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Internet eBusiness Solutions, Inc. is a leading Microsoft Dynamics software reseller and developer based in the Miami and Tampa areas of Florida and operating nationally.

Our business process consulting firm is dedicated exclusively to Microsoft® Dynamics products and supported services, including Microsoft Dynamics GP, Dynamics CRM, Dynamics NAV, and Sharepoint.

#Dynamics CRM #Dynamics NAV #Sharepoint #Microsoft Dynamics GP

The IES Blog, News, Tips and Professional Advice.

A look into the world of Microsoft Dynamics.

#Microsoft Dynamics GP #Sharepoint #Dynamics NAV #Dynamics CRM #Microsoft Dynamics software reseller #Internet eBusiness Solutions

AMAZON AWS VS. AZURE: MICROSOFT CEO SATYA NADELLA’S PLAN TO WIN Look out, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft is coming for you.Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says a head-to-head comparison of Amazon vs. Azure will yield a clear victory for Azure. Azure is the Microsoft cloud-based computing platform and software infrastructure developed for IT professionals to build, implement, and manage applications.Interesting, Nadella’s claims aren’t just bragging rights—the numbers are out, and it seems that Microsoft is in a serious resurgence, thanks in part to their efforts to expand Azure cloud offerings.

AZURE PROFITS POINT TO ROSY PICTURE FOR 2017

GeekWire reported Microsoft quarterly profits in late January 2017 as blowing Wall Street projections out of the water. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has led the company to $26 billion in revenues, driven in part, by the acquisition of business social networking platform LinkedIn.LinkedIn both helped and hurt these numbers: According to GeekWire, the revenue contribution from the LinkedIn acquisition was $228 million, which was offset by a $100 million loss. So where does that leave Azure in comparison to AWS this year?

AWS VS. AZURE

When you do a side-by-side comparison of Amazon vs. Azure, you’ll quickly see that Microsoft is holding its own against AWS, despite the fact that AWS was first to market. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella believes the pace of growth will continue and exceed competitors in the near future.By the numbers, Microsoft is currently turning the heads of investors by excelling in these key areas:According to GeekWire, Office 365 commercial applications continue to expand, rising 47% over the previous quarter.Consumer consumption of Office 365 also rose to an all-time high of 24.9 million. This signifies an increase of almost one million consumer subscribers in three months.On the gaming side of the business, Xbox Live active users reached a monthly high of 55 million. That was an increase of 15% from the same time the prior year.During an investor call, the company also cited decreased expenses by 15%, in part due to lower employee-generated costs.Overall, Microsoft revenue was up by 10% last quarter.Office consumer products and cloud-based services increased 22% fro the prior quarter.Dynamics 365 cloud offerings raised revenue by 7%.Server and cloud products increased 12%.Even more startling, Azure revenue increased by 93%.But don’t think Microsoft is slowing down. It seems clear that the company is actually accelerating efforts to surpass Amazon Web Services by focusing on the latest tech craze—artificial intelligence and machine learning. According to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, the company is working hard to integrate advanced algorithms across all Microsoft products while pushing growth in the Azure cloud.Cloud-Tech interviewed a team of IT experts last year that suggested the following characteristics set Azure apart from AWS:Azure has better out-of-the-box functionality and a faster, more intuitive setup. This is particularly useful for small to mid-sized businesses that lack and IT staff.Both AWS and Azure have a variety of costs to fit any business. Azure pricing is more straightforward that AWS, which requires you to purchase storage separately as part of the subscription.Azure offers fixed fee helpdesk support, while AWS bills by incidence. The problem, most say, is that you can quickly increase costs if you’re a heavy user.Azure makes it easy to integrate on-premise Windows servers in the cloud for hybrid usage. The service also integrates efficiently with SQL and other Microsoft cloud services.The Microsoft cloud offering has allowed even small to mid-sized businesses to compete with enterprise organizations by allowing the same accessibility and flexibility, along with powerful tools for everything from business analytics to customer relationship management.Information technology analysts say that Microsoft’s popularity extends beyond the average user to some of the more experienced technology experts in the field of computing.

AZURE IS FOR PROGRAMMERS AND DATA SCIENTISTS

Interestingly, Azure remains the only public cloud providing deep dive capabilities for data scientist and developers including:Blockchain as a Service (BaaS), which speeds up transaction verification.Build your own Bots with Azure Bot Service.Cognitive APIs that allow you to do everything from adding emotion recognition to analyzing and processing videos in your app.Cortana intelligence machine learning powering predictive analytics across any industry.Robust hybrid options for public or private access, integrating private corporate functions with cloud-based flexibility.For many enterprise organizations, it’s the hybrid options that really tip the scales in favor of Microsoft Azure. Many IT executives have no plans currently to run everything in the cloud, but instead prefer to split applications by leveraging the benefits of hybrid models. This is an attractive option for those conservatives who prefer not to put all their “eggs in one basket.”Microsoft has prepared for this trend by creating a stronger support mechanism for hybrid cloud models. They work in close collaboration with enterprise organizations that want to deploy existing infrastructure assets while migrating some data and applications to the cloud. Microsoft Azure helps these businesses ingrate seamlessly between both models.Even the Amazon CEO acknowledged in Fortune last year that they need to catch up in this area. This includes expanding in the IoT (Internet of Things) and machine learning, something that developers say truly sets Microsoft apart from the rest of the cloud providers.When you start stacking service against service, it becomes clearer why Microsoft is nipping at the heels of AWS. But what are the ramifications for your particular business model?

CORPORATE IMPACT OF MICROSOFT AZURE PAAS

Research giant Forrester Consulting studied the economic impact of Microsoft Azure platform as a service (PaaS) In June 2016. The company analyzed what could happen when an enterprise organization shifted to Azure in a secure cloud. The goal was to determine the return on investment of moving from IaaS (infrastructure as a service) to PaaS. The study shared some startling insights into the true ROI behind going to the cloud:Azure was a time-saver for IT staff

Azure PaaS-enabled enterprise organizations to enact an 80% reduction in IT staffing management of apps deployed across the platform. The amount of time spent server patching, configuring firewalls, and setting up the network were all reduced when the enterprise went to the cloud.The cloud allowed faster overall deployment The study showed there was a 25-hour average reduction in the time it took to deploy a new application. This increased overall profit in the study group by $376,441 in the first year alone.Staff reduction – Cost Savings Subsequently, IT teams can be reduced in size. In the study cohort, it was determined that organizations could save more than $600,000 annually in saved staffing costs.Increased new business opportunities New and migrated apps in the Azure cloud allowed for vertical and new business streams. Significantly, the study noted that the time to market was typically less when deployed in the cloud.The study concluded that there was a considerable overall cost reduction associated with a cloud deployment, especially, when compared to on-site infrastructure development. Cloud options allow small companies to avoid the cost of buying, setting up, and maintaining an on-premise deployment. The cloud is flexible, able to adjust to almost immediate growth or a reduction in the need for services, all of which may happen quickly in a small business.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR MICROSOFT PAAS?

Redmond Magazine has joined Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in predicting big things for Microsoft Azure’s cloud-model. They are projected to hit a $20 billion annual run rate in the commercial cloud by 2018. Mary Jo Foley in her January 2017 article says:Microsoft will continue to make a lot of noise around hybrid cloud, bots, voice input and extended reality in the coming year. Like its competitors, Microsoft will tie almost every product and service development back to AI and machine learning. But the real buzz among business users will be around much more mundane, real-world products and services, such as LinkedIn integrations, Dynamics 365 ERP/CRM and SQL Server on Linux.Most pundits agree that Microsoft will continue to expand integration across consumer applications such as OneDrive and Skype. Virtual and augmented reality along with machine learning will continue to take center stage this year.Cloud adoption will increase exponentially this year, with enterprise level organizations finally accelerating their transition to the cloud or hybrid models. Gartner suggests that more than $1 trillion worldwide will be affected by this massive migration. Everyone agrees Microsoft Azure is uniquely positioned to be the PaaS of choice for these migrations.

ARE YOU READY -- MICROSOFT AZURE?

Internet eBusiness Solutions has been helping business customers migrate to Microsoft Azure for years. We have more than 14 years experience in on-premise, cloud, and hybrid models. IES is one of the leading Microsoft Dynamics software resellers and developers. We specialize in Microsoft Dynamics GP, CRM, NAVE and Sharepoint and can help you design and implement a solution for your business no matter what size our industry you’re in. Contact us and join the thousands of other companies we’ve helped take advantage of Microsoft’s excellent PaaS offerings.

#Amazon vs. Azure #Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says

4 TOOLS FOR HUBSPOT AND DYNAMICS CRM INTEGRATION

In 2011, the HubSpot-Microsoft Dynamics CRM integration was big news. Prior to the announcement, HubSpot’s API allowed integration with third-party systems. But the new integration was an ideal partnership; HubSpot was the leader in inbound marketing techniques, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM was the most efficient way to capture and manage customer data. Together, HubSpot Microsoft Dynamics CRM integration allowed increased marketing automation, improving the organization of customer contacts and data from pre-sale to up-sale.

Today, the process of integrating a database into a company’s marketing and client service relationship management is an accepted and welcomed part of customer lifecycle management. The interoperability between marketing, sales, and database management is crucial when viewed in the context of today’s increasingly competitive digital market.

The HubSpot and Microsoft Dynamics CRM integration improved sales productivity by creating a tighter, more unified partnership between an automated marketing provider and a database management partner. This integration allowed:

Creation of customized marketing landing pages, with integration directly into the Dynamics CRM of all leads captured.

Design and implementation of sophisticated email campaigns using the data found in Dynamics CRM.

Data analysis of emails opened and information downloads, length of view, conversion to sales – and much more.

Over the years, there have been a number of additions to the HubSpot Microsoft Dynamics CRM integration process that facilitated the interoperability and functionality between these two important marketing and sales platforms. These software providers allow the cross-directional flow of information between HubSpot and Microsoft Dynamics products, from the CRM to NAV and GP. These software integrators ensure this data flow occurs in real-time; you don’t need to wait for updates to occur. These providers are considered part of the iPaaS (integration platform as a service) family of service providers, meaning the job of the software is to make applications like HubSpot and Microsoft Dynamics CRM work together smoothly and seamlessly.

These iPaaS software providers were created to connect a number of cloud-based software products together. These integrators work by pulling data from between two disparate platforms, normalizing it, and then dispersing it evenly between the two. The iPaaS software providers can also allow you to take the two platforms and customize the delivery on one dashboard in new ways. This makes for a tremendous level of efficiency that links business intelligence with data management and sales with marketing.

Let’s look at some of the integration options that help link the Dynamics/HubSpot tech family of services.

SCRIBE

HubSpot Microsoft Dynamics CRM integration was initially made possible through the Scribe Software backbone. It is now considered the legacy software provider to link HubSpot and Dynamics CRM.

Scribe was designed to allow data to flow seamlessly between HubSpot and Dynamics. Set up is simple; just add your HubSpot portal ID to the Scribe dashboard and get going. Scribe allows you to:

Export marketing databases from HubSpot to Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Automatically sync the two platforms.

Dump leads captured from white papers or other marketing materials directly into Dynamics CRM.

Add contact information to Dynamics CRM and categorize the lead by when, where, and how it was captured.

Segment leads, allowing automated inbound marketing in response to how the lead was categorized.

Full functionality such as email notifications when the lead returned to your website for additional information.

This integration even allows for reporting on the lifecycle of the lead so marketing and sales can have more accurate information on which campaigns are working and which ones aren’t. Scribe Software allows real-time viewing by multiple departments and eliminates the need to enter data multiple times.

BEDROCK

The Bedrock integration tool syncs contact records and activities that occur between Dynamics CRM and HubSpot. This is another excellent option when seeking bi-directional integration between HubSpot and Microsoft Dynamics. Bedrock allows integration between the Microsoft Dynamics ERP platforms as well, which provides a very powerful way to utilize analytics to make business decisions.

Bedrock software provides interoperability between a number of powerful tools, linking your database to some of the best sales, marketing and event software platforms in the industry. Bedrock can help manage and sync actions between Dynamics and HubSpot. Bedrock will:

Integrate contacts and update them.

Read and update opportunities.

Sync account information.

Align and update tasks across platforms.

Bedrock integrates seamlessly between Microsoft Dynamics and HubSpot allowing you to sync new leads as they occur. You can utilize Bedrock whether you are in the cloud, utilizing a hybrid model or self-hosting on premises. The process is fairly simple:

A simple point and click process allows you to select the systems you would like to integrate, in this case, Dynamics CRM, and HubSpot.

Plug in API or login information.

Create custom field maps by selecting what data will sync between platforms.

Click “on” on the dashboard to start your automated sync process.

ZAPIER

As a true software integrator, Zapier is a connector of web apps. It improves workflows between Dynamics CRM and HubSpot by automating redundant tasks. Simple, user-friendly commands allow you to create the kind of workflow that looks like this:

Use HubSpot to design automated email campaign.

HubSpot pulls segmented list from Dynamics CRM.

HubSpot sends email.

Customer responds by downloading whitepaper.

Zapier is programmed to utilize email to respond in a certain way.

Automated response is logged in Dynamics CRM.

With Zapier, you can build automated workflows with just a few clicks. The platform was designed to help you get more things done with a lot less work. Transferring data between Microsoft Dynamics and HubSpot used to be very time-consuming, but Zapier makes these tasks fully automated.

SMARTCONNECT

If you’re not a programmer, but you are seeking a smart way to integrate Dynamics CRM software with HubSpot marketing tools, SmartConnect may be the right choice. SmartConnect makes it very easy to move data between cloud-based software programs any time you need it to. SmartConnect has a built-in query tool that facilitates date incorporation from all kinds of bulk data sources, including HubSpot and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Just like other integration platforms including Zapier, Bedrock, and Scribe, SmartConnect works in real-time, moving live data between Dynamics CRM and HubSpot. This ensures that no one in your organization is working with outdated data. This is particularly important as you’re tracking the success of new email campaigns; sending emails to customers that have already opted out can ruin your reputation and create a false impression of campaign failure. With SmartConnect software you can:

Move Dynamics CRM data to an Excel spreadsheet – or vice versa.

Schedule data integration between platforms.

Pull data from almost anywhere, including HubSpot.

Automate rejected record notifications; so data will automatically upload to Dynamics CRM – but you’ll know if it doesn’t.

SmartConnect is often used to integrate Dynamics GP to other software. You’ll have one data entry point, instead of many, which is guaranteed to reduce the amount of time and effort you put into data management.

The real beauty of Smart Connect is that it does its job without additional programming; you don’t have to be a coder to use this tool. In fact, the software is being marketed as a “no code integration solution.”

In addition to HubSpot and Microsoft Dynamics CRM, SmartConnect can also integrate data in NAV or GP, marking this integrator as a one-stop shop to improve your Microsoft Dynamics functionality.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT INTEGRATOR

Aligning sales and marketing isn’t a recommended practice anymore; it is required in order to stay competitive. The HubSpot Microsoft Dynamics CRM integration allows for smarter customer engagement. Together, these tools enable businesses to do more, faster.

The question now is – which of these integration tools should you use? All can work beautifully to facilitate the HubSpot Microsoft Dynamics CRM Integration. But, like most software, there are strengths and weaknesses to each platform. Each can be utilized to:

Sync new leads from HubSpot to Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Update contact, lead, or opportunity categorization between Dynamics CRM and HubSpot.

Create customized integrations between the two platforms.

When a marketing email is opened or an e-book is downloaded, HubSpot captures the registration information, then integrates to Microsoft Dynamics CRM via Scribe, Bedrock, Zapier or SmartConnect.

No matter which interoperability partner you choose, the HubSpot Microsoft Dynamics CRM integration software will ensure that your sales team will be supplied with a steady flow of leads stemming from proven marketing techniques. It means that data entered by your sales team will update automatically between these two powerful software providers. You’ll only need to log onto one of the platforms to experience the cross directional flow of information.

The only question that should remain for your business is this: when should we get started? The team at IES is ready to help you successfully utilize these tools to streamline workflows and increase profits.

#4 TOOLS FOR HUBSPOT #HubSpot-Microsoft Dynamics CRM integration #CRM integration #HubSpot and Microsoft Dynamics

MICROSOFT DYNAMICS GP VS QUICKBOOKS ENTERPRISE ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE

If you are trying to determine which accounting software - Microsoft Dynamics GP or QuickBooks enterprise - is best for your business, consider these five important factors in your decision making process.

1. LAUNCHING AND GROWING A STARTUP

Typically, a startup will only need a small number of users in the beginning. In comparing Dynamics GP vs QuickBooks, cost is not a deciding factor. However, Microsoft Dynamics GP may be the better long-term investment for a startup intending to grow.

Most startups are built with the intention to grow. Because of this, they eventually move to a more advanced system like Microsoft Dynamics GP. A company cannot recoup the cost originally paid for QuickBooks, and inevitably will pay to purchase two systems.

2. COST OF GROWTH

When upgrading from Quickbooks to Dynamics GP, there will be an extra cost of converting the QuickBooks data to Dynamics GP. In most cases, this data conversion will cost more than the initial software purchase. If a company starts with Dynamics GP right away, there will be no data conversion costs as the company grows.

When data is converted from QuickBooks to Dynamics GP, detailed transaction history from QuickBooks usually cannnot be migrated to Dynamics. A typical migration will convert some GL history, but as far as AP check history and customer payment history, those are generally too costly to convert. This means you will have to go back to QuickBooks to look at activity prior to the migration.

3. DATABASE INTEGRATION

Many companies like to standardize on Microsoft technology. QuickBooks runs on a proprietary database, while Dynamics GP runs on a Microsoft SQL database. If company data is all in SQL, as opposed to having it in two places, you will have more control and flexibility in terms of reporting and integration.

Because Dynamics GP is built on the open Microsoft SQL database platform, it is much easier to integrate with other systems. This simple integration path cuts down on manual data entry and incomplete reporting.

4. GAAP COMPLIANCE

Dynamics GP is a GAAP compliant system, while QuickBooks is not. GAAP compliance means that transactions cannot simply be deleted without having any record of that deletion activity. Most banks, financial companies and even venture capital firms will want this level of compliance to ensure that the data is secure and less prone to fraud. Any accounting entity auditing a company will feel more comfortable knowing that company is using Dynamics GP.

5. FUNCTIONALITY AND MODULES

Dynamics GP includes additional functionality and modules that a company can grow into, which QuickBooks does not offer. For example, a robust fixed assets system, automatic allocations and consolidated reporting across multiple companies. Also, inventory and job costing are very different when you compare QuickBooks to Dynamics GP.

CONCLUSION

Compared to Quickbooks Enterprise, Dynamics GP is less expensive, more secure and has more functionality now and in the future as you need it.

Why buy two systems? For more information on why Microsoft Dynamics GP may be the best fit for your company, contact us.

#Microsoft Dynamics GP or QuickBooks

DYNAMICS VS. SALESFORCE: WHICH IS BETTER?

There has been a head-to-head competition between Microsoft Dynamics vs. Salesforce CRM for years. That’s because the makers of both platforms continue to try to rule the market with their customer relationship management platform.

If your organization is considering a CRM, which should you choose? When it comes down to Dynamics vs. Salesforce what factors will tip the scales one way or another? This article compares the two powerhouse CRM platforms to help you determine which one is better for your organization.

DYNAMICS VS. SALESFORCE – HOW TO MEASURE?

Any decisions related to buying a new CRM are often subjective based on how the platform looks and feels, and what you’re going to be using it for. But it turns out there is a publication that weighs the pros and cons of CRMs and the market share they capture each year. We’re talking about CRM Magazine and their publication called “The Destination CRM Market Leaders Report.” The publication comes out each year, and it surveys industry analysts and software experts who weigh all of the CRM platforms on the market by functionality, cost-for maintenance, company direction, and customer satisfaction. Interestingly, in a comparison of Dynamics vs. Salesforce, the platforms have switched places a few times for the coveted title of #1 CRM on the planet.

The report segments CRMs into categories for the enterprise, midmarket, and small business. They also look at BI, data quality, and automation, along with a few other categories.

In 2015, CRM Magazine said Microsoft Dynamics won, in all categories. They cited Microsoft’s investment in the technology and the forward-thinking approach that the company had been taken toward a renewed strategy toward their target audience. Some of the comments from the judges included:

“Sophistication across sales, marketing, and service.”

“Increased adoption by large enterprises.”

“Integration with Office 365 and Power BI.”

“Enterprise-wide intelligence, supported by Microsoft’s Business Analytics platform.”

In both 2016 and 2017, Salesforce took the enterprise category. Reviewers liked the App Exchange as a newer feature on the platform.

However, when it comes to small business, Microsoft has consistently dominated for years. Microsoft took the small business category in 2017 for the fourth consecutive year, along with the business intelligence category for the first time, beating out IBM. Reviewers shared that, “Power BI has played a large role in democratizing business users’ use of great visualization and the cloud.”

In looking at a comparison between Dynamics vs. Salesforce, what were the best features that enabled Microsoft to be such a strong alternative to Salesforce?

BEST MICROSOFT DYNAMICS CRM FEATURES

Business users suggest some of the best features of any CRM are its flexibility and customization capabilities. Microsoft does well in this regard; the platform uses a common programming language (HTML, Java, and .Net), which makes it easier for companies to design their own solutions from the Dynamics hub. For example, you can create new views, fields, or forms, without even knowing how to code. For those companies that can't-do it themselves, there are multiple Microsoft partners, such as IES, that can easily tweak the platform to fit a unique situation or business requirement.

Salesforce, which has long been a market leader, is frequently called out as being unwieldy in its approach to customization. In fact, Salesforce uses a proprietary computer language called Apex. What this means is that any customizations or integration with apps must be completed with Apex, not HTML, Java, .NET – or any other common programming language.

Another comparison between Dynamics vs. Salesforce often centers on platform costs. Weighing the value of any product against the investment is a crucial part of any due diligence process. For years, Salesforce has been called the “Cadillac” of CRM technology – and that is certainly true when comparing their price against Microsoft Dynamics. Although there are variations between packages, generally we see the “Cadillac” running about twice the cost of the Microsoft product. When you consider that these two powerhouse CRMs often run neck and neck for functionality, you can guess which CRM might give you more bang for your buck.

Another common complaint is the added costs tacked on to Salesforce subscriptions. You end up adding on costs when you add functionality, including mobile, Knowledge Base, and offline access. You also pay a lot for additional storage once you’ve hit a certain threshold. Then there is the packaging itself – most functions are available at the Enterprise level, while the lower cost Professional Edition remains a little light on its feet in terms of functionality. The Enterprise level is about double what you’d pay for the same features in Microsoft Dynamics.

Then there are the integration capabilities between your existing software. Salesforce is making extensive use of API extensions, which is an all-around good thing. You can integrate with marketing platforms such as MailChimp, but we’ve found that these integrations are not necessarily very intuitive; you might need a Salesforce certified programmer to make it all work together.

The added bonus for Dynamics is that is a Microsoft product. Microsoft has a long history of cornering the office market, so that makes the integration between Dynamics and Outlook, Office, or Exchange seamless and simple. Integrating Salesforce with Outlook simply doesn’t work as well and combining two software products made by the same company.

Here is the last area we want to mention where Dynamics 365 CRM beats out Salesforce – How it’s deployed. Salesforce gives you once choice -- an on-demand multi-tenant cloud hosting solution. In comparison, Microsoft Dynamics CRM can be deployed in four key ways:

On a cloud platform that could include Azure, the vendor’s cloud, private, or public hosting.

On-premise hosting that you or a managed service provider implements.

Private hosting.

SaaS, or multi-tenant cloud hosting.

With a software product, we believe that one size should never fit all. That’s why the option to customize should be so important at all points in the continuum of your product or service. Having only one deployment option with Salesforce unnecessarily limits your choices when it comes to their product. Depending on the type of business and the type of contracts you receive, a cloud deployment may break compliance rules – which would rule out Salesforce completely.

DYNAMICS VS. SALESFORCE – A WORTHY RIVALRY

The rivalry between Dynamics and Salesforce reminds us a little of the old Coke vs. Pepsi battle. The truth is that both platforms are solid and have a lot of similarities in the functions they offer. Both handle contact and account management functions as well as sales forecasting. They also both offer access to apps that extend their functionality. Both also offer a lot of scalabilities as your business grows.

But these generalities are where the similarities end. Salesforce was originally built as a cloud application and doesn’t have the option to host the software in-house on your servers. Dynamics offers more flexible implementation options that you may want to consider.

If you’re trying to optimize for a specific industry, it’s true that Salesforce has more than 2,500 apps in the AppExchange. On the other hand, if your office has already invested in Microsoft products such as SQL Server, Outlook, Office 365, or SharePoint, Dynamics offers more interoperability, which will probably speed up your time to implementation. As you’re looking at a comparison of Dynamics vs. Salesforce, we recommend the following areas of comparison as a baseline:

User experience/design Which customer interface feels more intuitive for your team? What level of customization is available to help users feel more comfortable?

Collaboration Does the CRM seamlessly integrate between social tools like Yammer, Skype, or SharePoint? Will the integration work with minimal effort and maximum efficiency?

Productivity Simply put, which platform is easier to use? How quickly can you get up and running? Does it reduce the volume of your workload by adding smart automation features that are easy to implement – or do these features require the ability to code or learn an overly complicated series of new tasks?

Customization How difficult is it to take the baseline CRM and adapt it to your unique industry? Will you be able to do-it-yourself or will you need a programmer to help you create new options for your business?

Cost While cheaper is not necessarily better, it is important to stretch your budget as far as possible, while making sure the CRM meets all the goals associated with your investment in the platform.

The simple truth is this: There are benefits and drawbacks to every piece of software on the market today. When comparing Dynamics vs. Salesforce the real question to ask yourself is how are you going to use it? We highly recommend test-driving these excellent CRMs to find out which one might work best for your company. Contact IES to take a tour of Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM – we’re here to help.

#Microsoft Dynamics vs. Salesforce

21 REASONS YOU SHOULD SWITCH TO MICROSOFT DYNAMICS CRM ONLINE

In today’s competitive business landscape, it is imperative that you handle your customers properly. Customer engagement is everything. If you don’t take care of your clients and potential customers, there will always be a competitor waiting to snatch them up. That’s why a CRM (customer relationship management) tool is so valuable to your business. You can improve business prospecting, increase and organize marketing, and track and manage existing customer relationships with CRM software.

This is particularly important because customers are incredibly well informed about your business – and your competitors – before you typically ever get a chance to walk in the door. The Internet has spawned well-educated (and sometimes cynical) consumers, which has lengthened the sales cycle across all industries. These factors make the job of your sales and marketing teams even harder.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM online can benefit your business in many ways, including:

Helping organize your business to stay in front of potential customers through sharing white papers, brochures, and other educational and sales collateral.

Providing the customer with information so that they think of you first when they need the product or service you’re offering.

Supporting your sales team with marketing materials that will help them close the deal.

Helping to retain existing customers; it can even track and help organize the resolution of customer care issues or assist with upselling an existing customer.

CRMs provide a way for you to organize client and potential customer contact all in one database. It can allow sales executives to take notes on a call, and help them stay organized by automating their follow up. It can segment customers or prospects into specific categories based on demographics, interests, or where they are in the sales continuum, and then tie those categories to key relationship-building marketing and sales activities. It can also automate many of the processes that used to take twice the amount of time.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online can help your business do all this – and more. There are many reasons to select this software platform over some of the other options in the market. We’ve assembled our top 21 reasons you should switch to Microsoft Dynamics CRM online:

Best in class performance Gartner consistently has ranked Microsoft Dynamics CRM online as a leader across Saas, IaaS, and PaaS categories.

Superior customer support With Microsoft’s unparalleled vendor partnerships, you’ll have plenty of choices when seeking guidance from a vast network of consultants, advisors, reseller partners, and plug-in service providers.

Giant tech portfolio means many software options for your business Once you select Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, you’ve scratched the surface of the many other business applications they offer, including ERP. The vast Microsoft tech footprint includes software like Xbox Kinect, Yammer, Power BI, SharePoint, and Windows Mobile applications. The Microsoft suite of products will always offer your business more options than any other solo-service CRM provider.

Cloud agility The nimble nature of the cloud ensures faster deployments and greater business flexibility across the IoT (Internet of Things). You can select full cloud or a hybrid model (on-site/cloud) to power and improve your business. No matter what you choose, you will have Internet-powered flexibility with Microsoft reliability and security across all your digital devices.

Winner, 2016 CUSTOMER Magazine CRM Excellence Award This year’s winners were selected based on their verifiable ability to improve a client’s business, extend and expand the customer relationship, and on their expertise in spanning the various touch points of the entire lifecycle of a customer. Microsoft Dynamics CRM online was honored in 2016 as the best across all of these important categories.

Data integration Consolidating data in one place will streamline your efficiency across multiple departments. You’ll experience robust, quick data integration with Microsoft Dynamics CRM online. Some of the more intriguing and unusual features include the ability to export CRM data to real-time Excel views, or update CRM data while still in Excel.

Task-based user interface (UI) We all know that the UX (user experience) on the Microsoft suite of office products functions via task driven object oriented programming (OOP). Microsoft Dynamics CRM online incorporates that same easy and intuitive navigation and user-friendly functionality.

Automation If you’re like most of us, you struggle to accomplish all of the tasks necessary in any given day. Now imagine this struggle multiplied by several (or a hundred) sales and marketing executives. Then factor in your volume of potential and current customers and you’ve got a lot of task-oriented flailing around. One of the benefits of Microsoft Dynamics CRM online is that you can automate many of these manual tasks, including customer service oriented surveys and other client-facing activities. In fact, Microsoft Dynamics CRM online made Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Sales Force Automation.

Reporting features Creating custom reports is easy. While there are an extensive number of canned reporting options, the ability to collate and view exactly what you want, and then automate it, makes this CRM outstanding for use across any industry. Multiple users with department-specific KPIs can generate reports and then send them automatically wherever they need to.

Integrates with existing technologies Businesses are very familiar with the Microsoft suite of products, and there is easy integration for programmers across legacy platforms such as SQL, .NET, and Office.

Easy coordination between departments You’ll lessen the chasm between marketing and sales by eliminating data silos. Everyone will have access to all the data they need when they need it the most.

Winner, 2015 CRM Magazine Market Leader Awards Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online clinched this award across not one, but four categories including: Enterprise CRM Suite, Midmarket CRM Suite, Small Business CRM Suite and Sales For Automation.

Scalability One of the key benefits of cloud-based software is that it can grow or shrink with your business. From a start-up company to a large enterprise, Microsoft Dynamics CRM online can flex when you need it.

Interoperability between Microsoft products Syncing email and calendars, along with contacts lists is not a problem. The beauty of this CRM is that it will significantly improve communication with your customers and increase the efficiency of your software functions.

Out-of-the-box functionality This is plug-and-play software, which allows for immediate tracking and lead management. Because Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online utilizes the same recognizable platform across all software, you’ll find your use of Dynamics will be almost instinctual.

Seamless updates Remember the days when updates required onsite visits and downtime? Not anymore.

Fully customizable Design your own sales or marketing campaign dashboards. Track sales prospects and where they are in the buying cycle, or report on individual sales executive activity. Run reports on volume of emails sent and who’s opened them. Integrate the platform across all digital devices, putting a great tool in the hands of your mobile sales team.

Sales forecasting Sales forecasting will get a lot easier with Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. Not only will sales pipeline management improve, but the positive impact this will have on scheduling and purchasing will also be a welcome surprise.

Greater transparency With a more realistic sales funnel comes greater transparency for the entire marketing and sales team. One of the surprising benefits of this platform is that it helps businesses create a culture based on accountability and performance.

Case management The platform allows for customer case management, so when a complaint occurs, it is immediately flagged and routed to the appropriate person. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online will improve your customer experience, leading to better problem solving and longer retention after the sale is made.

Trusted vendor Microsoft has been a trusted vendor since the advent of the motherboard.

MICROSOFT DYNAMICS CRM ONLINE TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS

According to Gartner, the CRM market is continually expanding, as businesses recognize the imperative nature of tracking pre-sale and post-sale customer contacts. There are a lot of competitors out there, but none have received the awards and recognition of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM online product. Microsoft has heavily invested in their CRM platform – and it shows. Increasingly, large multi-national enterprises are utilizing the application because the software helps large, disparate organizations reach clients in an organized fashion across multiple touch points. The CRM’s integration with Microsoft’s ERP software has enabled these large companies to improve business analytics. CRM data is then utilized to help enterprise companies make strategic decisions that have tremendous impact in the marketplace.

Your business needs a CRM. If you’re using legacy software or hardware to track important business functions like HR and payroll, but then have a separate CRM to manage customers, you are likely duplicating effort and missing out on the streamlined functionality of Microsoft Dynamics. IESGP is a full-service Microsoft provider, offering end-to-end support across the entire suite of Microsoft Dynamics Solutions. Contact us today to find out how you can leverage the Microsoft Dynamics suite of products to accelerate your business.

#21 reasons switch to Microsoft Dynamics CRM #Microsoft Dynamics CRM

DYNAMICS GP INTEGRATION MANAGER: 5 NEED TO KNOW TIPS

Dynamics GP Integration Manager is a handy little tool that was designed to allow you to load data into GP manually. You can add data from an XML, text file or database. It's an excellent add-on that helps reinforce data integrity. We like the Integration Manager because you don’t have to be a data scientist to use it—it’s a graphically enabled interface with some cool drag-and-drop features that allow even the “non-geeks” in an office to use it efficiently. We've assembled five "need to know" tips that will help you understand how to leverage this piece of the Microsoft toolkit to make your data integrations go a little more smoothly.

TIP #1 DOWNLOAD THE MICROSOFT DYNAMICS GP INTEGRATION MANAGER USER’S GUIDE.You can do that by clicking here. That way you always have a fallback in case you need a troubleshoot guide.

TIP #2 STREAMLINE MAPPING Dynamics GP Integration Manager has drag-and-drop functionality. You can completely skip the process of selecting a source field, which can be a little laborious if you're not a data manager. Drag-and-drop allows you to leave the source window open and just pull fields where you need them.

TIP #3 CREATING PATHNAMES Updating source files can be a constant on your data to-do list. The data file source may change from one server to another. If you’re updating the Source Adaptors to a new drive or folder, you can use Pathname Translations to speed up the process. The ERP Software Blog has a nice series of screen shots that can walk you through the process. The goal, though, is for you to be able to update one translation that tells all the Source Adapters to use the new path once the information has been added.

TIP #4 AUTOMATIC INTEGRATION You can automate data integration as a regular process, but usually, Dynamics GP users make this more of a manual process on their task list. One reason to automate data integrations would be to update payroll records. For example, if you have a personalized time clock, you could take that information from an external system and drop it into GP. This saves you from having to reenter the data manually. Or, if you have proprietary software for purchase orders, you can use Dynamics GP Integration Manager to bring the PO’s directly into Dynamics GP. One important benefit of using the Integration Manager is that it can reduce the amount of time your organization is spending on double data entry. That’s the beauty of a 365-integrated platform—the pieces come together to form a more efficient and cohesive whole.

TIP #5 DYNAMICS GP INTEGRATION MANAGER IS ONE OPTION Did you realize you have three options to import data into GP? We’ve been talking about the Integration Manager, which is perfect for the average user that lacks programming skills. But there is also eConnect, which offers a whole series of tools that integrates applications with GP data. This is for the more sophisticated user. eConnect has a set of SQL integrators that enforce the programming logic to help with the import process. (If you don’t know what this means, stick with the Integration Manager.) There is also Web Services for GP that uses the standard Internet protocols for transferring data.To learn more about the benefits of Dynamics GP Integration Manager, contact the IES team today and set up a free consultation.

#Dynamics GP Integration Manager #benefits of Dynamics GP Integration Manager

MICROSOFT DYNAMICS VS. SAP BUSINESS ONE

Are basic business functions holding you back?

Frequently, small businesses experience growing pains as they struggle to streamline efficiencies by automating various employee processes. Typically they have multiple data points across several software systems, and they’re seeking increased efficiencies though integration of these various parts and pieces. They may be experiencing:

Miscommunication between departments.

Difficulties in responding to customer data requests.

Problems with managing inventory.

These are all great reasons to consider an Enterprise Resource Platform (ERP). ERPs help a business improve collaboration, production, and efficiency. Many are housed in the cloud; secure and robust, the cloud allows large file storage and the ability to access the ERP via the “Internet of Things” (IoT).

If a business is seeking a software partner that will integrate crucial business functions from sales and inventory management to payroll and accounting, then they’re probably ready for an ERP. An ERP can help a business save time by self-populating data across multiple functions, automating inventory, payroll and customer billing, and helping keep you compliant with the latest legislative and regulatory changes.

Some key functions of an ERP include:

Finance, accounting, and banking.

Lead generation, sales (including order entry), and customer relationship management (CRM).

Inventory and purchasing.

Vendor management.

Human resources, time tracking, and payroll.

Reporting and business analytics.

The best ERPs integrate all these features into one interoperable platform. Ultimately, ERP platforms are business management tools designed for companies that are expanding their reach. Typically, these companies want to improve their workflows in order to gain more customers, reduce time spent on back office functions, and use analytics to improve profit. ERPs also allow remote functioning, typically from any digital device, which is crucial in today’s business landscape.

If a business is ready to compare ERPs, it will be easy to bog down in all the functional features. Let’s start with an apples-to-apples review of two of the leading ERPs in the market: Microsoft Dynamics vs. SAP Business One.

MICROSOFT DYNAMICS VS. SAP BUSINESS ONE – SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON

SAP first hit the American market when the company was purchased from an Israeli software development company approximately five years ago. They’ve been targeting small to medium sized companies but are struggling to play catch up to the international powerhouse that is Microsoft.

It’s a foregone conclusion that SAP doesn’t integrate as well with the Microsoft suite of office products, but they continue to work on that. SAP is most frequently used by small to medium sized IT companies, and thus has been designed with some more specific solutions tailored to that vertical market. Conversely, Microsoft Dynamics has been utilized across a wide variety of industries, from IT to healthcare, to food service and distribution. This makes for a more robust platform suited to a wider variety of settings.

Reporting and analytics work well on both platforms. However, Dynamics offers a wider array of reporting functions, changing how you slice and dice data with tools like SmartList Builder, Excel Report Builder, SharePoint integration, and Business Portals. SAP uses one add-on platform for analytics and reporting.

At first glance, the features lists for these two products look very similar. Microsoft Dynamics and SAP are both great ERP platforms, but Dynamics does have the advantage, right out of the gate, of more than 750 add-on solutions. SAP cannot boast to these numbers, but had developed a number of vendor partnerships to fill functional gaps in scalability.

Both platforms are fairly functional, targeting small and midsize companies experiencing accelerated growth. But this is where Microsoft Dynamics extends well past SAP: they can flex to handle the largest of enterprises across states and nations. SAP has a specific market niche, and they’re doing well there, but if a business is planning on expansive growth, Dynamics is probably the better long-term fit.

Both platforms feature rapid start out-of-the-box features, but Microsoft Dynamics has the benefit of the more familiar environment. Most Americans have been using Microsoft products for several years, so the dashboards and workflow processes have a more familiar feel. This is an advantage when it comes to user adoption of this platform.

SAP is compatible with MAC OS, Linus, Windows, Unix, and Novell Netware. Microsoft Dynamics is compatible with, literally, all operating systems, including Windows and Mac OS. SAP lacks interoperability with an office suite application, such as Office 365.

SAP Business One offers the standard interface with access to a variety of features for all users. Interestingly, Microsoft Dynamics allows immediate customization in workflows, dashboards, and task lists, offering 20 templates and views to select. This personalization is a refreshing standard feature across the Dynamics suite of products.

SAP does offer out-of-the-box workflow solutions that Dynamics does not. The only drawback is you will have to adjust your internal processes to SAP’s processes. But SAP lacks the ability to flex with a business that comes with the Microsoft product. Dynamics was designed with this flexibility in mind, so it can grow with your business, no matter what industry you’re in.

General benefits of Microsoft Dynamics vs. SAP Business One to consider include:

Deploying Microsoft Dynamics from the cloud increases efficiency and flexibility for managers of information technology.

The upgraded window design of Microsoft Dynamics facilitates faster file sorting from one screen. You can track and view prior purchase orders; improve relationships and better manage vendors, and even set up custom filters highlighting your preferred search preferences.

Dynamics boasts robust, immediate functionality and implementation options that are scalable to your business.

Quick and simple configuration and customization makes Dynamics a good choice when the time from box to go live is important.

One “neat feature” to mention is the budged exception reporting feature that flags accounts that aren’t setup system-wide.

Multiple simultaneous order entry across sale, purchasing, human resources and other functions is possible, managed efficiently by workflow reassignment notifications that allow for better document control.

In the sales module, there is an all-in-one document feature that allows concise review of all transactions by client in one single window.

But don’t take our word for it; let’s take a look at what businesses are saying about these two products.

MICROSOFT DYNAMICS VS. SAP BUSINESS ONE -- WHAT BUSINESSES ARE SAYING

Consumer reviews of Microsoft Dynamics vs. SAP Business One tell the story of one platform that is clearly accelerating the work world.

Microsoft Dynamics made Gartner’s “Magic Quadrant,” the IT equivalent of The People’s Choice Awards. Capterra ranks Microsoft Dynamics with 4.5 of 5 stars. Keystone Strategy conducted an extensive side-by-side field test of Microsoft Dynamics vs. SAP Business One in 2007, with some interesting results. Their evaluation looked specifically at the benefits of these platforms, and how users increased their productivity as a result of using these ERPs. They measured use of these ERPs across 100 businesses in the following areas:

Collaboration and workflow efficiencies as an aid to inter-departmental communication.

Business insight across departments, and ease of BI reporting.

Flexibility in adapting the platform to changing business needs.

Usability including overall UX (user experience).

Familiarity and ease of learning and implementing the new platform.

Transactional Efficiency including the system’s speed, reliability and effectiveness.

Their findings included:

Actual users of Microsoft Dynamics scored the platform 18% higher than SAP users scored the SAP platform.

While Microsoft Dynamics scored higher than SAP overall, the software was ranked as high as 27% better in some categories.

Dynamics scored twice as high for finance functions as SAP.

In the following survey questions, SAP scored twice as high as Microsoft Dynamics. In this case, twice as high, meant twice as bad. Some of the survey questions included:

It takes too long to learn how to work with this software.

I sometimes don’t know what to do next with this software.

This software is awkward when I want to do something that is not standard.

This side-by-side comparison of Microsoft Dynamics vs. SAP Business One has yielded a substantial argument for the benefits for Dynamics implementation. It seems fairly clear that Microsoft Dynamics offers the flexibility to get the job done right, while allowing the scalability to grow with your business. The familiarity of the Dynamics platform increases ease of use, interoperability between functions, with a more robust add-on offering. Of particular importance is the concept of “user friendliness;” software adoption will increase automatically and training time will lessen upon adoption of the more familiar software package.

Nucleus Research, a global provider of IT research, backed up these findings, publishing a report showing companies that use SAP ERP are 20% less profitable than businesses that use Microsoft Dynamics.

While these findings are almost shocking in their comparison of Microsoft Dynamics vs. SAP Business One, ultimately, business owners will have to make their own decision when it comes time to adopt an ERP. When a business is ready to compare Microsoft Dynamics vs. Business One, IES can help you measure the on-the-ground ROI of these platforms, and aid you in selecting the best and most cost effective solution for your current and future daily business needs.

#Microsoft Dynamics vs. SAP Business One #benefits of Microsoft Dynamics vs. SAP

THE FOUR BEST CLOUD ERP SYSTEMS FOR SMALL BUSINESS

When it comes to cloud-based ERP platforms, four primary software vendors hold market share: Infor, Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP. Which of these industry giants offers the best cloud ERP for business?

Ultimately you’ll have to decide which platform creates the greatest opportunity to streamline workflows and create better opportunities for your specific business. There are many choices when it comes to cloud-ERP software. Of the four that have cornered the market, which one is best for your business?

BEST CLOUD ERP FOR BUSINESS – THE BIG FOUR

INFOR

According to Enterprise Apps Today, most of Infor’s deployments are on-site, with around 24% of their total ERP utilization in the cloud. Worldwide, they hold about 16% of overall the cloud-based market. The beauty of Infor’s platform lies in its targeted approach; they picked a few industries and handle them well. If you’re in healthcare or hospitality, manufacturing or retail, their open source approach will work for your business.

Infor partners with AWS to extend their process automation functions. Overall, we find their on-premise product is more robust than the cloud offering, with finance, supply chain and service information-related products. Generally, we recommend a hybrid approach with this vendor in order to reap the most benefit.

MICROSOFT

If you’ve been reading our blogs, you know that Microsoft Dynamics offers ERP, business intelligence, CRM database and infrastructure processes in one package. Their ability to extend functionality via multiple modules and plug-ins is unparalleled in the cloud ERP market. You can add on scalable industry-specific functions that are virtually limitless because of the vast array of vendor and third party relationships that Microsoft has established. Too, Microsoft’s new pay-as-you-go pricing structure is particularly attractive to small to medium sized businesses.

ORACLE

Oracle was traditionally hard-core anti-cloud, but the company famously reversed its position a few years back. So it’s safe to assume they have a little catching up to do. Despite this, they’ve managed to come from behind, capturing about 16% of the market. Oracle now offers financials, supply chain, project management and procurement in the cloud. Importantly, ZD Net points out that Oracle made up for lost time by acquiring existing products, so, “Individuals looking to buy any Oracle solution should run a genealogy search on the products to better understand where the code came from…” While the point is well taken, what small business owner has the time?

SAP

SAP has specifically targeted upper midmarket companies, service providers, and the subsidiaries of enterprise organizations with their SAP Business ByDesign product. The platform has a CRM database, finance, HR, procurement, project management, and supply chain functionality. In terms of the sheer volume of functions, we consider SAP to be a Microsoft competitor. But SAP does not scale well to the small to medium size business. It lacks the pay-as-you-go flexibility of Dynamics. Too, most users say that SAP lacks the intuitive functionality that Microsoft has been known for.

Ultimately, finding the best cloud ERP for business must start with the most basic questions: Why do you need it and how much can you pay? There are at least 15 cloud-based ERP providers in the market and 2017 will likely bring more. For robust scalability, we highly recommend taking a test drive of Microsoft’s ERP. For price and sheer options, it simply cannot be beat. Contact our team today to find out more.

#cloud-based ERP platforms #best cloud ERP for business #the best cloud ERP for small business

TOP THREE SOFTWARE ACCOUNTING PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Are you still running your business out of a box? If you’re part of a start-up, you actually may be. Hopefully by now you’ve transitioned to a software platform that can help with file organization. If this is the case, you may have already discovered – all accounting platforms are not created equal.

Here are some of the most common accounting challenges and great software package solutions that can help your business succeed.

ACCOUNTING PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS: HOW SOFTWARE CAN HELP

Problem #1: File storage and organization Accountants frequently struggle to find the right file. Have you ever caught yourself staring at a computer screen as you try to remember the exact naming configuration for a particular document? Has your software ever slowed down or log jammed completely as it tried to import or export a large file?

Solution: Storage in the cloud A cloud-based accounting platform allows you to store the largest of files in a secure place. The best accounting software allows some personalization around task lists and dashboards. Too, file sorting from a single screen with custom search filters will greatly aid your ability to organize. Your accounting software should handle the largest of files quickly and efficiently.

Problem #2: Error free accounting If you’re still using a calculator to track your company’s finances, then the potential for error is high.

Solution: Let the computer do the work Accounting software will take calculation out of your task list. Your job will be to concentrate on making sure the correct data is imported. Not only will the best accounting software packages run calculations for you, they will flag new accounts that don’t meet certain pre-set or customized parameters.

Problem #3: Projecting cash flow is a conundrum

Cash flow is probably an accountant’s worst nightmare. How can you accurately project income when sales are tied to market volatility? How can you predict increased competition, supply and demand, and even supply chain disruptions? If you ever see an accountant with bags under their eyes, you can probably guess why they’re losing sleep.

Solution: Consider a multi-function ERP

An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tool takes accounting to the next level, combining finance features with business intelligence tools. Customized reporting, business analytics, vendor and customer management, and billing tools, all combine with some of the more “standard” accounting features to give accountants more confidence – backed by analytics – when predicting the future of their business. When it comes to envisioning and then preparing for cash flow issues, ERPs are, in fact, the closest tool resembling crystal ball that you’ll find in accounting today.

ACCOUNTING PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS: MICROSOFT DYNAMICS

The right accounting software really does help you work smarter – and not harder. Microsoft Dynamics solves all of these common accounting problems, and more. It’s a full multi-function ERP that will make all aspects of accounting and finance so much easier. We know you have to have the right tool for every job, and Dynamics is an-industry best platform designed to help you succeed.

#right accounting software #accounting problems and solutions #top three solutions

PROS AND CONS OF AZURE CLOUD SERVICES

The worldwide public cloud market is projected to hit the $411 billion mark in 2020. That’s great news for software developers like Microsoft, whose Azure cloud storage platform has been named to Gartner’scoveted Magic Quadrant for Cloud Infrastructure as a Service Worldwide. In fact, Microsoft is currently the only cloud-based software provider recognized by Gartner for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS).

Microsoft and some of the other cloud providers on the market have come a long way in the last decade. Today, Gartner has declared the cloud as a mature technology and infrastructure, and CIO Insight points out that 90% of all enterprise organizations have adopted at least some form of cloud technology, with many choosing to migrate and store data in the public, private, or hybrid cloud.

Yet there remains a contingent of stubborn CIOs that are reluctant to migrate data and crucial business functions into the cloud. This article looks at the pros and cons of Azure cloud services to help inform any c-suite that remains uncertain about the technology and where their data is stored.

THE PROS OF AZURE CLOUD SERVICES

The first positive attribute to consider related to Azure cloud services is the infrastructures incredible reliability. The Azure Service Level Agreement (SLA) cites an uptime of 99.95%, which equates to a little over four hours yearly of downtime. This is an achievement that even an on-premise solution simply cannot reach consistently. But hosting an application or storing data in the cloud is generally tied to high uptime – which is certainly an appeal of the cloud. But the high availability of Microsoft’s Azure Cloud Services continues to impress and inspire CIOs to migrate at least a portion of their data-heavy functions online. That’s why Azure cloud services have been named to Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Public Cloud Storage Services for the last two years.

An Azure cloud service offering also provides developer and administrative access tools, which allow IT teams the flexibility to create new applications and customizations. The product is comprised of multiple services and infrastructures, from web, mobile, testing, and storage, to backup recovery, and big data analytics. Organizations can launch internal or customer applications under the Azure framework. These applications can be launched and used quickly or ramped down just as fast.

While we hear this question less today, there are still those late-bloomers that ask the clichéd question, “Is the cloud safe?” Interestingly, the reality of cloud services today is that these providers are oftentimes safer than an on-premise application. That’s because the security updates that help these companies prevent hacker intrusion are going on behind the scenes all the time. On-premise applications are often neglected – security updates and backups sometimes simply fail to happen.

One example that illustrates this point is the ransomware attack in the United Kingdom last year that shut down the National Health Service, the country’s leading healthcare provider. The malware, called WannaCry, worked by infiltrating and exploiting operating system vulnerabilities in an on-premise platform that had failed to be upgraded. This is an important point -- these operating systems were not in the cloud; they were on site hardware and software that had failed to be updated by internal IT teams, in some cases, for years.

Azure cloud services have security teams devoted exclusively to detecting network and data encroachment as well as procedures for siloing and sealing the breach. These networks are monitored with the highest level of physical and digital controls that have made Azure a multi-compliance certified provider. From multi-factor authentication and encryption to application password requirements, Microsoft Azure cloud services offers full-service security designed to mitigate cyber threats.

Azure cloud services also offer the scalability to grow with any enterprise. One of the chief benefits of any cloud service provider is their ability to expand to accommodate shifts in service usage trends. Azure cloud services can flex upwards when more computer power is needed. Whether it’s a small business or an enterprise with the need for a large data warehouse, Azure cloud services have infinite storage available to handle exactly what you need when you need it.

This leads us to another benefit of Azure cloud services, which is the cost. Cloud models are designed to be pay-as-you-go, whether it is a SaaS application or data storage. Businesses pay for what they use in the cloud in a subscription-based model. These services have evened out the financial spikes that come from upgrading or replacing hardware that still plague those enterprise organizations that operate an on-premise network of servers.

With Azure cloud services, companies can reduce and manage their infrastructure costs. This remains a very attractive feature for companies concerned with maintaining a competitive fiscal bottom line.

THE CONS OF AZURE CLOUD SERVICES

Any technology can fail. In early 2017, the leading provider of cloud services, Amazon Web Services (AWS), experienced a technology disruption that was felt around the world. What this outage illustrated was not necessarily that the cloud is unsafe, but that service redundancy when it comes to critical business functions is an imperative.

There are three key lessons learned from the AWS service outage, which could be applied to any data storage service in the cloud:

Data backup and recovery services are an important part of any cloud or on-premise IT architecture. Just because the data is stored safely offsite is not a reason to skip creating a disaster recovery plan that encompasses all critical business functions.

Discuss where data is stored with your cloud services or managed services provider. Azure cloud services have a geographically dispersed data load that is also balanced; meaning data can be migrated to multiple storage locations. This is important to help mitigate risk from human-made or natural disasters.

If your organization still feels uncertain about migrating all data into the cloud, consider a hybrid solution that encompasses on-premise and cloud storage. The hybrid solution could also include a private cloud, virtual machines, or any other service that provides a redundant backup should the primary technology fail.

The other point to consider is that Azure cloud services aren’t “upload and forget it.” Ensuring all the moving parts that make up your IT infrastructure are meshing properly does take IT management behind the scenes. Without this focus, it’s typical to over-provision for cloud services that end up not being used.

Whether an internal IT team or an outsourced managed service provider accomplishes this is up to you, but typically we see enterprise-level organizations seeking to outsource management of cloud functions. In these scenarios, managed service providers compliment an existing team. One positive is that outsourcing frees up internal IT teams to focus on other more pressing matters. A negative is that outsourcing relationships are always tricky and run the risk of going awry.

CONCLUSIONS

Techopedia says, “Microsoft Azure has recently proven to be one of the strongest players in the cloud industry.”

Microsoft remains focused on bringing new developments to their cloud service that continue to shore up their offerings and the secure infrastructure that keeps Azure cloud services at the top of its game. At the September 2017 Ignite conference, Microsoft discussed upgrades and updates to their services that will continue to propel Azure cloud services to the top of Gartner’s “best of lists.” In 2018, watch for:

The launch of Azure File Sync, a secured files management and sharing service.

A new hybrid cloud data service that will offer enterprise-level data storage, management, and security.

A new security service called Azure DDoS Protection, which will secure some of the most vulnerable endpoints in your IT network (for example, Wi-Fi and cell phone connections).

Roll out of Azure Cost Management and Policy, which is designed to help enterprise organizations monitor spending and compliance.

Integration of new backup, monitoring, and disaster recovery for virtual machines.

The release of Azure Migrate, a backup service that captures all on-premise workloads, activities, data, and applications and then sends it to the Azure cloud.

Preview of the Azure Data Box, which provides security for data migration of very large sets of data.

If Microsoft succeeds in rolling out half of what they’ve promised, it is clear that they will continue to capture more market share with Azure cloud services.

While there are more pros than cons of Azure cloud services, decisions on whether to migrate data are up to the individual organization. Surveys show that organizations will continue to spend their IT budgets on cloud migration. Less than ten years ago, many companies were reluctant to migrate their data and tools into the cloud. But concerns over privacy, security, and compliance have been outweighed by the convenience, flexibility, and low cost that the cloud offers. Given these benefits, and the fact that Azure cloud services has been established as a secure platform by Gartner, it’s clear that Azure cloud services will continue to offer businesses of all sizes real opportunities to reap the benefits of cloud computing in the future.

#Azure cloud services #pros and cons of Azure cloud services

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A MICROSOFT DYNAMICS PARTNER? Choosing any partnership can be a tricky decision. Choosing a Microsoft Dynamics partner is certainly no exception to the rule. There are dozens of potential partners clamoring for your attention -- but only a few with the top skills to help you maximize Dynamics 365 for sales. Since deploying any ERP is a major investment of time and energy, it’s crucial to find the Microsoft Dynamics partner that can lay the groundwork for a successful deployment of this robust and effective software.

This article will give you the tools you need to make the right partnership choices for a successful go-live.

MICROSOFT DYNAMICS PARTNERS – BENCHMARKS FOR SUCCESS

Benchmark #1

You might think that we’d lead with technical acumen as the top skill to look for in a Microsoft Dynamics partner. We’re going to cover that in a minute, but we also want to tackle an intangible first, and that is the need for people skills. We don’t mean that the sales rep is a likable person, although that’s not a bad thing. Instead, look for a partner that you would feel comfortable with handling installation issues or additional training. Part of stakeholder buy-in in software adoption includes helping end-users feel good about this big change in their workflows. They should feel comfortable asking “dumb” questions. Look for a Microsoft Dynamics partner that builds your team’s confidence with the new technology. Look for the partner that’s able to assimilate into your culture and speak your language.

It’s this ability to support your team that is so important for any technology. Speaking of support, make sure the partner has a track record of on-going training support. The partner should have a variety of help desk coverage options to fit the schedule of your team.

Benchmark #2

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get back to technical knowledge. Look for partners that know how to integrate Dynamics with other legacy software used by your marketing and customer service department. What certifications and awards do they have? How many implementations have they done? How in-depth is their knowledge of cloud computing? Can they help consult with your team to develop a needs assessment to make sure you’re using Dynamics to the fullest advantage? Do they have any experience in your particular field? These are all excellent questions to find out before choosing a Dynamics partner for your team.

BETTER ROLLOUTS WITH THE RIGHT MICROSOFT DYNAMICS PARTNER

The market is full of Microsoft vendors, but you’re not searching for a vendor; you should search for a partner. IES would like the opportunity to offer our expertise to your team. We are a three-time recipient of the Microsoft President’s Club award, have earned the Manager’s Excellence Award, and was twice listed on CRN Magazine’s “Fast Growth 100 Companies” list. We have more than 14 years of experience consulting with businesses like yours on ways to optimize Microsoft Dynamics. Read our case studies here.

#Microsoft Dynamics partner

MAXIMIZING DYNAMICS 365 FOR SALES

“The promise of customer relationship management is captivating, but in practice it can be perilous.”

Avoid the Four Perils of CRM

Harvard Business Review

It’s a safe bet to suggest that if you’re reading this article, you’re probably not making the most effective use of your CRM. A recent CRM UserView poll conducted an online survey of CRM users, and they found some red flags:56% said they faced major or moderate challenges when attempting to customize their CRM to optimize it.58% said end-user adoption was a major or moderate challenge.Customer relationship management (CRM) software like Dynamics 365 was designed to bring companies closer to their clients by helping organize data such as purchases, or company news, or even birthdays. When used properly, a CRM can help companies retain customers longer and keep them happier.But are you using it right? That’s the crucial question that continues to stymie the majority of CRM users. This article will introduce you to some key ways to maximize the ROI from Microsoft Dynamics 365 for sales.

THE VALUE OF A WELL OPTIMIZED CRM

When utilized properly, a CRM can be an incredible lead generation for your sales team. Maximizing tools like Dynamics 365 for sales means that you’ll have a 360-view of both the client and the sales team.A CRM can be used for a number of functions in a business. That’s probably why CRM adoption is currently somewhere between 60 to 70% for small, medium, and enterprise organizations, according to GetCRM. But that’s going to increase wildly; Grand View Research says the market will grow to $81.9 billion by 2025.That’s all good news for Microsoft, who is a market leader with their Dynamics 365 for sales CRM. The team at Microsoft understands that, when used properly, a good CRM can:Help sales reps nurture leads.Help marketing upsell new products to existing customers.Increase the quantity and quality of new prospects.Allow for streamlined work efficiencies by automating repetitious tasks.Help forecast sales trends.

WHEN A GOOD CRM GOES WRONG

“As organizations are looking for ways to drive innovation within their sales teams as well as outpace their competition, maximizing the use of their own data is critical, and often overlooked. For sales teams to maximize productivity and be as effective as possible, they need their CRM systems to shift from being a system of record, to a system of intelligence. Maximizing the use of their own data to drive actionable insight about their customers, is paramount.” Avoid the Four Perils of CRM Harvard Business ReviewThe Harvard Business Review covered some of the hazards of failing to optimize your CRM. They cited statistics showing corporate dissatisfaction with CRM platforms, suggesting that many c-suite executives believe the CRM would manage the customer relationship for them – instead of their sales team using the CRM as a tool to build and maintain market presence. The article cited four perils of implementing a CRM, including:Failing to create a customer strategy before implementing the CRM.Failing to change workflows and key business processes before going live.Buying more CRM software than they really need.Using the CRM to stalk customers.So how can a company optimize Dynamics 365 to avoid these first four pitfalls?

FOUR WAYS TO OPTIMIZE DYNAMICS 365 FOR SALES

Microsoft was also a leader because of its deep understanding of the market. Microsoft offers its users advanced customization options, which helps to personalize every individual’s experience. This in turn promotes a positive customer experience because agents can now use tools catered specifically to their needs. The State of CRM in 2018Get CRMThere are four crucial ways that IES can help you optimize your Dynamics investment during the installation and deployment process. These steps were designed to ensure that your sales and marketing team could hit the ground running by making better use of Dynamics 365 for sales.1) First, IES can help customers conduct a needs assessment to help determine the business case driving their desire to purchase a CRM. Our goal is to help you make Dynamics 365 for sales less of an administrative tool and more of a goal-driven asset. Some areas to consider before platform go-live include:How will you leverage Dynamics automation to help follow up on sales leads faster?What data capture best practices should you employ for anyone touching the CRM?What kind of before, during, and after training will your team need?How will marketing support sales by generating leads and how will those leads import to Dynamics?Should marketing tools such as HubSpot be integrated with Dynamics 365?How should we customize reporting to capture an accurate sales forecast?Is the data that you have currently clean enough to dump into Dynamics 365 for sales?This process will help you roadmap your customer relationship strategy, a step that is crucial to maximizing your Dynamics investment.2) Second, you can track important client data by using business intelligence and reporting tools. You can flag key prospects, import company data, and then run reports based on that target list. Dynamics lets you even track news releases and information on the target company as it breaks. This is an important step that we guarantee most companies fail to implement. So, your CRM can help you not only target more accurately, but also give you the competitive advantage to thoroughly understand industry trends.3) Third, make use of Dynamics 365 automation. We all know that sales reps can lag behind in contacting customers. If you’re using marketing to set up landing pages to capture leads, not only can those leads flow directly to Dynamics, but also a follow-up email (or two) can be sent automatically. You can even set up customized prompts for the sales rep, along with scripting to ensure they follow up quickly. Why is this important? Harvard Business Review conducted an extensive survey on the short lifetime of an online sales lead and found that it takes the majority of companies more than 42 hours to respond to a sales lead. They also cited stats showing companies that respond within an hour of the initial point of contact are seven times more likely to close the deal. Automation is the perfect way to increase response time and help your sales team close more deals.4) Fourth, create new workflows to optimize the software. For example, when a deal is closed, you can customize Dynamics to flag other departments. You can also set periodic prompts for customer service to attempt a customer upsell. Or, customize customer emails to include additional information such as a training manual or how-to guided tied to what they’ve purchased. Dynamics 365 for sales is also very useful for customer service, allowing you to store and track things like warranty information. It also allows you to set individual record parameters based on the customer’s communication preferences, going beyond the “do not call” to a more sophisticated level.

IN SUMMARY

“A CRM system isn’t a miracle cure for sales and marketing woes, but with time, education and a commitment to learn, you can transform a basic CRM solution into a revenue-generating powerhouse.”4 Ways You’re Misusing Your CRM Data EntrepreneurGreat tools can be underutilized – but IES can help you hone Dynamics or any of your other Microsoft tools. Optimizing Dynamics 365 for sales means that customer relationships will improve, new deals will close faster, and your sales team will be more efficient. When used properly it will also systematize your approach to closing deals while heightening the visibility of client interactions with sales, marketing, and customer service.Imagine how these outcomes could help your organization:Proactively communicate with clients based on their wants, needs, and priorities.Improve communication between marketing and sales.Get real-time client information into the hands of your sales team when they’re on the road.Improve visibility around the sales funnel.Are you starting to see how maximizing Dynamics 365 for sales can really pay off for an organization? If you’re struggling to make Dynamics part of your sales strategy, or if you’re considering a new CRM, contact us. We have the expertise to help you leverage Dynamics in the way it was meant to be used.

#Microsoft Dynamics 365 for sales

USING DYNAMICS 365 FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Dynamics 365 is the perfect tool to help organizations improve their customer relationships. Most companies still believe that customers are the center of the universe. That’s exactly why Microsoft calls Dynamics the “customer service hub.” They designed Dynamics 365 CRM as a way to improve relationships, increase sales, and keep businesses in the black.

This article will look at some of the features and benefits of using Dynamics 365 for customer service.

HOW CAN YOU USE DYNAMICS 365 FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE?

Having a tool like Dynamic 365 for customer service helps companies create a culture of excellence in client retention. Why is this important? Because 86% of buyers will pay more for a product or service if it comes with better customer care, according to a poll by SuperOffice.

The customer experience still matters, whether your company sells products in a brick and mortar store, or services on the internet. Forrester says the customer experience should be “a systematic reinvention of established technology, data, and operations – leveraging automation, data, and agents together to exploit each of their unique strengths.”

We think that’s a pretty good definition of Dynamics 365 for customer service. With this tool you can:

Set up cases to track customer problems.

Record all interactions with the client.

Create and share information in a knowledge base repository for other departments such as sales.

Create queues and route customer cases to different departments.

Allows for customer service workflows to be automated or assigned to staff.

Track service level agreements (SLAs).

Manage customer service performance resolution and productivity with dashboards and customizable reporting features.

Schedule services for customers.

All of these activities can be accomplished on any digital device. What all these features really amount to for the customer is a seamless, personalized experience. Customers want answers and using Dynamics 365 for customer service means you will be able to engage and solve problems – fast.

But not all customers want personal interaction. Forrester says “self-service interactions have overtaken all other channels for the third year running.”For those clients, Microsoft offers a self-service portal in Dynamics 365 for customer service. They actually can search the online community and connect with other people that have had the same issue. The same knowledge base feature is available to your clients, allowing them access to data from other clients as well as the ability to contact customer service teams.

GETTING THE RIGHT TOOLS

One negative experience with your customer service team and the bad news can spread like wildfire on the web. But launching and maintain a positive relationship with your clients requires the right tools for the job.

What would the ROI be if you improved customer relationships? Would it benefit your organization if your staff saved time by having all data in one place or if automation tools could speed up processes and make them more efficient?

Dynamics 365 can do all these things. Contact IES to take a test drive and see what great customer experience looks like.

#Dynamic 365 for customer service #features and benefits

DYNAMICS 365 VS NAV 2017 – WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Looking closely at Dynamics 365 vs. NAV 2017 yields some similarities and some differences.

Both software platforms provide excellent business solutions that Microsoft tailored to the small-to-midsized business market. The goal of both programs has been to streamline the efficiencies of business, allowing employees in any company to leverage the software to do more with less work.

But Dynamics 365 is a financial application that can be housed within Microsoft ERP Navision (NAV) - an ERP is enterprise resource planning software that holds multiple software applications under one business umbrella. There are differences in how you use both types of software. So the question isn’t really about Dynamics 265 vs. NAV 2017, because actually, it’s likely that your business could probably use both.

Let’s compare Dynamics 365 and NAV 2017 to determine the capabilities of these Microsoft products.

WHAT IS DYNAMICS 365?

Dynamics 365 is a cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering from Microsoft. Released in 2016, it offers financial applications for the small to mid-sized business in an affordable monthly subscription. Because the software is in the cloud, it includes automatic updates. Given the security concerns these days, that’s a significant benefit.

For the non-Microsoft initiated, the name can be confusing. Formerly called Great Plains, this financial software was created and owned by another company that Microsoft purchased. Over the years, Microsoft not only moved the software to the cloud but also changed the name to Dynamics 365. It’s now a leading competitor of Intuit QuickBooks, offering general accounting, payroll, and inventory monitoring. Dynamics 365 has earned high marks for ease-of-use, and it’s ability to integrate with other Microsoft Office products like Outlook.

Today, Dynamics 365 for Financials is one of the dozens of apps offered within Dynamics 365. It’s similar to NAV but lacks some of the functionality of the full Microsoft ERP Navision application.

Dynamics 365 applications can now be purchased a la carte; meaning, you can subscribe to marketing, sales, service, finance, operations, and talent, tools that are all housed in the software. These services can also be purchased in bundled platforms.

WHAT IS NAV?

Like Great Plains, a young upstart in the industry developed Navision and Microsoft acquired them. Microsoft rebranded the software as Microsoft NAV ERP. The platform allows companies to better coordinate all business departments by integrating crucial company functions. Within the NAV framework you’ll find multiple interconnected business software modules designed to help companies gain competitive advantage:

Analytics

Customer service

Financial management

Inventory management

Project management

Purchasing

Reporting

Sales

NAV was designed as the hub of all your important business functions. Each interoperable module has the same look and feel, which makes for easier navigation. The benefit of the module approach is that companies can gradually ease out legacy applications by replacing them with NAV modules. The goal of this approach is never to experience a productivity lag because the software is slowing you down.

DYNAMICS 365 VS. NAV 2017 – DIFFERENCES IN DEPLOYMENT

While both types of software have a similar look and feel, what they’re designed to do is certainly different. One of the most significant differences, however, is in how they are deployed in a business setting. Dynamics 365 is a cloud-based application, accessible on any digital device. As an Internet software tool, it offers all the immediacy and convenience of cloud applications, as well as the security of knowing Microsoft has your back.

NAV 2017 is a little more flexible, allowing companies to host the software internally on their on-premise servers, or in the Azure cloud. Companies can even choose a hybrid deployment.

DYNAMICS 365 VS. NAV 2017 – DIFFERENCES IN APPLICATIONS

Microsoft has focused on options, giving businesses a large portfolio of interoperable software platforms that can handle, literally, every business function. For example, Dynamics 365 has about eight options to choose from:

Customer service

Field service

Financials

Flow for workflow development

Marketing

Operations

Power Apps

Project management

Sales

While Microsoft ERP Navision offers the same general types of services, the functionality is different. Generally, Dynamics 365 for Financials was developed for both big and small organizations. Their Enterprise Edition of this product allows for management of:

Accounts payable

Accounts receivable

Bank management

Budgeting

Cash management and reconciliation

Cost accounting

Fixed assets

General ledger

Project management

There are also specific functionalities geared toward work in the public sector vs. private sector, two industry subsets that are very different.

But while both Dynamics 365 and NAV 2017 are customizable, it’s only NAV that allows developers to play around with the open source code behind the product and customize it to fit their business. NAV is highly customizable, whereas Dynamics 365 is less so. In fact, if you need more functionality in Dynamics 365, the user ends up adding more apps from the app store in order to expand the software application.

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN DYNAMICS 365 AND NAV 2017

These two products do not compete, and in fact, offer a similar set of services under the Microsoft brand. Both offer always-on access through the cloud. Both offer general accounting functions like GL, accounts payable and receivable, and inventory control. Both have sales features and offer reporting to track KPIs (key performance indicators). Finally, both fully integrate with Microsoft Office products.

DYNAMICS 365 VS. NAV 2017 – WHICH IS BETTER FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

Smaller companies that need flexibility in licensing should probably consider Dynamics 365. Unless you have a great need for customization, in which case, NAV is always a better option. Too, NAV will probably be a better choice if you have a warehousing function within your business. NAV does a nice job connecting all points of supply and demand, from upfront sales to sourcing to billing.

Here are a couple of reasons to select Dynamics 365:

You need fixed-rate subscription pricing and flexibility to add or subtract license agreements. One of the key benefits of SaaS is that it is an affordable line item on a budget, replacing unexpected on-premise hardware costs with something more predictable.

You want “plug-and-play,” an out-of-the-box software solution for financial management. Dynamics 365 allows plenty of app add-ons for when your business grows, but for now, signing in is all you need.

Dynamics 365 truly fits any size business. If you’re a small to mid-sized business and cash flow is still an issue, Dynamics 365 offers secure, affordable options that can grow with your business.

But what if your company is planning to make the leap to enterprise-level. Will Dynamics 365 stunt your growth? That’s a solid “Maybe.”

If your business has an internal IT team and the desire for on-premise applications, NAV is a better choice. Or, if you’re running an intensely warehouse-focused business or a company that needs extensive software customization, NAV is the best choice. Here are a couple of reasons to consider NAV over Dynamics:

NAV is an ERP designed to unify all of your business functions. If your company has grown larger, with multiple departments using several different applications to get the job done, and ERP can be a game-changer. You’ll be shocked at how efficiencies improve when different departments are not repeating tasks. ERP software changes workflows because the data entered in one department integrates seamlessly everywhere else. ERPs eliminate busywork by providing an overarching, interoperable framework for all critical business functions.

NAV is also feature-rich and is simply a more robust Dynamics 365 platform. There are options like self-service portals that can be customized to a particular business application. NAV 2017 also has more personalization available. There are Role Centers that help teams see relevant information all in one place tied to a business function. The business intelligence functions of an ERP like NAV 2017 are best in class, allowing for custom reporting tied to SQL Server. Automation feeds these reports exactly where they need to go at just the right time.

So, which is better Dynamics 365 or NAV 2017? The answer is truly dependent on you.

WHAT’S EXPECTED TO CHANGE IN 2018?

This year we’re already watching for the release of NAV in the cloud. This will be an exciting option only offered by Microsoft partners like IES. Contact us to demo Dynamics 365 and/or NAV 2017 to consider your options.

#Dynamics 365 vs. NAV 2017

CAN YOU USE DYNAMICS 365 FOR TALENT ACQUISITION?

The U.S. is facing a talent shortage. CNN Money reports the unemployed labor pool is still at 4.1%, a 17-year low. While this is good news for employees, it’s bad news for employers struggling to find the help they need to get the job done.

One thing that can give recruiting teams and HR departments a competitive edge is the right tool to help keep track of human resource management (HRM). This blog will look at Dynamics 365 for talent – Microsoft’s answer to one of today’s most pressing workforce problems.

FEATURES OF DYNAMICS 365 FOR TALENT

Dynamics 365 for Talent was designed for managing human capital. From recruiting to onboarding, this tool helps employers improve the candidate experience.

The talent management module within Dynamics 365 ERP functions effectively within all of the human resource recruiting tasks, including:

Sourcing candidates This tool can manage the application process, including recruiting potential candidates. It will help you with interview scheduling and allows candidates to track their application throughout the process. Dynamics 365 for Talent is integrated with LinkedIn, reducing the volume of administrative tasks for your recruiting and HR team.

Candidate testing Dynamics 365 for Talent lets you establish a candidate profile complete with all documentation, including interview notes, test results, reference checks, and more. Recruiters can easily share info with hiring teams for a seamless workflow.

Employee onboarding With the onboarding app, you can design an entire template to share with employees on their first day on the job. You can set up personalized training, which new employees can access on their personal intranet site. The site can have a customized welcome along with team contact info, a week one schedule, or a list of tasks. It’s a nice way to engage new employees.

Another big plus for Dynamics 365 for Talent is that it melds beautifully with Microsoft Office 365 tools. Creating and emailing employment contracts, producing productivity and resource reports are all possible in the Microsoft universe. You can use Skype for Business to train remote employees or set up instant messaging to keep the lines of communication open. Big corporations no longer have to shoulder the expense of flying everyone in for corporate meetings; Microsoft has given us all the tools to keep dispersed teams communicating around the globe.

While all of these tools have out-of-the-box functionality, there is also a great deal of customization that can be done. Dynamics 365 even offers country and industry-specific templates designed to comply with HR laws and regulations. The only remaining set of tasks is to add customization tied to specific HR workflows.

Dynamics 365 for Talent Acquisition is fully integrated with Microsoft Azure, so hybrid or full cloud deployments are no problem. As with any cloud application, the tool functions appropriately across any digital device.

THE FINAL WORD ON DYNAMICS 365 FOR TALENT

If you’re using another human capital management software platform, you owe it to your team to look at this tool. The range of application features in this software is widespread, giving companies the options they need when the talent shortage is at an all-time high.

#Dynamics 365 for Talent #TALENT ACQUISITION

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