When you have decisions to make but an overabundance of data, how can you make the best decision? This is where data warehousing can be helpful particularly for nonprofit organizations that pull data from multiple data sources. This article explains how a data warehouse can improve management and analyses of your information from Microsoft Dynamics GP, Dynamics SL or Dynamics NAV. What Is a Data Warehouse? A data warehouse (DW) is a multi-dimensional database or a virtual storage unit that houses diverse transactional and operational data sets. Think of it this way: if you could add a third dimension to an Excel spreadsheet, you could organize all of your transactional and operational information. Management of DWs involves a technical … [Read more...] about Is Data Warehouse the Best Tool for Nonprofits?
Boyer & Associates wins VAR Stars 2015
We are eager to announce that Boyer & Associates has been selected as a member of the Bob Scott’s VAR Stars for 2015, a group of 100 organizations honored for their accomplishments in the field of midmarket financial software. “Each year, 100 VAR Stars are picked from the best organizations that market financial software. It is always an honor to recognize those who contribute to the development of our business.” --Bob Scott, executive editor of Bob Scott’s Insights. A focus on Non-Profit entities in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul has allowed Boyer to gain many of the area’s best known non-profits as clients. Specifically in the areas of The Arts, Large Medical Associations and Social Service. Boyer’s client base … [Read more...] about Boyer & Associates wins VAR Stars 2015
Lessons from Implementing HR for a Large Dynamics SL Client
This post will discuss changing or updating the system and processes that affect the most valuable asset your organization has- your employees. Timing and accuracy was on Paul James (Boyer consultant) mind during the entire implementation of the HR component for a large Dynamics SL client located on an Indian Tribe in Northern Minnesota.As you can see above, this nice HR module for Dynamics SL was created in the Dynamics SL toolset so minimal user interface training or integration is needed during the implementation.The most important lesson that became apparent as our project was starting was the need for communication between Payroll and Human Resources. Like many organizations, this firm’s employees’ paychecks consist of inputs … [Read more...] about Lessons from Implementing HR for a Large Dynamics SL Client
An Interview with Ruth Ann Ellerbrock from Plumbline Solutions
An Interview with Ruth Ann Ellerbrock, Plumbline Solutions For those of you that are not familiar with Plumbline Solutions, this professional services organization was spawned from many former Solomon Software employees. They offer application programming and support services to Dynamics SL consulting organizations, and perform a lot of the actual coding for Microsoft once Microsoft determines which feature sets they want to add to future versions of Dynamics SL. We have used them for overflow client support and Plumbline has always done a nice job.I’ve known Ruth Ann for a very long time (25+ years) and can attest to her abilities as a technical person as she helped many of our clients out of tough situations-especially … [Read more...] about An Interview with Ruth Ann Ellerbrock from Plumbline Solutions
Be Thankful Dynamics SL Users
Today is Thanksgiving 2011 here in Minneapolis, MN, USA. More than 97% or our 250 or so Dynamics clients have renewed their annual plans. We have slightly more Dynamics SL clients than Dynamics GP clients so, as you would guess, most clients renew their plans on both sides. ERP/Accounting Software has a reputation for being “sticky” due to the expense and disruption of change and in this economy not too many are buying or changing systems. Most are upgrading because it costs less and they can migrate all of their data-rather than only some of it.So if you are a Dynamics SL client right now-what do you have to be thankful about on this day of thanks?There are many reasons and I want to share them with you.1. Dynamics SL still has … [Read more...] about Be Thankful Dynamics SL Users
An Interview with Dynamics SL Users That Implemented Order Management Themselves
N’compass Solutions is a professional services firm that also sells products. They are one of only 13 firms in the United States and 25 in the world to achive Cisco’s coveted Advanced Data Center Architecture Specialization. They are a team of hands-on people that take on serious challenges-like implementing Order Management with only limited guidance from Boyer.Below, I interview Brian Bagley, CFO of N’Compass Solutions on how and why they made this important decision.Jack Boyer: Brian, you may not know this, but there are very few users that I’ve seen in my 17 years of working with the Solomon/Dynamics SL software that have even attempted to implement a module as complex as Dynamics SL’s Order Management module by themselves. How … [Read more...] about An Interview with Dynamics SL Users That Implemented Order Management Themselves
Dynamics SL Top 10 Tips: An Interview with Timothy Jones, Technical Services Director
Tim, you’ve worked with Dynamics SL users as a consultant, as a trainer, as a business analyst, and as a developer. You’ve done phone support, email support, and remote tool support. If anyone has 10 tips to share with the average firm using Dynamics SL-it has to be you. …so what are your Top 10 tips?Thanks Jack. I have worked with the product since it was originally brought to the Windows platform (many years back). Microsoft has continued to invest in the product to make it easier to use and to integrate very seamlessly into their other product families such as the Microsoft Office business application suite, Microsoft’s CRM product and their backend server products (SharePoint, SQL Server). There are many tips out on the web for both … [Read more...] about Dynamics SL Top 10 Tips: An Interview with Timothy Jones, Technical Services Director
Accounting Software Completeness
Over the years, I’ve seen often the battle in accounting software being won by the vendors that offer the most “completeness.”It was the completeness of Dynamics GP that has helped it to gain such a dominant position here in the United States. Not only does Dynamics GP have a complete offering of financial modules, and distribution modules, the product also possesses the most impressive list of ISV’s (Independent Software Vendors) ever assembled for the mid-market accounting and ERP space.To be specific with GP, modules such as Collections Management, National Accounts (parent/child invoicing and payment application), Grant Management, and Analytical Accounting, don’t exist on most competitors’ price lists in the mid-market.Dynamics … [Read more...] about Accounting Software Completeness
Why is Microsoft’s Dynamics GP so unsettling to competition?
When you watch Netsuite videos poking fun at Dynamics GP-you realize how threatening GP is to its competition. They are making fun of Fargo and it is a little funny-but there’s a bigger purpose to the teasing.Microsoft’s competition is trying to make their point about cloud computing, and maybe have some fun too at Fargo’s expense (like the movie). The impression I was left with is that competitors want to appear to be harmlessly teasing; they are however poorly hiding their fear of the Microsoft competition. Below are the reasons I believe GP still unsettles competitors:1. Dynamics GP has 42,000 active organizations using GP and paying maintenance on the product. This is an enormous number considering that hundreds of thousands of … [Read more...] about Why is Microsoft’s Dynamics GP so unsettling to competition?
Dynamics GP Integration Manager versus Dynamics SL Transaction Import for Importing Data
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
