As a small business owner, you always think about new solutions to increase revenues and boost your company’s growth. ERP software is definitely one of those things that can help improve your business’ efficiency but, as everything in life, it can have some pitfalls. What are the pros and cons of ERP for small businesses? We examine them below:

ERP Pros

• Increased productivity - By storing all the data in one place, it makes it much easier and faster for your employees to get the necessary information and focus on working towards the business’ goals for success rather than spending time contacting other employees from different departments.
• Improved collaboration – A robust ERP system will help improve collaboration between teams by providing easy access to data to help make decisions quicker.
• Lower operating costs - With one ERP system, you don’t need to spend money on separate software for each department.
• Generate business insights – An ERP software performs analysis on different processes, so it makes the process of a decision-making smoother and more comfortable with accurate data.
• Improved security - ERP systems provide advanced security settings, so you can rest easy knowing that your data is well-secured.

ERP Cons

• High price - It’s no surprise that ERP implementation and its further use are followed by significant expenses. But the modern market of ERP software can provide you different price options for any budget. As an example, Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales, starts from only $48.60 per user/month.
• Staff training - Usually, it takes a significant amount of time and effort for employees to learn new software. But thanks to WebSan University, you can make this process faster and more efficient.
• High risk – The ERP implementation process can become a problem for a small company because of challenges of data migration from an old system to a new one. Our advice: Have patience and read about 3 Biggest Failure Cases of ERP Implementation and How You Can Avoid the Same Mistakes for some tips.

Alina Hura, Digital Content Creator, WebSan Solutions Inc., a 2014 Ontario Business Achievement Award Winner for Service Excellence

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With the help of Microsoft Dynamics, thousands of companies have successfully integrated ERP software into their companies, which has helped them to reduce their operational costs, minimize their capital investments among other benefits. However, the system is not infallible. Part of the reason we here at WebSan offer support services as well as online training is because we recognize that ERP software is still a complex system and difficult to figure out on your own. Although self-learning is not discouraged, many companies dive head-first into a new ERP software without taking important considerations into account which can only create future headaches. Below, we outline 3 common mistakes companies make with their ERP software implementation and offer suggestions on how to best avoid them:

1. Poor planning:

At this point, you’ve most likely heard that thousands of companies are using ERP software to help streamline their business operations as well as how it has helped companies expand their operations. At this point, companies may decide to jump on the bandwagon, purchase an ERP system and expect their company to instantly become more productive. This however, is never the case. Research is imperative to ensure that the product will suit the needs of your business. Lack of planning and research on what ERP software is best for your company will at best result in failing to utilize the software to its fullest potential, and at worst be a huge waste of time and money. Be sure to research the product beforehand, and if necessary seek third party help to better understand how to successfully implement ERP into your company. 

2. Insufficient company engagement:

Is your company considering expanding its business across Canada? If so, Microsoft Dynamics GP has some fantastic features and functions that can assist your organization during its transition that will help ease the restructuring process:

Multicurrency Management – With the multicurrency management function, your organization can automatically perform currency conversions for all accounting transactions and seamlessly record realized or unrealized gains and losses in your organization. This allows you to seamlessly move money between currencies and streamline your foreign currency cash flow management.

Cloud Based Reporting – Gone are the days where a company’s systems and networks were fixed to one location. With Dynamics GP now available on the Cloud, you’ll be able to reduce the necessity for travel time and expenses and perform all your accounting, operations management, and reporting from anywhere and anytime.

Human Resource Management – Ensure that your company’s quality and standards are maintained. Utilize the human resource management features to attract potential new employees and automatically analyze and identify the best candidates that match your company’s desired skill sets. Additional features also include: customizable employee scheduling and pay rates, performance evaluation tools, as well as employee self-service features.

Unsure if Dynamics GP applies to your field of business? Contact Us and find out which Microsoft Dynamics product will best suit your business needs today.

It’s no surprise that every business somehow uses Excel in their everyday routine. It’s the easiest and the most popular tool to organize your company’s data. But eventually your data starts to outgrow Excel possibilities. Here are 3 signs that your business needs to switch from spreadsheets to more advanced accounting software.

1. Your spreadsheets aren’t manageable anymore

If finding a single figure in your spreadsheet makes you feel tired, angry and irritated, it’s a sure sign that you need a database. Once your spreadsheet reaches 100,000 rows, it will slow down your computer and make it almost impossible to find necessary information. A comprehensive solution like Microsoft Dynamics GP can easily store your data with a possibility to create powerful and useful reports for your business. 

2. You use advanced Excel functions on a daily basis

Stop overwhelming yourself with advanced Excel functions every single day. If you use such functions as VLOOKUP, PIVOT and SUMIF, you just don’t need Excel anymore. Consider looking into a new accounting system, which can produce stronger calculations. Moreover, it’s much easier to use.

With increasing demand for manufacturing firms to provide quality and efficient service, ERP software implementation can help a company stand out from its competitors by providing them with the resources to maximize their operational efficiency. Thanks to Microsoft Dynamics NAV, manufacturing companies are better equipped to:

1. Generate Product Demand Forecasts

With its robust record keeping capabilities, NAV enables users to analyze sales patterns to anticipate future client needs. This function analyzes sales trends and determines which products are most likely be sold in the future, allowing companies to manage their inventory accordingly and ensure product availability for customers.  

2. Improved Information Tracking

NAV can generate analysis reports that allow for uniform reporting, enabling users to create personalized report formats that highlight key account information. As a result, information is more accessible, enabling up-to-date inventory information and optimizing manufacturing and warehousing functionality.

With so many software solutions out in the market, we know it’s not always easy to decide on which Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is right for you. To offer a suggestion and help answer questions on which Microsoft Dynamics product would be best suited for you, we’ve come up with a handy chart (included below) that outlines the features and modules included in each software solution.

While we outline the modules and features that each software is best known for, this chart merely serves as a guide. Contact us today for any additional questions or for more tips on which Microsoft Dynamics product can best suit your business’ needs. 

Linz Tan, Web Marketing Assistant, WebSan Solutions Inc., a 2014 Ontario Business Achievement Award Winner for Service Excellence

Nowadays, technologies change so quickly that it becomes challenging for executives to keep a pulse on the different things going on in the tech industry and sometimes even manage so many options out in the market. From on-premise to cloud, from desktop to mobile – it may be hard to believe, but those significant shifts happened with ERP software just in the past couple of years. Here are 3 trends that we’re forecasting will change the ERP software industry in the next 5 years.

Consumerization

As 75% of the global workforce will consist of millennials by 2025, ERP vendors should be prepared. ERP solutions will likely become easier and more intuitive to use as well as reflect the experience of the most popular social media platforms. Millennials like to get access to technology immediately, so it’s likely that ERP systems will become accessible from any smartphone.

Step into the future with Microsoft Dynamics NAV, which is already available on smartphones and tablets. Download our free Microsoft Dynamics NAV trial right now!

Business Intelligence and Data

With ERP software, redundant and repetitive tasks can be greatly reduced thereby improving overall organizational management and employee productivity. With Microsoft Dynamics GP, here are 3 ways that ERP software can help your company maximize its potential and improve overall efficiency: 

Payroll Management

With certain employees undertaking various roles within your company, it can be difficult to track their time and expenses. Employee Accounts and Splits organizes employee cost and expense distribution, allowing companies to manually control how an employee’s time and expenses will be divided based on department, position, pay code, or general ledger account.

Manage Employee Absences

Whether it be due to vacation time, sick leave, or administrative leave, employee absence can disrupt work flow and result in extra work for payroll to manage absences. Moniroo, a time and expense system integrated with Microsoft Dynamics GP, helps to streamline this process by calculating accruals and managing employee absences through pre-configured leave plan details. Additionally, Moniroo allows companies to track employee expenses and generate automated expense reports and reimbursements.

ERP implementation is a quite an expensive and difficult process not only for small companies but for some multinational giants as well. However, with full preparation and thorough research to manage expectations, a successful ERP implementation can be achieved. Below, we outline the 3 biggest failure cases of ERP implementation and offer tips on what you can do to avoid the same mistakes.

Nike and a $400 Million “Glitch”

In 2000, Nike decided to upgrade their ERP system and invested $400 million dollars into the software called i2, where their initial goal was to manage supply chain and forecast the demand for products. This decision became a disaster for shoe giant with $100 million in sales loss and 20% stock price decrease because of a software glitch, which in turn, made stores unable to fill orders for the Air Jordans.

To avoid the same mistake, be sure to set realistic goals for your ERP implementation process early on and ensure that you take enough time to test the system for any kinks that need to be ironed out before moving forward with implementation.  

Hershey and a Halloween Disaster

Contemplating the security of your company’s data or server backups may make you want to just keep your head in the clouds. Although much consideration should be made when deciding between going hosted or on-premise for your ERP system, going hosted offers some crucial benefits that cannot be overlooked. Here are the top three reasons why switching to hosted for your ERP system is worth the effort:

1.Security

Going hosted means that you no longer need to worry about the state and security of your data. Your hosting provider’s data center can ensure that data is backed up. You can go about your day knowing that you’ll always have access to your data.

2.Technical Know-How

Securing your data in the cloud and having a hosting vendor means that you can leave all the technical terms to the guys who know them best. You no longer have to think of “customizations,” “compliance” or “rebooting” and instead focus on the data at hand and performing your day to day tasks.

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Last October 2016, Microsoft released an update for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2017 that boasts notable features particularly within the finance module, items, jobs, workflow templates and integration with Office 365. To dive deeper into the features and functionalities of this new update, WebSan Solutions is offering “What’s New in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2017” webinar on Thursday, April 20^th, 2017 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM EST.

The free 30-minute webinar will not only discuss the new features of Dynamics NAV 2017, it will also offer some tips and techniques for best practice. Some of the new features that will be discussed include:

• New financial reports and workflow templates
• Updates to inventory items, the finance module and Jobs feature
• Interconnectivity with Office 365 and Power BI
• Smarter sales and purchase documents
• And more

Register today to reserve your spot!

Click here to register for this webinar

QuickBooks Online is one of the most well-known accounting software out in the market. On the other hand, since its release back in Fall 2016, Dynamics 365 for Financials has showcased strong capabilities in accounting and financial management targeted for small to medium sized businesses. To see a side by side comparison of both systems, WebSan Solutions has recently conducted a webinar that highlighted the notable features of both Dynamics 365 for Financials and QuickBooks Online.

The half-hour webinar generated a lot of interest not only from the Microsoft Dynamics community but also from those seeking to learn more about the features and functionalities of both systems. The webinar focused on the comparing five aspects of the two systems particularly reporting, business intelligence, integration to other systems, multi-currency and the mobile app.

The webinar sought not to parlay which system is better but more so to showcase a fair head to head comparison of both systems. While QuickBooks Online is notable for its strong integrations to other systems, there’s no doubt that Dynamics 365 for Financials will continue to improve as the system continues to grow in the coming months.

To learn more about how Dynamics 365 for Financials compares to QuickBooks Online, watch the recording below.

Linz Tan, Web Marketing Assistant, WebSan Solutions Inc., a 2014 Ontario Business Achievement Award Winner for Service Excellence

Since Dynamics 365 for Financials’ release back in Fall 2016, one of the most asked about topics is how the software compares to QuickBooks. Dynamics 365 for Financials has been promoted by Microsoft as its offering for small to medium-sized businesses looking for software that can not only handle business financials but also has the ability to grow with their company as their business needs change over time. To address one of the most popular questions asked within the Dynamics 365 community, WebSan Solutions is offering the “5 Head to Head Comparisons of Dynamics 365 for Financials and QuickBooks Online” webinar.

The free 30-minute webinar will be held on Wednesday, March 8^th, 2017 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM EST. The main objective of the webinar is to showcase a head-to-head comparison of Dynamics 365 for Financials and QuickBooks Online, specifically each software’s features and functionalities of reporting, business intelligence, integration to other systems, multi-currency and the mobile app.

While attendees can expect to gain more insight into the features of Dynamics 365 for Financials and QuickBooks Online, it’s worth noting that this webinar serves as an overview of the two systems. Register today to reserve you spot!

Click here to register for this webinar

Linz Tan, Web Marketing Assistant, WebSan Solutions Inc., a 2014 Ontario Business Achievement Award Winner for Service Excellence

In its February release, Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Financials brought forth a number of new capabilities and updated features. Notable ones include the following:

• Improved Setup and Configuration

A new Services and Extensions button is added to the Business Manager and Accountant Role Center. This button brings up a list of setup pages, service connections and add-ons which can be enabled either through assisted or manual setup.

• Contact Management

This feature allows the user to quickly identify and delete duplicate contacts on their customer list right from the new Contact Duplicates tile in the Sales and Relationship Manager Role Center. A sales person or purchaser code can also be set up to be automatically included on new sales or purchase orders, making it easier to follow an individual employee’s performance as a basis for calculating the sales commission or bonus.

• Multiple Locations

Users can manage inventory in multiple locations or within different bins in a warehouse and buy and sell from various locations. The Availability per Location window shows information on item availability per inventory location, while transfer orders allow the user to move items between locations.

• Dynamics 365 for Sales Integration

The Dynamics 365 for Sales Integration functions as a Customer Relationship Management integration. Users can synchronize their data (sales orders, item availability, currencies) between the two apps using the assisted setup function, making for a more seamless lead-to-cash process.

Download our FREE Microsoft Dynamics 365 Demo

Since its release in late 2016, there has been great interest with Microsoft’s new Dynamics offering – Dynamics 365. The product features Financials, Sales, Customer Service, Field Service, Operations, Project Service Automation and Marketing. We have received the most number of inquiries focusing on the Financials module. In the hopes of addressing the most commonly asked questions regarding the Financials module, WebSan Solutions is offering the Dynamics 365 Content Pack.

The Dynamics 365 for Financials Content Pack serves as a resource for those who wish to learn more about the product. In addition to the Dynamics 365 for Financials page which outlines features of the module and its benefits, the Content Pack provides a space to ask questions and get them answered.

The Content Pack also provides a link to our FAQ document and free trial, how-to videos, and online purchase form should you be interested buying Dynamics 365 for Financials.

Microsoft is still in the process of releasing additional features for Dynamics 365 in Spring 2017. In the meantime, keep posted on our YouTube channel for quick tips on how to navigate the system and for any updates on upcoming new features.

WebSan Solutions has teamed up with CPA Academy to host the webinar entitled “Microsoft Dynamics 365: Take Your Business Financials to the Next Level” and offer the first CPE-Accredited Microsoft Dynamics 365 course.

Both the webinar and the CPE-accredited course serve to generate greater awareness of Dynamics 365, promote the product’s features and functionality and broaden its reach to those who may be looking for a new ERP software.

CPA Academy has long been a proponent of knowledge sharing and idea exchange through its webinars and self-study courses that focus on the developments relevant to the accounting industry. With this, it became a natural fit to collaborate with the CPA Academy team to host the webinar and the first CPE-accredited Dynamics 365 course.

The webinar focused on providing an overview of Dynamics 365 Financials, show the Exchange and Office 365 integration, feature Power BI and discuss pricing and a demo of the system. On the other hand, the self-study CPE course allows registrants to access the material online 24/7 and study at their own pace.

The webinar was a success reaching around 200 attendees. Those interested can view a free video recording of the webinar here and register for the self-study CPE-accredited course here. 

On December 15, 2016 at 11:00 AM EST, WebSan Solutions will be offering a free webinar on Power BI for Dynamics 365. The 30-minute webinar will focus on how small businesses can benefit from using the business intelligence tool. In addition, attendees will also see a demo of Power BI’s top features and learn how to create dashboards, reports and analytics.

This webinar is a continuation of our series showcasing the different modules, integrations and features of Dynamics 365. While the first webinar, Dynamics 365 for Small Businesses gave an overview of Dynamics 365 and highlighted the Exchange and Office 365 integration, the upcoming webinar serves to show how Power BI can give a 360-degree view of your business with important metrics and interactive reports. Register today to save your spot!

Click here to register for Power BI webinar

Linz Tan, Marketing Assistant, WebSan Solutions Inc., a 2014 Ontario Business Achievement Award Winner for Service Excellence 

In light of Microsoft’s recent release of Dynamics 365, WebSan Solutions is offering a free 30-minute webinar to discuss how small businesses can best benefit from the system. The webinar will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 11:00 AM EST.

The webinar will provide an introduction to Dynamics 365, its modules, top features and functionalities as well as discuss how Dynamics 365 can serve as an all-in-one business solution. The webinar aims to suggest ways on how the system can be tailored to address common needs of small businesses such as managing cash, quickly identifying business trends and opportunities, and reviewing customer payments and the overall health of the business.

Click here to register for Dynamics 365 for Small Businesses Webinar

Linz Tan, Marketing Assistant, WebSan Solutions Inc., a 2014 Ontario Business Achievement Award Winner for Service Excellence 

WebSan Solutions Inc. is leading the charge with the largest number of live customers on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Financials amongst all Partners in Canada. The company offers Dynamics 365 for Financials with Basic, Professional and Premium implementation plans at price points that all meet market demand for a cost-effective solution. With Dynamics 365, the company is able to provide a solution that supports small to medium-sized businesses and can compete with QuickBooks.

With increasing customer demand for solutions that are affordable, easily accessible and integrated, Dynamics 365 serves as an all-in-one business software that combines CRM and ERP to provide financials, sales, and marketing. Microsoft is leading the way with simple to use and fully integrated solutions for the small business market.

“We are thrilled to offer Dynamics 365 for Financials with three implementation plans that cater to our customers’ varying needs with an intelligent cloud business application in the forefront,” states Andrew King, Managing Director of WebSan Solutions. “With these offerings, we hope to provide our customers the best value and flexibility whether they need online training or data migration along with this robust solution.”

For more information on WebSan Solutions’ implementation plans visit https://www.websan.com/microsoft-dynamics-365/dynamics-365-implementation

Consumers today are looking to invest in software that is not only accessible and responsive, but one that is also collaborative, easily accessible and can grow along with your business and its ever-changing needs. Dynamics 365, Microsoft’s latest offering, combines CRM and ERP to provide sales, customer service, field service, operations, financials, marketing and project service automation into a single software package. With a familiar interface and integration with Office 365, this all-in-one solution improves productivity and automates business processes. The solution is now available and you can get our free trial by clicking here.

Our free trial contains sample data and allows you to see the system for yourself, create your own sales documents and set up a bank account. If you’re curious to find out more about Dynamics 365’s features, this blog post covers the differences between Dynamics 365 business and enterprise edition. In addition to outlining the modules, the blog post provides an overview of which edition is best suited for your company.

If you’re ready to purchase or curious about how much Dynamics 365 costs, our pricing page provides information on what each edition includes.

We’re always here to help! Contact us today to find out if Dynamics 365 is the right fit or if any of our other Dynamics solutions can be better suited. For those interested in learning more, register for our free webinar on Dynamics 365 for Small Businesses.

Linz Tan, Web Marketing Assistant, WebSan Solutions Inc., a 2014 Ontario Business Achievement Award Winner for Service Excellence