Inside Microsoft Dynamics GP

Feature of the Day: Sales Forecasting Enhancements

Sales Forecasting Enhancements

Module: Sales Forecasting

Why this feature is cool!

· Increased usability allows the user to process forecasts more efficiently and accurately

What does it look like?

Changes:     

1. Changed header details from “Issue To” to “Site ID”

2. Added tool tips to browse buttons to aid navigation

3. Sort the grid by either Item Number or Unit Cost.

4. Added a new lookup to the Find Item Number.

5. Updated grid so when focus is on one field and browse buttons are used the focus changes with the move.

6. Updated report prints by item – date, the next item – date, then back to first item, next date.

Sales Forecasting window: Transactions > Manufacturing > Forecasting > Sales Forecasting

Feature of the Day: Enhanced Navigation to External Reports

Enhanced Navigation to External Reports

BI Tools: SQL Server Reporting Services and Microsoft Office Excel Reports

Why this feature is cool!

Provides navigation enhancements for SQL Server Reporting Services and Microsoft Office Excel that appear within Microsoft Dynamics GP.

· Added new view for SQL Reporting Services Reports in all Module buttons

· Added new view for Microsoft Office Excel Reports in all Module buttons

· All Report Writer reports are available in a single view; Microsoft Dynamics GP Reports

· Reports are automatically filtered, except on the Administration Module button, by the series related to the module button selected.

What does it look like?

New views available on Administration button
 

New views available on other Module buttons
 

Feature of the Day: E-mail – Customized Messaging

E-mail – Customized Messaging

Module: System

Why this feature is cool!

The email feature for Microsoft Dynamics GP will provide the user with the option to create predefined messages for customers and vendors.  The messages can be assigned at a document level, so that all customers/vendors get the same message for the selected document.  Otherwise, the messages can be assigned to an individual customer/vendor and document combination.  The user can also change the message on the fly from the Receivables Entry Window, Sales Transaction Entry Window, and Purchase Order Entry window.

• Predefined messages can be assigned at a document level or at an individual customer/vendor level.
• Messages can be added or modified on the fly.
• There is security setting that controls whether the message can be edited before being sent.
• The user can designate a ‘Reply to Address’ per message, so return messages from the customer or vendor can be directed to a specific user or group email address within the company.

Message Setup window (Microsoft Dynamics GP>>Tools>>Setup>>Company>>E-mail Message Setup)

E-mail Detail Entry (the E-mail Detail Entry expansion button next to the Customer ID field)

NOW AVAILABLE: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Adapter (Integration Tool) for Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 Case Study

Health Supplement Maker Gains 25 Percent Faster Service, Reduces Development Costs

Feature of the Day: User Copy

User Copy

Module: System

Why this feature is cool!

· Provides the ability to quickly copy all security access from one user to another

· Copies all security operations, tasks, roles and company access

· Increases efficiency for the Security Administrator and reduces security setup errors for new users

What does it look like?

Changes: Once a new user is entered, the administrator will have the ability to “copy access” from another user, greatly decreasing the time needed to setup a new user.

User Setup (Microsoft Dynamics GP > Tools > Setup > System > User)

Copy User Security (Microsoft Dynamics GP > Tools > Setup > System > User > Copy Access)

Management Reporter Update

Have you heard that Management Reporter is now in beta?  Whether you are interested in downloading the beta or not, the information on these link is what you need to know about Management Reporter.

They have functionality lists, plans for future releases, migration guides, and tons of stuff.  Check it out!

CustomerSource Management Reporter Pre-Release

PartnerSource Management Reporter Pre-Release

Happy Reading,

Pam

Tired of the Same Old Collateral?

New Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Series Fact Sheets Now Available!

These are not your grandfather’s fact sheets….with an all new design and filled with customer quotes, quantifiable statistics, and specific information on how Microsoft Dynamics GP can help customers across all areas of their business.

What’s cool for partners is they can customize these Fact Sheets with their own contact information and use them within their own sales and marketing efforts!

Spread the news that these new brochures are now available on the Microsoft Dynamics GP Launch Portals on Infoweb and PartnerSource!

Hope you start to use and promote these new resources along with all the new sales and marketing materials available for the GP 2010 Launch.

Jen

Feature of the Day: Security Sorting

Security Sorting

Module: System

Why this feature is cool!

· Streamlines security setup & maintenance by allowing the Security Administrator to filter security windows in order to view only the selected:

o Operations assigned to tasks
o Tasks assigned to roles
o Roles assigned to users

· This ability to filter security operations, tasks, and roles helps increase the Security Administrator’s efficiency and reduce the likelihood of incorrectly assigned security permissions.

What does it look like?

Changes: New checkbox displays only the selected operations, tasks and roles making it easier for the Security Administrator to review assignments.

Security Task Setup (Microsoft Dynamics GP > Tools > Setup > System > Security Tasks)

Security Role Setup (Microsoft Dynamics GP > Tools > Setup > System > Security Roles)

User Security Setup (Microsoft Dynamics GP > Tools > Setup > System > User Security)

Feature of the Day: Action Step Workflow

Action Step Workflow

Why this feature is cool!

Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 offers an “approval” workflow, which routes objects to various individuals for document approval based on user specified field values of the transaction in question.  However, organizations typically have additional processes that they follow when creating a master record, such vendors, or when creating transactions, such as Purchase Orders or Quotes.  Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 includes the added ability to perform an “action step” workflow which helps users take action for a specific business process.

These business processes may require the routing of the record for an action that needs to take place before the record can be used or posted within the system.   Often times these actions need to take place outside of Microsoft Dynamics GP.  For example when setting up a new vendor, a user may need to perform a check with the Better Business Bureau.  The action step feature allows for the creation of a workflow task that indicates to the user that they need to perform the check before the vendor can be used in the system. Action step workflow features include:

· Create a workflow that is customized to the organization’s process.

· Assign an activity to a user based on criteria of the record.

· Users can be notified of an activity that needs to be completed in Microsoft Office SharePoint (either Windows SharePoint Services or Microsoft Office SharePoint Server), Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010.

· Action tasks are flagged with “ACTION NEEDED” on all notifications.

· Users can mark the task as complete, reject the task, or delegate the activity to another user.

What does it look like?

Setup:

Alerts/Notifications from the Home Page:

Alerts/Notifications from SharePoint:

Feature of the Day: Home Page Metrics

Home Page Metrics

Why this feature is cool!

The metrics, charts, and KPI’s that are available on the Microsoft Dynamics GP Home Pages now leverage SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) reports.  This enables greater flexibility for our customers in regards to the metrics that are displayed and how they can be accessed.

· Metrics built using Office Web Components are still available to the users

· Customers can choose SQL Server Reporting Services as their metric source

· Over 100 fully customizable metrics that can appear on the Microsoft Dynamics GP Home Page

· Companies can easily create their own metrics they want displayed on the Home Page

· Metrics are part of the SQL Server Reporting Services Deployment Wizard

· Metrics may be deployed to SQL Reporting Services in either Native or SharePoint mode

· Reporting Services metrics will appear in the SQL Reporting Services Report List; making them available to add as links on the Home Page

· All metrics are available to use in Business Portal as well

· Users can display multiple metrics on the Home Page at one time, or display just one at a time with the option to scroll through the metrics

What does it look like?

Reporting Tools Setup window (Microsoft Dynamics GP>>Tools>>Setup>>System>>Reporting Tools Setup)

Microsoft Dynamics GP Home Page (with multiple metrics displayed)

Users can customize the metrics they see using the Metrics Details window
(Customize this Page link on the home page>>Customize Home Page>>Metrics Expansion)

Feature of the Day: Business Portal Executive Center

Business Portal Executive Center

Why this feature is cool!

The Executive Center in Business Portal for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 has been completely updated to display new KPI’s and metrics based on SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) reports.  We have created pages to organize the metrics for executives in the following areas:

· Company Overview

· Financials

· Sales

· Inventory

· Manufacturing

· Project

· Human Resources

These new KPI’s and metrics are displayed out of the box and work immediately with your live customer data.  Each metric is drillable, meaning a user can click on the metric to display an additional detailed metric or report.  Some metrics also include drill-back functionality that will open the Microsoft Dynamics GP client (when installed) or display similar data as it would appear in the client application.

What does it look like?

Company Overview page:

Feature of the Day: Registration Navigation Panes

Registration Navigation Panes

Module: System

Why this feature is cool!

· Customers who purchase the Business Essentials or Advanced Management packages of Microsoft Dynamics GP receive the install to multiple modules. In prior versions, if a module was installed, the Navigation Pane was available regardless if the customer would use it or not.

· This feature allows administrators control over which Navigation Panes are available to users and which are not, removing unnecessary navigation buttons to users or companies not utilizing certain parts of the application.

What does it look like?

The administrator can select which registered modules will be available for Navigation Pane activation.

Go to the Navigation Pane Options selection under the Navigation Pane expansion button:

Feature of the Day: E-mail Attachment Options

E-mail – Attachment Options

Module: System

Why this feature is cool!

The email feature for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 will provide the user with the option to either embed the document into the body of the e-mail or attach the document to the e-mail. If the user selects to attach the document to the email, they can choose from following file types: PDF, XPS, DOCX or HTML.  Furthermore, if the user chooses to attach the document to the email, they will have the additional option of attaching multiple documents to one email, or sending each document in an individual email. 

· Embed or Attach options can be defined per customer or vendor.

· Sending multiple attachments can be defined per customer or vendor.

· The file type attachment can be selected per customer or vendor, for each document type that they email.

· When sending as HTML, the report writer version of the report will be attached.  The Microsoft Word forms feature is NOT required for this attachment type.  Microsoft Word 2007 does NOT need to be installed.

· When sending as DOCX, the Microsoft Word form version of the report will be attached.  Microsoft Word 2007 does NOT need to be installed.

· When sending as XPS, the Microsoft Word form version of the report will be attached. Microsoft Word 2007 DOES need to be installed on the client.

· When sending as PDF, the Microsoft Word form version of the report will be attached. Microsoft Word 2007 DOES need to be installed on the client.  (Adobe writer does not need to be installed)

What does it look like?

(Cards | Sales | Customer | E-mail button)

NOW AVAILABLE: Feature Pack 1 and SDK for the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Adapter for Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0

Hello Fans of Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0!

It is with great excitement, that we announce the availability of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Adapter for Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 Feature Pack 1 and Software Development Kit (SDK!)

Feature Pack 1 supports International English for organizations interested in integrating Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 and Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0  in locales outside of the United States. The Feature Pack also provides support for custom objects and tables allowing organizations to expand their Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 and Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 integration beyond sales order processing.  Enhancements to  mapping management tools and to the already strong logging capabilities make it even easier to configure and manage the adapter.

In addition to built-in sales order processing integration and to point-and-click customizations, we are introducing the availability of an  adapter software development kit. This SDK contains documentation, templates, and sample code to help third party developers and partners who want to extend the functionality of the Microsoft Dynamics Adapter.

The detailed highlights of Feature Pack 1 include:

1.  International English Support

2. New Functionality:

• New CRM Adapter Configuration Window showing all customizable CRM entities and allow user selection
• Updated Log User Interface and Functionality
• Ability to group by any column header
• More detailed information
• Easier to read and find what you’re looking for
• System Preparation Functionality and Synchronization Documentation
• Maps - Updated Status section User Interface and Functionality
• Easier editing of integration frequency and cutoff date
• Last run status displays number of records written & number failed to write 
• Added a link to view log
• Progress Bar displays when the map integration is running

Partners who have existing Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Adapter for Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 customers can download the Feature Pack 1 and the SDK at the following location:

https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/resources/productreleases/MDGP10_CRMAdapter.htm (Downloads Section)

NOTE: Partners will have to obtain the Feature Pack and the SDK for existing customers (only available on  PartnerSource.)  Please remember for new customers, Partners STILL need to order the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Adapter for Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 from the Microsoft Dynamics GP Price List even though it is free.  Ordering the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Adapter for Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 helps us keep track of who is registered for the Adapter.

NOTE: Existing Customers can just install the Microsoft Dynamics Adapter.msi over the top of their existing installation – NO NEED TO UNINSTALL OR UPGRADE.  For new customers, the Microsoft Dynamics Adapter.msi already includes Feature Pack 1 so, just install the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Adapter for Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0.

Thanks,

Ben

Feature of the Day: E-mail

E-mail

Module: System

Why this feature is cool!

This feature allows users to quickly and easily e-mail single documents, batches of documents, and/or multiple documents from a list within the system.  The user can select which documents they would like to send and also select which customers/vendors should receive their documents in e-mail.  This feature also integrates to the Microsoft Word forms feature shipping in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 (coming in a later Feature of the Day update!).  Therefore, the user can send the customized Microsoft Word forms that they have created to their customers and vendors.

· Documents Supported:  Sales Quote, Sales Order, Sales Fulfillment Order, Sales Invoice, Receivables Invoice, Receivables Return, Receivables Debit Memo, Receivables Credit Memo, Receivables Finance Charges, Receivables Warranty, Receivables Service/Repair, Standard Purchase Order, Blanket Purchase Order, Drop Ship Purchase Order, Drop Ship Blanket Purchase Order, Vendor Remittances

· Documents can be sent as either an HTML, XPS, PDF, or DOCX attachment

· Documents can be embedded into the body of the e-mail.

· Customized messages can be created for each document and customer/vendor combination.

· Multiple documents can be combined and sent in a single e-mail.

· Documents can be sent to a To, CC or BCC address.

· Can direct replies to a specific individual or address.

What does it look like?

Setup (Microsoft Dynamics GP | Tools | Setup | Company | E-mail Settings):

E-mail Detail Entry (the E-mail Detail Entry expansion off of Customer ID):

E-mailing from a List (Send in E-Mail button)