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. 

If you are currently using Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 and are on a current service plan, you can continue to access the following information through CustomerSource:

• Previously released Upgrades, Updates, Service Packs, Fixes and Regulatory/Tax Updates
• Self-Help Support through KnowledgeBase articles and online content
• Unlimited Online Training
• CustomerSource Community and Tools

In order to get on a currently supported version of Microsoft Dynamics GP, you need to upgrade your solution.  If you are looking for more incentive, read our Top 10 Reasons to Upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010.

These new features include tools to help you, as an IT Manager, manage Security, system Administration, Web Services, Integration and Personalization, and Rapid Data Migration. 

Security Management

• Copy user security from one user to another
• Sort security windows by access rights
• Business Portal Administration Pages have moved from SharePoint site settings into application administration pages, enabling more robust, easier monitoring of security controls
• Automate the log-on process with the system’s ability to “remember” user and password combination and/or company
• Help users get started quickly after security-enabled activation with automatic display of navigation panes

Administration

• Business Portal can now be upgraded from version to version, saving valuable time for future upgrades
• SharePoint version tracking now identifies when sites have changed, including Web parts and customizations
• Optimize development processes with right-click support for common actions
• Utilize 64-bit compatibility for Dexterity-based applications in emulation mode. Work with full 64-bit mode for external applications such as Business Portal.
• Strengthen Field Service administration and table stability with new Checklinks maintenance

Web Services

• Increase flexibility of Web services with options to work with IIS or Windows® hosting
• Enable faster, easier deployment with multiple contracts in Web services, organized by series rather than by the entire group
• Choose from more than 350 Web services, all designed to work with a streamlined architecture that helps improve performance and simplify integrations

Integration and Personalization

• Populate multiple 1099 form amount fields with data.
• Integration Manager now uses Windows Reporting; dependency on Crystal Reports has been removed.
• Automated updates for error logging drive efficiency for key development and administrative tasks in Integration Manager
• Quickly create, read, update, and delete applicant information using a new eConnect node
• Disable or hide Extender fields on forms and windows
• Add multiple identification key fields on Extender forms and windows—for example, customer ID key and address ID key— with Integration Manager
• Connect applications to and from Microsoft Dynamics GP through Web services technology, including the ability to create independent integration adapters

Rapid Data Migration

• Migrate data from Peachtree or QuickBooks to Microsoft Dynamics GP
• Automatically assign General Ledger account numbers in QuickBooks for users who do not have account numbers
• Edit the chart of accounts from Peachtree or QuickBooks with the Rapid Migration Tool

Request a Pre-Upgrade Meeting and Quote from Socius

Reporting enhancements for Service Managers feature…

• Project Accounting which now offers eight additional built-in SQL Server Reporting Services reports, including aged trial balance by project, expenses versus retainer, profit and loss by project, and more.

Service Calls are managed more efficiently thanks to the ability to…

• Automate and simplify preventive maintenance escalations with workflow.
• Generate preventive maintenance service calls only for contracted equipment.
• Add non-inventory items to a service call.
• Choose to combine or not combine preventive maintenance service calls if multiple requirements are marked for service call generation.
• Automate the transfer of service calls to history during the billing process.

Maintain and manage Contracts with the ability to…

• Assign multiple service hour ranges on contracts—for example, 8:00–10:00 A.M. and 9:00–11:00 P.M.
• Enable flexible and specific billing frequency (day and month) in Contract Administration.
• Reconcile contracts procedures in Field Service.
• Add kit items to contracts and service calls in Field Service.
• Consolidate multiple contracts into one invoice.
• Bill on separate invoices for contract lines that use multiple sites.

Learn how GP 2010 benefits other roles in your organization including:

Finance Managers

Knowledge Workers

Human Resource Managers

Payroll Managers

Operations Managers

IT Managers (coming soon – stay tuned!)

Receiving and Purchasing enable Operations Managers to…

• Auto-generate lot numbers during the inventory receiving process.
• Print back-order items on picking tickets.
• Roll down transaction date changes into the line items in Purchase Order Processing.
• Use new options for managing returns and invoicing on a PO if the returned goods will be replenished.
• Create a quote, order, invoice, or purchase order and view customer or vendor information within an Office Communicator instant message.

Returns now allow you to…

• Create an encumbrance when creating a PO return.
• Speed up receiving and invoicing processes for returned goods and replenishments with new options for returns.

Manufacturing functionality helps you…

• Improve Sales Forecasting with easier to use sorting capabilities, lookup boxes, reporting dates, and tool tips.
• Efficiently move to a lean or Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory model with the ability to set a range between order point and order up to level, where Material Requirements Planning (MRP) generation will not render a Manufacturing Order.
• Change the cost for manufacturing items which now includes additional controls for rolling up the cost.

For more reasons on why you should consider upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010, download our “Top 10 Reasons to Upgrade” guide.

Checks

• View and reprint payroll checks or remittance forms
• Streamline payroll check processes by starting multiple payroll check runs simultaneously

Benefits /Deductions

• Sequence garnishment deductions with a single maximum limit for federal and/or state limits for the garnishment amount
• Map deductions and benefits to multiple W-2 form boxes in Payroll
• Track deduction/benefit limits in Payroll by fiscal year amounts in addition to calendar year

Administration

• Efficiently classify employees’ statuses with a secondary employee status code that designates why a person is inactive within a specific company
• Post labor and indirect labor hours to Payroll from Field Service
• Set up Payroll to use Analytical Accounting transaction dimensions and codes
• Quickly select how posting reports will print within the Posting Setup window. In addition, new report options are available when choosing Payroll Edit Report preferences.
• Simplify PTO Manager tasks with a new user interface and streamlined processing

If you are interested in learning more about the enhanced payroll functionality in GP 2010, Request a Pre-Upgrade Meeting and Quote from Socius.

Check out our previous posts in this series focused on Finance Managers, HR Managers, and Knowledge Workers, and stay tuned to our blog for more features specifically designed to help Operations Managers, Service Managers, and IT Managers.

Human Resources Managers can leverage GP 2010 to…

• Monitor Position Control for Human Resources (HR) with additional budgeting controls and reporting, including 14 additional reports.
• Provide Benefit Enrollment Summaries for individuals and teams through Benefits Self Service.
• Streamline HR management with new Payroll and HR reports, including employee attendance, hours, and primary pay.
• Enable better reporting with Excel-based reports for Certification, Licensing, and Training in Advanced Human Resources, including six new reports.
• Give employees access to Benefit Confirmation Statements through Benefits Self Service.

If you manage both HR and Payroll for your organization, watch for our next post in this series where we will feature a number of benefits that Payroll Managers can gain from GP 2010 in the areas of Checks, Benefits/Deductions, and Payroll Administration.

For more reasons why you should consider upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010, download our “Top 10 Reasons to Upgrade” guide. 

Excel Report Building enables Knowledge Workers to…

• Drill down on Excel Reports generated through the Excel Report Builder directly into Microsoft Dynamics GP.
• Simplify re-publishing reports with default settings.
• Create Excel Report PivotTable views and Report Totals using the Excel Report Builder.
• Create SmartLists that include Extender Data using the SmartList Builder.
• Help ensure easier access, administration, and sharing for Excel reports by expanding viewing and publishing rights to users.

To learn more about SmartList Builder and Extender for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010, attend a complimentary webinar on December 8^th.

Queries help Knowledge Workers to…

• Quickly gauge workload associated with specific activities; tasks are now presented visually as document cues.
• Quickly find and select records with filtered lookups for inactive/ discontinued records.
• Access self-help support and services, join role-based communities, and get training directly from home pages and dashboards with Microsoft Dynamics Online Connect.
• Ensure tasks are completed on time with automated, customizable task reminders.

Learn how GP 2010 helps Finance Managers and stay tuned to our blog for more features and functions specifically designed to help Human Resource Managers, Payroll Managers, Operations Managers, Service Managers, and IT Managers.

To kick-off our series, we’re going to be highlighting the new tools and features in GP 2010 that are particularly helpful to Finance Managers.  We’ve divided up these new functions into the categories of: General Ledger, Payables and Receivables, Budgeting, and Collections Management.

General Ledger helps Finance Managers…

• Designate IFRS or GAAP when posting ledger transactions using a new reporting ledger.
• Automatically clear debit and credit amounts after posting General Ledger recurring batches, including Analytical Accounting.
• Simplify reporting for Analytical Accounting data with enhanced Analysis Cubes functionality.
• Create financial statements with dimension codes through Management Reporter and Analytical Accounting integration.

Payables and Receivables now enable you to…

• Post recurring Cash Receipt batches.
• Enter a negative cash receipt in Receivables Management.
• Define unique Receivables Management Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) file formats to match bank-specific requirements.
• Simplify check processing with new Payables Select Checks functionality, administered through a single window.
• Take expired payment term discounts in Payables Select Checks.
• Manage receivables with similar functionality to how you already manage payables with Control Account Management
• Enable lockbox import of a single payment that applies to multiple customers/invoices into Receivables Management.

The new Budgeting features help you…

• Track budget changes as transactions for detailed audit trails, including user, date, and budget change amounts.
• Consolidate multiple budget records into a single budget; specific account amounts are automatically summed for a consolidated view.
• Implement strong controls and specific task assignments with purchase order (PO) approvals, including the ability to prompt for encumbrance or set pre-encumber alerts for budget overages.

Collections Management allows you to…

• Send collections letters to the Bill-to Contact or to the Primary Contact.
• Display collections tasks in the “To-Do” area on the Home Page.
• Display unposted cash receipts in the Collections Management window.

Request a Pre-Upgrade Meeting and Quote from Socius

Stay tuned to our blog for more features and functions specifically designed to help Knowledge Workers, Human Resource Managers, Payroll Managers, Operations Managers, Service Managers, and IT Managers. 

Many people confuse web services with web pages.  They are not the same thing.  A web service is exactly that, a service.  It is available to serve the calling program with the data and functions necessary to interact with the underlying database without giving the caller direct access to the tables themselves.  This ensures that the proper updates and data relationships are maintained and shielded from the caller, handling the details behind the scenes.

A Web Service is technology which allows a programmer to interact with an application using a standard, previously agreed upon method via the web. Therefore, Web Services technology allows the programmer to connect external applications to and from Microsoft Dynamics GP in a more standard/common way that offers more flexibility and scalability for process customizations and extensions. 

Because Web services integrations in GP 2010 no longer depend on Microsoftâ Internet Information Services (IIS), there is no need to buy separate servers, which greatly simplifies infrastructure and reduces IT management costs. 

With so many Web Services available with GP 2010, your customization options are extremely broad and cost effective.  To speak with a Socius customization expert, contact us today!