Debunking the Myth That Microsoft is for Big Companies. It’s Just Not True.

By Joel Hatin, Altico Advisors

Well, maybe that depends on your definition of “big.”  Microsoft defines its mid-market as companies with revenues of $5 to $500 million.  So sure, I agree, $500 million is big.  But $5 million isn’t, and there are a lot of $5 million companies running Microsoft Dynamics GP. 

And maybe it also depends on your budget.  If you have $600 to spend on software, go with QuickBooks.  Microsoft Dynamics GP is not for you.  But if you’re willing to consider the real cost of software that no longer meets your business needs, you might come to the realization that $600 is just money wasted if QuickBooks falls short of your requirements. 

Here’s an analogy that I just made up on the spur of the moment.  Once upon a time, you had only 1 sales rep working for your company.  And your phone system had only 1 outbound line.  Most of the time that sufficed.  Now there are 4 sales reps working for your company and you still only have one outbound line.  So sure, you can say you have a phone and it doesn’t cost a lot of money, but at any given time you have 3 sales reps sitting around doing nothing as they wait for a phone line to free up.  It’s pretty obvious from my rather silly example here that this would not be a good business practice. 

Can you really afford to have 3 sales reps twiddling their thumbs?  What’s the cost to you in lost business?  Are you in the business of paying people to do nothing?

And do you doubt that my analogy holds water?  Let’s look at software now.

Once upon a time, you were a one-person shop.  You bought QuickBooks.  Maybe it was even recommended to you by your accountant.  It was really, really cheap and easy to use, too.  A good deal. 

Now you’re a 10 person company.  There’s you (the owner), your son or daughter who just joined the business, 4 sales reps, a marketing manager, office manager, bookkeeper, and a customer service rep.  Your accounting needs have grown beyond the basics that QuickBooks provides.  Your business is more complex.  Maybe you should look at QuickBooks Enterprise.  But (and hey, you had to know there would be a “but”) you’re also continuing to grow.  You’re moving into new markets.   Your transaction volume has tripled in the last 5 years.  How much longer will any edition of QuickBooks meet your needs?

So do you spend money moving to QuickBooks Enterprise now only to find out in a year or two that you’ve outgrown that, too? 

It’s time to move up to the next level altogether.  Do you actually know what a one or two user Microsoft Dynamics GP system costs, or have you just heard rumors?  And a better question might be, do you know how much you GET when you purchase Dynamics GP?  That’s an easy question.  Here’s a list of all the modules that some with Dynamics GP Business Essentials right out of the box:

Analytical Accounting
Bank Reconciliation
Country-Specific Functionality
Encumbrance Management
Fixed Asset Management
General Ledger with AFA
Intercompany Processing
Inventory Management
Landed Cost
Microsoft FRx
Multicurrency Management
Office Excel-Based Reports
Office Smart Tags
Payables Management
Purchase Order Processing
Receivables Management
Reminders
Report Writer
Safe Pay
Sales Order Processing with Advanced Invoicing
Security Management
SmartLists
SQL Server Reporting Services Reports

 For well over 23 years Microsoft Dynamics solutions have delivered the functionality to help over 290,000 businesses worldwide.  Dynamics GP has over twice the functionality of QuickBooks Enterprise and is fully integrated with the tools you already rely on for business intelligence – Microsoft Office.

Microsoft Dynamics gives your business the ability to tailor the system to fit your needs and to design the solution to scale with your business as you grow.  All of this comes at an affordable price.

Furthermore Microsoft Dynamics has the tools in place to help those businesses transition from QuickBooks to Dynamics GP quickly and cost effectively allowing you to focus on your business and not your business systems.  We’ve worked with firms who have gotten up and running on Dynamics GP from QuickBooks in a few short days using the rapid implementation tools specifically designed for moving from QuickBooks to Dynamics GP.  Your business will have the tools that will allow you access to information quicker for critical business decisions along with more than 700 reports for better insight into key metrics.

QuickBooks is a leading provider for small business accounting.  Microsoft Dynamics is the market leader for midsize businesses.  If you’re already there, or plan to be soon, take a closer look at Microsoft and get ready to move up from QuickBooks to Dynamics GP. 

Submitted by Altico Advisors, Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner for Manufacturing and Distribution serving New Hampshire (NH)

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