Microsoft introduces its new Annual Enhancement Plan!

As it has been recently announced, Microsoft is introducing the Business Ready Enhancement Plan to replace the current Annual Enhancement Plan (AEP).
 

From the 1st of March 2007, through to the 29th of February 2008, Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) and Retail Management Software customers will be migrated to the Business Ready Enhancement Plan upon their enhancement renewal date, at a rate of 21%.
  

The Enhancement Plan introduces new benefits that include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Unlimited access to online training, courseware and learning plans at no additional cost

  • 100% licence credit for product or edition transitions

  • Annual payment of 21%, or 3-year enhancement plan at 19% per year payable annually

  • New product updates regularly, and published product roadmaps

  • Global CustomerSource with local content for all Dynamics Products

    For more information about  the Business Ready Enhancement plan, contact your Account Manager.

  


In this issue:

AEP to be replaced by a new plan

2007 Business Improvement Awards

2006 Customer Satisfaction Survey Results

NEW at Easter InTouch: Join us for a Microsoft LOVE Day

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 compatible with Office 2007 & Vista!

Customer in the Spotlight: Kidney Health Australia

Need  assistance?  

If you are looking for system improvements or would like to streamline some of your company's business processes, our specialised team of experts can offer you:

  • Business Process Review

  • Report Writing

  • Technical Site Audit

  • Technology Services, including data management, collaboration, security and connectivity

For more information click here or contact your Account Manager

2007 Business Improvement Awards - Registrations open!

Now in its fourth year, the Business Improvement Awards recognise customer excellence in the execution of Microsoft based projects. Get rewarded for the hard work you put in to unlock your system's potential and get more out of your investment!

Registrations for the 2007 Business Improvement Awards are now open! So, take the 2007 challenge and register your project for your chance to win an award and a relaxing holiday for two to the beautiful Whitsundays. 

Visit today the Awards website www.pa.com.au/businessawards to register for this year's competition. Remember that here you can also find interesting suggestions for projects as well as all the information on the 2006 winners.
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Click here to register your project

Have you seen the latest
Webinar schedule?
 Click here for details

2006 Customer Satisfaction Survey. The results are in!

The Customer Satisfaction Survey is conducted every year to measure what our customers think about Professional Advantage, our products and services.  Last year we had a large number of responses, so we would like to thank all of you who participated by sending us your important feedback! 

Overall, the survey has provided us with a good insight into your opinion about our services as well as highlighted the areas that can be improved. On that basis, all our teams have developed the Improvement Plans and we are working on them now.

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, you rated us as follows:

• Overall Satisfaction with Professional Advantage as your partner         4.08

Team ratings:

• Customer Support            4.01
• Consulting                      3.98
• Training                         3.90
• Account Management       3.96

In 2007 we will continue listening to your comments and suggestions. So, if you want to provide us with your feedback or would like to recommend a service improvement, use our suggestions box by clicking here
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 NEW InTouch: Join us for Microsoft LOVE Day!

Unlike our traditional events, the Microsoft LOVE Day (Launch of Office, Vista & Exchange) brings together all our customers, irrespective of which Microsoft business application they are using.

2007 is one of the biggest launch years for Microsoft technology. So if you are wondering how the recent release of Microsoft Office 2007 and Windows Vista can benefit your organisation, do not miss this upcoming InTouch.

Join us to hear about it directly from the experts at Microsoft!

Some of our customers have already implemented the latest technology, so you will also see practical real life examples of Office 2007 in action.

Don't wait for the official email invitation, reserve your seat at inTouch now by clicking here
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Brisbane
When:   Tuesday 20th March
Where:  Microsoft's offices. Level 9 Waterfall Place, 1 Eagle Street

Melbourne
When:   Tuesday 27th March
Where:  Rialto Hotel 495 Collins Street,   Melbourne

Sydney
When:  Wednesday 28th March
Where: Microsoft's offices. 1 Epping Road, North Ryde

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 is now compatible with Microsoft Office 2007 and Windows Vista. Updates available now!

It has been recently announced that Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 is now compatible with Microsoft Office 2007 and Windows Vista. 

The update to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 clients for Outlook is now available and with it you can install and run the application on computers that have installed Windows Vista and/or Office 2007. For details or to download the update please click here.

Also available is Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Exchange E-mail Router for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. If you wish to download the update
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TIPS & TRICKS

  • Save time by posting your batch into Dynamics GP in two quick steps! Click here for details
     

  • Need to open an Office 2007 document but have an older Office version? 

Use the Microsoft compatibility pack. Details and download here

Customer InTheSpotlight: Kidney Health Foundation
Streamlined processes using Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Kidney Health Australia, formerly the Australian Kidney Foundation, is a non-profit organisation whose focus is to improve the quality of life for people with kidney and urinary tract diseases and their families and carers. The organisation achieves this by providing various support services.

Kidney Health Australia is also committed to developing initiatives that reduce the incidence of kidney disease in the Australian community by promoting prevention and early detection, while at the same time funding research for a cure.

Kidney Health Australia has been a customer of Professional Advantage since early 2004 having implemented Microsoft Dynamics GP for financial management. 


Kidney Health Australia has also been using a Fundraising and Membership management system sourced from another supplier, in conjunction with its Call Centre operations. This system started causing Kidney Health Australia business issues in its fundraising operations due to instability in the supporting technologies. These issues have increased both the costs of operations and the business risks associated with the call centre.

Solution

Kidney Health Australia decided to replace both call centre and fundraising management software.  In establishing the requirements for the replacement system the company decided to move from specialised fund raising software to a more broadly functional CRM solution.  Kidney Health Australia’s objective was to establish better business processes to manage relationships with its stakeholders, to improve the management of its fundraising campaigns, to develop new services for its customers and to enhance its overall marketing activities.

After discussing the business requirements with Professional Advantage earlier last year, Kidney Health Australia selected Microsoft Dynamics CRM for its ease of integration, broad functionality and lower barriers to user adoption.  Microsoft Dynamics CRM will be integrated with the existing Dynamics GP environment and with a new call centre outbound campaign management solution. 
 

Professional Advantage has also advised on the design and assisted with development of an extended application facility to capture and process lottery and donation transactions, including credit card payments through ANZ's eGate Online Secure Payment System through the use of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Professional Edition. The implementation is still ongoing.
 

Projected Benefits

The resulting solution will simplify Kidney Health Australia ’s fundraising processes significantly by reducing the manual effort previously required. The simplified interfaces between call centre, CRM and Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains financials will also reduce the risk and will lower operational costs.

For more information on Microsoft Dynamics CRM click here or or to visit Kidney Health Australia's website click here

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Quote of the Month

"What you will do matters, all you need is to do it" Judy Grahn, 1984
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