Editor's Note: This article is drawn from Scott's recent
book about Warehouse Management using Microsoft
Dynamics AX: 2016 Edition .
The various options for
transportation management within Microsoft Dynamics AX share ...read more![]()
Fundamentals of Transportation in Microsoft Dynamics AX
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How to use Word document templates in Dynamics CRM
A new feature introduced with Dynamics CRM 2016 Update on both online and on-premise is the ability to use word templates. This makes simple reporting a lot easier now, as well as provides assistance with...(read more)![]()
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How ERP Changes the Competitive Landscape for Small and Midsize Manufacturers
Small and midsize manufacturers used to manage all of their operations through spreadsheets or accounting software. For a while, that solution worked just fine, but as better technologies have been introduced to manufacturing over the past few decades, many of those smaller manufacturers have found that management method lacking. Manufacturers in today’s markets need more than a basic knowledge of what’s happening inside their organization. They need global reach and detailed understanding of internal processes.
An enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution has always been the tool that helps a company move from the small and midsize business (SMB) market into wider, more global competition, but the commitment to install ERP software was one that no company could take lightly. It required a solid commitment of both time and money to ensure that the implementation was successful, and most SMBs couldn’t afford to make that move. The commitment of time and resources was more than any justifiable return, and often, the SMB made the investment only to abandon it later because it was too complicated or too costly.
Technical Confidence
Times have changed. Today, small and midsize manufacturers that still use spreadsheets and accounting software as the backbone of the organization will find themselves left in the dust of companies that choose to implement an ERP application, whether it’s an in-house suite of functionality or a cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) application. ERP has become such an essential part of doing business that it’s changing the competitive landscape for SMBs. Those organizations that choose to ignore the capabilities that ERP enables will likely not be around a few years from now.
Fortunately, ERP has changed along with the times. With the availability of SaaS and cloud-based ERP applications, small and midsize manufacturers no longer need to commit a large chunk of time and financial resources to implement an ERP application. A typical SaaS or cloud-based ERP application can now be fully rolled out in a matter of months at a cost that is probably less than the investment required to keep manual tracking methods updated.
Adding ERP as a service also gives small and midsize manufacturers the technical confidence to strive for excellence in all areas of manufacturing, from planning and procurement to manufacturing and distribution. This means that small and midsize manufacturers can compete even with enterprises in markets that were previously unavailable. The result is rapid growth and expansion for some smaller manufacturers.
Global Reach
Of course, along with expansive growth come challenges. One particular challenge for small and midsize manufacturers is the ability to gain global reach. Not only are today’s small and midsize manufacturers faced with customers who might reside in other countries, but suppliers and vendors may, as well. This introduces a new set of complications that organizations that don’t have an ERP system will find nearly impossible to navigate.
With an ERP system, however, even small manufacturers can access global customers and vendors. Small and midsize manufacturers can navigate these international relationships without concern for the multinational or multicurrency nature of transactions, because the right ERP system will be designed to manage global relationships, including accounting issues, logistics, and regulatory issues.
Lean and Agile Manufacturing
Competing in today’s market isn’t just about creating the appearance of being a large company or having global reach. Small and midsize manufacturers that want to remain competitive in this market also need to be able to respond quickly to market shifts and customer demands, and they need to be able to reduce costs while being responsive. Lean and agile manufacturing is no longer wishful thinking: it’s a critical requirement.
Small and midsize manufacturers in today’s market that want to be here tomorrow need ERP to have the right planning, forecasting, and insight capabilities to be flexible while operating on less. Spreadsheets and accounting programs can’t provide that kind of insight. It takes a robust ERP application that can tap into both historical and real-time customer, vendor, and manufacturing data to provide detailed insight into changing trends, efficient processes, and customer demands.
If this market sounds tough, consider this: competition is only going to increase. More small and midsize manufacturers have the ability to access the functions and capabilities of ERP applications. The availability of ERP in the cloud or as SaaS offerings means that it’s no longer just an option for enterprises. The landscape of this competitive market makes ERP a requirement for small and midsize manufacturers and those that choose to ignore that requirement are risking their very future.
Download the full guide here or for more information contact us at info@columbusglobal.com.
by Columbus
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Microsoft Dynamics CRM – Difference of Area [Charts]
Microsoft allows you to create different types of charts through the Dynamics CRM interface in order to visualize your data. Charts are a great way to see key performance indicators at a glance, both for your executives and representatives. Dynamics CRM charts can easily be added to dashboards, directly on a Form or List views.
This screenshot shows the current chart types you can choose from within the interface. However, you can easily add many other chart types to your system simply by exporting the chart XML and entering a different chart type currently permitted by MS.
One chart type in particular that I would like to discuss is the Area chart. Below, you can see screenshots of two Area charts. Can you identify the difference? You may think that they are each representing a different data set. However, they actually represent the same data. If you guessed chart type, you are correct. Figure 1 is a traditional Area chart and Figure 2 is a Stacked Area chart.
Traditional Area charts display quantities for each series horizontally, similar to how a line graph or bar chart would appear. If one series quantity is less than another, it will dip behind. While this can be useful to see, it makes it difficult to determine the actual value directly from the chart. As the name implies, Stacked Area charts display your series, stacked vertically. Quantities will never be hidden, but rather the series is stacked as appropriate based on their quantities. The series represents a unified sum that you want to display. If each showed net profit, expenses and cost of goods, the total would represent your sales.
So, which chart type will you use? It may be a matter of preference, depending on your business needs and which type your employees are used to seeing. Luckily, MS Dynamics CRM gives you the ability to choose.
Beringer Associates a leading Microsoft Gold Certified Partner specializing in Microsoft Dynamics CRM and CRM for Distribution. We also provide expert Managed IT Services, Backup and Disaster Recovery, Cloud Based Computing and Unified Communication Systems.
by Beringer Associates
The post Microsoft Dynamics CRM – Difference of Area [Charts] appeared first on CRM Software Blog.
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Default production finished goods location must be set.
If you are using the WMS RF device menus with production and using the Report as Finished or the Report as finished and putaway menu. If you get the message “Default production finished goods location...(read more)![]()
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Display credit limit check dialog at warehouse release
If you are reviewing how you manage credit limits checks for shipments going out there is one parameter that might be something to experiment with if you want to change the check from the default. You...(read more)![]()
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Video: Working with Products, Quotes and Orders in Microsoft CRM
This video – just over 3 minutes long – provides an overview of the productivity enhancing capabilities now available in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016 Online U1.
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BOM parameter – Block editing
If you are looking for ways to manage you BOM data you might want to have a look at the BOM parameter called Block editing. This will stop a user from editing a BOM that has been approved.
You will want...(read more)![]()
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Change BOM Item
If you need to change you BOM and do a search and replace functional you can use the periodic function under inventory and warehouse management called Change BOM item. This is fairly simplistic in it’s...(read more)![]()
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Field Service – Products and Services
This post is going to cover how to create products and services in Field Service for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016.
Whilst I was revising for my MB2-713 exam (Sales in Microsoft Dynamics CRM) I created...(read more)![]()
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Field Service – Purchasing and Inventory
Field Service for Microsoft Dynamics CRM contains ability to manage inventory, the capabilities include warehousing, purchasing, adjustments / transfers, selling products via work orders and returns. ...(read more)![]()
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Field Service – Calculating Engineer Pay
In Field Service for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016 we can define various pay types which can be used to govern how much field engineers are paid. In this post I will describe the logic involved.
Often...(read more)![]()
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Installing and Configuring Power BI Gateway for Data Refresh
Hello once again, we are back with another exciting blog on Power BI and this time we are going to explore the Power BI Gateway that needs to be installed on your Database server so that the online app can refresh its datasets on a… Read More»![]()
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Field Service and Voice of the Customer
Recently I wrote a post that explained out to configure a survey using the Voice of the Customer feature for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, in this post I will expand on that by showing how you can automate sending...(read more)![]()
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Ambiguous Team Foundation Server (TFS) error 'Source control provider could not be initialized'
Many of you are starting to set up your development areas to TFS online and there is the standard vague error message we are seeing that plays a lot of different roles. Here is a list of items you can...(read more)![]()
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The Microsoft Cloud Partner Margin Squeeze
Just a few short years ago, Office 365 launched. At the time, selling the product required genuine knowledge, and migrating to the product required genuine expertise. There was significant partner margin and incentives on the sale of Office 365, as well a nice margins on deploying it. Those days have long since passed.
Today, most customer companies are well aware of Office 365 and many are making plans to move to it. The seller’s job of explaining what it is, and why the cloud is a safe place to be, has become significantly less necessary. With tools like Skykick and Bit Titan, the technical expertise required to migrate a typical customer has been all but eliminated. Basically, anyone with a quarter of a brain, can sell and deploy office 365 today for a broad category of customers. What this means, as if you don’t already know, is that margins have been significantly compressed. If you did not see this coming, then you weren’t paying any attention at all.
Maybe the On-Premise guys were Right!
We were quick to move to Office 365 right when it launched. Coming from a cloud background as a former Salesforce.com consultant, may have given us a leg up, but frankly, before Office 365, we had no play to make in that space because we did not possess the technical hardware skills to fix a broken mouse. As Office 365 took off, and yanked us and and other “early movers’ up with it, the conversation shifted to “Why are all you other partners still selling on-premise?. Jump in, the waters fine!” Many could not figure out how to switch revenue models, which is another conversation entirely. Now with the compressed margins on cloud, some of those on-premise partners who stayed on the sidelines might be looking pretty smart, but their days are numbered as cloud continues to inhale their customers.
I’ll Race you to the Bottom!
Before CSP, most partners acquired Office 365 via the portal (WebDirect). This is also the same place that customers could by it directly. In WebDirect, Microsoft set the retail price. Now, in Direct CSP, Microsoft sets the wholesale price to partners, in the case of Indirect CSP, Microsoft sets the wholesale price to your distributor, who then sets your price. In either case, you set your selling price to the customer. Good news? Well, this means that partners now have some margin to play with and can actually sell Office 365 to end customers at below the retail price. Let the race to the bottom commence. Offset that further by the additional costs you incur via CSP, like managing billing and support, and you can quickly see where the margin squeeze is inevitable. Office 365 is now a commodity (actually it has been for a while now). With the exception of complex projects, there is little money to be made and if your focus is on Office 365 alone, you won’t be around very long.
Did Microsoft pull the Rug Out?
I guess if you have not been paying attention, and just lifted your head up one day and wondered where all the money went, you might think that MS pulled a fast one on you. But if you look past MS to the entire market, and the competition, it is not hard to see that MS is just reacting as they must. Your ability to make a nice profit as a Microsoft Partner is not their obligation or responsibility… it is yours. It’s not like Microsoft has not been warning you that this was coming. How many times have you heard them tell you that you need to develop some I.P. or focus on a vertical and gain specific expertise? That you did not act on these suggestions/warnings, is not their fault.
Can Azure save the day for you?
For the moment, partners that have moved more of their focus to Azure are doing very well. But that path ultimately leads to the same place, but maybe not as quickly as genuine technical skill is still a requirement. The same goes for EMS, Cloud PBX, or any other “utility”. But watch as Microsoft, and third-parties, work to eliminate that expertise requirement from the equation. Remember the skills that it used to take to setup an on-premise exchange server? Now that can be setup online by a complete moron who checks a few boxes. It won’t be long before Azure is a dashboard of a few checkboxes.
So can this I.P. idea solve the squeeze?
Maybe, for a while. The I.P. space is littered with hole-plugging solutions for which the hole they were plugging was eventually plugged by Microsoft. It’s not that they singled them out for elimination; odds are the hole was on the roadmap to be plugged eventually. For the most obvious holes, there will be multiple solutions created, and those are the most likely to be plugged. Most I.P. like that has a short shelf life. I.P. that has a true shelf life seeks to plug holes that Microsoft will never plug, holes that are obscure enough that multiple players will not seek to plug them, which brings us full-circle back to verticals. While Microsoft has made a few direct attempts at vertical solutions (see Matter Center for Law Firms) they consistently give up on them after a while. Microsoft simply does not have vertical expertise. It may appear that sometimes they are travelling up the tree to certain large branches, but they will never get to the leaves. Microsoft is simply too wide to get very narrow.
That Leaves us the Leaves
In order to sustain good margins in the future, you will eventually have no choice but to focus on some verticals. Focusing on ten verticals is not focusing, it’s marketing. Customers have always been willing to pay a premium for partners who actually understand their specific needs, yet almost all partners are generalists. There is money being left on the table. It takes more than memorizing a few buzzwords to grab that money however. Having an attitude that, from a technology standpoint, all businesses are basically the same, is the generalist’s pitch; easily overcome by someone with actual vertical expertise.
How long before CRM becomes a Commodity?
There are few business applications that need to be vertically specific more than CRM in order to succeed. Ironically, where there are multiple CRM solutions for a particular vertical, there will be price pressure, but there are a lot of “leaves” still to pursue. Business Applications are far more resistant to commoditization than say, Email, Back-up services or Virtual Machines. While our RapidStart solution is not vertically specific, we have worked with a few vertical partners who have developed their own version on our platform that is quite vertical, and they are selling it at three to four times what our generalist partners are. If you have some genuine vertical expertise, let’s talk about a RapidStart model specific to your target clients’ needs.
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My Sessions on Directions NA and EMEA
Few days ago, I wrote about new Directions NA and EMEA . Now I can announce my sessions. I’ll have sessions on both of these Directions.
First, about Directions NA, I’ll have two sessions...(read more)![]()
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Kunskapshantering i en värld med omnichannel
Det finns alldeles för många företag som tvingar sina kundtjänstmedarbetare att uppfinna hjulet på nytt i varje kundkontakt. Om man inte har en tydlig, standardiserad lösning...(read more)![]()
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CRM and Marketing for Government Contractors
In earlier blog posts I have discussed how government contracting is different from other sales processes, and how to adapt your CRM system for the government capture (sales) process. The traditional sales...(read more)![]()
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A practical guide to CRM as a customer experience management platform
For the last few decades, we’ve witnessed how Customer Relationship Management (CRM) struggled to evolve into Customer Experience Management (CXM), though there were more idle talks than actual practice...(read more)![]()
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