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November Issue

Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 - NEW name for Great Plains!
 The latest release of Microsoft Great Plains has been renamed Microsoft Dynamics GP, the first in the Microsoft Dynamics family which will be comprised of former Microsoft Business Solutions. This version 9.0 release will be available for distribution to existing customers in January.

With two years of customer research and 1,500 customer interviews, four areas of innovation were revealed that would significantly improve the system to help you manage and grow your business.

As the largest release of Great Plains in regards to development hours, Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 delivers 170 new application enhancements centred on the four design pillars of Empowered Users, Insightful, Connected and Adaptive Processes.

Key Features from the four design pillars:

Empowered Users
 Personalised Role Pages – Delivers a personalised user experience that provides relevant information and access tailored to daily responsibilities

Insightful
 Business intelligence – The Analysis Cubes tool takes all transactional data and presents it to managers providing easy access to decision making information.

Connected
Customer Extranets - Business Portal now extends the access of information to your customers and sales staff through security-enhanced extranet capabilities including sales order entry; inquiries for shipment status, account balances, inventory stock levels; and a customer home page.

Adaptive Processes
 Automated User Setup: Business Portal offers a redesigned wizard that speeds system administrators' ability to add users and automatically match them to their corresponding functional role and IDs.

For more information on Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 or to discuss upgrading to this latest release please do not hesitate to contact your Account Manager.

REGISTER HERE for the upcoming online demonstration of Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 on 2nd December or to view the product enhancement brochure, click here.

In this issue:

Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0
Customer InTheSpotlight - SNP Security
Excel 12 - The largest release ever!
Changing the Focus - InTouch
Business Improvement Awards
Microsoft CRM 3.0 - Online Demo


An extra 30 minutes of Customer Support a day

We are extending our Customer Support to 6pm daily (Australia Eastern Standard)

Customer InTheSpotlight - SNP Security
 SNP is a highly regarded integrator of electronic and manpower security solutions in New South Wales and ACT. As a project based organisation, SNP were looking to improve the way they tracked their project costs.  Their previous project accounting system didn't fulfill their business requirements as it was inflexible and didn't allow for ad hoc purchases.  After discussing their requirements with Professional Advantage earlier this year, SNP implemented WennSoft Job Cost which integrated with their existing Great Plains environment. Since then SNP has identified a number of benefits, including:
  • a reduction in data entry
  • a unified view of their projects across both operational and finance teams
  • increased flexibility 
Chris Green, IT Manager of SNP Security also stated that "End-of-month reconciliation times have shortened dramatically and previous issues with user acceptance have gone" .  SNP also upgraded to Great Plains Version 8.0 during this time.

For more info on WennSoft Job Cost click here or to visit SNP Security's website click on their logo. 
To view the dates of our upcoming online demonstrations on Job Cost visit Customer Domain

Excel 12 - The biggest release ever!
You may have heard about the new upcoming release of Microsoft Excel 12, which promises to be the biggest yet! If you are interested in learning more about the existing enhancements you can now keep in touch with the Microsoft Excel team's blog. The Excel 12 blog can be viewed
by clicking here

Something NEW at InTouch!
For those who joined us at our the last InTouch you will have been aware of the new style of  participation.  We hosted a round table discussion where we invited clients to comment and discuss  predefined topics in relation to their organisations with other Great Plains users. The feedback was good: "...a worthwhile session, ...very interesting to hear how other organisations deal with similar issues, ...a good opportunity to get feedback from other peoples experiences, ...a great morning as usual, ...it was good to be able to get consulting guidance when we discussed issues" If you have any suggestions on what you would like to cover at an upcoming session let us know.


If you have registered for the Business Improvement Awards you will be aware that we are currently judging the entries. We will be announcing the winners of each category at the upcoming InTouch. If you haven't been involved in a Microsoft based project this year but are planning one for next year, check out the website for full details on the categories, rules, dates and of course the great prizes!

      

Sydney
When: Tuesday 29th November
Where: Bel Mondo, Gloucester Walk, The Rocks, Sydney

Melbourne
When: Tuesday 7th December
Where: Rialto Hotel on Collins, 495 Collins St, Melbourne

Agenda: 3.45-4.15pm Drinks and registration, 4.15-5.00 Business Awards
5.15 - 6.30pm Canapés and Mingling

          REGISTER HERE

 

Microsoft CRM 3.0
You will recall from our last newsletter that Microsoft are releasing a new version of CRM - version 3.0. The release date is nearing and we are now able to show you what this new version has to offer. If you would like to be one of the first to see it, then join us at our next online demonstration on 25th November.  Click here to register via Customer Domain.

Great Plains User
Tips and Tricks

Online Training and Support

View the latest online training and support sessions that are available to you on
Customer Domain
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