tape.
5. You may have packed your booth efficiently to get it to Convergence, but booths have a way of not being able to fit in the same boxes in which they arrived. Take pictures or create a list of how your booth should be packed before it is picked up by your shipping carrier. Post these images or the list in each box. Often in the rush to leave the show floor you have multiple people helping to pack up the booth and they don’t know how the boxes should be packed efficiently, which can result in “booth bloat” and damage. Label what goes in what box and the order the contents that should be placed into the boxes to minimize damage and get everything back in the same number of boxes. The added bonus is you’ll know where to find everything when you need it for the next show.
6. Make notes during the show of things that worked well – and things that didn’t – as well as things you forgot, things that need to be replaced, etc. Pack these notes in your shipping boxes so you’ll remember to address them for the next show.

Want to see past installments of the Convergence Tip of the Week Festival? Click here!

Feature of the Day: Rapid Migration Tool - Auto Number Accounts

Inside Microsoft Dynamics GP — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:15:00 GMT

Rapid Migration Tool - Auto Number Accounts Module: Rapid Implementation Tools : Rapid Migration Tool v1.1 Why this feature is cool! When migrating from Intuit QuickBooks to Microsoft Dynamics GP, a valid account number for every account is required. Unfortunately, QuickBooks provides the ability to create a new account without requiring a number – often leaving many accounts with a name, but not a number. When importing this QuickBooks data into Microsoft Dynamics GP using the Rapid Migration Tool...(read more)

CPE for Convergence 2010 Atlanta

DynamicAccounting.net — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:30:00 GMT

If you are still on the fence for attending Convergence 2010 in Atlanta, don’t forget that the conference sessions also count for Continuing Professional Education credits. CPA’s often don’t do a good job of staying on top of this and have to scramble to find credits. At Convergence you can get credits and learn about Dynamics GP....(read more)

You do not have permission to open this file.

DynamicAccounting.net — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:00:00 GMT

Andy Nifong looks at issues he’s having with the time it takes to copy down dictionaries from a central location. The time lag is causing You do not have permission to open this file errors when trying to open Dynamics GP....(read more)