CRM UK - the official blog of the CRM specialists at TSG

Free Document Management and Business Reporting Tools available for Microsoft Dynamics NAV

In the UK, Microsoft Dynamics NAV is Microsoft's leading Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and business management solution for small and medium-sized organisations. It's a highly flexible product, with a wide range of sector and process specific configurations and add-on applications.

Since the start of this month, two powerful add-on applications have been available for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 which users can download from Microsoft’s Customer Source website. Before you download or implement either product, we strongly recommend you contact Concentrix TSG or talk to your Microsoft Partner of Record.

You’ve probably already heard of Zetadocs from the company Equisys. Zetadocs is a well-known family of products that improve document handling and management for a range of ERP and business software solutions.

Zetadocs Express for Microsoft Dynamics NAV works as a document management module within the ERP programme. Available for free download since 1st September 2011, this add-on application makes it easier for Microsoft Dynamics NAV users to store, find, access and send files and documents. It helps everyone work more efficiently - saving time, money and resources.

Because Zetadocs Express for Microsoft Dynamics NAV uses Microsoft SharePoint Online, you need to have a subscription to Microsoft Office 365 for it to work. Once it’s up and running, you’ll be able to keep documents associated with Microsoft Dynamics NAV records, such as scanned invoices, letters, delivery notes, emails, faxes and other documentation in a central location. It also has a range of features such as drag and drop, approval and ‘save and send’ as pdf.

The second application that’s also been released is a business reporting tool called Jet Reports Express for Microsoft Dynamics NAV from Jet Reports, Inc. This tool uses Excel to provide a quick and easy way to produce high quality reports using the data contained in Microsoft Dynamics NAV.

There are various ways to get use Microsoft Dynamics NAV for business intelligence. Because Jet Reports Express for Microsoft Dynamics NAV uses Excel, which most people are familiar with, it’s easy to use and requires minimal user training. It also means you can use all of Excel’s features and functions on your data.

There are over twenty report templates included with Jet Reports Express for Microsoft Dynamics NAV. These are for use throughout your organisation – from sales and marketing to accounts and senior management. The templates look great, provide a professional presentation for your data, and help others identify and understand the information in your reports. You can also of course adapt these reports yourself to meet your specific requirements or personal preferences. And don’t forget the price - it’s free!

So if you’re looking to improve your document management or business insight using Microsoft Dynamics NAV, to find out if Zetadocs Express or Jet Reports Express are right for your organisation, or for help getting the applications up and running, please get in touch. We’re a leading UK Microsoft Dynamics NAV business partner.

Note: to download either Zetadocs Express or Jet Reports Express for Microsoft Dynamics NAV you need to be on a current Business Ready Enhancement Plan.

Concentrix TSG is hiring!

Are you looking for a new job in the IT industry? Well, you may be in luck! Concentrix TSG is looking for a range of people to join the Midlands office, near Loughborough. Instead of dwindling in the economic climate, we’re still growing and have more staff than ever. In the past few weeks alone we’ve had 6 new starters join our Operations and Sales teams.

Some of the positions available include a Business Development Manager for our Midlands region, as well as a Project Manager and CRM Consultant.

Concentrix TSG is a great place to work and we pride ourselves with the good relationships we have with our customers.

Concentrix TSG is a very positive and happy place to work, with a real sense of community. All departments work well together and staff are always supportive of one another. Professional development and training is also encouraged by HR and the management team.

As independent CRM and ERP specialists, we look for positive and logical thinking people. So, if you think you’d fit in well, visit our job vacancies for full details!

New Format for Concentrix TSG's next Sage 200 User Group

Concentrix TSG's next Sage 200 User Group is on Wednesday 19th October at our offices in Mountsorrel, Loughborough. If you’re a Concentrix TSG customer that uses the Sage 200 software suite, we’d love you to come along! If you haven’t received your invite already, it should arrive in the post shortly.

As usual, we’ll be joined by experts from Concentrix TSG and Sage. We’ll be discussing ways you can further improve your business with Sage 200 and get the very best from the software, we’ll bring you up to date with news from Sage and Concentrix TSG, and provide the opportunity to network with other Sage 200 users. And of course we’d like you to stay for a buffet lunch and a chat afterwards!

Change in User Group Format

For this Sage 200 User Group, we’ve taken on board feedback from previous sessions and have changed the format slightly. This time, we’re including an ‘open forum’ in the second half of the morning. This will give you the opportunity to put questions about Sage 200 to a panel of Sage and Concentrix TSG staff, as well as an open discussion within the group.

We hope the forum will stimulate discussion in a number of areas, so we do ask that you submit questions beforehand. Questions could be about the products future development, technical issues, or ‘how to’ type queries, what's new in Sage 200 2011 – whatever you want to ask!

When you receive your invite to the Sage 200 User Group, you’ll find there’s space for questions on a Faxback form included with your invite. Please submit your questions by Friday 7th October.

Getting Started with Sage 200 CRM

As well as the open forum, a product expert from Sage will be showing how Sage 200 can increase your turnover through its CRM module, Sage 200 CRM. Front and back-office integration is one of the key strengths of Sage 200, so if you need to get started with CRM, this session will be invaluable. What's more, if you have colleagues interested in CRM (CRM software is a hot topic for Marketing, Sales and Customer Service professionals) we’d love them to come along too! If they’re interested, please add their names to your registration form (this is included with your invite).

Other Changes to the Sage 200 User Group

Here’s another change. After our Sage 200 2011 Launch Event last June, several delegates said they would like the opportunity for a chat with their Account Manager. So, if you would like a meeting after the User Group, please get in touch and we will schedule one in after lunch. Please note time is limited so these meetings will be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. We’ll do our best to fit you in, but if we can’t fit you in on the day, we’ll arrange a meeting another time. This can either be at Concentrix TSG offices, at another TSG office local to you, or we’ll come and visit you.

How to Register

To register for the Sage 200 User Group, to submit your forum questions or arrange a meeting with your account manager, please submit the faxback included with your invite, or use the email address provided on the form. You’ll also receive an agenda with your invite, and of course if you need any further information please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to seeing you on the 19th October!

Please note these Sage 200 User Groups are currently open to Concentrix TSG customers only (space is limited so we have to give clients priority). However if you’re not a customer and this is of interest to you, please let us know – you can call us on 01509 410 500 or email [email protected].

Microsoft Dynamics CRM works in Outlook, not just with it. Here are some screenshots.

When Microsoft developed Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, key components of the design included flexibility, familiarity and ease of use. So, it’s had these features built in ‘from the ground up’ and as a result, it gives you choice in the way you work with it, right from the start.

There are two basic ways you can work with Microsoft Dynamics CRM: either from within Outlook, or through Internet Explorer. You can even do both at the same time. Outlook, Internet Explorer, or both - whatever you prefer.

When it comes to Outlook integration, the main difference between Microsoft Dynamics CRM and other CRM software products is that Microsoft Dynamics CRM works as part of Outlook. It doesn’t just link or  connect to it. This makes it really easy to use. You can perform many actions and activities in one or two clicks, and the system operates much more quickly than many ‘connected’ solutions.

Working within Outlook means people learn to use Microsoft Dynamics CRM very quickly. It also means people are comfortable working with it early on, which in turn makes the typical user adoption rates of Microsoft Dynamics CRM extremely high. That’s because anyone who has used Outlook before (and that’s a lot of people) immediately find the look and feel of Microsoft Dynamics CRM familiar; it’s like Outlook with a few more things added. Or ‘Outlook on Steroids’ as one of our clients once described it.

To give you an idea of what it looks like, here’s a selection of screenshots showing Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 working from within Microsoft Outlook. Note that it doesn't matter whether you use the cloud-based Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online or have the product deployed on-premise, either will work from within Outlook.

 

 
 
Screenshot 1 – The ‘Track in CRM’ Feature in Outlook

 

This first screenshot shows the “Track in CRM” feature, which I think is great. There’s no ‘drag and drop’ or even cut and paste like some other CRM applications. You click on a ‘Track in CRM’ icon in the Outlook Toolbar, and then choose where you want to place the email from a drop down menu (in this case a Lead). Just choose the information you need, and it’s in CRM! And Microsoft Dynamics CRM remembers what you’ve done, so next time you do it, it’s quicker.

 

  
 
Screenshot 2 – Microsoft Dynamics CRM Account Information in Outlook

 

This screenshot shows how you can access your account information in Microsoft Dynamics CRM while working in Outlook. 'Accounts' are the customers, organisations or suppliers you work with. This example shows the Sales section, and if you look on the left hand side, you can also see Contacts, Leads, Opportunities and other information relevant to that role. All easily accessed and navigated.

By default Microsoft Dynamics CRM calls ‘accounts’ companies or organisations you work with. Other CRM applications may call this something different; ‘Company’ for example. Not everyone likes the word ‘accounts’ in this context as it does have the potential get confused with financial accounts. But, because of the flexibility of the product, if you don’t want it to be called ‘Accounts’, your business partner can easily change it to something else.

 

 

Screenshot 3 – Microsoft Dynamics CRM Dashboards in Outlook

 

Dashboards are one of the most powerful features of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. As a user, you can set them up how you like and see at a glance (in real-time and presented in the most appropriate graphical format), the information that’s important to you. This helps you not just keep on top of what’s happening in your business, but really understand it. So, you’ll make quicker, better and more timely and decisions, based on the right information.

When we show Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 to prospective clients, the Dashboards are one of the features they get really enthusiastic about. As you can see from the screenshot, they’re easy to access, read and use from Outlook (just as easy as if you're using Internet Explorer).

These screenshots are just a tiny selection of what you can do when working with Microsoft Dynamics CRM in Outlook. However they show that Microsoft Dynamics CRM really works as a part of Outlook. It’s not just a linked application or an add-on to Outlook, like many other CRM solutions.

There are more screenshots of Microsoft Dynamics CRM on our website. If you want to really get to know the product, there's no better way than trying it yourself, and we'll be happy to arrange a free trial of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 for you, with no obligation.

For more information about Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online or other CRM products supplied by Concentrix TSG, please contact us or visit http://www.concentrix.co.uk/.