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Setting a budget for your company is essential for business planning, and can provide critical insights towards any future strategy or business operation. In Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Financials, you can easily create a budget for yourself or for your company using the following steps:

Step 1: In the search bar, find your G/L Budgets and select Edit List to create a new budget

Step 2: After filling in the necessary fields, select Edit Budget and fill in the necessary fields

Step 3: Click into one of the corresponding cells under the Budget Matrix, which will subsequently open up the G/L Budget Entries window

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Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) offers a secure and convenient method of payment for companies that manage payments and transactions between multiple bank accounts. In this week’s blog, we highlight how companies can expect to benefit from utilizing EFT payment features in their day to day financial transactions.

Long Term Savings

In Microsoft Dynamics GP, users can post EFT payments by creating a file to upload to the bank. By doing so, companies receive direct deposits and can do away with additional transactional costs such as online processing fees and costs associated with postage and stamps for companies that mail physical cheques.

Enhanced Security

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If you’re thinking of expanding your operations and considering doing business internationally, then having an ERP system capable of processing multi-currency is essential for your business practices. In this post, we highlight the key benefits of utilizing multicurrency features found in Microsoft Dynamics products such as Microsoft Dynamics GP and Microsoft Dynamics NAV:

Receive Up-to-Date Information on Current Exchange Rate

With multi-currency ERP, exchange rate calculations and reports are performed and updated periodically. These updates provide invaluable insights towards when would be the right time to perform any exchanges with a partnering country, such as when to process transactions when the exchange rate is lower and to avoid excessive spending once the exchange rate increases.

Automation Capabilities

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ERP configuration is one of the most crucial steps in your implementation process. Part of what makes ERP systems effective with improving productivity and efficiencies within an organization is that it’s not a one size fits all product. For every organization, ERP software will function differently to best meet your company’s own data, parameters, fields and workflow in order to ensure that your employees are receiving and sharing accurate information with one another.

Proper configuration of your ERP system is crucial for ensuring both financial and reporting accuracy within your company. Prior to implementing an ERP software, start by finding an ERP platform that best matches with your business processes and understand the needs of each of your department as well. Failure to do can result in spending thousands of wasted dollars on ERP add-ons and additional customizations.

Although it is a difficult task, it is not impossible to learn how to configure your ERP systems by yourself. However, ERP consultants exist for a reason. For a fixed fee, various companies offer both on premise as well as online instructions for proper ERP implementation. It is highly recommended that individuals with limited IT knowledge contact a consultant, as clients who fail to successfully implement their ERP systems by themselves are likely to be costing themselves more money in the long run.

For those interested in learning more about ERP systems and features, click here to visit our YouTube channel for discussions and product tutorials. Feel free to also contact us for any additional question or inquiries you may have regarding Microsoft Dynamics products.

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Part of what makes ERP software so popular within various industries is its ability to adapt alongside growing companies. Gone are the days where organizations were required to spend tens of thousands of dollars for system update fees. Instead, companies now have the freedom to grow freely, and no longer need to be tied down by software limitations. In this post, we discuss the three features of scalability in ERP software and how this benefits businesses:

Enhance customer account management:

As your company grows, so too will your list of clients and customers. Your systems must be able to handle this increase in customer information, ensuring you have the necessary space to add additional data entries and ensure that your systems continue to run smoothly under heavy workloads and across multiple applications within your system.

Cross-platform capabilities:

MS Dynamics 365 for Sales vs Salesforce | Learn more about Dynamics 365 for Sales features

Continuing from our previous blog post, we’ll further discuss the process of capturing leads and how to develop them into potential customers. Now that you’ve established your workflow and have found some promising leads, the next step towards gaining new customers is to build on your relationship with your leads and to nurture them.

What is lead nurturing?

Lead nurturing refers to the development of a series of planned actions and communication strategies for the purposes of eliciting certain behaviours from potential clients. The idea of lead nurturing is to guide consumers down their purchasing journey, sending them specific and relevant content which can help convince clients that you both understand their needs and assuring them that you have the solution to their problems.

How does lead nurturing work?

MS Dynamics 365 for Sales vs Salesforce | Learn more about Dynamics 365 for Sales features

With Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales and the implementation of marketing automation, managing and nurturing leads has never been easier. With automation software, potential leads can be tracked and nurtured accordingly based on their level of interaction they have with your company’s content. However, establishing a lead nurturing workflow is not a one size fits all process, and requires some initial setup and customization before you can begin to start bringing in new clients. Consider the following three steps before you decide on implementing any CRM software:

1. Understand Your Customers

Before you can begin setting up any sort of automation, you need to understand how your customers interact with your content. Who is your ideal target segment? Is the information and content relevant to their needs? Knowing how consumers are engaging with your company (i.e. social media, blog posts, etc.) will influence the type of content you post and how you choose to interact with them based on where they are at in their customer journey.

2. Plan Out The Steps To Your Workflow

For many companies, the Cloud is still considered new and unfamiliar territory. For the uninitiated, the Cloud refers to the ability to share, store and process information through a network of servers. With Cloud hosting, a company’s online resources will be spread across various web servers, allowing companies to freely transmit and access their data outside of their place of work. The Cloud is more than just a place for companies to store their data however, and once integrated will actually shape the way organizations do business in the future. For companies considering moving their business to the Cloud, here are several changes you may expect to occur:

Expect a change in your IT Infrastructure:

Should you decide to move to the Cloud with a fully managed service provider, time consuming activities such as server maintenance and resource management will be handled by your Cloud-based service provider. As a result, companies have reported having to reassign their CTOs and IT directors to undertake additional tasks and roles such as managing IT expenses and strategic planning.

Prepare for an increasingly fast paced work environment:

According to a HBR-Verizon survey report, 75% of businesses state that the Cloud reduced business complexity, 61% claimed that it increased employee productivity, and 53% stated it increased response time with customers. With its automated tools, business operations have become more streamlined and allowed for greater flexibility for companies to enter new markets and for faster rollout for new businesses initiatives and exploit new opportunities.

MS Dynamics 365 for Sales vs Salesforce | Learn more about Dynamics 365 for Sales features

Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales, also known as Dynamics CRM, has become a powerful tool that, when successfully implemented, can greatly increase sales revenue and improve customer retention by as much as 27%. Successful implementation can be difficult however, partially due to reluctance by sales representatives who are unwilling to overcome the initial learning curve that comes with the software. To help smooth over the initial transition process, here are three ways in which you can encourage your sales representatives to begin using CRM to assist them in sales:

1. Communicate Financial Benefits

The ability to improve lead management should be communicated to sales representatives, as well as the potential financial benefits that stems from it. D365 for Sales helps sales representatives better track and follow up with potential sales leads. This has resulted in businesses reporting upwards of 30% increase in sales revenue per sales rep.

2. Emphasize Personal Accessibility

Inefficient organizational software can negatively impact how your manufacturing business is run. Whether it be due to complications with understanding manufacturing variances or failure to effectively track time and materials for a job, having an efficient and easy to use operating system will help to relieve some of the most troubling aspects of manufacturing that affects the productivity of your business. Here are three ways in which ERP software can help improve your manufacturing operations:

Automating business operations

If you’re preparing your business for further growth in the future, you may be considering how to help your operations grow with it. With an ERP system, manufacturing companies are able to automate all business operations, allowing you the flexibility to configure the system to suit your company’s changing needs. ERP systems are not one-size-fits-all, but instead they are configured, so allow for personal customization.

Maintaining your customer base

With increasing competition swaying customers with lower prices or claiming to have the best available products, it’s become even more imperative to find new ways to stand out and deliver exceptional service for your customers. Gain real time information on your company’s operations to help prevent disruptions and delays, as well as break up informational logjams to help both your staff and users make decisions more quickly and effectively.

Out of the many reasons employees choose to leave a company, majority are likely to point back to a problem with how a company decides to manage their employees. According to Forbes, three common reasons that have motivated employees to quit is if the employee feels intellectually stifled, they lack autonomy, and/or they feel as if though their work is unrecognized and unappreciated. If you’re worried about losing your best and brightest, see how ERP software implementation can help you address some of these concerns.

Dealing with unchallenged employees

Repetitive tasks such as entering order entries or entering General Ledger Reconciliation and Collections can be labour intensive, creating unmotivated and unhappy employees. With built in automation functions however, these tasks can be completed in minutes, allowing your employee to use their time more productively and apply their efforts to more worthwhile tasks.

Lack of autonomy

To micromanage or to establish various security protocols that hinders your employee’s ability to do their jobs can easily make an employee feel as if they aren’t trusted to make basic decisions in their work. ERP software such as Dynamics GP resolves this issue through employee portals, which allows employees rights to access necessary information and to communicate with other members of the team for help or assistance.

Deciding whether to invest in an ERP software can be difficult. The price of the software can be discouraging, let alone navigating the learning curve required to properly integrate the software with your company’s day-to-day activities. With more and more businesses turning to ERP to manage their operations however, can you afford to miss out? Ask yourself the following questions and see if now is the time to switch over to an ERP system:

1. Are you using multiple systems to accommodate the needs of each individual department?

Communication and transparency are essential for a company’s operations to run smoothly. When various systems are running separately and the data received from each department isn’t synchronized, then issues involving processing errors and information logjams are all the more likely to occur.

2. Do you or your staff spend more than 3 hours to complete repetitive tasks?

As a business grows, so too does the amount of data and information that will need to be dealt with. This can mean hours upon hours spent on managing invoices, inputting sales orders, updating inventory, etc. and using time that could have been spent on more lucrative or productive activities.

As we’ve mentioned in a previous blog post, an ERP system is not a quick fix to all of your company’s problems. At times, it may even be difficult to measure whether your company is gaining any benefits from implementing your ERP software. If you’re doubting the effectiveness of the software, I suggest reviewing the following areas of your business first:

Tracking Customer Service Experiences: In today’s market, providing outstanding customer service can be the determining factor on whether a customer will choose to do business with you or a competitor. An ERP software puts you in control of the consumer buying journey, enabling you to track online customer experiences, line item fill rates and ensure delivery times to your customers. You’ll be able to compare these measures with previous results to identify trends and determine if the ERP software is making a difference in your company.

 Measuring Profit Margins: If you’ve ever taken a business course, then you’ve probably heard of the ’80 – 20’ rule, which states that 80% of a company’s revenue is typically generated by 20% of its total customers. An ERP software can influence your overall strategy, allowing you to concentrate your sales efforts and target your more profitable customers. Once again, the results can be measured and compared with historical data.

Impacts of Inventory Management: One of the key features of an ERP software is its ability to manage and track inventory. Not only does this allow your company to better meet consumer and production demands, but also ensures your company will not be spending more on excess stock and tying up additional capital and resources.

If you’re still wondering if your ERP system is working out for you, why not try and take a free ERP assessment? Click here for more information.

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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.

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 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.