Since Microsoft has released an update to its Dynamics CRM Online software, they decided to add a new capability to its system. Skype is a service that allows back and forth communication with people by voice and video using a microphone and a webcam, and instant messaging over the Internet.

Users could make Skype calls when using Dynamics CRM. Microsoft has said that this new feature will "Guide sales and service professionals through predefined lead, opportunity and case-management processes."

But users aren’t forced to use the Skype application. You have the option of “opting in or out” of this new feature. Microsoft understands that their users might prefer to use the Outlook interface instead.

Microsoft has also stated that this new update includes support for Firefox, Chrome Browsers on Windows PC and Safari on Macs. The update also includes more integration with Bing Maps that will create addresses and other information about prospects and leads. In mid-2013, Microsoft is preparing to run a mobile version of CRM on Windows 8 and iPad devices.

Microsoft is moving in the right direction integrating customer relationship management with social media. This is a great way to stay connected and to maintain relationships, whether it’s a B2B or B2C relationship.

Recently I had the opportunity to interview Jon Rivers. In this interview he discusses his book, current projects and his views on user problems.

In a short summary what do you describe your job is?

I am currently the Channel Partner Manager at Data Masons Software an EDI ISV solution provider who helps to solve the EDI needs of clients who are running Dynamics GP, AX or NAV. When I am not helping the partners I am managing all of our Social Media outlets if that be our Blog, Twitter or LinkedIn accounts.

You can also find me presenting at Dynamics-focused conferences, educational forums and Web events, including the annual GPUG Summit, AXUG Summit, NAVUG Forum, Microsoft Convergence and numerous regional user groups.

How long have you’ve been in the Microsoft Dynamics GP Industry?

Management Reporter 2012 for Microsoft Dynamics has been released & is now available for use.  Management Reporter is a robust financial reporting tool that provides companies visibility into organizational health.  Management Reporter is available for the following Microsoft Dynamics products:

• AX 2009 & 2012
• GP 2010
• NAV 2009
• SL 2011

Upgrades include greater design flexibility, the ability to collaborates with co-workers, enhanced drill-down capabilities & a more interactive viewing experience.

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to upgrade today!

For some of the more technical Microsoft Dynamics GP users, you may want a little more control and customization when reporting on your GP data.  SmartLists provide a fairly quick and dynamic option to custom reporting, but they may not be visually satisfying.  On the other hand, integrating BI360 with GP will allow you create very clean and organized reports in an Excel-like environment, but won’t give you that rudimentary control that your technical mind may crave.  If you’re looking for some sort of middle ground between these two options, take a look at SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) for Dynamics GP.

The key to creating effective SSRS reports is having a good knowledge of SQL – or at the very least, a fairly strong knowledge of databases.  This is what scares away some users, but for those that have this type of background, SSRS Reports could be your salvation in the pursuit of both visually appealing and fully customizable reports.

While SSRS Reports can be easily viewed within Dynamics GP, they are created in Microsoft Report Builder – a separate software program that is offered for free by Microsoft.  Using Report Builder allows you to take a custom SQL query that you have created (either from scratch or by using Report Builder’s intuitive Query Designer) and turn it into an appealing report.  With the ability to easily create tables, charts, and even visual scales/gauges, you can turn a simple list of data into a work of art!

If you have SSRS Reports deployed in your GP environment, you can view them by going into any series and selecting the “Reporting Services Reports” item in the Navigation Pane.

[caption id="attachment_674" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="SSRS Reports in Dynamics GP"][/caption]

The air is definitely a little colder these days, making it the perfect time to fly south for a little R&R.  In an effort to reduce workload, allowing for a little extra R&R, a number of our clients have chosen to implement Electronic Reconciliation.  Through this module, one can download their bank statement & process into Dynamics GP, eliminating much of the manual work associated with the bank reconciliation process.  Setup is a simple process & is completed in one simple screen.  Downloading files is a standard process through most banks.  By implementing this simple module, companies can save a considerable time each month in the administrative process.

Adam MacIntosh is a Senior Project Manager with WebSan Solutions Inc.

Many of our Microosoft Dynamics GP clients use our support desk for assistance with issues that arise from time to time.  We offer various levels of support,from ad hoc to 24/7 availability.  The need for support varies with every client.  Some require lots, some very little.

For those that like to perform their own support, there is a great utility available free of charge that can be downloaded (through a partner) from Microsoft.  This tool, called the Support Debugging Tool, improves error handling & has many great features.  These include:

• Colouring Windows by Company
• Easily Capture Screenshots of Errors & Email ALL Related Support Information to a Help Desk
• Transaction Logging
• Executing SQL within Dynamics GP

To obtain this tool, get the DEBU_1100.zip file from your Microsoft Partner

Unzip & copy to your Dynamics GP install folder

Start Microsoft Dynamics GP as an Administrator & agree to Add New Code message

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.

With the weather getting a little colder, we all know the Holidays are fast approaching.  It is around the Holidays that many, like myself, begin to travel to see loved ones.  This year in particular, I have a lot of travel lined up.  This got me thinking about how popular Dynamics is around the world.  So with that said, here are some quick facts about Dynamics GP's worldwide popularity …

• Dynamics is most popular in North America, the Middle East, Singapore, UK, Australia & Ireland.
• Dynamics GP, originally called Great Plains, was developed in Fargo, North Dakota by Great Plain Software.
• There are currently over 300 000 Dynamics customers around the world, spanning 41 languages

Adam MacIntosh is the Senior Project Manager with WebSan Solutions Inc., a professional services consulting firm specializing in helping companies get the most out of their ERP systems. You can contact Adam at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 416-499-1235 ext. 213.

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.

The Item Resource Planning, Site Resource Planning & MRP Order Detail windows have all been updated to incorporate a ‘Move Out’ fence.  The new logic allows for rules that determine if & when to suggest moving or canceling a purchase order or manufacturing order.  A Move Out is suggested when an item’s Projected Available Balance will be greater than the item’s Order UP To Level.

As GP calculates an item's Projected Available Balance for a specific time period, MRP will include supply order moves & cancel suggestions that impact the quantities occurring in that time period.

Adam MacIntosh is the Senior Implementation Lead with WebSan Solutions Inc., a professional services consulting firm specializing in helping companies get the most out of their ERP systems and Supply Chains. You can contact Adam at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 416-499-1235 ext. 213.

The Service Management module now allows for processing of Kit Items.  When a kit item is entered in the Service Parts window, the kit's components are added automatically to the Service Line table; although, they can be deleted if necessary.  Note: the quantity ordered cannot be partially allocated.  Through the Service Management module, POs can now be created for kit component items on a service call.

Kits can also be entered in Returns Management, Preventative Maintenance, on Contract Lines, or on the Parts line for Depot Management Work Orders.

Adam MacIntosh is the Senior Implementation Lead with WebSan Solutions Inc., a professional services consulting firm specializing in helping companies get the most out of their ERP systems and Supply Chains. You can contact Adam at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 416-4991235 ext. 213.

Field Services now allow the use of non-inventoried items.  Service Calls or POs can be entered for non-inventoried items representing labour, expenses or misc charges.  Preventative Maintenance events can even include non-inventoried items.  Contract Administration, Returns Management & Depot Management all now allow the use of non-inventoried items.

Adam MacIntosh is the Senior Implementation Lead with WebSan Solutions Inc., a professional services consulting firm specializing in helping companies get the most out of their ERP systems and Supply Chains. You can contact Adam at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 416-499-1235 ext. 213.

Users of US Payroll in Dynamics GP will love the new integration points from other modules within Dynamics GP.

One such integration point is with the Field Services module.  Direct & indirect labour postings that create Payroll transactions can be made in Service Call Management & Depot Management.  This integration allows for Payroll to captures the cost from the employee's pay code into the labor record in Field Service.

A Post to Payroll check box has been added to the Work Type Maintenance & Depot Station Maintenance windows that when selected, enters the value from the window's corresponding Pay Code field, representing an hourly pay code.

Service calls can now be escalated to additional managerial levels. The Service Type Escalation window has been modified to include a new Manager Level field.  When a call is escalated, an e-mail to the technician's manager is sent.  This can now be sent to two additional levels of management directly above the technician's manager. One can specify the number of levels to e-mail, including:

• The manager of the technician on the service call
• The manager's manager
• The manager of the manager's manager

The Service Call Escalation window also now supports multiple technicians for each call.

Adam MacIntosh is the Senior Implementation Lead with WebSan Solutions Inc., a professional services consulting firm specializing in helping companies get the most out of their ERP systems and Supply Chains. You can contact Adam at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 416-499-1235 ext. 213.

[caption id="attachment_254" align="aligncenter" width="748" caption="HST Tool-Kit"][/caption]

Did you know Directors of corporations can be held personally liable for un-remitted HST!?!

Be ready for the new HST!  Contact WebSan now to take advantage of our HST Cut-Over Tool-Kit.

Over our many years of experience with Microsoft Dynamics GP, we have developed a proven implementation methodology for companies both large & small.  Get the job done right the first time!  Let us help you with HST upgrades:

• Update company-wide sales & purchasing tax options
• Set tax settings for specific grouping of customers or vendors
• Ensure appropriate sales items are taxable or not

Adam MacIntosh is the Senior Implementation Lead with WebSan Solutions Inc., a professional services consulting firm specializing in helping companies get the most out of their ERP systems and Supply Chains. You can contact Adam at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 416-499-1235 ext. 213.

GP 2010 is coming soon!  Over the next while we will be previewing some of the new features.

Also, join us during our upcoming webinar featuring the top 10 new features.

GP 2010 will bring additional reporting printing capabilities.  Users can now take advantage of Word report templates as an alternative to using the native Report Writer.  Out-of-the-box there will be 22 templates available for use with endless possibilities on user customized reports.

GP 2010 will also feature added capabilities with Excel reports & pivot tables ... hum

Adam MacIntosh is the Senior Implementation Lead with WebSan Solutions Inc., a professional services consulting firm specializing in helping companies get the most out of their ERP systems and Supply Chains. You can contact Adam at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 416-499-1235 ext. 213.

When making payments in GP 2010, users will be given additional restriction possibilities in Select Checks window.  New restrictions can be place on the following fields:

• Vendor IDs
• Vendor names
• Class IDs
• payment priorities
• voucher numbers
• document numbers
• due date\discount date cutoffs
• document currency

Adam MacIntosh is the Senior Implementation Lead with WebSan Solutions Inc., a professional services consulting firm specializing in helping companies get the most out of their ERP systems and Supply Chains. You can contact Adam at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 416-499-1235 ext. 213.

Cash receipts may now be entered as a negative currency value within GP 2010.  This will subsequently decrease the deposit amount of the cash receipt by the value entered in the Amount field.  Furthermore, the posted receipt will show up as a deposit with a negative amount.

The negative cash receipt can be applied similar to any regular cash receipt, except the outstanding amount of the invoice will increase, instead of decrease.  Users experiencing returns, bad debt or miscellaneous fee issues will undoubtedly love this new feature.

Adam MacIntosh is the Senior Implementation Lead with WebSan Solutions Inc., a professional services consulting firm specializing in helping companies get the most out of their ERP systems and Supply Chains. You can contact Adam at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 416-499-1235 ext. 213.

System Administrators will find setting up new users in GP 2010 much quicker.  User Security setting can now be copied from the security of another user.

In order to help reduce the likelihood of incorrectly assigning permissions, Administrators can filter security windows in order to view only the selected:

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

Adam MacIntosh is the Senior Implementation Lead with WebSan Solutions Inc., a professional services consulting firm specializing in helping companies get the most out of their ERP systems and Supply Chains. You can contact Adam at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 416-499-1235 ext. 213.