It seems that the common belief about ERP software solutions has been that they are seen as just for finance or only helpful to upper management.  However, the “E” in ERP stands for “enterprise”, meaning that these solutions are intended to touch every facet of the organization.  For a role-based, people-centric ERP solution, like Microsoft Dynamics GP, the way it touches every area of a business is to be relevant and useful to every individual in an organization. 

The R2 feature that has been getting the most buzz lately is the Business Analyzer which pulls important Dynamics GP data into a desktop reporting tool for easier viewing, sharing, and decision making.  Business Analyzer can be installed on any workstation, whether Dynamics GP is installed or not, giving individuals who only need to consume financial data the ability to do so without the hassle of logging into GP for the information or the expense of having a Dynamics GP license.  While Business Analyzer comes with several standard reports, more can be created or customized easily with SQL Server Reporting Services.

R2 also extends connections across your organization by providing Fact Boxes and Action Shortcuts, which are now connected with Microsoft Lync 2010 instant messaging windows, bringing information about the people who are chatting and their companies to the user’s fingertips.

Managing compliance and helping to reduce fraud across the organization is easier than ever with the new and improved approval workflow and electronic signature capabilities.

Additionally, the Microsoft Dynamics GP Light User License is available with GP 2010 R2.  The Light User license is a cost-effective solution that makes it possible for individuals who wouldn’t normally have a Dynamics GP license to access business management solutions and interact with Microsoft Dynamics financial, human resources, and operational information with common desktop productivity tools, such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Word.

To see how the new features of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2 make this ERP solution relevant to everyone in your organization, join Socius and Microsoft for a complementary GP 2010 R2 webcast demo on May 11^th. 

1. Program Management: Managing all of the different moving parts of the software implementation, such as business process improvements, business acceptance, and organizational change management, requires strong program management, governance, and controls.

   Socius has a dedicated Project Manager for every implementation and incorporates a Quality Assurance program to provide confidence that the deliverables and services of the project will fulfill the defined requirements for quality. Quality assurance events are scheduled early and across all of our project phases to detect issues and improve the performance early in the project lifecycle. A Project Charter is developed to manage the project and ensure that all tasks, processes, and timelines are being adhered to.

2. Business Process and Workflow Definition and Improvement: Business process improvements, workflows within and outside the system, and employee roles within the system all need to be defined before the system can be fully adopted.

   Socius can help by providing a Business Process Review that identifies any gaps between your strategy and execution. During a BPR, we analyze current systems and critical business workflows that will be impacted by the implementation of a new system. These business requirements and related workflows are documented and reviewed alongside the core functionality of the new system to ensure maximum future efficiency. A core team is created with members from all departments and business groups in order to plan the scope of the implementation, determine how it will affect all areas of the business, and ensure user adoption.

3. Organizational Change Management and Communications: A robust organizational change management program is crucial to gaining employee adoption and business benefits from the system and includes communications targeted to each major workgroup, business process training, organizational impact assessments, redesign of employee roles and responsibilities to match the new system, and a host of other key activities.

   Socius develops a Communication Plan with documentation to clearly identify our project goals, timeframes, and expected outcomes. We provide interactive classroom-style training to encourage participation of members in all departments during the phases of our implementation process and to ensure user adoption. This training is typically conducted by the organization’s project team, thus proving corporate ownership of the new system. Socius conducts a Business Impact Assessment to help organizations identify their corporate objectives, understand what their strategies are and the obstacles they face in meeting those objectives, and help them build a winning strategy to accomplish their objectives.

4. Business and Technical Integration: Integration to systems and business processes outside the system need to be managed from a technical and business design and testing perspective; otherwise, the system will be fragmented and disjointed, which defeats the whole purpose of ERP.

   Socius’ consultants have extensive experience with several types of integrations. We discuss plans for data conversion, integrations, and infrastructure upgrades prior to any type of implementation.

5. Globalization and Localization: Many organizations want to standardize business processes across multiple locations and countries, but some level of localization needs to take place. Whether it’s local regulatory needs, reporting requirements, or shipping and customs processes, some aspects of the global rollout may require localization and can delay a project if these aspects aren’t defined early on.

   Socius has clients with multiple locations spanning the US and other countries and therefore takes proactive measures to determine what processes can be standardized globally and which require localization.

6. Independent Oversight of Technical Resources: Without clear direction, guidance, and project controls, it is easy to fall into a spiral of unnecessary customization, configuration, and set-up that doesn’t meet key business requirements and results in higher costs and longer durations.

   With Socius’ proven process using a detailed Business Process Review and Business Impact Assessment, along with a dedicated project manager, we avoid the pitfalls of unnecessary customizations and other tasks that can delay a project and result in higher costs.

7. ERP Benefits Realization: This may be the biggest sin of all. Too many companies spend millions of dollars only to fail to realize the expected business benefits. In fact, Panorama’s independent research shows that most ERP implementations fail to realize at least 30% of the expected business benefits. A key reason for this is a lack of a robust ERP benefits realization program.

   Socius creates a Business Value Summary that details the features of the ERP software, the benefits of these features, and how they meet organizational objectives and business requirements.

Get started by working with Socius to help you select and implement the best ERP software solution for your business and request a complimentary Business Strategy Assessment today!

These businesses cited two primary pressures they faced which caused them to look for improved payment processing options:

If you are feeling this same pressure or are looking for ways to reduce your processing costs, one way to accomplish this is to integrate an electronic payments solution with your account, enterprise resource planning (ERP), or other financial software. 

According to Aberdeen, 50% of best-in-class companies integrate their electronic payment solutions with their financial systems, while, 39% identify a lack of integration between electronic payments and accounting systems as a barrier to increased electronic payments.

To find out what your electronic payment processing options are and how to integrate an electronic payments solution with your current ERP solution, contact Socius for a complimentary business strategy assessment. 

SYSPRO users ranked them as the top ERP vendor in a Panorama Consulting survey, awarding an industry leading 9.7 rating out of 10.  The rankings were based on the following criteria:

• Pre-Sales Support
• Implementation Support
• Ease of Configuration
• Functional Fit to Business Requirements
• Frequency and Quality of Software Updates
• Ongoing Technical Support
• User Community Activity
• Level of Benefits and ROI Realized
• Overall Evaluation and the following functionalities:  Financial Management; Planning; Manufacturing; Purchasing; Order Management; CRM; Distribution; Warehouse Management System; and BI and Reporting.

SYSPRO also recently jumped 87 spots up the annual VAR500 List that is released by Everything Channel.  The list details the leading producers among technology integrators and technology solution provider organizations in North America based on gross worldwide revenue of hardware and software sales, as well as earnings from professional and managed IT services.

SYSPRO attributes this recent recognition to the excitement around their new ground breaking release of the company’s mid-market Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software offering.  The new issue contains more than 1,500 enhancements and six new, dynamic applications, all of which are based on the company’s efforts to enable small and medium size manufacturers and distributors in various industry verticals to lean and green their operations, dramatically enhance supply chain efficiencies and significantly boost their bottom lines.

This week, Microsoft introduced a new connector that accelerates two-tier enterprise resource planning (ERP) deployments between Microsoft Dynamics AX and SAP Business Suite.  This connector would allow a company with SAP installed at the corporate headquarters to integrate and connect their data to subsidiaries, divisions or branch entities that are using Microsoft Dynamics AX.  This kind of solution is referred to as a “two-tier erp strategy.”

According to Microsoft, the two-tier connector will enable consolidation of financial data, integration of intercompany supply-chain, and plan automation.

So how do you know if a two-tier strategy (like one using the Microsoft Dynamics ERP connector) is right for your business? 

R. Ray Wang, an analyst and blogger, recently conducted a survey for Software Insider to spot trends in two-tier ERP strategy.  Through his analysis, he explains the three scenarios in which a two-tier approach makes the most sense:

1. Organizations that have different lines of business or business models sometimes find it beneficial to use separate ERP systems for each line of business
2. Companies with international subsidiaries can often save on operating costs with country specific deployments
3.  Organizations that choose a phased approach to modernization, updating one system at a time rather than all systems at the same time

According to Software Insider, the key drivers behind companies considering a two-tier strategy are:

• Desire for an industry specific or purpose built system
• Existing systems are too costly
• Expensive upgrades of existing systems
• A need for innovation that outpaces the solutions on the market
• Regulatory compliance issues
• Geographic requirements
• Rigidity of existing systems

All of these factors are working together to increase interest in two-tier ERP strategies.  Software Insider reports the number of organizations considering two-tier solutions has increased 10% since Q3 2009. 

If you are considering a two-tier ERP solution for your organization, request a complimentary Business Strategy Assessmentwith Socius to help you determine the best strategy for your company.

The article focused mainly on database structure and typical user amounts to define the difference between the three MAS software solutions.  There are, however, greater distinctions between the products, many of which directly affect manufacturers. 

Although they are built on different databases, Sage MAS 90 and 200 have the same six manufacturing modules: 

• Bill of Materials
• Inventory Management
• Materials Requirements Planning
• Purchase Order
• Sales Order
• Work Order 

These modules provide detailed and accurate tracking and reporting throughout the entire manufacturing process-from forecasting to the shop floor, and on to completion.

If you are a manufacturer looking for an end-to-end solution that includes relationship management tools, Sage MAS 90 or 200 Extended Enterprise Suite (EES) includes most of the manufacturing modules as part of the flat, per-user pricing.  The remaining manufacturing modules are available to be added to the EES solution. 

On the flip side, Sage MAS 500 ERP was built from the ground-up with Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Basic and Microsoft Office technology.  The twelve Sage MAS 500 manufacturing software modules optimize manufacturers’ operations for maximum productivity and provide a real-time business picture to enable you to manage profitability with insight.  These modules include:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Advanced Planning and Scheduling
• Engineering Change Management
• Estimating
• Light Manufacturing Advanced Kitting
• Material Requirements Planning
• Product Configurator
• Project Management for Manufacturers
• Shop Floor Control
• Planning, Scheduling, and Optimization
• Process Manufacturing
• Service Management

Sage MAS 500 manufacturing software meets the diverse business requirements of varied industries, including industrial, chemical, high tech, automotive, consumer packaged goods, food and beverage and other industries.

To learn which Sage MAS ERP solution is the best fit for your manufacturing organization, request a complimentary Business Strategy Assessment from Socius!

There are several ways that your Sage software solution can help you “go green” and gain operational efficiencies all at the same time.  Many of these tips center around electronic document management for your Sage ERP software solution.

Email customer communications instead of printing and mailing

• Print files to PDF instead of hard-copy, send those documents to your customer by email, and save the environment by not using ink, toner, paper, envelopes, or transportation resources.  With immediate delivery, you’ll be able to increase customer satisfaction and your efficiencies by confirming orders with customers before they ship, and eliminate the lag time waiting for the mail to arrive. When your customer contacts you to inquire about their order, your computer screen will display the customer’s exact copy. And, you’ll be able to resend the customer a duplicate copy with the click of your mouse.  View these PDFs by date, source, user ID, and file name.  The system also records a record of when the file was sent.

Send vendor communications, including POs, electronically

• Print purchase orders (POs) to PDF and send them by e-mail directly to the vendor – all in one smooth process. You’ll improve the timeliness of communications and order turnaround times while you’re saving on paper and postage. You can retrieve archived POs and payments by date, source, user ID, and file name.

Email reports to your team

• All Standard reports are available in PDF format from the Paperless Office Report Viewer.  You can distribute the reports to the team electronically and save them in the archive for reference!

Complete period-end processing without printing

• Using period-end reports in PDF format saves on paper costs, plus you can archive reports in a secure and searchable digital format.  All documents are available for electronic retrieval through the PDF Viewer. The Viewer enables you to specify any combination of company codes, modules, and documents to view – so you see only what you want to see. Automatically name and save PDF files, eliminating the risk of accidental overwrites.

Electronically archive important documents

• You have the ability within the Sage MAS ERP system to electronically save important documents such as financial reports, customer invoices, and purchase orders, using an efficient archive system.  Eliminate paper and printing costs.  Your staff can easily access needed files, view or email them, and return them to archive. This will help you reduce time spent in retrieval and your need for physical space to store these important documents. Plus, easily keep multiple backups of important documents electronically.

Visit the Sage Online Community for more tips.

Aside from the Ohio ERP software costs, the greatest expense in your project will most likely be the Implementation Services.  So what can you expect to receive for your money?
Implementation Services typically include:

• Requirements Analysis/Definition of Scope*
• Installation
• Configuration
• Integration
• Data Migration or Conversion
• Customization
• Reporting
• Testing
• Training
• Documentation
• Project Management

*While many partners will charge for this service or roll the costs into the total cost of the project, Socius does NOT charge for these services. 

To help you plan for these ERP project costs, the ERP Papers Panel (a group of ERP experts nationwide focused on educating ERP buyers through the entire software selection process) has published a whitepaper:  Beyond Software: How to Budget the Cost of ERP Implementation Services

So what are your odds of having an ERP implementation project completed on-time?  According to The Panorama Consulting Group, they aren’t good.  Their 2010 ERP Report found that 57% of ERP implementations take longer than expected.

They attribute this fact to unrealistic expectations for implementation timeframes and failures to account for key project activities during the implementation planning process.  Whatever the reason, based on these numbers, your odds of “Going Live” on a new accounting and business management solution on-time are less than 50-50.

There are ways to improve your chances though (and you don’t even have to learn how to count cards).  By selecting an implementation partner that knows your business needs, has sufficient resources to support the project, and has a track record of beating these national numbers, you can feel more confident that your ERP software implementation will take place when and how you need it to. 

Socius is an ERP solutions partner that is surpassing the national averages.   In the last year, Socius has also seen the percentage of implementations that were completed past their due date drop from 38% down to 31% – both well below the national average!  Those that did run past their due date were quickly wrapped up – 20% within one week of the original “Go Live” date.

Don’t gamble on your ERP implementation – learn what a reasonable implementation timeframe would be for your business by requesting a complimentary Business Requirements Assessment from Socius today! 

The right ERP solution will manage your reporting, administrative tasks, and financial data so that you can demonstrate a high level of accountability in order to secure funding and focus on the success of your mission.

Why Microsoft Dynamics GP?
Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly Ohio Microsoft Great Plains) is packed with tools to ensure that you adhere to regulations and controls, manage grants and budgets proactively, and improve efficiencies across your accounting processes.

Microsoft Dynamics GP’s financial management tools include:

• Interfund Accounting – Streamline and automate the transfer of balances between funds, eliminating the need to manually reconcile fund accounts.
• Control Account Management – Gain a detailed picture of your financial managing payables control accounts by reporting segments.
• Encumbrance Management – Manage granular control over budget expenditures and monitor encumbered purchases from any point in time.
• Commitments – Enable employees to enter purchase requisitions online and track them as commitments against budgets.
• Grant Management – Manage grants proactively, help ensure accountability to sponsors, and maintain tight control over project and funding success.

In addition, Ohio Microsoft Dynamics GP can benefit your organization by enabling:

• Greater worker productivity – Empower your employees’ effectiveness with a software environment that is comfortable, consistent, and easy to use.
  
• Less duplication and lower potential for errors – Introduce consistent, flexible automation and centralization into all areas of financial management to streamline your efforts, minimize the potential for errors, and eliminate redundant data entry.
• More strategic management – Lighten the load on your financial managers and let them concentrate on critical and strategic tasks with comprehensive reporting and automation capabilities designed with not-for-profits in mind.

Hear what a Not-for-Profit organization thinks of their Ohio Microsoft Dynamics GP solution.

Why Now?
With the economic downturn, your organization is undoubtedly facing a limited availability of funds and increased competition for funding.  By implementing an ERP solution, like Microsoft Dynamics GP, you can secure, track, and report on that funding more efficiently and keep your efforts focused on serving your members and community.

Along with the economic downturn came the Recovery Act which promises stimulus money to organizations like yours!  Those funds can be used on both the software and the implementation services of a new ERP solution.

Microsoft Dynamics GP has made the software solution decision even easier with a special offer just for Not-for-Profit organizations.  When you purchase the Foundation Pack of Microsoft Dynamics GP before December 23, 2009, you get two additional “full-access” users at no cost for a total of 3 system users. 

Contact Socius, an Ohio Dynamics Partner, to learn more about Microsoft Dynamics GP and to learn terms and conditions for the special offer.