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Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Launch, ERP in the Cloud, SharePoint Intranets – a Round Up of Concentrix January News

January was a busy month at Concentrix. The New Year kicked off with final preparations for the long-anticipated release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, beginning with the launch of the cloud version, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online on January 17th.

Cloud computing is maturing and we’re getting an increasing amount of enquiries about cloud ERP as well as cloud CRM. In fact to illustrate how important it’s becoming, Microsoft launched Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 ‘in the cloud’ before it launched the on-premise version (the on-premise version is due for release on Feb 28th).

As a service to our customers and to mark the launch of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, we held our first Microsoft Dynamics CRM User Group for a selection of our existing clients. We invited a small number of customers to our offices on the 19th January that have been using previous versions of the software for a while now.

As well as giving an introduction to the new version of the software, the User Group kept delegates up to date with all the latest inside news from Concentrix and the latest developments in the CRM field generally, and of course an in-depth look at Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.

The User Group was fully interactive and we kept the numbers small so that everyone had a chance to fully participate. It included a session to ask questions, informally meet our CRM team and provide feedback on the product and the service we’re providing (and a good lunch!). Thanks to everyone who managed to attend. Feedback was excellent and we will extend the invites to our whole Microsoft Dynamics CRM customer base for future events.

ERP in the cloud is also generating interest recently, particularly since we started offering Microsoft Dynamics NAV as a cloud ERP solution. We began this after the 2009 R2 release last December, and one of the reasons was because this enhancement made deploying and setting up Microsoft Dynamics NAV in the cloud much easier for business partners and developers. The cloud deployment offers the same functionality as Microsoft Dynamics NAV on-premise, and if you’re interested in there’s a recent post on the ERP Software Blog Why Choose Microsoft Dynamics NAV as a Cloud ERP Solution? – it would be great to hear your comments.

One of the key features of the latest versions of both Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics CRM are their integration with each other, and also integration with Microsoft SharePoint. If you haven’t already seen it, take a look at our new pre-configured SharePoint intranet solution called BizNetix, which is a great way to get your SharePoint project started. We’ve already installed the system in a variety of businesses. This includes our own! We use Biznetix within Concentrix as our own intranet and it’s helped a lot of our staff understand SharePoint better – as well as providing all the usual functions you’d expect from a company intranet. We have also introduced BizNetix to a number of our customers, including recent product user groups and had some excellent feedback.

On the subject of User Groups, the next Sage 200 User Group is scheduled for 15th March. If you’re a Concentrix client using Sage 200, Sage Line 100 or MMS you will receive your invite shortly. We are also running paid courses on using Sage 200 for Business Intelligence. The one-day courses will show you how to use the business intelligence functionality of Sage 200 to quickly and efficiently analyse data, make better and more informed business decisions, and gain an in-depth understanding of what's really happening throughout your business. For more information on these courses please contact your Concentrix account manager.

Back to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 launch, Microsoft is aiming for this product to become the leading mid-market cloud-based CRM solution. Concentrix believe it will have a significant impact in the UK. The product is strongly competitive in terms of price, power, flexibility and functionality in comparison with its main cloud competitors. Microsoft has invested literally billions of dollars in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, and a lot if this investment has been in worldwide infrastructure to support its cloud version. Microsoft is also running a switch campaign. If you are currently using a competitive CRM Solution, such as Salesforce.com or Oracle, you could receive £130 per user if you switch to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. Concentrix put out a press release earlier this week to support the belief that the product is going to shake things up in the UK (Launch of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Set to Shake Up the UK CRM Market). It will be interesting to see how competitive products such as SalesForce, Oracle and NetSuite react to the product launch and Microsoft’s price and go-to-market strategy.

Despite the strength of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Concentrix is committed to supplying solutions that meet the requirements of our clients, hence Concentrix remains and will continue to remain product agnostic. Products such as Sage CRM or FrontRange’s GoldMine are still often the right choice for customers – it depends on your business processes and what you are looking to achieve from a CRM solution.

For independent advice or help selecting an ERP or CRM solution, for an informal chat about SharePoint, or to find out more about any of the products, solutions and services we provide, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Concentrix.

Concentrix launches a SharePoint based Intranet Solution

Concentrix has launched BizNetix, the SharePoint based intranet solution.

Over recent months the business environment has become extremely competitive and as a result organisations are increasingly having to go further to secure a sale. This has lead to businesses becoming more flexible in how their staff work, with some working from home and others being out of the office on appointments for a number of days if not weeks. Although having a dispersed workforce can help to deliver results in terms of  generating awareness, it can be extremely difficult to manage. This is where SharePoint can help. SharePoint can enable organisations to communicate more effectively, manage documents , produce reports and make more informed business decisions. The problem is that not many people use it!

Asked about why people don’t use SharePoint, James Nightingale – SharePoint and BizNetix specialist at Concentrix said, “ Although they don’t realise it, many people actually have a SharePoint license – any business which has purchased a server after 2003 is likely to have a SharePoint license for free. So, one of the key factors is a lack of knowledge that they actually have a license. However, another factor and perhaps the more likely of the two is the fact that SharePoint is such a vast solution, providing functionality over so many different areas that people are scared off by the complexity of it as they don’t know where to start and this is where Concentrix can help.”

Concentrix is an Independent Business Software specialist and provides best in breed solutions. Our team have the accreditations and expertise to be able to see where SharePoint would be beneficial, where it would add real benefits and where a different solution will do the job better. Concentrix have realised that for many businesses SharePoint will add real benefits and for this reason have made it easier to get started with the solution by creating BizNetix – the SharePoint based intranet. Although intranets have traditionally been associated with larger organisations, the can deliver benefits to organisations of all sizes  by providing a critical source of communication. Essentially BizNetix gives you an intranet and an  introduction to some of the features, functions and possibilities of SharePoint, with low financial outlay. What’s more,  it only takes a few days to get up and running!

Nightingale continues, “BizNetix really will deliver a number of benefits to all areas of a business, because among other thing, it provides a familiar and consistent user experience, facilitates easier  communication within the organisation and enables you to securely share business information.”

For more information about BizNetix or SharePoint solutions, contact Concentrix on 01509 410500 or email [email protected]

What is a Microsoft Partner of Record?

Here’s a question recently asked by a client to one of our Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online consultants: “What is a Partner of Record?”

You may come across the phrase if dealing direct with Microsoft, for example enquiring about a product or filling in a form for a software trial. If you request a free trial of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online from a Microsoft website, you will almost certainly be asked for your Partner of Record.

So what is it?

Quite simply, Partner of Record usually refers to your Microsoft business partner: the company that supplied and implemented your Microsoft software and services. They will usually be a Microsoft Certified Business Partner (there are various levels and types of these), specialising in the application or area you’re working in. For example, Concentrix is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner specialising in CRM and ERP solutions, and has achieved both Gold and Silver status in Customer Relationship Management (plus other competencies).

Concentrix recommends working with an accredited or certified business partner as they will be able to work closely with you on your project and provide a wide range of professional services in addition to the services you receive from Microsoft. These include advice, training, technical and application development, configurations and customisation, support and much more.

Working with a Microsoft Business Partner significantly increases the chances of your project being successful and delivering ROI in the shortest time. For ERP or CRM software projects in particular, we strongly advise against trying to deploy the products without working with a qualified, experienced business partner (in fact you may not be able to purchase licences unless you do).

It’s important to note that working with a Microsoft partner or specifying a partner of record does not change the fees you pay to Microsoft. Also it doesn’t change or limit the support you receive from Microsoft. If your business partner supplies additional services, they will of course be able to quote for these.

If you’re unsure who your partner of record is, and you’ve asked around within your own organisation, you could try contacting Microsoft direct and they may already have your partner of record listed. If you haven’t worked with Microsoft Business Partner before, a good way to find one locally or with the relevant specialism you need is to search the Microsoft PinPoint site. A search on Google or Bing will also usually deliver the results you need.

If you have been working with, or previously worked with a particular business and want to continue working with them, it is important to state them as your partner of record when interacting with Microsoft; otherwise they may assign another partner to you.

Concentrix is an independent UK CRM specialist. For further information about the software and solutions we offer, please contact Concentrix.

End of Mainstream support for Sage Line 100

Sage has announced that their accounting solution Sage Line 100 will reach its 'End of Mainstream Support' on 30th September 2012.

Sage currently offers full Mainstream Support for Sage Line 100, via SALP or Sagecover, which includes legislative software updates for customers. However, from 30th September 2012, the type of support offered will change. Effective from this date, Sage will move into a phase of Extended Support meaning whilst Sage will still provide technical support, enable strings and the facility for existing customers to add users or modules to their system, they’ll stop producing software updates related to Sage Line 100 and will no longer guarantee that Sage Line 100 will be legislatively compliant.

The table below shows the summary of changes that Sage will be introducing:

	Mainstream Support to 30th September 2012	Extended Support from October 2012
Product available for sale (additional users/modules only, no new site licences)	Yes	Yes
Enable strings (Provided to your Sage Business Partner)	Yes	Yes
Legislative Updates ( provided by Sage to maintain legal/fiscal compliance	Yes	No
Hot fixes/Bug fixes/Patches/Service packs (provided by Sage for recognised defects)	Yes	No
Wish list/defect log ( open for the registration of defects	Yes	No

 

For more information about support for Sage Line 100, or alternative Accounting and ERP software such as Sage 200 or Microsoft Dynamics NAV, please contact Concentrix.

Urgent Technical Update - GoldMine 6.7 Corporate Edition

Users of GoldMine 6.7 Corporate Edition are likely to now see the following type of pop-up message when logging into the application:

The application believes that there is a problem with the date setting, however, this is not the case.  Users who receive the prompt should click No and continue normal use of GoldMine.  This message will appear at each log in attempt.

 We understand some of the frustration this will cause users and have been in discussions with FrontRange Solutions about the problem.  They have confirmed to us that synchronisation is not affected by this issue; the problem is with their development team to understand the cause and they will relay any necessary outcome to us in due course.  It should be noted, however, that GoldMine 6.7 Corporate Edition is no longer supported by FrontRange Solutions due to the age of the product, and subsequent later versions now available.  Concentrix shall, of course, advise any further information to you about the issue.

If you would like to discuss the possibility of moving to a supported version of GoldMine, please contact Concentrix support on 01509 410555 or email [email protected].

Microsoft Dynamics NAV Offer: It’s (nearly) Over, and it’s been a Great Success!

There just a couple of hours left until our offer to UK businesses to buy three user licenses of the powerful business management software suite Microsoft Dynamics NAV for just £1, expires. The deadline is 5 pm today (23rd December 2010).

Delivered in association with Microsoft, this is probably one of the most successful promotions we’ve ever run at Concentrix. And thanks to its success, we’re now working with a number of new businesses, and if you’re one of the new businesses we’re working with, once again “welcome on board”. One of the key aims of this promotion was to help businesses that hadn’t used the product before to get started with Microsoft Dynamics NAV and find out what a great ERP solution it is.

So why was this offer so successful? Firstly, it was deliberately timed to coincide with the release of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 R2. This was a major software enhancement. The offer also included heavily discounted implementation, deployment and support packages. But above all, we believe its success was because Microsoft Dynamics NAV is excellent accounts and ERP software and three licenses for just a pound is simply an amazing offer!

If you’ve missed the offer, unfortunately we don’t have anything similar planned for the near future. However, we do have an exciting new development: we’re now providing an SaaS or cloud version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV. We’ve already had clients and potential clients show interest in this.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV Online or ‘in the cloud’ is a good choice if your business strategy is to make your ERP solution an operational cost, rather than a capital expenditure. It also needs less in the way of hardware and IT staff and resources, and effectively outsourcing the management of your infrastructure can provide significant benefits to many organizations. Microsoft Dynamics NAV in the cloud also offers straightforward deployment, guaranteed service level agreements and high levels of security, data protection and back-up (better than many on-premise deployments).

Microsoft Dynamics NAV isn’t the only ERP solution Concentrix provides, and one of our most popular is the Sage 200 suite. However the most suitable choice of ERP software, whether it is cloud-based, on-premise, Microsoft, Sage or other solution, depends on your business requirements. So for advice, information or an informal chat about the most suitable ERP solution for your organization, please contact Concentrix.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is due for release in January 2011 and can be implemented and up and running quickly. What’s more, because it’s an online deployment there will be minimal additional hardware required. This makes the extremely popular Microsoft solution available to businesses of all sizes. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Is currently available at an introductory offer price of £22.50 per month.

The solution will deliver a number of benefits to organisations as it is:

» Familiar – this is because of the outlook navigation, web client experience, auditing, field level security, export for excel. The benefits of the familiarity include: streamlined experience for users to reduce training costs and ensures compliance requirements can be met

» Intelligent – Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online will provide dashboards. These make information easy to find. What’s more, the dashboards can be role based and this means that user efficiency will be improved as any distractions will be removed. The dashboards will show the information which users need to see and hide the information which they don’t.  The powerful visualisations of information means decisions can be made instantaneously.

» Connected – Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online integrates with SharePoint and Microsoft Dynamics NAV out of the box. This means that the investment in Microsoft solutions can be maximised as all solutions integrate. It will also be possible to track all interactions with customers to ensure there is a 360 degree view of customers.

All of this means that Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online will deliver rapid ROI.

It’s all very well in you reading about how fantastic Microsoft Dynamics CRM is, but the only way you will really be able to see the  benefits of the solution is to trial it. Concentrix can now provide a free trial of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. All you need to do to get up and running is to contact Concentrix. We will then be able to give you a quick demonstration of the software at which point you will be able to decide if you want to trial it and how long for.

Once you're ready to start your free trial of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Online, we'll provide you with a URL and details of how to access the application, and away you go!

Why choose Microsoft Dynamics CRM Rather than SalesForce?

If you are thinking of implementing a Customer Relationship Management solution as SaaS, you may well have considered SalesForce. However as an independent CRM specialist, here are five reasons why we believe Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is better.

Familiar user interface – User uptake is one of the key reasons why so many CRM projects fail. However, many businesses use Microsoft Office on a daily basis and as a result there is often rapid user uptake of the solution.

Integration with Outlook – Microsoft Dynamics CRM seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Outlook

Data is in real time – Enabling you to make business critical decisions straight from your CRM solution. However with SalesForce there can be a delay of up to 60 minutes

Choice of deployment methods – Microsoft Dynamics is available either as an On-Premise or Hosted solution, however no matter which one you choose, if you then decide you would prefer to have a different alternative the hosting platform can be altered – literally in the switch of a button

Ease of customisation and configuration – Microsoft Dynamics was designed to enable customers and business partners alike to customise and configure the solution

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is due for release in January 2011 and is packed with new features which will significantly enhance functionality.  The launch price is £22.50 per month and this is significantly less than the SalesForce alternative. Concentrix is an independent business solutions specialist based in the midlands. Concentrix has an excellent working relationship with Microsoft and is a Microsoft Gold Partner.

For more information about Microsoft Dynamics CRM or to arrange a FREE demonstration, contact Concentrix on 01509 410500 or email [email protected]

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2011

The latest cloud-based version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM – Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2011 is scheduled for release in January 2011. But what new features does the latest version have, and will they add any value?

New Features of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online

Code in the Cloud –With Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2011 version you can fully customise and integrate the solution – unlike the hosted version.

Dashboards – Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2011 provides users with dashboards which can be role tailored, this means that icons which users don’t use are hidden and those which they do use are highlighted. You can also create individually tailored and fully contextual dashboards and this means that they have the ability to provide an overview of the whole business.

Enhanced Familiarity - One of the key benefits of Microsoft Dynamics CRM is its familiarity. With Microsoft Solutions there is often higher user uptake because the software looks so familiar for users, and the latest version takes this further.

Role Tailored Client – This is something Microsoft included in its Microsoft Dynamics NAV tool. Essentially the role tailored client removes 90% of the applications which users don’t need, eliminating distractions and therefore improving productivity. At the same time the Role Tailored Functionality highlights the features which users do need. Therefore enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation.

SharePoint Integration - Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 has out of the box integration with SharePoint, making it even easier to share information with employees and customers alike.

So we’re sure that the new features of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2011 will add real benefits to businesses.

Why choose Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online?

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2011 is ideal for small to medium sized organisations looking to implement a CRM solution. And also for larger organisations just beginning a CRM project. The Online platform will provide companies with all the benefits of CRM in terms of enhanced efficiency and effectiveness for £22.50 per month. With the Online solution you are unlikely to need to purchase any additional hardware as the software will not be stored on your server.

Whether you choose Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online or the On-Premise version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, it is important to remember that if you change your mind and would prefer the other hosting alternative, this can be done, literally in the switch of a button.

Concentrix provides both Microsoft Dynamics CRM as an Online and On-Premise solution and Microsoft Dynamics NAV. Concentrix is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and we’re looking forward to the launch of this exciting new product.

For more information about Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, or to arrange a FREE demonstration, contact Concentrix on 01509 410500.

Concentrix BizNetix – Providing benefits across all areas of business!

Traditionally intranets were associated with larger organisations, purely because of the cost associated with them. However, Concentrix has recently launched BizNetix - the SharePoint based intranet. BizNetix makes intranets accessible to organisations of all sizes as it can be customised and implemented for less than £10k. What’s more for any business which has purchased a new server since 2003, it’s possible that you may already have a SharePoint Licence – further reducing the cost!

Microsoft’s SharePoint provides organisations with a vast amount of flexibility and functionality – but the majority of organisations don’t use it and the this is for one simple reason - they don’t know where to start! However, BizNetix provides organisations with a simple way to get up and running with SharePoint and because it can be implemented quickly you will soon begin to feel the benefits which it can deliver! 

Benefits which SharePoint will deliver across your business include:

- Provides a familiar user interface which simplifies how users communicate with each other

- Boosts employee productivity and therefore efficiency and effectiveness as everyday activities are simplified by workflows

- Helps reduce litigation risk by specifying security settings

- Streamlines business processes.

- However there are also benefits which are specific to individual departments.

- Benefits for HR Managers include:

- Expenses approval

- Appraisal Management

- Training & Compliance

- Health & Safety certification

- Holiday Management

Benefits for IT Managers include:

- Enhanced Project and Knowledge Management

- Call Logging Functionality

- Assistance with Asset Registering

- It enables you to save disk space

Benefits for Marketing Managers include:

- Provides a central location to store all marketing collateral

- Streamlines internal processes

- Can link directly to social networking applications such as Twitter and company blogs

- Eliminates silos of information as announcements can be make for the whole organisation to see

- Ensures consistency across all departments as branding guidelines can be uploaded for the whole organisation to access

BizNetix is extremely easy to use and because you can design the navigation so that it matches that of your website there is likely to be a rapid user uptake.  What’s more users will not require a significant amount of training to get up and running. However Concentrix can provide ongoing training and support if it is required!

For more information about Concentrix BizNetix or to arrange a FREE demonstration, contact Concentrix on 01509 410500 or email [email protected]