The main navigation in the CRM 2016 ribbon not only altered its look, it also made functional changes, vastly improving the end user experience. The Main Menu Button now replaces the CRM logo. Clicking this button enables the user to switch between each of the functional areas without waiting for the page to reload. 

To add, a functional area can be selected where sub-areas are neatly organized in rows by category to easily view and select from. The fluid transition and absence of endless scrolling make for ease of navigation.

A sleek button, aptly referred to as MRU (Most Recently Used) presents the user with up to 30 of their MRU Records and Views.

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Our Manufacturing Series for Microsoft Dynamics GP came to an end in February. We've had an amazing journey and we've been excited to receive comments from users all over the world, saying how helpful this series has been to their everyday work.

This series will teach you everything you need to know about Manufacturing in Dynamics GP. We are offering the whole series for only $180 in WebSan University. You also have the option to purchase the courses individually.The series includes course outlines, videos, and tests to help you navigate through the manufacturing module in GP.

Here are the manufacturing courses that we have available in WebSan University:

• Manufacturing Series Part 1: Manufacturing Basic Concepts
• Manufacturing Series Part 2: Manufacturing Items and Bill of Materials
• Manufacturing Series Part 3: Mfg Machines, Labor Codes, and Work Centers
• Manufacturing Series Part 4: Routings and Manufacturing Order Processing
• Manufacturing Series Part 5: Sales Orders and Manufacturing Integration
• Manufacturing Series Part 6: Outsourcing and Work in Process (WIP)
• Manufacturing Series Part 7: Master Production Scheduling
• Manufacturing Series Part 8: Manufacturing Setup
• Manufacturing Series Part 9: Standard Costing
• Manufacturing Series Part 10: Manufacturing Reports   

Click here to view our manufacturing series

Businesses today continue to rapidly change in their needs, particularly, for what an Enterprise Resource Software (ERP) can do to help support their operations and finances. Postmodern ERP, as defined by Gartner is a technology strategy that links and integrates administrative and operational business capabilities with the benefits of vendor-delivered integration to promote flexibility and agility.  

Software Advice, an advisory firm that helps buyers research and choose ERP software, conducted research and sought expert advice to look into the concept of Postmodern ERP and how it affects businesses, with findings compiled in this article.

A comprehensive postmodern ERP strategy aims to use the best applications possible in each business area while still ensuring that the different areas adequately integrate with each other when necessary.

The study is quick to note that “a postmodern ERP system will likely be comprised of applications from two or more vendors, and may include multiple deployment models.” This strategy can benefit businesses by ensuring your company is using the applications which are best suited for each job function. Moreover, should specific applications need to be changed, there would be no need to customize or upgrade the whole system.

Although the study suggests that the postmodern strategy would be best suited to growing midsize to large firms, organizations “should opt for a strategy that will provide them with long-term agility over short-term operational efficiency.”

WebSan Solutions Inc., a cloud Microsoft Dynamics Certified Partner and IT consulting and solutions provider, has reached a milestone of 100,000 views on its YouTube channel!

Since 2012, WebSan’s YouTube channel has proved to be a valuable resource in providing training and webinar videos for the Microsoft Dynamics GP and CRM community. The instructional videos not only offer greater insight into the products’ capabilities, but also highlight WebSan’s wide range of expertise in showcasing the systems’ customizable functionalities.

Standout videos include: WebSan’s Manufacturing and Project Accounting video series for Microsoft Dynamics GP, “10 Tricks in 30 minutes” showcasing the top 10 features of Dynamics GP, and “Management Reporter for Microsoft Dynamics ERP. “

“We are thrilled with this milestone for our YouTube channel. The high volume of views is a testament to our practice’s forward-thinking approach towards providing the highest standard of training, support, and informational videos to our clients and the Microsoft Dynamics community,” says Andrew King, Managing Director of WebSan Solutions Inc.

For more information on WebSan Solutions’ YouTube channel, visit www.youtube.com/websansolutionsinc.

WebSan Solutions Inc., a cloud Microsoft Dynamics Certified Partner and IT consulting and solutions provider, has reached a milestone of 100,000 views on its YouTube channel!

Since 2012, WebSan’s YouTube channel has proved to be a valuable resource in providing training and webinar videos for the Microsoft Dynamics GP and CRM community. The instructional videos not only offer greater insight into the products’ capabilities, but also highlight WebSan’s wide range of expertise in showcasing the systems’ customizable functionalities.

Standout videos include: WebSan’s Manufacturing and Project Accounting video series for Microsoft Dynamics GP, “10 Tricks in 30 minutes” showcasing the top 10 features of Dynamics GP, and “Management Reporter for Microsoft Dynamics ERP. “

“We are thrilled with this milestone for our YouTube channel. The high volume of views is a testament to our practice’s forward-thinking approach towards providing the highest standard of training, support, and informational videos to our clients and the Microsoft Dynamics community,” says Andrew King, Managing Director of WebSan Solutions Inc.

About WebSan Solutions Inc.

WebSan Solutions Inc. has expanded its product offering to better serve the small business market by offering Microsoft Dynamics NAV at prices starting at $39/month!

Small business owners have been looking for an affordable financial accounting system that can grow with their company, and WebSan Solutions has responded by introducing a small business offering which speeds up the implementation process and redefines the way Dynamics can be used.

WebSan Solutions Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of its fully-featured website http://www.SwiftDynamics.com. The new site will provide small business customers with information about Microsoft Dynamics NAV, our Rapid Start implementation services and access to extensive online training.

Product

Microsoft Dynamics NAV is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software suite tailored for small to medium-sized businesses.

You can now brand your CRM! Themes allow you to apply your distinct logo and color scheme to your Dynamics CRM environment. Three simple clicks and you are well on your way to a CRM environment with a look of your own.

1. From the Main Menu button, select Settings

2. Select Customizations

3. Select Themes

Upon navigating to Themes, you will find the out of the box CRM Default Theme. The default theme cannot be modified, but it can be cloned, should you want a head start on designing your theme. Otherwise, you can put your designing skills to the test and get theming. 

This blog is part 1 of 2 where we will walk through a step-by-step of how to complete the prep for Year-End closings for companies using Calendar Year-end. There are four modules that come into effect during the year end process.

1. Inventory (INV)
2. Receivables Management (RM)
3. Payables Management (PM)
4. Finance

Year-ends can get very tricky however, there are no financial impacts for three of the modules listed above- RM, PM and INV as they only provide statistical figures and reset the statistical counters. Therefore, in the case of any errors, you are able to complete a database refresh to go back. The module that has statistical updates and financial impact is the Financial module, this is the module you must be most careful with prior to completing.

Prior to beginning the process ensure these steps are taken:

• Complete a backup
• All users should be out of the system
• Batches should be closed and completed (Best Practice)
• Close Fiscal Periods (GP >>Tools >>Setup >>Company >>Fiscal Periods)
• Print Control Reports (AR and AP Trial Balance, Current Inventory Report, Reconcile (Chequebook, Inventory, AP and AR subledgers to GL) (GP >>Tools >>Routines >>Financials >>Reconcile)

Once all the steps above are completed you are ready to begin Year-end Closing. Since the Financial module has the highest impact it must be closed last. For best practices, close in the following order INV, RM, PM and Financials.

Look out for part 2 of the blog which will discuss where the closing process will take place.

With Dynamics CRM 2016’s release, Microsoft aims to improve on supplying intelligent customer engagement solutions that are personalized, proactive and predictive. The release will focus on creating a single, unified user experience that promises to eliminate distractions people face by bouncing from application to application. To supplement this new release, WebSan will offer the “Top 5 Notable Features in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016” webinar on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 11:00 AM EST.

The free 30-minute webinar will offer attendees a glimpse of the benefits of upgrading to CRM 2016, the system’s new features that promote an improved end-user experience, as well as key new features for administrators or customizers of the system.

Attendees will gain more information about CRM 2016’s new interactive service hub, changes to the Excel export feature, new functions for Fields, Business Rules and Advanced Find and improvements to the system’s navigation.

Register today to reserve your spot for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016 webinar!

Click here to register for Dynamics CRM 2016 webinar on Jan.21, 2016 at 11:00 AM EST

WebSan Solutions Inc. has been selected as a member of the Bob Scott’s VAR Stars for 2015, a group of 100 organizations honored for their accomplishments in the field of midmarket financial software.

Members of the VAR Stars were selected based on factors such as growth, industry leadership and recognition, and innovation. Selection is not based on revenue and the chosen firms represent a wide range of size and many different software publishers of accounting software.

“Each year, 100 VAR Stars are picked from the best organizations that market financial software. It is always an honor to recognize those who contribute to the development of our business,” Bob Scott said.

“We are delighted to once again be included in Bob Scott’s roster of VAR Stars and be recognized for our continuous growth and commitment towards providing the highest standards of customer service and delivering top quality solutions for our clients,” said Andrew King, Managing Director of WebSan Solutions Inc.

WebSan Solutions Inc. has been selected as a member of the Bob Scott’s VAR Stars for 2015, a group of 100 organizations honored for their accomplishments in the field of midmarket financial software.

Members of the VAR Stars were selected based on factors such as growth, industry leadership and recognition, and innovation. Selection is not based on revenue and the chosen firms represent a wide range of size and many different software publishers of accounting software.

“Each year, 100 VAR Stars are picked from the best organizations that market financial software. It is always an honor to recognize those who contribute to the development of our business,” Bob Scott said.

“We are delighted to once again be included in Bob Scott’s roster of VAR Stars and be recognized for our continuous growth and commitment towards providing the highest standards of customer service and delivering top quality solutions for our clients,” said Andrew King, Managing Director of WebSan Solutions Inc.

About WebSan Solutions Inc.

When selecting a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, one of the first considerations to make is whether to go hosted (on the cloud) or on-premise. Although both types have their advantages and disadvantages, it’s worth taking a closer look and offering points of consideration to make the software selection process less daunting. Software Advice, an advisory firm that helps buyers select ERP software, conducted research to create a comprehensive guide to help buyers determine the best type of software needed for their organization, with findings compiled in this article.

The biggest difference between the two types of systems is cloud-based software is hosted on the vendor’s servers and accessed through a Web browser, while on-premise software is installed locally, on a company’s own computers and servers. Although over time, both systems’ cost tend to converge, cloud-based software is priced under a monthly or annual subscription basis, while on-premise software is usually priced under a one-time perpetual license fee.

Some advantages of cloud-based ERP software include its shorter implementation time, great stability with frequent updates from the vendor and no additional hardware investments. On the other hand, some disadvantages of this type of system are its less customizable functionalities and an organization’s possible less peace of mind that comes with data security being in the vendor’s hands.

On the other end of the spectrum, on-premise ERP systems are known to be more customizable and offer greater control over data. However, the implementation process can take longer and organizations have to pay associated hardware and IT costs. Organizations will find that cloud-based ERP systems are more mobile-friendly compared to their on-premise counterpart. 

It would be in an organization’s best interest to first assess its needs, budget and top concerns before deciding on the right type of ERP system that will be the right fit.

When selecting a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, one of the first considerations to make is whether to go hosted (on the cloud) or on-premise. Although both types have their advantages and disadvantages, it’s worth taking a closer look and offering points of consideration to make the software selection process less daunting. Software Advice, an advisory firm that helps buyers select ERP software, conducted research to create a comprehensive guide to help buyers determine the best type of software needed for their organization, with findings compiled in this article.

The biggest difference between the two types of systems is cloud-based software is hosted on the vendor’s servers and accessed through a Web browser, while on-premise software is installed locally, on a company’s own computers and servers. Although over time, both systems’ cost tend to converge, cloud-based software is priced under a monthly or annual subscription basis, while on-premise software is usually priced under a one-time perpetual license fee.

Some advantages of cloud-based ERP software include its shorter implementation time, great stability with frequent updates from the vendor and no additional hardware investments. On the other hand, some disadvantages of this type of system are its less customizable functionalities and an organization’s possible less peace of mind that comes with data security being in the vendor’s hands.

On the other end of the spectrum, on-premise ERP systems are known to be more customizable and offer greater control over data. However, the implementation process can take longer and organizations have to pay associated hardware and IT costs. Organizations will find that cloud-based ERP systems are more mobile-friendly compared to their on-premise counterpart. 

It would be in an organization’s best interest to first assess its needs, budget and top concerns before deciding on the right type of ERP system that will be the right fit.

On Thursday, December 17^th, at 2:30 PM, WebSan will present a free webinar to give an inside look at Microsoft’s Power BI (Business Intelligence). The 30-minute webinar offers attendees the opportunity to observe this dynamic tool in action.

The webinar will discuss Power BI’s features and functionalities including how to create dashboards, reports, integrations and metrics. Attendees will learn how to publish and edit visuals on Microsoft’s Cloud, view and refresh custom metrics on any mobile device and use Power BI to monitor the most important information about your business.

The webinar promises to bring an insightful glimpse of Power BI’s extensive functionalities and show attendees that all the information they would need to make decisions is available through Power BI, all in one glance.

Register today and don’t miss out on your chance to take part in this new webinar!

Click here to register for “Microsoft’s Power BI” webinar on Dec. 17th, 2:30 PM

I was recently speaking with some like-minded CRMers in the community and we were discussing what we find to be at the top of the list for help desk inquiries. The overwhelming consensus was CRM for Outlook.

Do you ever find yourself faced with CRM for Outlook just not cooperating? Whether it be that you are having undesirable or unresponsive behaviors, the CRM tab is greyed out, or the CRM tab has vanished. Have no fear, you are not alone, and with a few checks and few clicks, more often than not, one of the following suggestions will be your golden nugget for resolution.

Check the following machine related roadblocks for starters...

ü  Ensure that your CRM for Outlook version matches up with your CRM server version. It could be that you are out of sync.

ü  Could you possibly have add-ins that are not playing nicely with one another? Begin to disable your add-ins one by one and see if CRM for Outlook is positively affected.

WebSan Solutions’ Microsoft Dynamics GP and CRM interactive demos now enables users to leave feedback to unlock new resources that will offer additional information that can help in the ERP software selection process.

The Dynamics GP and CRM demos boast over 300 downloads and have been a trusted tool in helping give an overview of both systems’ capabilities and main modules. The demos give an inside look at what the systems can offer and show a preview of each system before users decide to purchase. Not only are the demos useful in the research process, they also prove valuable for their interactive functionality. The interactive functionality allows users to type in and click on specific fields; a feature that is not common to traditional software demos.

When users leave feedback for the demos after downloading, they are given links to valuable resources that offer additional information on the two systems. For the Dynamics GP demo, users can access an estimate of WebSan’s Dynamics GP implementation cost, while those who leave feedback for the Dynamics CRM demo can watch an exclusive webinar on maximizing Dynamics CRM’s out-of-the-box features.

Download our demos today to unlock these valuable resources!

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

The process of selecting an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is no easy task. With many factors to consider such as cost, vendors, business needs, and the vast software selection in the market, the task of choosing the right ERP software becomes all the more complex. Software Advice, an advisory firm that helps buyers research and choose ERP software, conducted research and sought expert advice to create a comprehensive guide to help buyers through the ERP selection process, with findings compiled in this e-book.

Research shows that 59% of buyers cite data integration as the top reason for purchasing a system, while a staggering 24% of users say their current system lacks adequate support. If you find yourself in the same boat as these buyers, it might be worth investing in a new ERP system.

Below are some tips to help in your ERP software selection process:

1. Assess your business needs and identify must-haves

• Look into your business needs and identify key issues that need to be resolved with the aid of an ERP software, then form a selection committee comprised of both mission-critical employees and IT staff. This ensures that all voices (of varying departments) will be heard and unique needs will be evaluated.

2. Outline your key requirements

WebSan University, WebSan Solutions’ online learning management system continues to thrive with now more than 600 registered users. Since its inception in Fall 2013, WebSan University has aimed to offer accessible and affordable training for Microsoft Dynamics GP, CRM and Moniroo users.

With over 50 courses, WebSan University offers the Project Accounting series and General Ledger for Dynamics GP, Dashboards, Marketing, Sales and new features for Dynamics CRM, and Time and Expense Management System for Moniroo, among many others. The variety of courses enables users to gain in-depth knowledge of the systems’ modules with videos, manuals, tips and tricks, and exams.

Users comment that WebSan University has proved to be extremely helpful, practical, and easy to follow. The courses also give users the ability to better understand and fully utilize Dynamics GP, CRM and Moniroo. Frequently updated with new courses, WebSan University provides online training that not only supplements what users know about the systems but also keeps them up-to-date on new features and functionalities that can help them as they continue to use the systems.

In conjunction with WebSan’s online library of courses, our monthly webinars—offered for free—give users access to additional learning about Dynamics GP, CRM and Moniroo! 

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

More than a software for tracking vacation time or employee hours, an encompassing time and expense system such as Moniroo should prove to be a trusty guide in helping to determine employee efficiency, project budget, internal cost and time off scheduling. A reliable time and expense software should also give staff a real-time visibility of all time and expense data.  

Here are top 3 reasons why it’s worth investing in a time and expense system:

1. Track Project Cost and Budget

Apart from determining a project’s budget in the initial planning stages, ensuring that the costs are in-line every step of the way is a must. Tracking progress, time spent on specific projects and determining available resources allows a project manager to identify issues as they happen and make corrections (allotting more or less time depending on the tasks accomplished).

A time and expense management system also keeps a record of tracked projects allowing for better budget and time estimates in the future having the records as reference.

No programming knowledge? No problem!

Business Rules, which are delivered right out-of-the-box with Dynamics CRM, tackle client side logic in a user friendly way, allowing virtually anyone that is responsible for managing their company’s CRM to get off and running with this fantastic tool in no time. 

In a nutshell, this little gem allows you to create and add form design functions to the system and custom entities without a lick of development. Through “If…Then…Else” conditional statements, you too can create rules which monitor the behaviour of fields and subsequently define an action or actions to be taken upon the conditions being met.

Gone are the days of reaching out to developers for JavaScript and plug-ins each and every time a requirement rears its head. Don’t get me wrong – it’s not some sort of magic potion that will make all your wishes come true. But, you are bound to dazzle your users (and your boss), with fields that seamlessly appear just when they need them; field values which auto-complete right before their very eyes; field requirements changing on the fly, ensuring the most relevant data is always captured; and error messages, or what I prefer to call ‘reminder messages’ which prompt users to conform to best business practices. With a little creativity and some business logic in tow, Business Rules can do all that and so much more!

Here’s a quick guide to find the Business Rules section: