16 Jun 2020
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Project Profile Dyn 365 Business Central (NAV), Project Profiles, TM Group News No Comments Permalink

Flooring firm breaks new ground with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

June 16, 2020 No Comments

The Client

Located in the Upper Midwest, a flooring supplier that’s been in business since 1951 needed to update their financial and operational systems. Specializing in high-quality carpeting, the company provides flooring equipment and services to residential and business customers primarily for public events such as auto shows, trade shows, conferences and conventions. It also maintains two warehouses in the Southeast and Mountain West.

 

The Problem
For several years, this flooring firm had been using Microsoft Dynamics SL to track financials and operational costs, accounts receivable and accounts payable. Although Microsoft Dynamics SL is a very comprehensive ERP software program, there were several expensive modules such as project accounting that the company was either not using or performing tasks manually that could be done automatically. It also didn’t have the inventory module in Microsoft Dynamics SL and it kept inventory information in an entirely separate custom database.

 

This created a host of reporting and compatibility issues that prevented the client from generating the management and financial reports, particularly as it related to recording relevant inventory data and creating invoices.

 

Bottom line: Critical accounting processes that could be accomplished relatively quickly with most current ERP solutions took much longer to perform with the firm’s existing legacy software program, which was a 2011 version. Also, because much of what employees were doing was handled manually, there was a greater possibility of inaccuracies in reporting.

 

The Solution
Recognizing that its current way of doing things wasn’t working, the flooring distributor reached out to us at The TM Group. After explaining the inefficiencies and frustrations it was experiencing as well as its goals – chief among them being to increase the visibility into all their work processes – we recommended Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central as a potential alternative to upgrading dynamics SL and purchasing several add-on modules.

 

We recommended this particular SaaS solution for a few reasons. One of which was the fact that the distributor had already been using a Microsoft Dynamics product. While Business Central has similar features and capabilities as SL, there is actually more functionality bundled into the base product. Also, given it’s a cloud-based program it is available everywhere and is more safe and secure than their current on-premises solution. The user interface of the two are also very similar, so the learning curve for users was minimal.

 

Another advantage of Business Central is that its fully customizable and scalable. It comes in two editions, Essentials and Premium. Given the needs and goals for this mid-western flooring vendor, we recommended the implementation of the following modules:

 

  • Inventory Management
  • Sales Order Management
  • Project Management
  • Purchase Order Management
  • Receivables Management
  • Payables Management
  • General Ledger
  • Financial Reporting

 

The Result

Much of the client’s time and energy is spent at auto shows, managing multiple booths – often at the same event. The hope with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central was to set up a solution so data recording at each booth could be centralized, rather than compiled piecemeal. To do this, The TM Group configured a “show code,” so multiple projects could all be tied together by assignment. This made exporting raw data much easier and more targeted, obtaining only the data relevant to the booth and customers in question. What it can now do in seconds, previously required several hours using Microsoft Dynamics SL.

 

Additionally, Business Central helped transform laborious, error-prone financial accounting processes into tasks that were much faster and more precise. Previously, financial reports were derived from data exports to Microsoft Excel and all logging was done manually. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central allowed this client to harness the power of BI so reports could be generated automatically.

 

Whether you have Microsoft Dynamics and want to get more out of it, or you’ve heard of the product and wondered if the solution could help you better manage your company, turn to The TM Group. Since our founding, we’ve helped hundreds of organizations in many industries implement Microsoft solutions that best fit their goals and mission-critical work processes. Contact us today online or visit us at one of our three offices, two in Michigan and one in South Bend, Indiana.

 

Please feel free to download some or all of our e-books as well. They’re free and can help you learn more about ERP software and why it is such a powerful tool for businesses large and small.

 

Source:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtF7AyTgcvc&t=36s

08 Jun 2020
TM Group News No Comments Permalink

THE TM GROUP HAS BEEN NAMED TO THE BOB SCOTT’S TOP 100 VARS FOR 2020!

June 8, 2020 No Comments

The TM Group, Inc. has been named to the Bob Scott’s Top 100 VARs for 2020. The Top 100 resellers are chosen from organizations specializing in the sale and implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. 

“We want to congratulate this year’s class of Bob Scott’s Top 100 VARs,” said Bob Scott, executive editor of ERP Global Insights (formerly known as Bob Scott’s Insights). “This selection represents recognition of leaders in this important field.” 

The selection is based on annual revenue generated by each reseller. A special report that includes names of the organizations selected for this year’s Top 100 list, ranked by revenue, is downloadable at http://www.erpglobalinsights.com. 

Bob Scott has been informing and entertaining the mid-market financial software community via his email newsletters for 21 years. He has published this information via the Bob Scott’s Insights newsletter—now known as ERP Global Insights—and website since 2009. He has covered this market for nearly 29 years through print and electronic publications, first as technology editor of Accounting Today and then as the Editor of Accounting Technology from 1997 through 2009. He has covered the traditional tax and accounting profession during the same time and has continued to address that market.

 

02 Jun 2020
Blog, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft Dynamics GP No Comments Permalink

PowerGP or Business Central: Moving Dynamics GP to the Cloud

June 2, 2020 No Comments

Owning a business is a series of decisions. Some are fairly simple and straightforward; others require more thought and introspection.

No matter how big or small, every choice is made to keep your company moving forward. If you’re a Microsoft Dynamics GP user, a couple notable questions have likely crossed your mind: Should I move to the cloud? How do I move to the cloud?

From tracking inventory and managing cash, to handling payroll or generating performance reports for annual reviews, Microsoft Dynamics GP is about as all-in-one solution as it gets. It’s been through several iterations since the program’s original release, and with each update, the capabilities grow wider and richer than its predecessor. Supply chain management, business intelligence, financial management, you name it, Microsoft Dynamics GP has it.

So if it’s that great, why bother fixing what may not be broken? Could you simply take GP to the cloud, or should you transition the business to a new cloud solution like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Cloud is arguably the best asset deployment option

There are a few reasons as to why a cloud-based accounting system deployment is best.  While network-based computing dates trace back to the 1960s, cloud computing remains relatively new, beginning in the mid-2000s. Since then, much like the cumulonimbus clouds in the sky, they’ve cast quite the shadow on the consumer and business owner public.

Indeed, as Gartner so aptly describes it, cloud computing is the new normal, with an estimated 95% of organizations around the world running applications of some sort in the cloud, based findings from RightScale. The public cloud services market reached a valuation of $182.4 billion in 2018 and is believed to have risen an additional 17.5% this past year, totaling more than $214.3 billion, Gartner reported separately. As soon as 2022, the overall market size of cloud services is poised to nearly triple those of IT services as a whole.

In short, the cloud is not only the here and now, it’s the future. Business owners must never lose sight of what’s to come if they want to keep their company in growth mode. Here are a few other reasons why migrating to your accounting system to the cloud makes sense:

Supports your employees’ unique work arrangements

Working from 9 to 5 in office cubicles is a thing of the past. While more than 80% of employees do like to spend at least some of their time in these traditional office set-ups, according to a Clutch survey, telecommuting is now more common than ever. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, cloud-based systems have enabled staff ordered to work from home. Post pandemic, employees are going to want to continue to take their work with them literally wherever they go, at home, on the beach or en route to cross-country business meetings.

Enhances security

Cyber attacks are an ever-present threat. Microsoft Dynamics GP has built-in security features and there are many things a company can do to secure it’s local network, but the protection isn’t as robust compared to cloud solutions that are able to spread the cost of providing highly secure systems over multiple clients. By virtually all accounts, the cloud offers greater levels of security than is available for on-premise data hubs, utilizing multiple layers of authentication to gain access, according to Intelligent Technology Solutions.

Two Leading Options for Dynamics GP Customers Transitioning to the Cloud

For Microsoft Dynamics GP customers that wish to migrate to the cloud, there are two main options that most clients take. If they are happy with GP and simply want to migrate it to the cloud, we will move our clients to Njevity’s PowerGP solution. If the client is finding GP isn’t the best fit for their business requirements, then we will transition them to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

The main way we explain the difference in these approaches is that PowerGP is like an upgrade to your existing system, but is basically the same, familiar GP solution that they have been using for years but now hosted in the cloud. Whereas transitioning to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is an entirely different system much more like implementing a new solution than an upgrade. Microsoft does provide some tools that allow GP clients transitioning to Dynamics 365 Business Central to keep their history. However, your staff will need a lot more consulting and training to configure and utilize the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central solution.

In Summary

If you’re looking to gain more productivity in your company’s work processes and enhance flexibility at the same time by getting rid of our onsite servers, migrating to Njevity Power GP or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is the best way to go. Please contact The TM Group today and we’ll walk you through the pros and cons of each solution. Our singular mission is to empower organizations and people with state-of-the-art technology. Since we’re keenly familiar with both solutions, we’ll give you the guidance you need to perform all the tasks you did with Dynamics GP – and many more once you upgrade.

 

26 May 2020
Blog, CRM, ERP No Comments Permalink

CRM versus ERP: What are the differences?

May 26, 2020 No Comments

It’s pretty incredible to think that there are at least 5 million businesses in the U.S. alone, yet virtually every one of them is unique in its own way. However, there are a few things that organizations have in common. One of those shared goals is the genuine desire to succeed, in whatever form that may present itself, whether it’s profitability, productivity or delivering a good or service that buyers go out of their way to purchase.

 

While customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software may not guarantee success, these advanced technological systems do make the daily affairs aimed at achieving it go more smoothly by bringing greater visibility into various mission-critical work processes. From analyzing purchasing patterns among a certain segment of customers to processing orders and invoices, both CRM and ERP programs help centralize core functionalities so nothing gets missed and everyone stays on the same page – quite literally in some cases, depending on the user interface.

 

If you’re at all familiar with CRM and ERP, you know that they have similar capabilities, such as reducing redundancies and creating reports, one is more “behind the scenes” in terms of its back-office management purposes, while the other is for processes dealing directly with customers.

 

Here is a little more about each so you can compare the two and see whether CRM, ERP – or both – is right for you:

 

CRM
As the “C” in CRM more or less implies, these software solutions are designed to help you as a business owner learn more about the individuals that ultimately determine the fate of your company: the customer. Much like organizations, customers are unique in terms of their needs and what causes them to turn from casual observers or perusers into actual buyers. It can thus be difficult to determine the best way to interact with them. CRM helps manage the customer acquisition, support and service processes with the ultimate goal of turning more leads into  customers, better servicing existing customers and thus generate more sales.

 

As noted by CIO, here are a few of the front-office processes that most CRM software solutions include:

  • Forecasting management
  • Order confirmation and fulfillment
  • Purchasing pattern analysis
  • Customer support (e.g. complaints, referrals, inquiries, etc.)
  • Ongoing account management

 

ERP
Whereas “C” is the operative letter in CRM in terms of what these software solutions do for businesses, “P” is the most germane to ERP: planning. ERP is designed to streamline business processes and all the planning that goes along with it so it’s more manageable, such as supply chain management, project planning, payroll, inventory tracking, distribution and financial transaction journaling. In short, CRM handles functions that are pertinent primarily to sales – things that are front and center – ERP addresses back-office tasks, or what’s behind the scenes. These capabilities may also include the following:

 

  • Financial Reporting
  • Accounts receivable
  • Accounts payable
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Manufacturing

 

Although both CRM and ERP solutions are not exactly new, they’ve come a long way from a leveragability standpoint, thanks largely to cloud computing. The world has gone mobile, as tablets, smartphones and laptops are omnipresent and allow individuals and businesses to log on wherever they are. Prior to the cloud, organizations could only access important business-related information and data by being on location, meaning on the site of wherever their data was stored. The cloud has revolutionized data collection and management because it can be entered, culled and organized instantaneously. Many of today’s most popular CRM and ERP solutions are cloud-based so key personnel can enter relevant data in real time.

 

Which should you choose: ERP or CRM?

Choices are abundant when it comes to ERP and CRM software bundles. Even though the similar-yet-different programs perform in similar ways and boast overlapping capabilities, deciding the best one for you can be decidedly difficult, especially if you’re operating on a budget.

 

Perhaps the best way to resolve this is by somehow combining the two. You can with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (ERP) and/or Customer Engagement (CRM). For many years, Microsoft Dynamics has been the gold standard in CRM/ERP for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Although you can purchase independent modules – such as Sales, Human Resources, Accounting and Field Service – you can also buy it as an entire package to take full advantage of your data, or as Microsoft says, “See the whole picture.”

 

Implementation and integration, however, can be complicated if you want Microsoft Dynamics configured to best fit your organization’s requirements. Let us at The TM Group guide you through this process as your Microsoft Dynamics partner. Whether you want both CRM and ERP or only need the a line of business portion like Sales Profession of Microsoft Dynamics 365, The TM Group has the experience, tenacity and capacity to empower your organization with the state-of-the-art technology that can help your organization thrive in a data-driven world. Please contact us to learn more.

 

Sources:

https://www.sysco-software.com/crm-vs-erp/

https://www.cio.com/article/3253564/crm-vs-erp-whats-the-difference-and-which-do-you-need.html

https://www.sherweb.com/blog/dynamics-365/difference-erp-crm/

 

 

 

21 May 2020
Blog, TM Group News No Comments Permalink

Coming together: How a TM Group employee and client collaborated during COVID-19 crisis

May 21, 2020 No Comments

The events surrounding COVID-19 have tested everyone’s resolve, as professionals and industries have had to adapt and strategize to stay safe and be a part of the solution to the contagion through great sacrifice.

 

The virus has taken a particularly harsh toll on health care, as the industry is pulling out all the stops to stay ahead of the curve, slow the spread and give those affected the care and attention they need. Emergency personnel have risen to the challenge.

 

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from these uncertain times is the manner in which people have come together to solve problems. A perfect example is The TM Group’s Software Development Team Lead, Marcel Chabot. Along with a long-time client, Marcel recently helped organize a volunteer community effort in the manufacturing of personal protective equipment.

 

Over the past several months, as coronavirus has spread like wildfire, there have been a number of shortages for traditionally easily available products. Chief among them involve facemasks. Worn to protect one’s self from breathing in potentially contaminated air – or spreading into someone else – this protective gear is a simple way to reduce the risk of contracting a communicable disease.

 

However, facemasks aren’t all built the same, as some are more preventive than others. A classic example is the N95 variety.

 

What is an N95 mask?
Well known to the health care sector, N95 masks are special because they’re capable of blocking out 95% of microscopic particles. What also makes them so effective is their fit, as they form a snug seal around the nose and mouth to further reduce the risk of contracting airborne diseases like COVID-19.

 

The quality of these masks – in addition to the fact that they’re primarily designed for medical first responders and emergency personnel – currently makes them very hard to find. Alongside the fact that due to this pandemic, individuals that aren’t in the medical field are purchasing them to protect themselves against COVID-19.

 

Fortunately, organizations like the Amherst MakerSpace to which Marcel belongs are working on responding to these supply chain challenges.

 

What is the Amherst MakerSpace?
Located in Amherst, New Hampshire, this chapter of MakerSpace launched in 2016. Its stated mission is helping members give back to the community and improve lives through learning, creativity and design.

 

Soon after the outbreak began – and continuing to this day – Amherst MakerSpace and its members like Marcel are working in tandem with the health care community to manufacture PPEs.

 

Although the masks they are creating are not certified as official N95 masks per se – since they haven’t received the testing that designates them as such – they’re very close to the genuine article, and are manufactured with the help of 3D printers using a variety of quality materials, including weatherstripping foam for sealing the edges, elastic strips that are a quarter of an inch in width and MERV-13 furnace filters.

 

PETG is key
The most important material in the manufacture of these masks, however, is a specialized plastic called PETG. Short for polyethylene terephthalate and often used for signage, PETG is highly durable and holds up well when cleaned, something that’s very important to maintaining the hygienic nature of face masks.

 

Much like several other supplies, PETG is hard for the public to find these days due to the growth in demand and supply chain disruptions. Although Marcel checked several online retailers for the special material, he couldn’t find any available for their N95 manufacturing efforts.  However, then Marcel remembered that Chase Plastic Services, Inc., one of The TM Group’s long-time clients, was a specialty plastics distributor. So, in the hope they might be able to point him in the right direction, Marcel contacted their Business Process Manager, Bob Hoff.

 

“I sent Bob an email describing the project I was doing and asked him if he knew of someplace or someone that had the plastics I needed,” Marcel explained. “After working with his product management team, Bob’s response was ‘We have rolls of medical-grade PETG in one-kilogram spools in inventory that would meet your need. What address can we ship them?'”

 

Marcel went on to note that Chase Plastics shipped him, at no cost,  20 kilograms of medical-grade PETG, an amount that’s virtually impossible to find.

 

The specialty plastic gave Marcel and the team of volunteers enough to make approximately 600 masks.

 

Amherst MakerSpace is one of several such organizations around the country producing 3D printed masks for those in need, both inside and outside the healthcare community; they come at no cost to the users.

 

At The TM Group, we couldn’t be more proud of Marcel for his willingness to give back and be a part of the solution during this worldwide pandemic. We’re also so appreciative of Chase Plastics (chaseplastics.com ) for lending a helping hand as well. This is what the human spirit is all about: coming together to solve problems. May we all do more of it now and in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q3z72T1MiE

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-infection-control/n95-respirators-and-surgical-masks-face-masks#s1

https://www.amherstmakerspace.com/covid-19-response/

 

18 May 2020
Blog, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales, Service & Marketing (CRM) No Comments Permalink

How Microsoft Dynamics can improve efficiency for staff now working remotely

May 18, 2020 No Comments

For the millions of Americans, working from home was something of a luxury. Fast forward to today: Working from home has become a necessity due to COVID-19. This contagious virus has upended life for virtually everyone in the world. According to recent Gallup poll, 62% of employees have reported that they have worked from home during the current crisis. Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, 39% of employees reported that their employers offered them remote work options. Closed offices have forced businesses to adapt to what may become more of a new normal as employees and employers get used to a remote workforce.

 

Change rarely comes easy. However, Microsoft Dynamics 365 enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) solutions which are cloud applications and thus designed for remote workers can simplify the transition to more remote workers and make it easier for clients to do business with your organization when they are also working from home. Here are just a few examples of how Microsoft Dynamics 365 and various integrated solution vendors’ applications help enable a remote workforce.

 

Improve or maintain sales
If there’s anything that has dramatically increased since the COVID-19 outbreak, it’s online purchases. This is for obvious reasons; because many retailers are closed – considered “non-essential” – buyers are confined to point-and-click shopping. Unfortunately, some platforms aren’t exactly intuitive, making for frustrated customers.

 

eCommerce add-on applications for Microsoft Dynamics 365 like Sana Commerce or Nomad eCommerce deliver seamless, online shopping experiences for customers with integrated solutions that also make it easy for organizations to sell and fulfill orders online. With these solutions, companies that normally sell in a traditional brick-and-mortar or call center setting can easily offer their products online.

 

Streamline payment methods
Consumers generally want options. This is especially true when it comes to how they spend their money. Indeed, according to Blackhawk Network, the most preferred payment method among shoppers today is via credit card.

 

Problems and frustrations arise – for customers as well as your remote personnel – if you don’t accept credit cards. However, through EBizCharge, which integrates with Microsoft Dynamics 365 products, you can accept virtually any credit card from anywhere.  EbizCharge offers payment solution with an out-of-the-box integration with Dynamics that allows you to accept both credit and debit card payments, send email payment reminders to customers, automate payment collections, and deploy a customer portal where they can pay their own invoices with their credit cards or ACH payments. The interface is intuitive and allows users to enter credit card information both securely and conveniently. Money is received faster and this capability eliminates the dependency on the post office for other payment-related transactions, such as sending out invoices or customers mailing checks.

 

Simplify document management

While more businesses are going paper-free, physical documents will never go away entirely. But the swift, forced transition from in-office to work-from-home settings has made document management more complicated, given hard copy documents originally presumed to be readily available suddenly aren’t, with many offices now closed until further notice.

 

PaperSave’s Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central add-on solution offers cloud-based AP automation, workflow and document management that enables employees to more efficiently work remotely and in the office. Their solution leverages OCR which reduces data entry and errors, can capture invoices by monitoring emails accounts, and allows employees to securely approve and access documents from a desktop browser or mobile device.

 

Perform payroll with breathless ease

Every employee depends on getting their paychecks. And it’s especially important in these uncertain times, that preparing and submitting payroll be easy and cloud friendly for employers.

 

With the Greenshades Payroll & HR Platform employees responsible for payroll get a dashboard that provides both a simplified view of the last payroll by category, as well as one-click access to details on any of your previous runs. You can also look ahead to upcoming payroll runs and even initiate a run. A post payroll snapshot also provides options for additional steps, all according to relevant workflows, policies, procedures, and laws. It offers flexibility and control, all while mitigating compliance risks.

 

The payroll solution will properly assign taxes, manage multiple jurisdictions and reciprocity, and execute flawless returns all online. Tax payments will be timely, and returns will accurate from the very first time they’re submitted. Employees also love this solution because they can self-access and update their own employee profiles, payroll stubs and tax information online. Greenshades even offers a mobile app to make the experience even convenient.

 

 

The Dynamics silver lining

These are very challenging and complicated times for business owners and their personnel. However, every cloud has a silver lining. Microsoft Dynamics 365 and it’s numerous integrated solutions like the few we’ve highlighted here offers a comprehensive platform that can make your employees every bit as productive and efficient from their home base as their workplace.

 

If you’re ready to make an ERP transition – or get more out of the Microsoft Dynamics that you already have in place – The TM Group is happy to help. Contact us today; we’ll help you apply the business solutions that best help your organization to work more efficiently both inside and outside the office.

 

 

https://blackhawknetwork.com/trends-in-consumer-retail-and-payment-preferences/

https://news.gallup.com/poll/306695/workers-discovering-affinity-remote-work.aspx

https://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2019/11/webinar-migrating-from-gp-to-dynamics-365-business-central-should-you-make-the-move/

https://marketing.papersave.com/acton/rif/41394/s-0153-2004/-/l-005b:25e/l-005b/showPreparedMessage?sid=TV2:6twg0dxIU

https://dynamics.folio3.com/2018/10/30/the-ultimate-guide-to-hr-payroll-processing-in-dynamics-365/

https://ebizcharge.com/payment-solutions/virtual-terminal/

 

08 May 2020
Blog, ERP, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics SL No Comments Permalink

Achieve simplicity and efficiency with EBizCharge

May 8, 2020 No Comments

From multiple soft drinks to a plethora of potato chip  brands, consumer society is chock full of options. The way people pay for various products and services also runs the proverbial gamut. Cash, credit card, debit card, mobile wallet and more; the mode and means of spending are numerous.

 

According to a recent poll conducted by Blackhawk Network, 52% of respondents said using a credit card was their preferred method of payment, well ahead of cash (43%) and debit card (42%).

 

While simplicity is the name of the game when you’re serving a customer base that has come to expect convenience – never mind request it – accepting multiple forms of payment is often easier said than done due to various implementation and integration challenges.

 

But with EBizCharge, you can seamlessly and conveniently connect your customers’ preferred payment options, so they’re neatly rolled into one.

 

What is EBizCharge?
EBizCharge just may be the most convenient payment system that works with the Microsoft Dynamics solutions on the market today. There are a variety of reasons why, but the main one is, it allows you to keep using Microsoft Dynamics, so there is no need to go through the hassle of uninstalling and learning an entirely new interface.

 

For instance, if you have Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics 366 Business Central (formally Dynamics NAV) or Microsoft Dynamics SL EBizCharge can help you quickly and conveniently accept credit and debit payments by downloading the sales orders; refunds, receive payments, create invoices; and refunds and credits modules. The PCI-compliant gateway is designed with your needs in mind.

 

You can purchase it as a package, featuring all the modules, such as Integrations, eCommerce, EMV Terminals and Mobile Payments, or a la carte, meaning only the modules that are geared for your current POS, ERP or CRM software.

 

In short, EBizCharge is designed to work together but each module stands on its own.

 

All major credit cards accepted
Even though more people are paying by credit card these days, businesses often pick and choose the ones they accept. That can be frustrating for customers who only have one available.

 

This isn’t a problem with EBizCharge. Mastercard, Discover, American Express and Visa, all major credit cards are accepted without the outrageous fees, which allow you to pass on the savings on to your budget-conscious customers.

 

Enhances mobility
In addition to options, your customers also want portability. Hard-wired POS systems and servers often prevent this from happening, as your customers must come to you to check out rather than you going to them. With the virtual terminal, you can accept payments at any time, from anywhere.

 

Cloud-based and intuitive, the virtual terminal allows you to accept ACH payments, credit cards and gift cards simply by pulling up your internet browser as you would for other online tasks. You can even pick up where you left off by accessing customers’ most recent transactions regardless of the device you use, be it your desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

 

Saves time and hassle
Time management is an essential part of running a business. Much of your day-to-day tasks may involve chasing down invoices that remain outstanding. The Customer Payment Portal  reduces the run around by giving your customers a convenient way to pay on their own using credit cards or ACH. They can add, edit and delete their cards on their own and enter their banking information as well as download their paid invoice history.

 

Invoices are uploaded frm Dynamics seamlessly, email reminders can be automatically sent to clients, and staff can receive push notifications as to when payments are made at the very moment they come in. This allows you to save as much as 12+ hours per week in what you would normally spend on tracking down payments and enable you to collect payments three times faster. With EBizCharge, you’ll never have to make another payment collection call. You can do it entirely online or by setting up email reminders that get distributed when you decide.

 

EBizCharge redefines simplicity both for your personnel as well as your customers. The TM Group can help you get it setup and working with your Microsoft Dynamics solution. Please contact us today to learn more about this integrated payment solution.

 

Sources

https://blackhawknetwork.com/trends-in-consumer-retail-and-payment-preferences/

https://ebizcharge.com/

 

 

 

 

22 Apr 2020
Blog, ERP, ERP Implementation Tips No Comments Permalink

A comprehensive overview of ERP implementation approaches

April 22, 2020 No Comments

Over the past several years, ERP technology has taken the world by storm and moved from large enterprise systems to main stream. Cloud based enterprise resource planning software like Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle NetSutie and Sage Intacct have become popular with small to medium sized businesses, allowing businesses of all sizes and types to better manage team members, customer expectations and maintain visibility of their supply chain.

Whether it’s to replace legacy systems, streamline data migration or take advantage of state-of-the-art technology, ERP technologies are designed for businesses that seek improvement. In fact, it’s estimated that close to half of all companies have either upgraded to an ERP solution or plan on doing so, according to polling conducted by Technology Evaluation Centers.

Digital transformation is a major reason why ERP systems have gained such popularity and notoriety. In real-time, using ERP architecture, business owners can observe what’s happening in every department and keep tabs on sales, inventory management, materials management, projects, payables and receivables, among other functionalities and business processes. This increases transparency, reduces process times and enhances collaboration. With today’s cloud ERP solutions, data is presented in easily digestible graphs and bar charts can be called up immediately, on any device and from anywhere.

However, for ERP technology to be a truly effective solution, there first must be execution. If you’re still deciding on which of the ERP vendors offers the best software or you’ve already selected one and are ready for the next step, the following will help you learn more about the process and why it’s important to have an implementation team dedicated to that task.

 

What is ERP implementation?

ERP implementation refers to the way in which organizations go about setting up the infrastructure and tools that enterprise resource planning needs to work. Once the structures and systems are in place, businesses are able to make more informed decisions about operational issues by tracking workflows, generating reports, and reviewing financial statements, among other functionalities.

None of this can happen without first establishing an ERP implementation plan. Any project or effort entails an initial planning phase, but this is particularly important for ERP implementations because ERP is designed to offer a bird’s-eye view of a company’s many different facets. If the solution is poorly planned and implented, productivity within multiple departments could be impeded.

Indeed, as popular and effective as ERP software systems have proven to be for the companies that have installed them, they don’t take. For example, according to Technology Evaluation Centers, approximately 50% of ERP implementations overall fail on the first try. Additionally, roughly two-thirds of businesses who underwent ERP implementation say they encountered operational disruptions at some point along the way, based on polling conducted by Panorama Consulting.

In short, pickign the right partner and establishing the right ERP implementation plan and methodology – meaning the approach – is every bit as important as the ERP software itself.

There are several potential ERP implementation approaches, according to Mary Dunaway, information systems department professor at the University of Arkansas. They include the following:

  • Joint venture – These are collaborative implementation strategies, where two or more companies take on the project together, usually from the same industry.
  • Company driven – These are handled by the company itself that has purchased the ERP software solution, which usually has a department within it handle all the effort, like IT.
  • Vendor-led – Here, the vendor that is selling the ERP system provides a template or blueprint to direct the ERP project, making slight adjustments that align with the company’s needs. Because vendors are doing these projects constantly, they can offer best practices and knowledge of the solutions that most industry and internal teams don’t usually have.
  • Combined company-driven and vendor-led – Finally, this ERP methodology relies on the vendor and the company investing in the ERP working in a cohesive fashion throughout the project to achieve authentic ERP system success. This combines the company’s knowledge of their business’s unique business requiremens with the vendors knowledge of the solution and industry best practices.

Businesses must decide for themselves which approach works best, based on their goals, capabilities, responsibilities and available financial resources.

How much does an ERP implementation cost?

Much like the wide variety of products and services businesses sell and provide, how much an ERP implementation process costs is difficult to pinpoint. Much of it depends on how intricate the ERP system is, the size of the company that’s putting in place and the software itself. According to a 2019 ERP Software Report from Software Path, the average budget for ERP projects run roughly $7,200 per user over a five-year period. For companies with between 1 and 49 employees, the average is $7,143 per user and approximately $8,542 per user for businesses whose employee count is 50 to 249. The cost is approximately $7,257 for businesses with 250 workers or more.

These figures should be viewed as guidelines, not hard and fast rules.

How long does ERP implementation take?

Here as well, timelines can vary. Naturally, the smaller a company is, the less time that’s required. On average, ERP implementations are often more protracted than ERP adopters initially assume. Polling done by Technology Evaluation Centers suggests the entire process is usually 30% longer than estimated.

Effective ERP implementation can help make complicated business operations much more manageable. As a Microsoft Dynamics provider, The TM Group has all of the ERP and CRM solutions and knowledge you need to streamline business processes and get to know the in’s and out’s of your business and it’s day-to-day affairs. We also provide step-by-step training so your staff can learn all the nuances of whichever software program you select. Contact us today to learn more.

 

14 Apr 2020
Blog, ERP, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft Dynamics SL, TM Group News No Comments Permalink
ERP solutions help companies avoid the inefficiencies of spreadsheets.
ERP solutions help companies avoid the inefficiencies of spreadsheets.

Should You Switch from Dynamics SL to Dynamics 365?

April 14, 2020 No Comments

In addition to creating a host of different applications and cloud offerings such as Office 365, Power BI, and Azure, Microsoft has released Dynamics 365 Business Central which enables small-to-midsize businesses (SMB) to get a better handle on their financials, jobs, service and supply chains as well as overall customer relationship management.

If you are currently utilizing Microsoft Dynamics SL, you may wonder whether the latest Dynamcis 365 Business Central offering is truly worth the transition of your business to this new cloud offering.

The only way to know, is by learning how they compare. Here are some of the features of Dynamics SL and Dynamics 365 Business Central so you can determine for yourself if the switch is worthwhile.

What are the main features of Dynamics SL?

Proven to be an enterprise resource planning software that has stood the test of time (released in 2006), Microsoft Dynamics SL is a highly functional and economical product that enables SMBs to more effectively handle and organize their financials, jobs, and supply chain operations. Especially favored by businesses in construction, professional services, engineering and government contracting, this ERP solution makes indispensable tasks like billing, receiving, materials and inventory management, cash forecasting and others less time consuming and hassle-free. Indeed, because the financial software is so comprehensive in its capabilities, it’s allowed SMBs to experience significant cost savings in business expenses, whether that’s by downsizing their accounting departments, increasing productivity or making complicated arithmetic and budgeting workflows far less taxing.

One of the best parts of this particular ERP solution is its ability to adapt and grow as your business changes. If you’re in a job-centric industry, you can perform many of the project-driven and data entry tasks you would with your desktop computer from your laptop or mobile device on-site. Additionally, since the user interface is a cleaner, more polished version of Microsoft Office, the learning curve is fairly minimal.

What is included with Microsoft Dynamics 365?

Generally speaking, when a new software program comes out, you expect it to be state of the art and do more than its predecessor. It’s safe to say that Dynamics 365 Business Central meets that high standard. Essentially, Dynamics 365 does everything that Dynamics SL does – only better and in a much more comprehensive fashion, including budgeting, cash management, accounts receivable, financial reporting, and project accounting. Indeed, as noted by Technology Evaluation Centers, Dynamics 365 offers “noticeably more” functions and features than its predecessor.

So much so, Dynamics 365 comes in two editions: Business Edition, which is geared mainly toward small and medium-sized businesses; and Enterprise Edition, for medium to large companies. The vastness of Dynamics 365 makes it slightly harder to navigate than its predecessor, but the workflows are user-friendly and intuitive.

Perhaps the where Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and SL differ is the Business Central is a native cloud-based solution. While Dynamics SL can be hosted in the cloud, Dynamics 365 Business Central is written to be multi-tenant and a trues cloud solution. Cloud access has almost become a requirement for companies to remain competitive. According to McAffee, more than 85% of businesses say their organization has grown more quickly thanks to cloud-based services. It’s no surprise that cloud spending is anticipated to reach close to $500 billion within three years, up from $229 billion in 2019, according to the International Data Corporation.

How much does Microsoft Dynamics 365 cost?

For all that you get with the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central bundle, this software is highly affordable and starts at only $70/user/month. For those customers that are current on their SL enahncement plan, they geta  discounted rate of $xx/user/month.

Ready to make the switch? We can help with that. To make the most of your CRM and ERP software and enhance productivity, contact The TM Group today.