31 Oct 2022
Blog, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales, Service & Marketing (CRM) No Comments Permalink
grant management

How Much Does Microsoft Dynamics 365 Cost for Small to Mid Sized Organizations? | The TM Group

October 31, 2022 No Comments

So you’re pretty sure you’ve got your mind made up about the software that will improve the productivity, efficiency and management of your business — you’re going with Microsoft Dynamics 365. You have determined that this suite of automated enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) applications will address the specific needs of your small to midsize organization. The core Dynamics 365 applications for small to medium sized businesses (SMB) include Dynamics 365 Business Central, Sales, Service, and Marketing. 

There are other Microsoft Dynamics 365 applications, but most are designed for enterprise organizations and are part of the Finance and Operations a la carte solution. This solution is built for organizations with more than 20 ERP users and more than $150 million in revenue. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is the all-in-one solution that more professionals trust to help them manage the daily aspects of running a successful small to mid-sized organization. When something needs to get accomplished — and done well — Microsoft Dynamics 365 helps to make it possible in a cost and labor-efficient manner.

All these things you know. But what you may still be a bit unclear about is the cost to license Microsoft Dynamics 365 for your organization. Here at The TM Group, we get it. We’ve been in the implementation business for Microsoft software since the 1980s, before Microsoft Dynamics 365 was even available for purchase. Ever since it was introduced, many of our clients have expressed their bemusement about the cost structure. We have written a free eBook (download here) that explains in more detail the licensing for SMB organizations and we would be happy to schedule a consultation to discuss licensing and implementation costs for your organization.

Our overarching objective here is to cut through the minutiae and cost confusion so you can decide on the package that’s right for your business and your budget. But before we get into the specifics of the cost of these applications, it’s important to gain an understanding of licensing, which is ultimately what affects pricing.

What is Microsoft’s Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) licensing program?

When you’re buying a Business Central software system for your business and the people you expect to be using it, you do it through a Microsoft CSP partner, like The TM Group. A software license is a software company’s way of granting permission to use their solution for however many employees will be operating it or their devices and for however long the term of the license covers. Microsoft does this with Dynamics 365 Business Central and their Sales, Service and Marketing solutions for mid-sized organizations by selling these licenses through Microsoft CSP Partners to small to midsize organizations that want to take advantage of Dynamics 365 and the smart applications that come along with it, which go far beyond Microsoft Business Central. 

Microsoft’s CSP program provides a real advantage to customers. Microsoft is much too large to be very involved in directly helping you improve and grow your organization. Consequently, they introduced the CSP program, which enables partners to establish deeper relationships with their customers. These partners are supposed to meet regularly with customers and develop an understanding of their organization and their needs. Many CSP partners also offer customers industry-specific solutions bundled with the Dynamics 365 solutions. 

All sales and support goes through the CSP partner who will then escalate issues they can’t resolve independently to Microsoft. So, your partner is always your first line of communication. They will provide you with billing and technical support you need to keep your Dynamics 365 Business Central running most efficiently. Microsoft itself will not offer billing or technical support to Dynamics 365 CSP customers. 

The CSP partner manages customers’ Dynamics 365 subscriptions for them, which gives the partner more control over their customer experience and how they are billed for use of the Dynamics solution. For customers, not much changes from the licensee’s point of view with CSP versus other Microsoft licensing programs. Customers must still sign a licensing agreement with Microsoft — which the CSP partner will facilitate — as well as agreements with the CSP partner for support and services. The Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) gives customers licenses and services from Microsoft through the CSP partner responsible for billing and support. Signing the MCA creates a licensing relationship between your organization and Microsoft.

There are some significant differences to note between CSP and other traditional Microsoft licensing channels that you should be aware of, including differences in how they operate, that not all Microsoft products and services are available through CSP, and that licensing terms and conditions are also different with CSP. From the customer perspective, with CSP, you have more flexibility over how you’re billed — you can be invoiced monthly or annually, for example, regardless of the chosen subscription period. You also get one point of contact for support and billing, which can be helpful.

How much does Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central cost?

Microsoft Business Central is the app most people think of when it comes to a Dynamics 365 accounting and ERP solution for a midsize organization. Frequently, it’s the application that draws them to Microsoft for their ERP needs. Business Central Essentials sells for $70 per user per month or there is a more advanced version, Business Central Premium, that costs $100 per user per month.

Business Central Essentials is a great value for all that’s included. The operational and management capabilities found within the basic package are:

  • Financial Management
  • Sales and Purchasing Management
  • Inventory, Warehouse and Assembly Management
  • Project Management
  • Forecasting (optimized by AI)

The artificial intelligence functionalities (with an Azure Machine Learning subscription or Intelligent Edge) range from cash flow forecasting, sales forecasting, image recognition, inventory forecasting and late payment prediction.  

Business Central Premium has all of the advanced features and capabilities as Essentials, but it is also paired with Service Order Management and Manufacturing. Planning, dispatching and service contract management are some of the tasks that are made more effortless through Service Order Management, while Manufacturing offers MRP, scheduling, production orders, basic capacity planning, sales and inventory forecasting and much more. The wealth of advanced features affects Business Central pricing for the Premium product.  

How much does the Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM apps cost?

The different licensing variations are what contribute to the Dynamics 365 pricing confusion of Microsoft apps. Because there are so many options from which to choose, there isn’t a single price that you can point to as being the one price for a Dynamics 365 plan. Each individual business application also has cost differences from the others and some of the applications have options within them, such as Premium versus Essentials, Sales Professional and Business Edition. We’ll offer some example scenarios to provide some clarity. For a more detailed explanation, you can go to Microsoft’s webpage and download the licensing guide.  

Let’s say you’re interested in the traditional, out-of-the-box Microsoft Dynamics 365 package, which includes Business Central as well as the CRM Sales and Field Service modules, among others. Business Central Essentials is $70 per user per month. If Field Service is the first Dynamics 365 CRM app you’re interested in and want to be implemented, the cost is $95 per user per month. Any additional CRM apps like Sales Enterprise that a specific user would need is an additional $20 per user per month. So, a CRM user that needed sales and field service would be $115 per user per month, for example.

There is also a basic version of Sales called Professional that Business Central customers can license at a discounted cost of $20 per user per month.  The price for Sales Professional is usually $65 per user per month, which includes features like sales force automation. But if you’re looking for an app that is more robust and has more capabilities, the Sales Enterprise edition costs $95 per user per month, with any subsequent Dynamics 365 app running at $20 per user per month. The Sales Enterprise edition is $30 more than Professional because it’s a more comprehensive app. In addition to the features found within Professional, Enterprise includes capabilities such as sales forecasting, embedded intelligence, extensibility and customization.

The Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM modules like Sales, Service and Marketing come in many different configurations. There are Sales Professional, Sales Enterprise, Customer Services, Field Service, Marketing, Team Members, device licenses and add-on licenses, just to name a few.  If you would like to understand the possible licensing costs for running Microsoft Dynamics 365 solutions for your organization, you can download our pricing ebook, but even more importantly, you should work with a CSP partner like The TM Group. We can quote the system properly.  Microsoft’s licensing is just too confusing if you don’t deal with it every day, so working with a Microsoft Partner can save you time and frustration.

How do you decide between Essentials/Premium and Professional/Enterprise?

Generally speaking, Premium or Enterprise Dynamics 365 licenses are enhanced versions of the basic systems, which are Essentials or Professional. For Dynamics 365 Business Central, the differences between Essentials and Premium are fairly straightforward. If you have manufacturing requirements that go beyond basic assembly management needs, then you’ll need the professional version.  However, the CRM apps are not so straightforward. Professional and Enterprise have very similar functionality relative to the other in terms of what they include that the other does not and it will be best to work with a partner to understand which version you need. 

However, it is said that enterprise licenses are best for people who are in industries like sales, supply chain management, customer service, human resources, retail and other occupations that have more complex sales and service processes with many different players and interactions. Professional licenses, on the other hand, are for work environments that are more unidimensional than multidisciplinary. In short, if your typical workday involves minimal correspondence or coordination, a professional license makes more sense. The features included are ready to use practically out of the box.

Whether you’re looking for a solution that can help you with a specific need — like customer engagement — or you already know the application that makes sense for your organization, The TM Group can help you with the implementation. Contact us today to learn more about our experience in a variety of industries and other Microsoft products, including Microsoft Power BI. Microsoft Power BI is the perfect platform for connecting unrelated data sources so you can make sense of the information you have and put it to its best use. 

25 Oct 2022
Blog, ERP No Comments Permalink

Understanding the Basics of ERP Migration

October 25, 2022 No Comments

In a highly data intensive environment where virtually every business decision is guided by data and every observation can be measured and analyzed, an effective enterprise resource management (ERP) solution is no longer an option; it’s a necessity for remaining competitive. Whether it’s on-premise or a cloud solution, ERP software gives organizations the ability to manage all of their essential business processes by coordinating the flow, collection and intersection of data across the company. The alignment of processes and streamlining of data helps to improve data quality, consistency and accountability so leaders and managers can make sound decisions in virtually any production capacity, from the supply chain to human resource activities to manufacturing or customer relationship management. Data lies at the heart of any organization’s ERP system.

But depending on the nature of your business as well as your growth goals, the ERP system you’re now using may no longer be meeting your needs, especially since the older versions of these solutions aren’t always scalable and your organization may now be a lot bigger than it used to be. No matter how long you’ve used that ERP system, how often you’ve upgraded it or the current direction of your industry, the historical data you’ve collected is probably still important to the needs of your organization in terms of how it guides your choices and informs your judgment with respect to your staff or your customers.

During an ERP system migration, however, maintaining and relocating historical data doesn’t have to be  a problem, so long as you choose the right implementation team to lead the effort. If you’re unfamiliar with data migration or cloud migrations processes, this will help you understand what it’s all about and what to be aware of so you can properly prepare for an effective migration.

What is ERP migration?

ERP migration is pretty much just like it sounds; it’s the process of transferring ERP and other business data from one system to another, typically today to an ERP cloud solution. It doesn’t always have to be from just an ERP system, however. Frequently, data comes from multiple legacy systems and in a variety of different formats. What the migration process does is pull data from all those sources so it is maintained in a centralized location like an ERP system or data warehouse, or a combination of both. With a data warehouse, all of your key data, whether in-house or cloud-based, can be stored and available for reporting, analysis, and management dashboards. When multiple systems are involved that all have different data structures, a data warehouse and reporting tool such as Solver can make it easier to report on your current and historical data.

When should ERP system migration occur?

Many mid-size businesses go through a new system implementation and data migration because their legacy system either isn’t scalable or is creating more work than it is eliminating. In other words, they do it to increase efficiency, as leaving their existing solution in place could wind up harming the business by creating confusion or unnecessary errors.

Other times, a new ERP system implementation and data migration is forced upon an organization.  These scenarios may include a software provider deciding to no longer provide support for the legacy system, a software provider going out of business or not having the resources to keep up with current technology trends, new business standards, or newly initiated regulations within an industry that change or update how an organization’s data must be stored and shared.

How are ERP migration and ERP implementations interrelated?

Not only is data migration important to organizations’ ability to read, analyze, interpret and gather data, it’s also a key component to successful ERP implementation. ERP implementation is the installing and configuring of a new ERP system or solution, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. During an ERP implementation, the system aligns and combines all of the departments across the business – from manufacturing and accounting to inventory and customer support – so they’re all sharing the same data and drawing from the same database.

ERP data migration is a core component to a successful ERP implementation since the new solution will need to be set up utilizing the old system’s data and placing it within its new system and/or a data warehouse. The migration needs to be complete and comprehensive to ensure that all the master data needed is collected and migrated to the new system. The process itself must also be done carefully so data is accurate and non-duplicative. A thoughtful, experienced ERP consulting company will ensure that the migration process is organized and thorough, which will help to eliminate data that is either unnecessary, redundant, or unreliable.

One of the most important decisions organizations need to make related to a new ERP system implementation and data migration is how they want to handle historical data. Master files like customers, vendors, items, bill of materials, and general ledger history are pretty easy to migrate, even when you make changes to the chart of accounts, customer or vendor IDs, or item numbers. However, historical ERP data is often hard and expensive to migrate because no two ERP systems structure and organize their data in the same way making a migration very costly.

Consequently, most organizations either keep their old system for referencing historical data or organizations will migrate the data to a data warehouse where it can be centrally stored and available for reporting and management analysis. A data warehouse, like Solver, can be especially helpful when an organization utilizes multiple systems like an accounting application, payroll solution and a point of sale system that all have different data structures.

 

But even when ERP migration is done tactfully and thoughtfully, challenges can arise. Being aware of the potential complications that are common can help you align your expectations or take steps now that will help you avoid missteps later on.

What are some common data migration complications?

Data redundancy

The whole point of an implementation is to share information across the organization. But it’s highly probable that multiple departments may have the same information; it’s just stored in separate systems or is a different structure. This can lead to data redundancy, which can compromise the integrity of data and lead to process inefficiencies for a variety of important tasks, like accounting, reporting, invoicing and more.

Regulatory issues

As previously mentioned, health care, finance, law, investing and many other industries have a variety of rules and regulations relating to how data is used, managed and stored. Many of these mandates and ordinances come straight from the federal government and have the authority to issue fines or penalties for non-compliance. Because of this fact, it’s important to be cognizant of any data transferral rules or limitations that are relevant to your business and to communicate those with your ERP vendor. However, your ERP vendor should be aware of what these regulations are as well and respond appropriately.

Resistance to change

Whether it comes from C-suite executives or the people who use your current ERP every day, data migration is a key component of an ERP implementation. Using an entirely new solution with its own operating system and interface may be met with resistance. If this is the case, many ERP vendors can also help with change management, which can help produce stakeholder buy-in among users and also assist with the onboarding process.

Cost

Relocating data from several legacy systems can make data migration an expensive proposition with certain ERP services providers. There are several facets to this process aside from the implementation itself, the entity implementing the new software can often perform much of the data migration as well. This includes extracting the data, cleaning it, and restructuring it under the guidance of the ERP implementation partner who usually then loads it into the new software platform.

In short, be mindful that the cost of data migration is usually not included with an ERP implementation. It’s often charged separately. So you should discuss this with any potential ERP providers and make sure you understand the cost and effort involved.

Why you should migrate to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

There are a lot of options out there for a replacement ERP solution, but if you’ve had any familiarity with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central – or know of a business that uses it – the choice is clear: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Deployed in the cloud, Business Central has helped thousands of household names companies become more productive and efficient. Microsoft Dynamics 365 is industry agnostic and every business in every specialty can work better, smarter and more productively with solutions like Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM and Business Central.

Here are a few of the reasons why organizations performs better and makes better decisions when they’ve migrated to a Microsoft Dynamics application:

Seamless interface and deployment

Whether you use Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Explorer, Microsoft Dynamics has a similar interface, so the learning curve is reduced. The deployment process – meaning implementation and data migration –  is turnkey as well, as any vendor that sells and implements a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central solution must be a certified Microsoft partner. Additionally, it integrates with other Microsoft applications like Microsoft Power BI or the Microsoft Power Apps Platform.

Highly affordable

It’s impossible to say how much an implementation and data migration runs price-wise given every organization and process is different, but a Microsoft Dynamics 365 partner such as The TM Group (TMG) can provide an estimate after doing some discovery with your organization. Subscription costs, however, are standardized and available to see on Microsoft’s website. The Premium option for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central costs $100 per user per month, while the Essentials package is $70 per user per month. The Microsoft website has a breakdown of the cost and what applications are included within each package, and TMG has prepared an eBook to help you understand the cost of licensing the Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM and Business Central applications. (Link)

Comprehensive business management

An effective ERP implementation and data migration connects all your functions and sections of your enterprise. From service and finance to sales and marketing, Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM and Business Central align and intertwine them all so all your stakeholders are operating on one centralized solution.

Data migration as a key component of a new ERP implementation is a process you can’t leave to chance or hope that the vendor you get knows what they’re doing. TMG not only has data migration, implementation and cloud migration experience, we’ve been doing it much longer than most of our competitors, having launched in 1984. In addition, we have extensive experience in app development and are multiple Microsoft and CRM/ERP related industry award winners.

For more information on any of our services, contact us today.

23 Sep 2022
Blog, ERP, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central No Comments Permalink
Procurement Management Keyboard Image

Procurement Technology Brings Simplicity to Purchase Order Management

September 23, 2022 No Comments

Contrary to what folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel crooned in their 1960s hit “I Am a Rock,” no person is an island. The same goes for a business. Big or small, it can’t reach its goals entirely on its own accord. From the employees that work for you to the customers that buy your organization’s products, maintaining a successful operation is a joint effort. And regardless of your specialty, your employees wouldn’t be able to produce the merchandise and services that buyers want without having the equipment, raw materials and workflows that make it all possible. After all, you can’t get something out of nothing. 

But as your purchase management team can attest, the procurement process is often riddled with obstacles that can make purchasing problematic, tedious, lengthy and unnecessarily costly. However, procurement solutions available through information technology can make the preparatory aspects of bringing goods and services to the marketplace more seamless, affordable and expeditious. Here, we’ll discuss what procurement technology is all about, how automation can positively influence the supply chain, the procurement lifecycle and why Varis – combined with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central – can dramatically improve the purchase management and procurement capabilities of your organization.

What is procurement technology?

As defined by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), procurement technology refers to the integrated set of systems that collect, store and process data to support the performance management and decision making aspects of purchasing. From team collaboration solutions to procure-to-pay solutions, e-procurement to strategic sourcing and enterprise resource planning (ERP), the procurement technology options enterprises have available to them are nearly as expansive as the supply chain itself.  

Bottom-line: Procurement technology leverages the incredible power of automation to simplify complex procurement processes, which increases efficiency and reduces the costs associated with production.

What is the difference between sourcing and procurement?

Since a considerable portion of the procurement involves obtaining materials from a source, sourcing and procurement may seem like they’re indistinguishable. While similar, they’re not synonymous. Sourcing represents one component of procurement – i.e. finding and vetting suppliers. Procurement, however, is much broader in scope, including planning, sourcing, placing orders, receiving said orders, paying for delivered assets and more. 

What are the steps within a procurement lifecycle?

It’s true that no two businesses are alike, and the same can be said for each organization’s purchasing and procurement process. The nuts and bolts of each one is largely influenced by the item that’s being produced, whether it’s cut-and-paste easy or highly intricate. But the procurement lifecycle a procurement team goes through follows a similar path. As CIPS points out, the procurement lifecycle ideally has 13 steps or stages. They include:

  1. Define and identify business needs
  2. Market analysis 
  3. Develop the strategy
  4. Pre-procurement
  5. Develop tender documentation 
  6. Select suppliers
  7. Issue tender documents
  8. Bid and tender evaluation
  9. Contract award and implementation
  10. Warehouse, logistics and receipt
  11. Contract performance and improvement
  12. Supplier relationship management
  13. Asset management

Let’s briefly go over each one of these stages to provide added context.

  1. Define and identify business needs: Perhaps the most important stage of all, defining business needs “sets the stage” for how to proceed with procurement by specifying what it requires to produce. This is best determined by coordinating and engaging with all relevant stakeholders, inside and outside of the business.
  2. Market analysis: Market analysis refers to the research a procurement team performs to assess the company’s options as they pertain to finding the right supplier – or suppliers if more than one is necessary. Additionally, market analysis also entails what the organization can afford to spend to partner with a supplier and if outsourcing is a worthwhile option.
  3. Develop the strategy: This stage refers to putting together a procurement strategy or roadmap, which is informed by the needs of the business and the results of the research. A successful procurement strategy outlines what actions and spending are necessary to ensure a company has all the material and equipment it needs to produce in accordance with demand. 
  4. Procurement testing: Once a strategy is formulated, it may not be time just yet for procurement to get underway. Procurement testing helps determine if the time is right. Factors that can play a role include seasonality, laws or bills passed by the federal government and what competitors are doing with respect to their procurement activities.
  5. Develop tender documentation: Tender documentation lets a potential supplier know about the full extent of your supply needs, including what you seek to purchase, how much you intend to purchase, your expectations and as terms and conditions. This lets the supplier determine if there can be a business relationship.
  6. Select supplier(s): This stage involves creating a working list of suppliers who may be interested or capable of servicing your supply needs. 
  7. Issue tender documents: As its description suggests, this stage entails the active distribution of tender documents to all suppliers or vendors that have either bid for your business or are hoping might do so. Requests for pricing and requests for quotations are included among those tender documents. 
  8. Bid and tender evaluation: Once the signing documents have been disseminated, filled out and sent back, it’s time to make a decision about the best supplier(s). It’s important for this process to be carried out in an unbiased way so you can make a decision solely on the best fit for your organization. As part of this stage, analyzing any of the vendors’ previous engagements with competitors – and whether those partnerships proved to be successful – can help inform your decision on whether or not to move forward. If available, you may also want to see their work, which can provide context on how much they prioritize quality.
  9. Contract award and implementation: The contractual stage spells out precisely what the business relationship between yourself and the vendor will look like, including details on considerations like key performance indicators, logistics, invoicing, supply dynamics as well as terms and conditions. Upon signing of the contract by both parties, the partnership is officially underway.
  10. Warehouse logistics and receipts: For inventory, the warehouse logistics and receipts stage is where the “business” aspect of a business relationship truly gets underway. Here is where the supplier must live up to its end of the agreement, including the delivering of materials – and in the proper amounts – in accordance with what was agreed upon at contract signing. Warehouse logistics helps make the delivery and inventory management process smoother, through best practices like product coding, picking and packing, product classification and racking.  
  11. Contract performance and improvement: Whether it’s once a month, quarterly or several times over the duration of the agreement, this stage enables both parties to review the success of the vendor-customer relationship, if the terms of the agreement were abided by and where there may be room for improvement in terms of performance or the relationship. In short, this stage focuses on assessing supplier performance.
  12. Supplier relationship management: Supplier relationship management refers to all the activities associated with maintaining a free flow of communication and interaction  with vendors.
  13. Asset management: Whether due to new challenges, competitors, market shifts or opportunities, the equipment and materials you need to produce at one time may be different at another. As such, asset management involves staying abreast of your procurement needs so procurement processes can be adapted accordingly. 

Clearly, procurement and procurement management is a highly involved process that requires a great deal of planning, coordination and reliable data to inform decision making. It’s little wonder why so many enterprises these days assign an entire procurement team to addressing these business critical functions. But because these tasks are frequently manual, the benefit of having a procurement team may be insufficient.

Procurement technology makes procurement management simpler and turnkey. And a great technology procurement solution is Varis, which is available to you as a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central user.

What is Varis?
Varis is a centralized, software-as-a-service platform that connects business owners and relevant stakeholders with the supplies and suppliers they need— seamlessly and conveniently. Accessible through the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central dashboard, Varis integrates with existing workflows to automate the purchasing process and manage all the activities and steps that fall under the procurement banner digitally.

Furthermore, implementing Varis is point-and-click quick, includes an exhaustive marketplace of trusted suppliers, several of which specialize in pre-negotiated contracts. These same suppliers also offer discounts to interested businesses. This results in lower costs, time saved and enhanced convenience thanks to Varis’ consumer-like shopping experience.    

The TM Group is proud to partner with Varis and even prouder to make you aware of this procurement technology resource. For additional information on Varis and what Varis combined with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can do for you and your procurement processes, watch this brief video. If you’re unfamiliar with Microsoft Dynamics products, this e-book can help explain why it truly is an all-in-one solution.  

09 Aug 2022
Microsoft Dynamics GP No Comments Permalink
Don't Be Duped by Dynamics GP Misinformation

Don’t Be Duped by Dynamics GP Misinformation

August 9, 2022 No Comments

The term “misinformation” gets tossed around in modern society quite a bit these days, frequently by lawmakers, political pundits and public figures. The word is so ubiquitous that it could have easily been in the running for Merriam-Webster’s “Word of the Year” in 2021, even though “vaccine” won out. When users reference the term, or a post on social media is flagged as misinformation, it’s done to dispel rumors and let the reader know that the veracity of a claim is questionable or unknown. You can probably think of examples of misinformation about something you know to be false, regarding an event that is serious or silly. From “fake news” to “misinformation” to “alternative facts,” whatever it’s called, misinformation is a fact of life.

It seems that half-truths are spreading into the world of enterprise resource planning software, and more specifically, Microsoft Dynamics GP. Word has it that Microsoft Dynamics GP, the business management solution formerly known as Great Plains that is leveraged by thousands of small and midsized businesses for its automation and accounting capabilities, will no longer provide mainstream support after this year.

There’s no truth to that claim. Here, we won’t just tell you why it has zero credibility, –  we’ll show you. We’ll also let you know how this rumor came about and who or what put it out there.

 

The background
The issue at hand concerns Microsoft’s Modern Lifecycle Policy. Essentially, Microsoft’s Modern Lifecycle Policy is Microsoft’s promise to provide continuous, year-end updates and mainstream support for Dynamics GP in perpetuity, meaning as long as customers keep up with a publisher’s licensing and servicing requirements. In other words, if customers have a license to use the product, Microsoft is contractually obligated to provide ongoing support on an as-needed basis. A few years back — 2019, to be specific — Microsoft announced it would end the Microsoft Dynamics GP business and accounting solution offering by 2028.

But several Microsoft competitors — including Netsuite — have misinformed the public by claiming mainstream support for Dynamics GP will conclude not in 2028, but in January of next year.

Nothing could be further from the truth, and we hope that this was a misunderstanding rather than  intentional. Regardless, there are a few important points that should help to separate fact from fiction.

 

Support for GP 2018 R2 set to end next year
There are many different releases of Microsoft Dynamics GP, which believe it or not, was originally launched in February 1993. It was one of the original multi-user accounting solutions to run on Windows software. Some of the more recent versions include:

  • Dynamics GP 2018 R2
  • Dynamics GP 2018
  • Dynamics GP 2016 R2
  • Dynamics GP 2016
  • Dynamics GP 2015 R2
  • Dynamics GP 2015

Two others are Dynamics GP 2013 and GP 2013 R2. Extended support will come to an end in 2023 and mainstream support for these versions has already concluded. So it’s possible that Netsuite was referring to this specific version. But even if it was, that information is wrong, since extended support remains in place until mid-April, rather than January like Netsuite erroneously stated.

 

Different types of support

Similar to other software providers, Microsoft offers multiple types of support. For its enterprise resource management solutions, there are two kinds: mainstream and extended. Mainstream support refers to Microsoft promising to provide updates, patches and fixes from the time the product is first released to a certain date. Generally speaking, mainstream support lasts for a minimum of five years but often runs for far longer.

Extended support picks up where mainstream support leaves off. So when the latter ends, the former begins and remains in place for another five years. The updates and features provided during extended support may be less comprehensive than the mainstream version.

By failing to provide context on the type of support that is ending, Netsuite and other Microsoft competitors can lead users to draw the wrong conclusions.

 

Different types of lifecycles
Another important component to the support of an ERP product is the lifecycle. Here as well, Microsoft Dynamics GP has two: fixed and modern. As Microsoft points out on its website, the Modern Lifecycle Policy refers to the products and services that are supported without interruption. So long as customers are licensed to use the product and are current — meaning they’re applying at least one update per year — Microsoft assures users they’ll receive continuous support.

The Fixed Lifecycle Policy, on the other hand, refers to software solutions sold through retail or volume licensing. A Fixed Lifecycle Policy varies in length and services depending on the product. Generally, Fixed Lifecycle Policy includes five years of mainstream support, followed by extended support when mainstream stops.

The current version of Microsoft Dynamics GP is governed by the Modern Lifecycle Policy, which means support is guaranteed through 2028 and beyond. Microsoft has used this policy for all Dynamics GP versions since 2019. While older versions of Dynamics GP were governed by a Fixed Lifecycle — GP 2013 and R2, GP 2015 and R2, GP 2016 and R2, among others —a lack of specifics about the ending lifecycle is misleading at best and borderline deceitful at worst. While mainstream support has ended for Dynamics GP 2013, Dynamics GP 2015 and Dynamics GP 2016 — along with the R2 versions for each — extended support remains for all of them, including Dynamics GP 2013 and R2.

Bottom line: Microsoft Dynamics GP isn’t going away anytime soon. If you’re using Microsoft Dynamics GP and enjoying what you’re getting out of it, you have nothing to worry about. But don’t take our word for it. On its website, Microsoft shows every Dynamics GP product lifecycle, which is fixed along with update schedules due for release. For example, updates regarding taxes, regulations and hotfixes arrive in June, whereas new capabilities for the solution typically arrive in October.

Just as Dynamics GP supports your business needs, Microsoft is fully committed to updating Dynamics GP for the duration. If you have any questions about Dynamics GP, its capabilities and how you can maximize its usage, The TM Group is ready and willing to help. We not only offer a wide variety of implementation services related to Microsoft Dynamics GP but also transition services for any GP clients that would like to switch to Dynamics 365 Business Central. We’ve won over 65 awards since our partnership with Microsoft and we were one of the first five companies in the world to attain certification in Great Plains implementation when the Dynamics GP was first released back in the early 1990s. Contact us today to learn more.

12 Jul 2022
TM Group News No Comments Permalink

What To Look For in an ERP Consulting Partner

July 12, 2022 No Comments

Enterprise resource planning software is designed to bring added simplicity and visibility to the wide assortment of disparate business process activities that occur in the average day. From accounting to procurement, supply chain operations to cash management, mission-critical business functions such as these all occur simultaneously and across multiple departments.

Business activities spread throughout the organization make it impossible to know what is happening at all times. ERP software ties them all together around a centralized database so you’re never in the dark as to where things stand with these processes – and neither are your employees. The successful utilization of enterprise resource planning solutions as a business tool is part of the reason why the ERP software market is poised to reach a global valuation of over $71 billion by 2026, according to Fortune Business Insights.

But ERP software is not a plug-it-in-and-forget-it solution. Much like any tool that’s used at the office or on the shop floor, some ERP software systems are better than others. They all handle things a bit differently and you have to know how to configure them to fully leverage the ERP system for it to work as effectively as possible.

For these reasons and more, hiring an ERP consulting business to guide you through the implementations is a smart investment for your business. This article will provide you with a better understanding of what an ERP consultant is, when hiring an ERP consulting business may be in order, what qualities you should look for in a truly competent ERP consulting firm and why you should consider The TM Group as your preferred pick for all your ERP consulting needs.

What is an ERP consultant?An ERP consultant or consultancy is an organization that specializes in delivering enterprise resource planning implementations and providing ongoing support after the solution goes live. As such, an ERP consultant not only helps a business migrate their data to a specific ERP software system, like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, but also helps them get the most out of it by configuring and customizing the solution to their needs.

In addition to serving as resident experts of ERP software, a competent ERP consultant provider is highly attuned to the challenges that a client is facing. Whether it’s issues with accounting, supply chain visibility, inaccurate inventory management or operation breakdowns, ERP consulting firms are familiar with a business’ pain points. This knowledge allows them to identify which ERP system features within a solution will help to best solve their clients’ problems and optimize their business processes to achieve their goals.

What should you look for in an ERP consulting firm?When it comes to management consulting, you have lots of options from which to choose. According to Inc., there are approximately 700,000 consulting firms all around the world, including many that are specific to ERP consulting. Here are a few characteristics to be mindful of that make for a good ERP implementation partner:

1. ExperienceExperience is pivotal for all consulting needs but especially ERP consulting. It should be clear from the outset that an ERP consultant has the requisite bona fides which substantiate their familiarity with the ERP solution being implemented, in particular, and enterprise resource planning as an overall business strategy.

Of all the things that make The TM Group a qualified ERP implementation partner, experience tops them all. With over 1,000 years of cumulative team experience and over two dozen CRM/ERP consultants who are certified in the products they support, The TM Group has the tenure and the track record that you can count on for ERP implementation success.

2. Serves a variety of industriesOne of the things that makes ERP software such a remarkable tool is its scalability. In other words, in addition to being fully customizable in terms of the extent to which it can be leveraged, ERP software provides solutions to problems for businesses in every industry, not just accounting, retail or logistics, for example. Because of this, you also want to ensure your ERP consulting provider is familiar with the ins and outs of your specific line of work.

Since its beginnings back in the mid-1980s, The TM Group has served a broad range of businesses in a plethora of industries and entities — from family offices to manufacturers to educational institutions and not-for-profit organizations. The TM Group has wide ranging experience and industry know-how to ensure your company gets the best possible ERP solution to address the challenges that your business faces in the industry as it stands today — not last year or a decade ago.

3. Partnership focusedThere’s a reason why ERP consulting providers are also referred to as ERP consulting partners. When you select one to perform an ERP implementation, you’re working alongside them — in consultation with them, if you will — or at least you ought to be. An ERP software partner should walk you through every stage of the process so you’re fully apprised of what’s taking place and what you can expect once the ERP system is up and running.

Being your ERP consulting partner is something we take very seriously at The TM Group. At all stages and phases, you’ll have 360-degree visibility into the implementation so you’re aware of what’s going on and how the ERP system works. This ongoing communication also enables us to perform the implementation without it interfering with the flow of your business operations, especially if your business is busier during certain parts of the year than others.

4. Teaches and trainsAn ERP solution is described as such because it brings solutions to business challenges. But if you’re brand new to ERP technology, it also brings a lot of questions about how the software works, as some ERP setup options aren’t always intuitive. Microsoft Dynamics 365 is different from that perspective. If you have any familiarity with Microsoft Office software, then Microsoft Dynamics products should be more intuitive to use, but the setup can still be tricky if you are not a certified consultant. Some features may be brand new to you. If that’s the case, The TM Group will be there to walk you through everything so you and your team are up to speed at every stage of the implementation from start to finish. Our Dynamics consultants deal with setting up and configuring these solutions regularly with multiple clients, so they bring lots of experience and a wide range of perspectives to the table with them. Plus, the training component for solutions like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is included as part of the implementation project when you select us to be your ERP implementation partner. Training and planning are two of the most critical phases of a project.

5. Stellar reputationWhen you’re investing in an ERP solution, you actually have two important decisions to make: which ERP Solution should I select and what consulting organization should I utilize to help guide me through the implementation. If you are choosing a mature ERP software provider, then all the software is pretty similar in the way that they handle accounting and other back office functions. All mainstream software publishers — like Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle NetSuite and Sage Intacct —offer software that is about 80% of the same functionality, but is set up and configured differently. No matter what Microsoft, Oracle or Sage partner you buy the software from, they are all going to be the same software. This is why choosing the right implementation consulting partner is so critical, because the software is the same from whoever you buy it. However,  the guidance, consulting services, and support you receive will vary greatly depending on the partner you choose.

ERP consulting firms are also service providers — serving the needs of their clients — the customer’s satisfaction with the implementation process itself is paramount. This is another strength of ours at The TM Group. Most of our clients stay with us for many years, which speaks to the fact that our clients are pleased with the services we render. This is something we take great pride in at The TM Group. We’re confident you’ll become one too when you pick us for your ERP consulting service needs.

To maximize your ERP software, an ERP consultant can help. And if your ERP solution choice is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics GP or Dynamics SL, The TM Group is the ERP consulting firm to contact for your first or next ERP implementation project.  With consultants, developers, and project managers on staff, The TM Group has the robust, in-depth ERP knowledge and resources you need to help your business flourish. 

Contact us today or visit our blog for regularly updated ERP insights and project profiles which detail some of our previous client interactions.

28 Jun 2022
Blog, ERP, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Project Profile Dyn 365 Business Central (NAV), Project Profiles No Comments Permalink
ERP Accounting

Health Care Organizations Find Savings and Simplicity by Switching to Microsoft Dynamics Business Central 365 from Microsoft GP

June 28, 2022 No Comments
The Clients
A group of community mental health (CMH) organizations.

The Challenge 
Reporting is a major priority for the health industry, regardless of providers’ specialties. Being publicly funded organizations, these mental health care providers all had a government reporting mandate that they needed to meet by a certain date. The hard deadline was October 1, 2021. That date marks the beginning of the fiscal year for government entities, both state and federal. Consequently, all eight of our clients needed to have their accounting software used for reporting set up and in place by Oct. 1 so they could fulfill their governmental reporting requirements.
The enterprise resource planning software most of the community health organizations in Michigan were leveraging up to this point was Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly known as Great Plains). Microsoft Dynamics GP is an on-premise, mid-market business accounting software solution that’s been used by organizations in a wide variety of industries since GP was first introduced in the 1990s. While groundbreaking at the time, Microsoft Dynamics GP lacks many of the operational, visibility, technology and functionality advantages that cloud-based ERP solutions have to offer today. None offers more than Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, which most of eight of these clients were planning to transition to from GP, except one which was on a different on-premise accounting application.

The Solution
Part of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 family of products, Business Central is a fully cloud-based enterprise resource planning solution with feature-rich capabilities. From core accounting functions like General Ledger, Receivables, Payables, Bank Reconciliation and Fixed Assets to other areas like Purchasing, Projects, Sales Orders, Distribution, Manufacturing and Field Service, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is customizable and offers capabilities that are germane to many different industries beyond health care. These include retail, life sciences, manufacturing and wholesale distribution.
The TM Group’s CMH clients, in particular, were each drawn to Business Central for dimensional accounting reporting capabilities, which isn’t available in Great Plains— or most of the other ERPs on the market, for that matter. Dimensions is a feature that is a standard part of the Business Central suite (meaning it’s not something you have to pay extra for and native throughout the application) which makes it easier to perform different types of computational analysis for audit and reporting purposes. This is done by categorizing data in dimensions as they are entered into the system. While the organizations were also interested in other functionality, Dimensions was the application the clients were most interested in leveraging to address their reporting requirements and simplify their chart of account structures.
In addition to Business Central, two of the clients also wanted The TM Group to implement an add-on called Tangicloud Fundamentals. Tangicloud is a Microsoft Solution Provider whose application allows users to get more out of Business Central and its applications. For example, the fund accounting functionality of Dimensions is greatly enhanced with Tangicloud Fundamentals. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is designed to be useful for organizations in many different industries. However, Tangicloud’s primary customers are government-affiliated entities, non-profit groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and they provide add-on functionality for Business Central specific to those industries requirements.
Knowing that all eight of the clients had the same reporting and go-live date, we developed a unique  implementation plan for the group as a whole that aligned with their common timing, needs and pain points of each of the clients. In so doing, The TM Group was able to consolidate resources and train clients in a couple of groups on how to use the solutions. This enabled all of our clients to save money since they were able to share the price of training. This was a very unique project approach since we usually do implementations and training for each client individually.

The Results
Not only were we able to complete the implementations by the deadline, but all of these clients are now capable of producing more comprehensive reports that help to provide the specificity, details and accuracy the government and medical oversight bodies demand from health care providers.

Choose The TM Group
Since our founding and subsequent partnership with Microsoft, The TM Group has specialized in helping organizations in virtually all industries improve their decision making and performance with the right Microsoft solution. If you’re in a business situation that is comparable to these clients’ situation — where you and a group of your peers have a need or deadline that puts you in the same boat — we can offer group implementation plans that can reduce your implementation costs. We’re flexible at The TM Group and aim to tailor implementations to your unique situation without compromising quality.
For speed of service, convenience and affordability, The TM Group is your one-stop shop for enterprise resource planning. Contact us today to learn more.
21 Jun 2022
Blog, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales, Service & Marketing (CRM), Project Profile Dyn 365 Customer Engagement (CRM) No Comments Permalink

Nonprofit Centralizes Data Management through Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM

June 21, 2022 No Comments

The Client
A non-profit health care association based in the Midwest that specializes in patient advocacy, particularly for those experiencing economic hardship or other life circumstances that prevent them from accessing basic health services. Its mission as a non-profit is to improve the quality, affordability and value of health care for families in the region and help communities establish community health centers through customized training and staffing resources. 

 

The Challenge
For a business to be successful and make effective decisions, data visibility is essential. One way to go about this is to make data available to everyone, a process known as data democratization. Through democratization, users — regardless of their specialty —not only have the ability to gather data but to interpret it as well.

To achieve it, however, data must be centralized. But that was the central problem for our client — their data was all over the place. The client had a tremendous volume of data, but it was all stored in disconnected, disparate systems, which were siloed off from one another. These included online registration and portal systems, contact information kept in employees’ Microsoft Outlook applications and Access databases. The fact that there was no hierarchical structure to their data made effective management and decision-making next to impossible.  

In addition to seeking a solution that would put all their data into a central warehouse, the client also wanted a solution that would help them manage their events. A substantial portion of the non-profit’s funding derives from fundraisers, conferences and seminars held throughout the year. Each requires a great deal of planning and coordination. Thus, the client sought a solution that would help to better organize these gatherings as well as other initiatives, such as for peer group calls and grant programs. 

 

The Solution
Given our client’s needs, The TM Group recommended  Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service and Marketing. Part of Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM family of applications, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service helps to streamline customer interactions so that they’re all kept in one convenient, centralized place. The Customer Service application also helps users to visualize data and identify trends as well as manage and keep track of events.

Much like the Customer Service application, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Marketing — which is also a CRM product —  is replete with features that improve business performance. But we recommended Marketing specifically for how it deals with data, helping users to personalize data and collect it. Additionally, the Marketing application assists with event planning by providing the flexibility to bring in data from other systems with minimal coding. It makes event promotion simpler through the email marketing feature that the application includes.

We also strongly suggested Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Voice. Customer Voice is a tool that a wide variety of patient or customer-centric businesses use to gain instantaneous insights about their customers’ experience through questionnaires, surveys and polls. If our client wanted to get participants’ opinions about events they intended, Customer Voice makes survey development simple.

Finally, better grant management was another priority for our client. The TM Group development team built a custom application for grant management in Dynamics 365 PowerApps, which is a suite of apps that allows any business to connect their data to their underlying data platform. The custom app for grant management would allow the client to report on details inside the grant, what the grant provided in terms of funding and what those funds would go toward.

 

The Results

The client agreed with all of our suggestions and we went forward with the implementations shortly thereafter. With the respective Microsoft Dynamics 365 solutions now in place, the client is now in a better place — as is its data. With Dynamics 365 Customer Service and Marketing, the client has been able to replace old data silos with individual Microsoft Outlooks, multiple custom Access databases and online portal systems. This has helped eliminate redundant data entry between systems and made reporting as well as information management easier and more streamlined across the entirety of the non-profit. 

Additionally, Dynamics 365 Marketing has been a huge help with event planning by enabling the client to send off notification emails to the relevant stakeholders all at once. The application has also assisted with team meetings, webinars, virtual conferences and in-person events. 

Troubleshooting and problem resolution has gotten better through Microsoft solutions as well. Prior to the implementation, the client had no system for technical support requests. But now they’re using CRM Cases to not just assign requests but track them so they can identify how close problems are to a resolution. 

Whether you’re looking to make smarter business decisions, do more with your data or do a little bit of everything better when it comes to management, The TM Group can help. For more information on any of the solutions mentioned here, including Microsoft Dynamics 365 Marketing, please contact us today. 

 

14 Jun 2022
Blog No Comments Permalink

Why CPAs Should Refer Your Clients to The TM Group | Microsoft Dynamics CRM & ERP

June 14, 2022 No Comments

Your business clients turn to you for accounting and consulting services. But odds are they’re looking for work process solutions as well, whether they’re already in the cloud or seeking to migrate their data there. They’ll find the assistance they need through The TM Group. With more than 35 years of Microsoft software integration experience and clients in more than two dozen states — from various  industries — The TM Group is highly recommended by those who have worked with us previously. Indeed, more than 70% of our ongoing business derives from referrals. 

By recommending clients to The TM Group for their enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management needs, they will be in a better position, and so will you.  But there are several specific reasons why directing your clients to The TM Group makes good business sense for you and your clients. 

We complement your services

Known as “consultants” or “implementation experts” or “data migration technicians” and “value-added reseller,” we go by many different names at The TM Group. That’s because our capabilities and services go beyond Microsoft Dynamics CRM and ERP implementations. But one thing we are not is a CPA firm. While many of our staff members have accounting backgrounds — some of whom worked for CPA firms — we don’t offer traditional accounting services; we provide the software solutions that make basic accounting and business management tasks easier to manage. Thus, The TM Group doesn’t compete for your business; we complement it. 

Award-winning value-added service provider
Speaking of value-added resellers, The TM Group was recently recognized by Accounting Today in their “Top 100 VARs” edition. As the publication pointed out in reference to those VARs making the list, leading resellers in the accounting space “served as crucial lifelines for their clients in more ways than one” during the pandemic.

But The TM Group is a regular award winner, recognized by Inc. Magazine in 2010, Accounting Technology Magazine numerous times over the last decade and many from the Microsoft Corporation over the years as a partner (i.e. Partner of the Year, Central Region Partner, Customer Satisfaction, et al).

 These speak to our track record of excellence in this mission critical space.

Supporting accounting systems and their clients since the 1980s
While we’ve specialized in Microsoft software business applications for most of our time while in business, we began as a full-service provider of both software applications and computer equipment. Technology has changed a lot since then — and so has our company, we now have three locations in Michigan and Indiana including our main office in Farmington Hills, Michigan. What hasn’t changed is where most of our business comes from: referrals from clients, CPA firms and IT organizations. That’s been the case since we first opened our doors back in 1984. If we didn’t deliver results, CPAs wouldn’t keep recommending us. 

Robust knowledge of Microsoft software products
Whether it’s Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, the Dynamics 365 CRM solutions (Sales/Service/Marketing), Dynamics GP, Dynamics SL, Power BI or the many add-on solutions, The TM Group’s implementation and development teams have a vast amount of knowledge and experience in the Microsoft solutions stack. We maintain accreditations in several applications in addition to and beyond the Dynamics 365 suite. These include:

  • Solver Reporting, Planning, and Data Warehouse Suite
  • Binary Stream Multi-Entity & Solutions for Family Offices, Finance, Retail and More
  • eOne SmartConnect
  • TM Group’s Microsoft SAAS Insights for Dynamics 365 Business Central Dashboards
  • And several more!

Emphasize implementation collaboration
All too often, implementation teams cut their client’s staff out of the process so they’re on the outside looking in. This is part of the reason why so many ERP implementations wind up failing. 

The TM Group prioritizes partnership for all software projects. This means our consulting and project management team members work in tandem with all clients so they’re always in the loop and know exactly what’s happening with the implementation from beginning to end. This not only ensures that the project goes according to plan but helps to diminish downtime. In short, The TM Group will adjust to the needs of your clients, not the other way around. 

Perform systems, cloud or data migration
Microsoft Dynamics Implementations are what The TM Group does, but most implementations also include migration services and some may also include development services as well. Perhaps your client already uses a Microsoft Dynamics solution on an inhouse server and isn’t at the point where they want to implement a replacement enterprise resource management system. Maybe they’re looking first to migrate Dynamics GP, SL or NAV to the cloud. The TM Group does that too. 

Alternatively, if they have a non-Microsoft product — like QuickBooks or a Sage solution — and want to transition to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, The TM Group specializes in comprehensive implementation and data migration services as well.  No job is too big or small. 

Work with clients nationwide

Since our three offices are located in the Midwest, most of our clients are from this general area as well, specifically Michigan and Northern Indiana. But this isn’t the only region we support. Currently, we have small, midsize and large business clients in more than two dozen states and also outside the United States, several of which, like us, have more than one location. 

Bottom line: If your current clients are located far away from where we are, this isn’t an issue for us. With more than three dozen staff members between our three locations, The TM Group is small enough to have one-on-one relationships with our customers, but also large enough to best serve your clients needs. 

Team of experts that goes beyond implementation
Since most of the work we do is Microsoft Dynamics CRM and ERP systems implementations, most of our staff have a background in this area. But our experience goes much further. From consulting to development and project management, The TM Group has a deep bench of software specialists to comprehensively address all aspects of implementation. 

Support clients’ strategic initiatives
Beyond customer satisfaction, our priority is helping business owners set up the technological solutions that can help them make better decisions. But if there are certain strategic initiatives that your clients prioritize more than others — from increasing sales to smarter inventory management — we’ll prioritize these initiatives so we can help them achieve those goals. 

With the largest number of Microsoft Dynamics master-certified consultants onstaff that is headquartered in Michigan with a staff that has on average more than a decade of experience per member, these are just a few of the qualifications that make The TM Group worthy of your recommendation. And they’ll have you to thank. Have your client contact us or have one  of your partners contact us to schedule an appointment to learn more about the details of our referral program.

07 Jun 2022
Blog, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft Dynamics GP No Comments Permalink

What to Know About Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs GP

June 7, 2022 No Comments

Enterprise resource planning is technology at its very finest. From supply chain management to advanced reporting to data analytics and more, ERP solutions leverage digitization, automation, artificial intelligence and internet of things capabilities to improve operations and unify workflows. It’s little wonder why nearly 90% of businesses agree that their ERP implementation has helped them achieve their goals, according to polling data compiled by SelectHub.

But with so many ERP solution options available, you may not know which one is best. In fact, many software providers offer multiple ERP software suites, further complicating the selection process. 

We can narrow it down for you, though: Microsoft has the best ERP products on the market, including Microsoft Dynamics GP and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central which are designed for small to medium sized businesses. Here, we’ll focus on each of these ERP solution suites, what applications they feature, how they compare and contrast, and why, if you are a GP customer, it may be in your best interest to transition to Business Central.

What is Microsoft Dynamics GP?

Introduced in the early 2000s, Microsoft Dynamics GP is a full featured, on-premise ERP solution that is geared toward small and mid-sized businesses. Through modules like General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Purchasing, Fixed Assets, Accounts Receivable, Sales Order Management, Inventory Management, Manufacturing, Payroll and Project Management, Microsoft Dynamics GP provides both decision-makers and their staffs with the tools necessary to make their day-to-day tasks easier to accomplish. 

Leveraged by thousands of business owners in numerous industries for over 20 years, Microsoft Dynamics GP is a highly intuitive ERP solution proven to increase financial visability and improve outcomes. It also features native integration with Microsoft Office, Microsoft Power BI, and other Microsoft software programs. Additionally, unlike other ERP platforms, which cater to only certain industries or specialties, Microsoft Dynamics GP is used by businesses in many industries including construction, accounting, real estate, retail, wholesale distribution, professional services and hospitality. It also doesn’t take too long to implement, averaging a few months, depending on the size of your business and the number of users.

 

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central?

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a more robust, fully cloud enabled ERP solution for midsize organizations. Rolled out in 2018, Business Central is an upgrade to the Microsoft Dynamics NAV (previously known as Navision) application and also integrates with other advanced Microsoft tools, such as Power BI, the Microsoft Power platform, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales, Service and Marketing. 

Although each application has similar features, the central distinction the ERP solution has from Dynamics GP is deployment. While GP is on-premise, Business Central is designed to be entirely cloud-based although an on premise version is also available. As a software as a service solution that uses Microsoft Azure as its back end, Business Central is basically accessible through any web browser. 

The flexibility, security and scalability that the Microsoft cloud provides — as well as eliminating the need for expensive upgrades and always being on the latest version — make up many of the reasons why more business owners are choosing Business Central as their preferred ERP solution. Here are a few of its core features:

  • Financial Management and Dimensional Reporting
  • Sales and Receivables
  • Purchasing and Payables
  • Inventory and Manufacturing
  • Field Service
  • Project Management

Here are a few other ways that 365 Business Central differs from Dynamics GP, which may influence your company’s best choice for an ERP solution:

Automatic updates delivered twice a year

 

A major advantage that Business Central has over GP is its approach to software upgrades. With on-premise software, users have to perform the updates themselves or through their partner once they receive the appropriate service packs and new versions from their ERP provider. Cloud-based ERP solutions like Business Central get software updates automatically as part of the subscription. With Business Central major updates occur on a biannual basis, usually in the spring and fall. 

Minimal maintenance and better disaster recovery

 

In addition to the initial costs of hardware associated with hosting your own data center, there’s also the matter of server support, maintenance and obsolescence, which can be challenging even when you know what you’re doing and have a background in IT. Since Business Central is delivered on a software-as-a-service model, Microsoft has server and application maintenance and upgrades covered. Because Microsoft is hosting the solution, they also provide the backups of your data in case there is an issue.  Database backups are a key component of any disaster recovery plan. Microsoft Business Central  includes backups and storage that are repeatedly created and kept up by an Azure SQL service.

Pricing Structure

 

The manner in which Business Central is priced also makes it different from Dynamics GP. With Microsoft Dynamics GP, there is a one-time licensing fee and an annual enhancement fee that is based on concurrent users, meaning the number of users in the system at one time. Business Central has a named user based approach to pricing, charging $70 per user per month for the Essentials package, which includes the core applications. The Premium edition, which includes Manufacturing and Field Service, is $100 per user per month. There are also Team member licenses available with very basic functionality for $8 per user per month.

Like Business Central, Dynamics GP is sold as a core bundle starting at $5,000 for three concurrent users plus about $900 per year for the enhancement program.  For additional users —meaning more than three — Dynamics GP has a one-time price of $3,000 and about $540 per year enhancement program. There are several add-on suites available like the extended pack and customization pack.

Microsoft pricing can be confusing and there are also dozens of add-on solutions from integrated solution providers that may be required for your business needs. The TM Group would be happy to have a call to discuss your new business requirements and give you some ideas of how much Business Central or GP licensing would be as well as implementation services.

Why migrating to the cloud is a smart move

If you’re accustomed to hosting your own data server, you may have gotten used to on-premise infrastructure. But there are now more organizations who are on the cloud than who are not. According to polling done by Turbonomic, 60% of organizations are running at least some of their work processes in a public cloud environment. 

There are a variety of advantages that make the cloud as popular as it is. Chief among them is flexibility. Since cloud-based programs are accessible via an internet connection, ERP and other management systems can be used anywhere, on any web-enabled device. This was indispensable for businesses during the COVID-19 lockdown, as the pandemic required offices to work 100% remotely. Those organizations that already migrated in the cloud were better able to manage the transition.

But the benefits of the cloud go further than flexibility: They also include:

Greater affordability

Cloud providers use an a la carte approach to pricing. In other words, instead of getting an entire batch of software or hardware —much of which you may not need — cloud-based software is more user based and pay as you go. This means you only pay for the services  your company uses.

Effortless scalability

A goal of your business is likely growth, whether in terms of profits, employees, revenue or even physical size. But as your company grows, so do your data and infrastructure needs. Unlike on-premise infrastructure, the public cloud offers unlimited scalability with on-demand resources that can be adjusted accordingly.

Ultra-reliable connectivity

There is no upside to downtime. And when on-premise servers go offline or malfunction, productivity follows suit. And the bigger companies are, the higher the costs tend to be. Over 90% of corporations indicate downtime costs them an average of $300,000 per hour, TechChannel reported from a 2021 survey. Nearly 30% said an hour’s worth of downtime led to $2 million to $5 million in lost productivity. 

The public cloud is highly reliable, drawing from a vast network of central servers in a secured environment. In fact, Microsoft spends billions of dollars each year toward shoring up its Microsoft Azure defenses from cyberattacks. As CNBC reported, Microsoft is prepared to spend $20 billion on security over the next five years.

Microsoft Dynamics GP is a fantastic product offering that has stood the test of time. But, the affordability, scalability and functionality that Business Central delivers through the Microsoft cloud make it an ideal solution or upgrade for your supply chain, accounting, human resources and other mission-critical work processes.

Choose TM Group to handle your implementation

ERP solutions from Microsoft can be your most valuable employee that never quits working, but you first need an implementation partner who can get your system up and running smoothly and quickly. The TM Group is uniquely qualified to handle every aspect of the implementation.

From consulting to customization to training and follow-up, The TM Group is an end-to-end Microsoft partner. We successfully address every angle of an ERP project so your business is in a better position to succeed in your short-term and long-term goals. We have won over 65 awards since our partnership with Microsoft began, but have been involved in software application and development since the 1980s, before Microsoft even acquired GP and we became a Microsoft Dynamics GP partner. Thus, we’re the resident experts in ERP platforms and how they’ve developed over the years.

For more information on our approach, our dedication to customer service, our solution partners and the industries we serve, contact us today at our two satellite offices or corporate headquarters in Southeastern Michigan. Also, check out our project profiles, which summarize some of our implementations over the years with clients.

27 Apr 2022
Farmington, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales, Service & Marketing (CRM), Project Profile Dyn 365 Customer Engagement (CRM), TM Group News No Comments Permalink

How a Software Firm Streamlined Its Contract and Documentation Process with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and The TM Group

April 27, 2022 No Comments

The Client

Headquartered in Europe with locations in the United States as well as Asia, our client provides a variety of software solutions, services and digital tools for businesses in inventory-driven industries, such as manufacturing, retail, wholesale and logistics. 

 

The Challenge
The main challenge for this client was more efficiently and better managing the contract process with its customer relationship management (CRM) platform Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales. Digital contract signings have revolutionized business processes in terms of efficiency and expediting agreements. Legalized in all 50 states, digital signatures are considered every bit as legitimate as those that are written in actual ink. Several Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM add-on software options offer this capability. However, some aren’t as automated as might be expected, which was the problem for our client.

Their current manual process was cumbersome, took longer than needed and involved numerous redundancies and duplicative work. It also entailed the manual input of contact information, such as mailing addresses, phone numbers, business names, contract dates, email addresses and more multiple times. This created not only unnecessary hassle but increased the risk of typographical errors, which could complicate contract signings from an administrative perspective. 

 

The Solution
Once we were aware of the client’s pain points, The TM Group’s consulting team first implemented an add-on called DocumentsCorePack with them. DocumentsCorePack is an application for Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM sales, customer service, and field service suites developed by MSCRM-AddOns.com. Like The TM Group, MSCRM-AddOns.com is a certified partner of Microsoft. The firm specializes in customizing Microsoft Dynamics 365 products with functionalities that don’t come out of the box. DocumentsCorePack is one of those tools, which provide users with the means to process documents more effectively and efficiently. 

Additionally, our consulting team implemented DocuSign for electronic signature capture.  Together, DocumentsCorePack and DocuSign streamlines document generation by eliminating redundant data entry and automatically loading sales and legal documents to DocuSign for electronic signature capture. DocuSign is an industry standard and integrates with hundreds of business applications, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and CRM offerings. Prior to DocuSign, the client was using SignNow. While serviceable, it didn’t prove out to integrate as well with DocumentsCorePack as DocuSign, which also works with AssureSign and AdobeSign. 

In addition to contract signing and generation, DocumentsCorePack can create merge mail documents within most of thel Microsoft Dynamics 365 service modules helping streamline multiple document management processes. DocumentsCorePack makes it easier to transcribe information from CRM onto virtually any document with just a few clicks, minimizing manual entry and data entry errors. 

 

The Results
With the implementation wrapping up recently, the client is just starting to fully experience all the advantages that DocumentsCorePack, DocuSign and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales Enterprise has to offer. But it’s already experiencing several process improvements in addition to contract document generation and electronic signature capture. 

Another improvement for the company is related to their document management process. DocumentsCorePack automatically saves an unsigned copy of documents in SharePoint. Then, when the finished document is signed and countersigned through DocuSign, the finalized document gets automatically saved on the DocuSign portal and an email is also sent to the associated parties with the signed document attached to it.  Utilizing the native integration that comes with Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales and Outlook, the email can then be tracked to the associated record, such as an opportunity or account. Users are also able to download and save the document in a SharePoint folder which could be associated with the appropriate account, opportunity or other CRM entity, if they choose.  

From elimination of duplicate data entry to streamlining the contract signing process, this client is now in a much better position than before by unlocking the powerful advantages that DocumentsCorePack has to offer signing, document generation, correspondence and much more. 

Could your workflows use some fine tuning from an automation standpoint? Whether you’re already leveraging Microsoft Dynamics 365 products or you’re thinking about replacing your current solution with one from Microsoft, The TM Group can help you streamline your processes so you achieve results faster for your customers. From field service to family office management to manufacturing to retail and grocery, our industry experience runs deep. Contact us today to learn more about our offerings and what makes Microsoft Dynamics 365 the gold standard for ERP and CRM business solutions.