Convergence Top Takeaways & Announcements for Management Reporter 2012 and Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013

Convergence 2012 was a great success and an exciting conference for customers and partners. Being one of the largest to date, it drew 10,225 attendees, 20% of whom travelled from overseas. Once again the conference provided a great opportunity for Microsoft Dynamics® users and business leaders to meet and connect with peers, as well as to glean best practices and real experiences by talking with other organizations.  New connections were made and impending business relationships were cultivated.

 This year the conference messaging focused on positioning your business on a flexible platform for growth.  Keynote speaker Kirill Tatarinov, President of Microsoft Business Solutions Division, directed the audience to think of social collaboration in context of business. In his speech, he explained how Microsoft would deliver this by helping companies transform into Dynamic Businesses by impassioning and arming individuals through proactive applications that provide better connectivity and insight to business performance.

 So what were some of the major takeaways this year? Apart from continued informative concurrent sessions, there was definitely a buzz tied to the newly released Management Reporter 2012 and the upcoming release of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013.

 The new Management Reporter 2012 was well received for a number of reasons, including:

• Improved performance.
• Drill back functionality to Microsoft Dynamics GP from a report (similar to FRx).
• Quick charts and comments that allow users to collaborate on published reports.
• Multiple destinations for a report definition, including SharePoint and a network share drive.

 The upcoming release of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 and its new web client was a key focus at Convergence. The web client is the most exciting part of the release, providing choices of how you can deploy Microsoft Dynamics GP to fit your business model: traditional on premise, Cloud enabled by hosting on Windows Azure, Microsoft’s Cloud application platform, or a hybrid of both. This flexibility will catch the ear of those who perhaps have limited dedicated IT support internally for Microsoft Dynamics GP, those with a decentralized workforce, as well as those who need the benefits of a nimble infrastructure. With these deployment choices, Microsoft Dynamics GP adapts to business demands while simplifying back office technology and maintenance, and provides an option to companies in need of ERP without IT.  In addition to the new web client, Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 will include an array of new capabilities.  Though the features and enhancements are not confirmed, Microsoft announced that Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 will have more than 100 core features, including:

• Web readiness: browser-based Microsoft Dynamics GP, which will run on a secure connection via https.  The underlying logic is still Dexterity. ISV products and Dexterity customizations will work.
• Updated home page with Business Analyzer on the HP
• The option to print SQL Server Reporting Services Reports from Forms
• Ability to attach documents to transactions. Attach notes, contracts to a transaction or line item help consolidating and easier retrieval of associated information.
• Ability to select printer at time of print
• Sub ledger Reconcile BR to General Ledger (GL)
• Prepayments on Purchase Orders (POs)
• Mass depreciation reversal
• Bank Administration Institute (BAI) format to PM and RM EFT
• Drop Ship for Serials/Lots
• Inventory Reason Codes
• Tolerance Handling
• Voiding of check returns applied Credits
• Fixed Assets (FA) Calendar Setup
• Fixed Asset GL Posting Enhancements
• FA Historical Depreciation reports
• Fixed Assets integration with AA
• Lock FA Year
• GL Year End Close options
• Integrate AA with General Journal Copy
• General Journal Batch History
• Mass Back Out FA Depreciation
• Email Indicator on Navigation Lists
• Collections – Single Email with multiple attachments
• PTO Manager: Year End PTO
• For SmartList, the dependency on having an Admin login after a new install will be removed.
• Integrate Encumbrance with General Ledger
• Default Sort Customer/Vendor Lookups
• EFT Settlement Date Option
• PTO Manager: HR Calendar
• Edit Payables Transactions: Remit to Address
• Vendor’s Credit Card invoice voided when credit card payment voided

The intrinsic value of Convergence is to connect with others in the Microsoft Dynamics community, learn what is coming down the road, plan and align the technology to support your business objectives and ultimately run your business more successfully.  So place Convergence 2013 on your calendar now for March 18^th -21^st 2013. Next year it will be hosted in New Orleans. We’ll see you there!

 By Holly Miller Jones, The Resource Group – Seattle, Washington Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner