In 1983, Quaker Oats purchased Gatorade, transforming it from a multi-million dollar business into a multi-billion dollar business.  Fast forward a decade & Quaker decided that another drink manufacturer was primed for the same growth.  This time, Quaker eyed a takeover of Snapple, a popular fruit beverage.  After paying a large ransom for the Snapple business, Quaker did not see the returns it had forecast.  The Snapple brand fizzled as Quaker resources were washed down the drain.  Eventually, the Snapple brand was sold at a $1.4 billion loss to Quaker.

What went right with Gatorade that went so wrong with Snapple?

The measurement tools that Quaker used to evaluate Gatorade were both accurate & appropriate.  However, in the decade that past, these same evaluation tools were not updated.  Quaker applied the same methods & metrics to the Snapple brand that they did to the Gatorade brand.  However, in the decade that had passed, these tools were no longer the most appropriate.

Evaluation mechanisms are constantly being updated.  What works today might leave you behind tomorrow.  Quaker found this out first hand.  If companies want to continue to thrive, they must be constantly tweaking & evaluating the tools they use to evaluate their business.

Microsoft Dynamics GP leverages ever evolving Microsoft technologies in order to provide the best reporting options possible.  Users can access reports in many different formats.  Business Alerts can send automated emails to any staf member when exception criteria are met or at specific intervals.  Emails can be configured to include attachments, including lists of applicable information.  Users can have similar automated Reminders open on their screens when specified criteria have been met.  This allows for fast & automated management by exception.

A lesser-known method for reporting on your Microsoft Dynamics GP data is through Solver’s BI360.  BI360 is an Excel-based business intelligence tool that offers out-of-the-box integration with Dynamics GP for reporting, budgeting, and dashboards.  It offers several key benefits to users:

• Familiar Environment – BI360 is an Excel add-on, which means all of your reporting is designed and displayed in the same Excel environment that you are already accustomed to.
• Simple Design – No SQL knowledge is required to design your own report or budget in BI360.  It’s a simple drag-and-drop interface that allows almost anyone in your organization to develop customized and effective reports quickly.
• Integration – BI360 automatically integrates with your Microsoft Dynamics GP environment and pulls data from GP in real-time when generating reports, so you never have to worry about synchronization.
• Easy Distribution – not only does BI360 give you an easy and effective medium to design and view custom reports, but also allows you to easily distribute static versions of your reports to non-BI360 users.

In a nutshell, BI360 is a simple tool that provides powerful Dynamics GP reporting in a familiar environment – what more do you need?

By: Rahim Jiwani, Application Specialist, WebSan Solutions Inc.

Last week I met with a new client, we began with our normal introductions, etc.  They were curious as to my expertise with the Dynamics product line.  After discussing the seven different certifications I personally have from Microsoft, the conversation quickly moved onto other topics.  However, this reminded me of the rigorous screening process Microsoft employs for its partner network.

Any partner wishing to sell Microsoft Dynamics GP must have employees certified in its core financial management system.  Further certifications are required in database management among others.  Recently all Microsoft Partners were asked to complete formal training & certification in Sure Step, the Microsoft Project Management System.  I am glad to say all WebSan staff that were tested passed with flying colours!

Congratulations Team WebSan!

I recently read an article in the Toronto Star titled “IT projects are ticking time bombs.”

The article cited a study at Oxford University where they found that 17 percent of IT projects were so mismanaged that they had “average cost overruns of 200 per cent….”

After reading the article, I spent some time thinking about the IT projects I’ve been involved in over the years, from the large, multi-million dollar SAP projects to the smaller, 5-15 user Dynamics GP projects. I’ve had my share of smooth go-lives and my share of “rough” projects. One common theme with the projects that run smoothly is that an unbreakable link exists between the project team and their vision of what they’re working on and the overall business goals for the project.

It’s somewhat human nature, really. If we understand the “why” of what we’re doing, then the “what”, and “how” are easier to understand and “get behind.” I’ve seen projects with great potential and a really strong business case go off the rails because the executives didn’t effectively communicate to the project team what the real goal was. If the project team and leaders have “context” by which to understand the purpose behind the project, the odds of success rise dramatically.

There are obviously numerous other factors that affect the outcome of an IT project (which I’ve written about in the past), but I come back to executive involvement and leadership as the #1 factor in project success.

We all know that the economy is not in the best shape. Some companies are forced to downsize due to insufficient revenue in these times. Anywhere that they can cut cost is a benefit to them, that’s why many companies are now deciding to use Saas (Software as a service). Just because a company may be downsizing doesn’t mean their data and files do, so they still need software to store their information. The great aspect about Saas is that instead of spending money on hardware, installation and maintenance you have the advantages of having your company records, data and information web based.

If you can save money in you IT spending and still have the advantages of data being backed up, disaster recovery and long term record retention, wouldn’t you do it? But maybe you’re a smaller company and your IT department consists of only you. Then you should get your core business applications hosted in the “Cloud”. You still have access to everything in your database; the only difference is that it’s through the internet. Now you might ask, “What kind of software would be a good choice to leverage as a hosted solution?”

Microsoft Dynamics GP online accounting software gives companies the flexibility to customize the software based on their needs and requirements. It’s one of the most capable and sophisticated business accounting solutions for small to medium business, now available in the Cloud. No need to install software on users’ laptops or worry about keeping the system updated with the latest patch.

Investing in Online Dynamics GP is a good investment in your business; it puts your finance department on the same wavelength with other department and keeps your general ledgers, payables and receivables, budgeting, collections management highly organized.

For more information about Microsoft Dynamics GP click here

A CEO plays one of the most important roles in a business and has a tremendous amount of responsibility. So some people may say, “I would never want to be a CEO, it’s just too much”. But I say, “If you increase your business intelligence using Microsoft GP, it is a breeze.” Now you’ll have more knowledge to:

Make better business decisions

• You don’t have to solely rely on advisors, consultants and employees because you have educated yourself about what’s been going on in the company.

Use a tool you are already familiar with to reduce operational costs

• With more than 200+ built in Excel reports it is easier to observe changes in the company and react to market conditions rapidly.

Achieve your budget and forecast targets more consistently

• Productivity improves because budgeting will be more accurate and planning will be more organized.

Be notified about key changes in your business rapidly

One of the lesser known setup features of Microsoft Dynamics GP2010 is the ability to have the system pop-up a predefined message box on login advising to the status of an environment.

If anyone has used the fabrikam company, you know what I'm referring to, the modal dialog box that appears advising that this is a demonstration company, etc etc.

There are actually two other message boxes that you can trigger for your own company.

If you navigate to your company setup screen  (Tools--> Setup --> Company --> Company)

You can add two different reserved tags to the end of the Company Name.

New on the Dynamics GP2010 home screen is the "Connect" window. This widget dynamically populates with Microsoft Dynamics GP support information, user groups and links to general information.

One thing we noticed is with any of our test companies we always saw this error:

Well it turns out this is caused by special characters in the company name.

As many of you know, when you put the tag "<TEST>" into the company name you get a nice warning on login that this is a a test company. See this blog for details...

Unfortunately, the angle brackets cause the URL to the Dynamics Connect site to get malformed.

A couple of days ago I blogged about the transition from paper to the digital age. Now, it's time to familiarize yourself with the eBanking capabilities in Dynamics GP.

For those who don't know, more and more businesses are relying on electronic funds transfer or EFT to pay their bills. The most obvious reason is that it is just plain easier. However, it also automates the process of sending and receiving payments, provides an electronic record of payment and some vendors may even offer better terms for EFT payers due to typically shorter wait times for payments and less paperwork on their end. Work smarter and faster by accessing transaction information online and applying transaction accounts when they occur, rather than days or weeks later.

With eBanking in Dynamics GP EFT, you can:

• Manage your financials more effectively
• Reduce administrative expenses
• Improve Productivity
• Increase your financial security
• Access decision-driving information online

The comprehensive eBanking tools in Microsoft Dynamics GP improves overall efficiency within an enhanced security environment. By automate your company's critical banking activities and interact with your bank electronically saves your company and yourself time and money.

The truth that most consultants won’t tell you is that the majority of technology projects fail.  The reasons for these failures can vary dramatically.  In order to minimizes & mitigates these varied risks, Microsoft has developed a proven methodology for Microsoft Dynamics implementations based on industry best practices.

This project management methodology is systematic & phase based as well as scalable to the size of projects.  It applies to project big & small, enterprise to standard, complex to standard upgrades.  Further, it encompasses all phases of any implementation.  This repeatable process helps consultants better meet customer expectations by properly managing organizational change.  Customer decision making is further streamlined through decision accelerators.  This leads to low-risk, successful implementations.

All Microsoft Dynamics Partners are required to have staff certified in Sure Step.

[caption id="attachment_421" align="aligncenter" width="404" caption="Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step"][/caption]

I frequently receive questions from Clients regarding our Hosted Dynamics GP solution, so I thought I would publish our "FAQ" document on our blog for all to see. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact us and we can help you with any inquiry you may have.

Q: What is the cost of Hosted Dynamics GP?

A: You will need to contact us in order to discuss your requirements in a bit more detail so that we can provide you with a quote customized to your needs.

Q: Who owns the data?

A: The Client owns the data and WebSan Solutions owns the application as well as any customizations and/or enhancements made to it.

Q: Where is the data hosted?

Many companies have started to embraced enterprise resource planning (ERP) in order to maintain their competitiveness. They have quickly learned a fundamental truth: technology can move a company forward only as far as its business processes will allow.

Amongst most organizations, paper or hard copies is the principal format for sharing invoices and associated documents for approval. Paper processes generates uncertainty and blind spots in a business. An example could be your Accounting department. Accounting has no way of knowing where a paper invoice resides on someone’s draw or desk after it is sent around for approval, nor how long it will sit there. Executives are unable to make accurate financial predictions because they see only completed transactions—not those in process, floating somewhere in the company’s structure.

With paper processes restraining the real value of a paperless ERP for companies large and small, the need for a way to automate the transformation of paper documents into digital data and to manage the resulting documents has prompted technology developers to innovate a new generation of devices and services. This is where Hosted Microsoft Dynamics GP comes in.

The next technological move from paper format is for companies and their accounting departments to consider is the cloud—online services that can dramatically reduce the costs of technology. Instead of a company’s investing more in its own infrastructure—additional servers, software, networking and maintenance—it can turn to the cloud for the applications it needs. By integrating your company with the Microsoft Dynamics cloud platform, it easily scales with your company’s needs and automatically upgrades as innovations evolve.

To help your company get away from paper and into the clouds, contact us here.

Welcome to the second entry in a series of posts focusing on some of the basic functionality within Microsoft Dynamics GP. This guide will cover the creation, use and advantages of Quick Journals.

Quick Journals are extremely useful for creating recurring journal entries in which the accounts stay the same each time, but the amount differ. A simple example would be an entry of wage expenses.

To create a Quick Journal, open the Quick Journal Setup window. From the main menu select Microsoft Dynamics GP >> Tools >> Setup >> Financial >> Quick Journal.

Give the Quick Journal a unique ID, a description, a source, and reference. Next, select an offset account. This account will be used to balance the debits and credits of the transaction. If you would to give users the ability to change this offset account during transaction entry, mark the Allow Override checkbox, otherwise, leave it unchecked. Finally, add the accounts to be used in the transaction. Note that not all accounts entered in the Quick Journal Setup window need to be used in the transaction. Click Save to complete the creation.

To make an journal entry using a Quick Journal, open the Quick Journal Entry window. From the main menu select Transactions >> Financial >> Quick Journal.

The rise of cloud computing has led to a strong push from many companies to adopt security and data portability in a cloud environment. Cloud computing, otherwise known as SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), allows you to have your data and applications available to you virtually anywhere via the Internet.

Companies large and small are looking to the cloud as their future. All of this sounds good right? The only problem is that these companies cannot carefully self-manage their own IT projects to fulfill their future needs; projects grow in size and costs eventually run over budget.

There is a solution. When partnering with an experienced vendor such as WebSan Solutions Inc., your company will experience distinguished service and support when moving to the cloud.  WebSan Solutions Inc. will strive to use our leading solutions to your company’s benefit in order to make the transition smooth and help your company move forward.

Cloud Dynamics GP is crucial for companies looking to propel forward but don’t get lost while you’re in the transition.

Contact us here to learn how we can help.

The release of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2 is very feature rich.  Of all the features, there are a few that really stand out and that you should know about.

We’ve compiled a list of the top three enhancements of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2 based on feedback we’ve receive from our clients. Their willingness to help us enhance our services makes this a more complete solution for small and medium-sized businesses, putting you in a better position to enhance your organization successfully.

SQL Server Reporting Services - Create report packages with predefined settings so that your employees can use the work independently.

Word Templates - Amped up even more templates, the ready to use Word forms now include orders, invoices and returns.

Smart List Builder - Publish multiple Excel reports at once. You can use the new Bulk Deploy Excel Reports window and select multiple Excel reports to publish at once, rather than publishing them individually.

Tele-working or working from home is very common in today’s business world.  Staff at many companies have the ability to work from anywhere.  In fact, IBM has half its staff working from home, saving them valuable real estate, overhead & all that goes with having an office.  As a consultant, I am constantly traveling, but I am still able to stay in touch with the office through my Blackberry.  VPN’s allow many users to log into networks to access systems, emails, files, etc.

With cloud computing, the ability to work from anywhere is made even easier.  Through hosted Microsoft Dynamics GP, all staff need to access their ERP is an internet connection.  A CFO can easily review financial statements, in real time, from a Starbucks.  Imagine living out your days on a beach in the Caribbean, still able to complete necessary tasks.  With the invention of internet sticks that can plug into any USB, Operations Managers can carry a net-book or laptops with them & have the ability to complete sensitive tasks in an instant.  Sales staff no longer need a reserved desk at the office.  They can stay mobile, reaching more clients.  Even administrative staff could work remotely should the need arise as it did for many last summer with the G8 summit shutting down the core of Toronto.

WebSan Solutions is a Microsoft Partner offering Hosted Dynamics GP

Adam MacIntosh, Senior Project Manager

Some of us may have heard that using the ActiveX components in Microsoft IE is a bad idea. The overall system design has a very bad reputation. This notion makes sense because there’s a real hole within the security system of a user’s local computer. If you change the security level in IE (allow create and execute ActiveX components) then your system can be compromised and some random code can be executed on your system.

However, this risk could be controlled. In IE, you can create a list of “trusted” sites and apply your special security settings only to this list of sites. In other words, you allow ActiveX component only when you visit one of the trusted sites. Moreover, you can set up and control these security settings by using your company’s security group policies.

The firm’s intranet sites with corporate Web applications are the most probable candidates to be included into the list of “trusted” sites. If you control IE security settings and use ActiveX in your Web application on a “browser” side, it gives you a really powerful tool to create rich Web applications.

ActiveX can be used as a bridge between your Web application and software or even hardware on your workstation.

Basically, you can do the following from your Web application pages:

jQuery is the most popular javascript library today.  It is used by over 46% of the 10,000 most visited websites on the Internet and we, the Development Team at WebSan, use it extensively.

jQuery is designed to be cross browsers compatible with syntaxes to make it easier to manipulate the DOM elements and allows the creation of powerful and dynamic webpages.

The following snippets of codes shows how with a few lines of codes you can do a lot.

Are you ready? It was just announced that Toronto will play host to one behemoth conference in 2012. This will be the second time Toronto will play host to the conference since 2004. Microsoft Corp. said it plans to hold its Worldwide Partner Conference from July 9 to July 13. More than 15,000 people are estimated to attend the conference in Toronto which will represent over 130 countries in the technology industry. While this year’s 2011 Worldwide Partner Conference is currently wrapping up in Los Angeles, we Canadians are already excited for 2012.

Cloud computing is the latest & greatest innovation in the technology industry & for good reason.  I previously discussed how cloud computing takes the worry out of disaster recovery.  Another way cloud computer helps take strain off executive shoulders is that it helps your company avoid service disruptions often associated with service updates.  Imagine never worrying about having to upgrade your software.  Imagine it was just done for you, with no downtime, disruptions or worry.  That is what the cloud offers.  At WebSan, we offer hosted Microsoft Dynamics GP for a number of client, taking care of necessary service packs, system updates & necessary maintenance that comes along with owning an ERP system.  By taking advantage of Saas Dynamics GP (or software as a service), customers can stay focused on their core competencies.  Hosted solutions allow clients to scale up or down as the market dictates without & overhead burden often associated with on-premise solutions.  Lastly, they don’t have to worry about having a full-time IT resource to help with issues where one might not be required.

WebSan is a Microsoft Partner offering hosted Dynamics GP to clients big & small.

Adam MacIntosh, Senior Project Manager