10 Sep 2019
Blog, Farmington, Project Profile Dyn 365 Customer Engagement (CRM), Project Profiles No Comments Permalink

Custom Gauge Equipment Manufacturer Improves Customer Satisfaction Through Microsoft Dynamics 365

September 10, 2019 No Comments

The Client

Headquartered in central Michigan, this company creates custom measurement gauging equipment for many different industries and consumers, including digital transmitters, non-contact laser sensors, fully automated gauging systems and door-closing-effort sensors.

The Challenge

In an increasingly competitive workspace, more businesses are looking to distinguish themselves and separate from the pack by offering comprehensive customer service. This Michigan-based company has been recognized for superior customer service through various awards over the years from prominent corporations. One area where the company itself deemed it was lacking was in providing field services agents with updates on where repairs or orders stood, so they could then brief their own customers, such as when work will be completed. Sales and customer service teams were also unable to receive leads on new business from anyone aside from customers themselves. For example, orders may come from referrals or other businesses that may not be able to help a customer, but know of businesses that can.

In short, this gauging equipment provider required real-time data that could communicate on a real-time basis. The sales and customer service teams needed to receive updates including new order and repair work orders. And, both the sales and customer service teams needed access to the repair history for gauges including the requests that initiated repairs which don’t always come directly from the customer.

The Solution

After doing some research about potential solutions, this company got in touch with fellow Michigander – The TM Group. The TM Group assessed the business’ situation and recommended Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement. Through omnichannel, mobile text messaging and AI assistance, D365 leverages the wide variety of interactive channels people use to stay connected, but specifically designed for field agents. So, in addition to keeping their clients in the know, customer service teams could also track sales order and repair histories to provide a better timeline of what they could expect in terms of delivery. This provided visibility to information within the customer relationship management system for sales and service employees without enabling access to the financial and manufacturing systems exclusive to back office personnel which utilized MAX ERP Manufacturing software. Utilizing eOne SmartConnect, the TM Group integrated products, price lists, discounts, repair and non-repair orders, account and address records between Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement and MAX.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement software also features order tracking capabilities, so more involved or prioritized gauge orders could be pinpointed through automated business processes workflows, further enhancing transparency and end-to-end communication. Field agents were ultimately able to better manage client-to-customer relationships by reducing guess work and keeping clients in the know on their terms, not the company’s. Out of the box, Dynamics 365 functionality creates a unique name for the serialized record which includes the customer name. A duplicate record check is made at the time of import for whether the serialized item currently exists based on Customer, Product Model, and Serial Number. We configured the system to match their process in which the serialized records unique name will include only the Product Model and Serial Number and duplicate record detection will check only for the combination of Product Model and Serial Number.

Whether your field service agents are veterans or brand new, they can’t do their job effectively without the proper tools. The TM Group has what it takes to evaluate your company’s situation and offer the best tech solutions that can make customer service your very best asset. Contact us and see how we can support your customer-comes-first goals.

04 Sep 2019
Blog, CRM, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales, Service & Marketing (CRM) No Comments Permalink

What You Can Expect From Wave 2 of Microsoft Dynamics 365

September 4, 2019 No Comments

It’s that time of year again. Summer, the season that yields peaches, picnics and picture-perfect sunsets, is nearing its conclusion. You knew it was coming and it still doesn’t make it any easier to see it go.

However, fall – filled with fairs, foliage and football – brings its own set of perks. Here’s the special part about this year’s installment: the highly anticipated sequel to Microsoft Dynamics 365.

Scheduled to drop as early as October, Wave 2 of Microsoft Dynamics 365 will feature all the capabilities of its predecessor, only this one will have hundreds more enhanced, far-reaching optimizations. They include, but aren’t limited to, more sales data analytics, customer service insights, an artificial intelligence-powered virtual agent that businesses can leverage for online customers as well as fraud protection to guard against the ubiquity of cyberattacks. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, data breaches rose 23% in 2018 and 446 million records were exposed, a 126% increase from 2017. The fraud protection upgrades in Wave 2 can provide better data deterrence capabilities by blocking and/or identifying potentially vulnerable network thoroughfares.

And that’s just the beginning. Here are a few of the new applications and enhancements found in the second wave of Microsoft 365 for business, starting with Customer Service:

Customer Service

A core component to providing full-fledged customer satisfaction is engagement – supplying patrons with opportunities to better connect and interact with the goods and services they use. Dynamics 365 for Customer Service makes this possible through more efficient case routing and agent productivity features, such as improved email authoring – this allows agents to more quickly and seamlessly connect with customers to address posed questions and/or concerns. There’s also an updated and upgraded service scheduling-migration tool, which has a smoother interface and allows for more intuitive transfer from the previous configuration. Updates to the timeline will help customers see more data all at once without having to scroll down.

Field Service

From electricians to plumbers, roofers to IT techs, field service is an inherently reactive profession: customers have an issue, the experts are on-site to address it. Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Field Service leverages AI so companies can be more proactive. This is made possible through predictive scheduling that can provide a rough estimate of when installations may break down and become candidates for replacement or repair. Dynamics 365 Guides leverage step-by-step instructions that can help field service representatives use these advanced capabilities whether at the office or on-site.

Marketing

Turning solid leads into loyal customers derives not only from the opportunities to reach these people but the relationships. Dynamics 365 for Marketing uses more feature-rich content-creation templates that marketers can use to better customize the content they ideate, such as new email layouts, skins, subscription-list management and simplified navigational tools. Wave 2 also features quick send, which enables marketers to quickly create and dispense informative emails without requiring follow-up automation. Now, it only takes is a few clicks of your mouse.

Talent

While the low unemployment rate is great for America’s economy, it’s made recruitment more difficult for HR. Some of the enhancements available through the latest version of Microsoft 365 for Talent that can address this issue include intelligent candidate recommendations, a feature that identifies keywords listed in resumes so recruiters can more strategically and seamlessly select applicants with the appropriate qualifications. Some of the other new features include streamlined employee data entry, broader environment management and more customization options for analytics reports.

Retail

Customers have more ways than ever to shop to their heart’s content, including online, by mobile device, mail or within brick-and-mortar locations. Retailers need technologies to better identify shopping trends. Wave 2 of Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Retail supports this function by building on the features found in the previous version. These include centralized and in-store inventory management, omnichannel capabilities that track order processing and improved CDX scalability through Cloud Async Client. It also offers offline availability for modern point-of-sale systems, so stores don’t need an internet connection to track sales data or conduct transactions.

These are just a handful of the optimization’s forthcoming in Wave 2 for Dynamics 365, which again is scheduled for October release. For more information on how this ERP can transform your business, contact TM Group today.

29 Aug 2019
Blog, ERP No Comments Permalink

How Microsoft BI Can Transform Internal Accounting Process

August 29, 2019 No Comments

If you’re looking to take your internal accounting processes to the next level, look no further than Microsoft Power Business Intelligence. More than anything else about your company, numbers tell the true story as to how sales are going and whether you’re on track to reaching your revenue goals. But it’s not always easy to make sense of the data, as its depth, breadth and detail can be the equivalent of learning how to speak a foreign language or put together a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle.

However, by leveraging Microsoft Dynamics, you can access the data analytics tools found in Power BI that can give you a better lay of the profit and losses land.

Introduced originally in 2014, Microsoft Power BI is a software suite of tools that give business owners the power to make more informed decisions about how their company operates by systematizing, collecting and analyzing data that’s produced on a day-in, day-out basis. By inputting the numbers, you can produce impressive visuals that provide instantaneous feedback on purchase trends, inventory management, sales performance, accounts receivables and deliverables. Whether by pie charts, bar graphs or histograms, you name the visual medium, Microsoft Power BI can customize numbers in the manner that captures attention, helping your sales and accounting teams draw conclusions that guide their decisions.

Aptly named, Microsoft Power BI is a powerful analytics tool that you can download through Microsoft Dynamics and connect with other silos for data, whether they’re maintained through on-premises storage systems or cloud-based. From Excel to Salesforce, Google Analytics to Facebook Analytics, Power BI can streamline massive troves of data points to provide upfront insight into back-office tasks. You can also compile and congregate data so that it’s segmented and more relevant to specific accounting processes. Whether it’s weekend sales, purchasing volume, financials or inventory, Power BI provides intelligent filtering capabilities so it can be pulled and analyzed anywhere, any time.

The Power BI Desktop

Power BI Desktop essentially serves as the launchpad for analyzing and collecting data. Once you download it from the Microsoft Windows store, the interface features several point-and-click tasks at the top of the page that pertain to the work you seek to perform, such as “enter data,” “get data” and “edit queries.”

Aside from the litany of functionalities available, Power BI aggregates data so that it’s collected in one centralized location, even though its origins may be in separate silos. It can then be displayed in various visuals like the ones referenced above. Additionally,  Microsoft BI software comes in a mobile-friendly format, making collaboration and sharing easier than ever. Collaboration is something that more businesses are doing to improve growth and performance, particularly as it pertains to accounting processes. According to a recent survey conducted by staffing and consulting services firm Robert Half, 82% of CFOs collaborate more with their company’s CIO today than they did as recently as three years ago. The main reasons for the increase stem from technology investments and business system changes.

“The adoption and implementation of new technologies like artificial intelligence and robotic process automation are no longer in their infancy,” explained Tim Hird, Robert Half executive vice president. “It’s a business imperative for CFOs and CIOs to closely work together to consider the operational and financial issues of technology solutions.”

Get the most out of Dynamics by pairing with Power BI

Microsoft Power BI is a powerful tool all on its own, but when paired with Microsoft Dynamics, it opens up a whole new universe of opportunities to glean additional insights into data by leveraging the numbers that may already exist within your Dynamics software. Thus, your accounting department can better diagnose statistics related to profit and losses, net debit or credit or sales figures calculated by item or service. Microsoft Power BI can also generate cash flow forecast tables that provide instant visibility into trends and predictions of future performance. According to figures collected by Business Insider, an estimated 82% of small businesses wind up closing their doors as a result of cash flow mismanagement. Microsoft Power BI can’t guarantee sales success, but can make it easier to track the entry and exit of money spent on an ongoing basis.

For more information on Microsoft Power BI fueling your accounting department’s work processes or optimizing Microsoft Dynamics so you can tap into the versatility that Power BI provides, contact TM Group today.

21 Aug 2019
Blog, ERP, TM Group News No Comments Permalink

How business intelligence bolsters accounting workflows

August 21, 2019 No Comments

As important as accounting processes may be to virtually every industry, the workflows can be highly tedious. These tasks involve compiling, analyzing, quantifying and qualifying massive amounts of data so it can be better understood and put to use. Data preparation alone, according to Gartner, can take up the majority of the time and costs devoted to a single project.

Business intelligence has revolutionized accounting workflows, thanks to the advancement of calculation, computerization and categorization technologies. At its core, BI is an umbrella term, used to describe the various processes that help transform hard data into something that’s readily actionable, leverageable and discernible. Small business owners – or virtually any professional charged with making key decisions – then use this actionable information to gather insight and ensure that the choices made are informed ones grounded in accuracy. Business intelligence software – such as Microsoft Power BI – serves as the platform through which these next-generation accounting procedures take place. In short, BI represents the future of accounting workflows – only the future is now.

Here are just a few of the ways in which business intelligence software can augment – or perhaps even replace – your accounting processes and thereby bolster your bottom line.

Saves time

When business owners tie up resources into one task, it may prevent another all-important task from receiving the same level of care and attention. Traditional accounting isn’t exactly expeditious, mainly because there are so many elements to it (e.g. data collection, input, assessment, organization, computation, etc.).

Business intelligence solutions, like Microsoft Power BI, streamline these multi-part workflows so that they’re more compact through the power of automation and real-time data entry. As noted by Accounting Today, business intelligence software solutions can quickly and seamlessly pull data from wherever its warehoused so it can be processed and repackaged in a more visual, readily understandable way. These visuals may include scatterplots, pie charts, bar graphs and more. Less manual computation and compilation can help businesses achieve results more quickly by reassigning resources.

Readily accessible

Legacy accounting workflows are hamstrung by where data is stored. On-premise software seemingly has certain inherent security advantages, but they take up space and restrict the freedom of movement that cloud-based systems leverage.

BI software utilizes the cloud to not only store data but to also retrieve information from other silos, thus giving accounting professionals the “anytime, anywhere” aspect to analysis that on-premise servers can’t replicate, as noted in the Journal of Accountancy. This allows for real-time monitoring so the latest information available can be procured and computed, thus turning drab data into something that’s more actionable and easily understood.

Recognizes and helps better illustrate trendlines

Whether in terms of sales, production, maintenance tasks or customer satisfaction, trends are intrinsic to virtually any industry, from accounting to zoology. Analytics assist with recognizing when these patterns present themselves over time, in effect serving as the bridge to rational, more well-informed decision-making. BI software synthesizes multiple pieces of information so trends – if they indeed exist – can be recognized and acted upon. For example, if sales have slowed or volume has diminished, BI software aggregates large amounts of data so it tells more of a story as to how patterns in performance or behaviors came about. These reports can then be customized and shared to the appropriate parties so trends – if negative – don’t go unanswered.

Improves accuracy

Many legacy accounting platforms, such as spreadsheets, are highly usable and leveraged in many different capacities; they just need added refinement to ensure computations are accurate. BI is the vehicle through which accounting improvements become realized. Through the power of artificial intelligence, data is retrieved and computed in mere seconds, thereby reducing user input error, an inherent vulnerability of manual data entry. People aren’t perfect, but business intelligence software – in terms of accuracy – is as close to flawless as it gets.

Makes predictions

Frequently, the best indicator of future events can come from reviewing the past. BI software is able to comb through vast repositories of stored data to pinpoint trends, then provide graphical predictions about what may happen moving forward if history is any guide. Executives can use these outlooks to more effectively evaluate key performance indicators before they’re reached. For retailers as an example, forecastable data may provide insight into customer behaviors toward certain products, sales promotions or purchase venues (e.g. online versus in-store), which can guide business decisions and practices. No outcome is for certain, but BI can serve as the added direction execs need to delegate or assign resources.

Where Microsoft Power BI can help

Microsoft Power BI is business intelligence redefined. Whether you’re in IT, engineering, manufacturing or other industry that relies on numbers to inform business decisions, Power BI connects hundreds of sources of data with ease. From Hewlett Packard to Rolls Royce, Kraft Heinz to the Seattle Seahawks, franchises and major corporate entities have leveraged the power of Power BI to achieve desired performance results.

Microsoft Power BI is the software platform in which the worlds of data compilation and up-to-the-minute technological innovation collide. Its signature features include:

  • Multi-source data retrieval taps into over 90 storage silos – cloud-based or on-premises.
  • Seamlessly synthesizes copious amounts of dataflows in conjunction with Power Query, thereby supplanting laborious data preparation and computational work processes.
  • Classic, intuitive Microsoft interface allows for ease of usage through traditional point-and-click data selection and modeling.
  • Centralized security and privacy controls, affording administrators the ability to select who gets to see what and when.
  • Real-time usage monitoring that further enhances security by flagging logins the moment they occur.
  • Built-in governance that allows for stronger, more reliable compliance adherence.
  • Integrates with other Microsoft software programs, apps and tools for 360-degree connected platform innovation, including Flow, PowerApps and Office 365.
  • On-premise compatibility makes data transfer to the cloud virtually effortless.

To turn your accounting workflows into an unparalleled performance powerhouse, trust Microsoft Power BI. Please contact The TM Group to learn more about this and other cloud-based platforms. We have the solutions and take legacy systems to the next level through enterprise resource planning software, which enhances dexterity and business productivity. Whether your industry is automotive or professional services, The TM Group can help you accomplish your short- and long-term performance goals.

13 Aug 2019
CRM, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales, Service & Marketing (CRM), TM Group News No Comments Permalink

How Dynamics 365 can help your field service team thrive

August 13, 2019 No Comments

The word “transformation” may be used a bit too loosely when it comes to the manner in which cutting-edge digital technology has affected life as we know it, but it’s an apt term for many industries. Field service is most certainly no exception. When a bank branch or credit union’s ATM stops dispensing cash or a restaurant’s walk-in freezer is lukewarm, technicians can be alerted to these issues almost instantaneously to diagnose the problem on-site. In fact, in some instances, they can handle the fix remotely, sparing businesses and technicians hassle, money and time – when every second counts to assure jobs are handled quickly and efficiently.

Yet despite these innovative detection and troubleshooting capabilities, 52% of field service companies still address tasks the old-fashioned way, using pens and pencils to arrange appointments and relying on clients to alert them to equipment errors, according to Field Technologies Online. While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with using legacy systems, relying on them prevents field service leaders and their teams from reaching their full potential and maximizing customer satisfaction.

Enter Microsoft Dynamics 365, an end-to-end software program that leverages data-driven insights and built-in intelligence to drive operational efficiencies and enhance performance. Microsoft Dynamics 365 is predictive maintenance redefined and something that every field service operation – no matter which industry in which it specializes – can seamlessly adopt into existing workflows.

Here are just a few of the ways Microsoft Dynamics 365 can go to work for you when your customers and clients need work done for them:

Keeps customers engaged

When office elevators are out of order for weeks on end, or inoperative tractors stay in neutral at a critical juncture of the harvest season, it’s often due to poor communication between the business owners and their service provider. In short, they’re not engaged. Dynamics 365 solves this by supplying your customers with their own self-service portals they can pull up quickly on their mobile devices so they can schedule appointments and track the status of service activities. This helps to build trust and increase transparency, so your customers are in the know every step along the journey.

Makes proactive assistance possible

Since its inception, the field service industry has almost always been a reactive profession – where technicians report for duty when appliances need fixing but only after the fact. That’s not the case anymore thanks to sensory technology and advancements in internet of things compatibility. Connected devices worldwide now top 7 billion according to figures obtained by IOT Analytics. Using this sort of technology, Dynamics 365 enterprise resource planning software can wirelessly detect error messages and glitches automatically, making you aware of issues even before your customers araware of them. In short, remote monitoring technology helps turn reactive customer support into proactive.

Empowers connection on any channel

Tablets. Laptops. Desktops. Smartphones. You and your clients have lots of ways to stay connected, aside from the various individual models and makers of these devices. Microsoft Dynamics 365 is compatible with virtually every channel so you can be in touch with your customers regardless of device for a truly authentic omnichannel experience.

Keeps you informed of industry happenings

Did you know that the field service market, according to estimates from research firm Stratagistics, is expected to be worth in the neighborhood $4.4 billion by 2022? Or accordign to Gartner that by 2020 as many as three quarters of field service organizations will leverage mobile apps for data collection and other digital optimizations? Being clued in to field service industry insights is crucial to setting goals and evaluating growth. Thanks to AI-powered news aggregation capability, you can gather insight on where things stand with the industry and what trends are ongoing to stay in the know around the clock. You can customize when you’d like to receive alerts that are relevant to your interests, emailed straight to your inbox daily or weekly.

Boost your social media presence

Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook were relatively new to the world as recently as 10 years ago. Today, they’re powerhouses, consistently among the top 10 most-frequented websites, with nearly 75% of Americans who use at least one social networking service, according to the Pew Research Center.

Through Dynamics 365, you can gain traction and more of a following via social media by more seamlessly creating social posts to enhance name awareness, drive sales and support seasonal campaigns. You can also gather insight about where clients or prospective customers discovered you – be it word of mouth or online – to see where your marketing efforts are paying off.

Turn more leads into sales

Virtually every business entity could use a field service technician team to handle ongoing maintenance needs. Yet they won’t all take you up on the offer. With custom channels, email marketing tools, SMS integration and data analytics, you can better nurture leads, turning potential short-term prospects into long-term business relationships.

Gain context before departing

There’s always more to the story when engines stop revving or networks go awry. On-site diagnostic tools can often detect issues easily enough, but customers can address many problems themselves. Dynamics 365 leverages Remote Assist video conferencing and mixed reality calling, so technicians can have eyes on whatever happens to be the problem from wherever they are. And if a job requires a meeting of the minds, technicians can tackle more involved troubleshooting problems via HoloLens and Remote Assist devices on opposite sides of the country or world.

Save time and money

The Dynamics 365 suite doesn’t just help your company perform smarter when you’re out in the field or back at the office, but in costs control, by virtue of time management improvements. After all, time saved is money earned. According to a study conducted by Forrester Consulting, field teams using Dynamics 365 reduced the hours they spent behind the wheel driving to and from worksites by 50% – addressed instead by remote sensory technology and IoT compatibility. For the businesses that participated in the analysis, this helped reduce their fuel costs by an average of $28,000 over a three-year period on a risk-adjusted present value basis. Additionally, leveraging Dynamics 365 resulted in 20% fewer service calls, saving call centers $13,000 over the same period.

Field service leaders can pass these savings on to their customers by reducing costs and labor.

Putting it all together

According to the Technology Services Industry Association, connectivity, low-cost storage, machine learning and localized analytics represent the present and future of the digital revolution, particularly for field service and original equipment manufacturer service models. Dynamics 365 is all this and more, automating work order creation, streamlining inventory management, redefining preventive maintenance and building customer trust.

Turn the page on legacy work processes and embrace the ERP revolution. Please contact us at TM Group for more on this ERP suite and much, much more. st

05 Jun 2019
Blog, TM Group News No Comments Permalink

The TM Group has been named to the Bob Scott’s Top 100 VARs for 2019

June 5, 2019 No Comments

The TM Group has been named to the Bob Scott’s Top 100 VARs for 2019. The Top 100 resellers are chosen from organizations specializing in the sale and implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and accounting 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. 

This report is made possible by the continued support and cooperation of our readers and by our sponsors: Acumatica, Avalara and  Sage. 

Bob Scott has been informing and entertaining the mid-market financial software community via his email newsletters for 19 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 28 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.

29 May 2019
Blog, Farmington, Project Profile Dyn 365 Business Central (NAV), Project Profiles No Comments Permalink

The TM Group gets a manufacturing firm rolling with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

May 29, 2019 No Comments

The Client

A surface processing machine manufacturer headquartered in Germany but with satellite offices in Southwest Michigan.

The Challenge

This client presented an interesting implementation challenge. The company had recently transformed the Southwest Michigan location into an independent limited liability corporation responsible for U.S.-based distribution operations and needed an accounting and enterprise resource management solution partner to develop and deploy fresh financial infrastructure for the subsidiary. The former satellite maintained limited accounting and ERP functionality, and assembled financial statements manually before sending paperwork to headquarters, where accounting staff would enter the information into an earlier iteration of Microsoft Dynamics NAV. This system was simply untenable following the American branch’s transition to LLC. The subsidiary needed its own accounting infrastructure and support from a local partner that understood U.S. financial regulations and administrative norms. 

The Solution

With these objectives in mind, our consultants went to work crafting an effective solution set. They decided that Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, the recently revitalized version of NAV, would work best and proposed an installation featuring the accounts payable, accounts receivable, banking, general ledger, inventory control, purchasing and sales order processing modules. The client looked over the proposal and ultimately approved implementation.

The TM Group’s team managed to complete the installation under budget. However, the process was anything but simple due to various variables. For one, the parent company possessed technical expectations that seemed to conflict with those of project stakeholders for the LLC, leading to extensive back-and-forths that required mediation and technological and process-related compromise. Additionally, the staff was forced to repeat project steps multiple times due to the satellite’s evolution from outpost to independent entity. Finally, the U.S. point of contact during the implementation process was not an accounting specialist, which slowed things down. The internal staff member, who was working within the marketing and sales division, needed some time to familiarize herself with her new financial duties. However, despite these and other sundry obstacles, The TM Group still succeeded in putting into place effective accounting infrastructure centered on a reliable solution, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.  

The Outcome

The effects materialized immediately following go-live. The LLC instantly gained dominion over its inventory control processes – workflows that once only personnel within the home office could access. This freedom allowed decision-makers to see view mission-critical inventory insights for the first time, assess the entity’s financial and operational viability and make strategic decisions with full visibility of all items in their stores. These stakeholders gained the ability to generate invoices, sales orders and other accounting documents as well. Prior to implementation, the German office handled this functionality, an approach that created internal turmoil within the U.S. location.

In all, the new financial management system empowered the LLC and gave it the backend accounting architecture it needed to carve its own operational path stateside. With Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, the subsidiary has optimized its accounting department and recruited financial specialists who can get the most out of the visibility this powerful platform affords. The client also brought on an inventory control expert with the intention of optimizing its newfound operational transparency and coming into its own.  

Does your organization want to improve your accounting and business processes by moving your accounting to the cloud? Consider connecting with The TM Group. They have been spearheading Dynamics implementations for decades, providing entities of all sizes, in numerous industries, tailored services designed to help them find marketing and sales success today and in the future.

Contact them today to learn more.

23 May 2019
Blog, Project Profile Dyn 365 Customer Engagement (CRM), Project Profiles No Comments Permalink

The TM Group empowers data collection firm via Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement

May 23, 2019 No Comments

The Client

A data collection hardware provider based in Southwest Michigan.

The Challenge

The client connected with The TM Group with the intention of swapping its existing customer-relationship management solution, called SugarCRM, for an easier-to-use alternative. The organization had been struggling to track their marketing and sales operation through the SugarCRM application, which is among the lesser-known CRM platforms on the market. On top of this, SugarCRM did not integrate effectively with the Microsoft Outlook email client, causing significant information gaps within their marketing, sales and email records.

The Solution

The TM Group’s consultants assessed the situation and formulated a proposed solution package centered on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (CRM). The core solution centered upon traditional Dynamics functionality which facilitates the cultivation and sustained monitoring of key contacts, leads, opportunities and accounts. The proposal also leveraged Microsoft 365 Dynamics Templates for quote merging and included Market Insight integration for client information-gathering purposes. Additionally, the solution featured ClickDimensions marketing automation software as well. After reviewing our recommendation during an in-person meeting, the client greenlit implementation.

Migrating the client’s ample marketing and sales database from SugarCRM to Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement was the first order of business. TM’s team handled this seamlessly, migrating 21,000 contacts; 15,000 accounts; 10,000 opportunities and approximately 4,200 leads. We also installed all of the requisite data input categories, which included:

  • Opportunity
  • Opportunity status
  • Probability of close
  • Expected close date
  • Estimated cost
  • Sales amount
  • Product category
  • Product subcategory
  • Distribution partner

The TM Group’s implementation specialists configured data collection categories for clients as well. These included:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Billing address
  • Phone number
  • Industry
  • Brand preference

The Brand Preference field required some customization, as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement does not include this information type in stock form. The TM Group implemented the calendar, meeting, appointment and phone call client integration functionalities as well, something the client was unable to accomplish using SugarCRM. Our developers also configured a custom item for last-activity, giving users the power to view that most recent point of connection and the methods involved for every contact, lead and opportunity in the system. To close out the core Dynamics configuration, we developed and deployed several custom workflows, including those designed to track user activity, warranty expiration, quote creation and sales representative assignment, put into place quote merge processes with the help of Microsoft 365 templates. With this foundation in place, the team moved on to implementing and integrating ClickDimensions for email marketing and digital data collection.

Following system configuration, The TM Group’s consultants visited the client and hosted hands-on training courses to acclimate users and lend them actionable best practices for navigating Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement and ClickDimensions efficiently and effectively. 

The Outcome

The client experienced significant benefits post implementation. For one, the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (CRM) system gave marketing and sales personnel the power to maintain workable customer engagement pipelines and execute this work with full Office 365 and Outlook integration, leading to a boost in user adoption and laying the groundwork for organizational success. The enhanced capabilities surrounding Outlook were particularly impactful, as staff could access Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement and input data on the go, something that was impossible with the previous CRM arrangement. And, the various automated features available via Dynamics freed staff from manual quote creation and data analysis workflows.

In all, implementation was a resounding success for this company, giving them the ability to create and maintain stronger connections contacts, leads and customers, and reap the associated financial rewards.

Does your business want to improve accounting processes by moving your accounting to the cloud? Connect with The TM Group. We have been managing Dynamics implementations for decades, providing entities of all sizes, in numerous industries, tailored services designed to help them find marketing and sales success today and in the future. Contact us today to learn more.

16 May 2019
Blog, Project Profile Dyn 365 Customer Engagement (CRM), Project Profiles No Comments Permalink

HVAC and plumbing distributor gains ground with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement

May 16, 2019 No Comments

The Client

A heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing distributor headquartered in Southeast Michigan.

The Challenge

The company contacted The TM Group with the intention of implementing an all-encompassing application that would support and streamline project management operations for multiple functions, including field service, procurement, document management and estimate configuration. While the client leveraged Microsoft Access to monitor these and other mission-critical activities, the system did not facilitate coordination or planning, and merely acted as an online repository for project updates. The business was, therefore, forced to supplement Access with various disparate solutions, including Microsoft Excel and a file-sharing platform. To top it all off, neither Access nor the ancillary systems integrated with its enterprise resource planning software, Prophet 21. This approach created significant back-end dysfunction. The organization realized that change was necessary and requested that we help them pinpoint an alternative strategy.    

The Solution

The client had communicated early in the relationship that it was interested in implementing the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (CRM) system. The TM Group’s consultants drafted a proposal centered on this solution and its robust field services and sales modules, which was also enhanced with editable grid functionality. We recommended that the company keep Prophet 21, which it had been using with great success for some time, and insteady utilize  a custom ERP-CRM integration through Scribe. The client reviewed the proposal and approved implementation, at which point our team went to work.

The TM Group began with the procurement operation, deploying Dynamics features that facilitated efficient quoting and order creation. This was surprisingly sophisticated work, as the client leveraged detailed quote documents with product categories and groupings with disparate pricing structures. With these workflows in place, the implementation team moved onto the field service side of the company, developing internal project management systems that allowed stakeholders from every applicable department to engage with the execution of their sales and projects. They also rolled out robust CRM dashboards that facilitated project management and bidding transparency. The client displayed these visual workflows on televisions in their facilities to give visibility to all employees, including those without direct system access.

The Scribe-supported ERP-CRM integration underpinned both functions, offering operational insights key to project and company success. 

The Outcome

Ultimately, the project concluded after three years of close collaboration and was an immense success. Microsoft Dynamics Customer Engagement transformed the client’s field management and procurement operations, facilitating never-before-seen efficiency and lending the business an advantage over less coordinated, data-minded competitors. Field technicians gained the ability to pull up equipment information on their mobile devices from any location, while procurement personnel tapped into accelerated purchasing workflows that allowed for quick bid distribution and optimal transparency. The system even benefited the company’s information technology department, a one-man operation, drastically easing the troubleshooting and system optimization process by enabling backend centralization.

These improvements were tremendous, which is why the client has re-engaged us for two additional projects related to their new Microsoft Dynamics Customer Engagement installation. First, the company wants to get the sales team involved and swap their manual workflows for Dynamics-driven alternatives. The client is also intent on moving to the cloud in an effort to take full advantage of the Office 365 suite and its related applications. 

Is your business interested in achieving quick results through Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement? Consider reaching out to The TM Group. They have been managing Dynamics implementations for decades, providing entities of all sizes, in numerous industries, tailored services designed to help them find marketing and sales success now and in the future. Contact them today to learn more.

09 May 2019
Blog, Grand Rapids, Project Profile Dyn 365 Business Central (NAV), Project Profiles, South Bend No Comments Permalink

Plastics Manufacturing Systems Provider turns to The TM Group to Implement Impactful Solution

May 9, 2019 No Comments

The Client

A German plastics manufacturing systems provider with independent satellite offices in Southwest Michigan.

The Challenge

Personnel from the client’s American outpost in Michigan contacted The TM Group in hopes of implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. The satellite location, which manages North American distribution and marketing operations, was simplifying its processes by scaling down in-house product assembly activities and therefore needed to swap its manufacturing-focused Made2Manage enterprise resource planning solution for an alternative with more robust shipping and receiving components. The client also wanted to eliminate shadow information technology usage and give employees centralized data access and management tools to replace locally stored documents and spreadsheets. Finally, it needed to adopt a streamlined bill of materials template to adhere with with a newer, more simplified system that allowed them to flatten their bill of materials (BMOs).

In addition to addressing these challenges, the company sought to integrate the new ERP solution with its custom-coded quote configuration application and document management solution. The client also specified that the installation would need to work in tandem with its organizational customer relationship management system in Germany.

The plastics manufacturing systems provider needed new ERP software.

The Solution

The TM Group team assessed the situation and agreed that moving to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central was the ideal option. The group proposed a solutions package featuring several essential modules. These included:

  • General Ledger
  • Accounts payable
  • Accounts receivable
  • Assembly management
  • Bank reconciliation
  • Field order management
  • Inventory control
  • Multi-currency
  • Purchase order management

The client participated in multiple demos of several solutions and ultimately decided to move forward with the Business Central implementation. The process unfolded with few roadblocks due to significant client involvement and dedication, starting at the top with the American division president who offered strong executive support and worked directly with The TM Group to sort through key configuration variables and build user training resources. The materials and logistics manager at the Michigan location was heavily involved as well. In fact, his embrace of Business Central’s complicated requisition worksheet, which streamlines operations by using customer demand and inventory data to generate purchase orders, greatly accelerated implementation, as he could work independently from almost day one. 

The Outcome

The client saw significant improvement following go-live. The fully integrated Microsoft Dynamcis 365 Business Central installation drastically improved ease-of-use, expanded data access and eliminated the need for shadow IT tools through centralization. And, the requisition worksheet boosted shipping and fulfillment operations, lending distribution stakeholders the assets they needed to order and ship out products and critical components. Of course, the new ERP also enriched specific departmental activities. For instance, the Business Central general ledger module bolstered more detailed tracking within the sales division by enabling multidimension data capture via Dimensions, an analytical accounting feature. The system also supported the implementation of a new commission-reporting approach as well. Similar improvements materialized in the distribution hub, where personnel could leverage Business Central to optimize the existing CON-BOM reordering methodology.

In all, The TM Group managed to put into place an impactful solution that met the client’s needs. However, the project is not over, as our team is currently collaborating with stakeholders to develop XML-based purchase order paths between the Michigan location and the company’s home office in Germany.

Is your organization interested in achieving similar results by rolling out Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central? Consider connecting with The TM Group. We have been managing Microsoft ERP implementations for decades, providing organizations of all sizes, across numerous industries, tailored services designed to help them find success now and in the future.

Contact us today to learn more about our work.