Importing data via web services is quickly becoming the best way to create new integrations due to the fact that integration is possible with systems in a different location, on a different operating system, or written in a different programming language-or even all three simultaneously.For those that don’t have the patience, staff or experience with XML-there are the trusty data import tools. Unlike web services, these tools only work one-way. You can import data into your accounting/ERP system with them.Here in Minnesota, we offer the two most mainstream Microsoft ERP products (in terms of number of US organizations using). So let’s look at the differences between these two products’ import tools-Dynamics GP (formerly Great … [Read more...] about Dynamics GP Integration Manager versus Dynamics SL Transaction Import for Importing Data
The ISV (Independent Software Vendor) Reseller
John Howell, the founder of Solomon Software International, and an author of an excellent article on cloud computing, once said to me “if you are a reseller, you should be a reseller-and be the best one you can be. Don’t try to be a software developer and a reseller because you will exhaust your resources and end up being great at neither the software development part nor the reselling/consulting part."For 17 years, we’ve resisted the temptation to turn one of the hundreds of useful programs we’ve created for our Minnesota-based Dynamics GP and Dynamics SL clients into a for-resale product.What are the differences between a consulting (reseller) organization and a product-creating reseller organization?1. Quality of documentation. … [Read more...] about The ISV (Independent Software Vendor) Reseller
Excel-based Budgeting
Why is Excel-based budgeting still so incredibly popular?Earlier in December we held a year-end closing event for both our Dynamics GP and Dynamics SL clients. 70 people attended the event.Because there were too many people to have each person introduce themselves, I asked a series of questions to make people feel welcome and involved. One of my questions was “How many people use Excel to budget?” I was shocked. All but 3 of our largest clients raised their hands.Why was this so surprising to me? I hear a lot of complaining from accountants around budget-time. Most don’t like Excel for budgeting.Specifically, this is what I hear: 1.) There is no time to analyze numbers due to the fact it took us so long to get the numbers. 2.) … [Read more...] about Excel-based Budgeting
