I once heard that when we succeed, we tend to “party” and when we fail we tend to “ponder.” With that in mind, I want to share with you some mistakes I’ve seen buyers of accounting and ERP software make over the years so that you can avoid them. Here are three common (and wrong) reasons for choosing a particular accounting software:Read the entire article as posted on the ERP Software Blog by Jack Boyer. … [Read more...] about 3 Wrong Reasons to Choose ERP Software
Write Off Documents in GP Receivables
You can use the Write Off Documents window in Microsoft Dynamics GP to write off outstanding credit or debit balance amounts for one or more customers. You can specify a write-off limit and cutoff date, and whether to create one credit or debit memo for each customer or document. The debit or credit memos this process creates will be posted and applied to the documents for which you’re writing off balances.Note that this process is for Receivables only. Write-offs for Sales Order Processing are done in the Apply Sales Documents window (Sales >> Transactions >> Apply Sales Documents).Here are 9 easy steps to write off outstanding documents in Receivables Management in Microsoft Dynamics GP:Change the System Date to the … [Read more...] about Write Off Documents in GP Receivables
Connector Makes SL Tax Updates Easier
Keeping up with tax rate changes can be difficult, leaving you to wonder if you have all the appropriate tax codes set up properly and up to date. Worry no more!One of Boyer & Associates’ vendors recently came out with a third-party connector that works with Avalara’s online AvaTax system. Avalara offers cloud-based solutions to help companies stay compliant and current with constantly changing sales tax rates and more.The new AvaTax Connector integrates Avalara’s AvaTax online tax service with the following modules of Dynamics SL:Accounts Receivable Flexible Billings Order ManagementWhen the Save function is completed in these invoicing screens, the transactions are sent and update the AvaTax online system. AvaTax tax … [Read more...] about Connector Makes SL Tax Updates Easier
The Myth of an ‘Easy’ Customization
In general, most people searching for new accounting software understand that customization is bad and out-of-the-box functionality is good. But is that always true? What if the person creating the customized option seems to understand your needs better than you do?My response is simple: Don’t fall for their trap!In the early 2000’s a large medical insurance firm selected Dynamics SL due to the project accounting capabilities that came out-of-the-box with the software. They almost went with a customized product instead because a competitor was able to mock up customizations to make their product look like it would do what the prospective client wanted.When the prospective client asked enough questions, it became evident that the … [Read more...] about The Myth of an ‘Easy’ Customization
Project Management Aids ERP
What You Can Do to Help Your Project Succeed While the definition of success on a project is different for each organization, there are some actions that any company can take to help the project succeed. In addition to benefiting from the expertise of a skilled project manager, here are five actions that your company’s leadership can take internally to ensure the success of your implementation:Engage Leadership – Buy-in and engagement start from the top. Business resources will take direct cues from and often react in alignment with their leaders. The company’s leaders can show engagement via early communication of support. Throughout the process they should focus on the goals of the project and continue to reiterate them, ask … [Read more...] about Project Management Aids ERP
Know Your Needs Before Buying ERP
As a provider and consultants for Microsoft’s top middle-market Dynamics ERP and accounting software products, we have seen a trend toward more online research. People are thoroughly researching their accounting software and ERP decisions before ever engaging a partner to help them.This is good for consumers. Potential buyers can get more information and have the ability to make better decisions. What can improve more is businesses and nonprofits diving deeper into their own requirements.Potential clients often come to us without understanding what the whole organization needs. Sometimes it’s the I.T. group leading the charge. Other times accounting has taken the lead on the project or, depending on the need, the manufacturing or supply … [Read more...] about Know Your Needs Before Buying ERP
Knowing Risks Benefits ERP Projects
Boyer & Associates’ new project manager, Beth Steinkopf, is helping us better manage our clients’ ERP implementations. Last week we discussed how her past experience is already helping our clients. This week Jack Boyer asks Steinkopf how early project management can get your ERP implementation off to a great start. Jack: What are the most important elements you focus on early in a project to help clients ensure success with implementing ERP software? I like to understand why the client has chosen to implement the new software. What are their goals? Understanding this helps define where we are going and allows us to refocus the troops if anyone starts to deviate from the initial plan. It also helps to create a baseline. ERP … [Read more...] about Knowing Risks Benefits ERP Projects
Project Management Affects ERP Projects
Boyer & Associates recently hired a new project manager, Beth Steinkopf, to help provide better management of our clients’ ERP implementation projects. Jack Boyer sat down with Steinkopf to discuss how her background as a PM helps clients who are in the process of updating their ERP or accounting software. Jack: You have experience managing elements of larger ERP projects. How are smaller ERP projects similar and different to the larger ones in your experience? Let’s start with different: Smaller ERP implementations move FAST! They have fewer stakeholders, they generally have only one or two key decision makers, the owners are directly involved, and the processes around the project are typically less formalized.Items that are very … [Read more...] about Project Management Affects ERP Projects
Who Did It? Tracking Changes in Dynamics GP
Sometimes you just need to know who entered a transaction into your Microsoft Dynamics GP system. As you may have already noticed, GP has no standard window to show who entered a particular transaction.However, most of the transaction tables in the GP database do have a field for the “User ID.” This field shows the last person to touch the record, and you can easily modify your GP reports within Report Writer to include this field on your reports.Additionally, third-party vendors such as Fastpath and Rockton Software offer modules specifically for helping companies keep better track of changes to data. … [Read more...] about Who Did It? Tracking Changes in Dynamics GP
GP SmartList Quick Tip: Changing Display Columns
Have you ever wanted to change the name of a column in a Dynamics GP SmartList? Perhaps instead of “Customer Name” you would like the export to show “Client Name,” for example.It is very easy to change the names of columns as well as the order of columns as they appear on your SmartList. Simply open your SmartList and click on “Columns.” Highlight the name you wish to change and start typing in the “Display Name” column. It’s that simple.You can also use the re-order arrows to change the way your columns are displayed on the SmartList. For example, you could rearrange the columns so that “Debits” appears before “Credits.” … [Read more...] about GP SmartList Quick Tip: Changing Display Columns
