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Take this remote workshop to learn about your internal usage licenses benefit for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. Understand what your MPN benefits give you today; how to best demo the product and watch some easy-to-implement real-world scenarios that will quickly make your IUR benefit invaluable to your business.

This offering is designed for Technical Specialists and Technical Decision Makers with an awareness emphasis on Business Development Managers in functional roles at Microsoft Partner Network member organizations.

After completing this training, partners will be able to:

1. Understand the Internal Usage Rights (IUR) License
2. The benefit available to you, based on your MPN membership status
3. Walkthrough of how to enable their IUR License
4. Learn how to best demo Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online for their customers.
5. Learn how to use IUR licenses to implement some real-world scenarios that will benefit their business. 

June 10, 2015 11 AM CST (2 Hours) - Course Level: 200

Cost: Free

Registration Link 

Learn more here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3049571 

Article of the Week

Great detailed blog on conditional formatting with CRM Charts

Highlighting contribution using conditional formatting in CRM charts

The article of the week is a pair of blogs by Adam Vero on charting.  The article will show you how to tinker with the chart XML to give you more control over what is displayed.

Best of the Rest

CRM 2013 – Create Enumerations for option sets

How and why you should Enum for your option set in your CRM code

GETTING STARTED WITH MICROSOFT DYNAMICS CRM 2015 ROLLUP FIELDS

A look at rollup fields in CRM 2015

Experiences of Unit testing with Microsoft Dynamics CRM Projects

Hosk experiences of unit testing in CRM projects

LINQPad 4 Driver for Dynamics CRM is available on CodePlex

A new version of LINQPad has been released

Don’t just test the happy path

Don’t just test the happy path, test the other paths as well

Setting up your Dynamics CRM Development & Source Control Environment

CRM 2013 – Investigation into replacing the Assign functionality

Hosk was trying to find a solution to a requirement

GetAttributeValue demystified

GetAttributeValue will stop putting null checks in your code

CRM 2015 – How to change the option set default value

Find where the option set default value is kept

Debug / Unit Test CRM 2011 JavaScript Rest/Soap in visual studio for on-premise CRM installation

Good article on unit testing Javascript in CRM

Why you shouldn’t put unsupported customizations in Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Don’t go down the dark side of CRM development, don’t put in unsupported customizations

Deployment Options

The deployment options for CRM

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online patterns & principles for solution builders

White paper on building solutions for CRM online

What is max degree of parallelism option setting in SQL Server?

An SQL server setting you can change, but what does it do

programming

Get Visual code here

Microsoft releases free code editor for Mac and Linux!!

C# Coding Conventions (C# Programming Guide)

Screaming Architecture

Great article from Uncle Bob on architecture

TEST YOUR SAD PATH FIRST

Happy path testing

Lessons Learned in Software Development

other

The Timeless Nature of the Herd Mentality

Mental Model: Bias from Overconfidence

Last Weeks Top CRM Articles

Hosk’s Top CRM Articles of the week – 24th April

Useful Hosk Links

Hosk list Of CRM 2013 Tools

A list and review of CRM 2013 tools, this will probably work in CRM 2015 as well

Hosk’s CRM Developer Articles

A collection of my favourite CRM Developer articles I have written

MB2-703 – CRM 2013 Customization and Configuration Certification Information

All the CRM 2013 content to help you pass the exam

HoskWisdom – Hosk Developer Quotes

 Words of Wisdom from the Hosk.  I have written over 900 articles, surely I should have said a few memorable things

By now you have most likely heard that the world is changing, and consumers are greatly increasing their buying power through online social media. Imagine this, you walk into a store to purchase an item you have had your eye on. You know that another store sells a very similar product so you immediately get onto your smart phone or tablet to compare the store prices and product reviews. The opinion of a sales associate is nice to know but it is also important to hear from real-life users of the products.

Nielson recently released a study that reported the second most trusted source of brand information and messaging are online consumer reviews. Buyers’ trust in online reviews is projected to increase from 70% to 85% within the next few years. This may make keeping up with technical changes to keep your competitive advantage challenging. Having a CRM solution that allows you to stay connected to online social media can give you the edge you need to stay ahead of the game. Here are some of the top reasons why social connectivity is a must-have:

1. Neilson also found that 61% of buyers read online reviews before making a purchase decision. Online reviews can be anything from a simple peer recommendation, sharing of images, customer testimonials, and either a negative or positive comment.
2. Reviews are starting to gain greater credibility as anonymity fades away. Now as the real identity of buyers is starting to come out more through sites like Facebook and Twitter, even more trust is being placed on reviews.
3. With integration tools such as Social Listening, you can easily monitor what consumers are saying about your company or products on social networks. You can respond in real time to make sure you are staying in conversation.
4. Keep an eye out for your competitors by monitoring what consumers are saying about them.
5. Understand purchasing signals and quickly react to generate leads and stay ahead of the competition.
6. Customers value the ability to have a two way conversation with companies. You can not only give buyers valuable information, but you also have a greater ability to listen to what they have to say and react accordingly.
7. With CRM, you can create a central location for a companywide look at each consumer. This helps to ensures that questions and concerns are answered in a timely manner.
8. Successful businesses know that focusing on customer relationships should always be a number one priority. Having a strong presence online where consumers are talking will help you to understand their needs better in order to build stronger relationships.

Never underestimate the consequences that can result from just one bad review. Negative comments online can really do some damage to your company. Stay involved in online social conversations and ahead of your competition with a socially connected CRM solution.

Learn more with this ebook: Always Be Closing: The ABCs of Sales in the Modern Era

By Socius, a CRM solution provider in Ohio and Kansas (www.socius1.com)

Top 8 Reasons Why Having a Socially Connected CRM is a Must is a post from: CRM Software Blog

The post Top 8 Reasons Why Having a Socially Connected CRM is a Must appeared first on CRM Software Blog.

So you were wondering how Hierarchy works and really love a good diagram that says more than paragraphs and paragraphs full of words?

Look no further, just Click! 

It may be possible that when you attempt to post a statement, you run into a posting error.  There could be multiple reasons why this fails such as tax rounding is higher than your posting rounding threshold.  You simply want to fix the issue and re-post the statement.  But after fixing the issue at hand, you find that the Clear statement button is greyed out.  You are now stuck because you need to bring in the change you just made so that the posting is successful, now what do you do?

Let's first discuss what is occurring in this scenario.  When a statement posting fails, the expectation would be that the statement postings are rolled back and the statement returns to its original calculated state.  What is actually occurring is that the statement stops where it is and doesn't completely roll back.  As hinted in the screenshot above, a "Posting date" was assigned to the statement that was being used to post Sales Orders.  Some of those Sales Orders may have already been created and are still linked to the statements transactions. 

What is now happening is that when you load the statement form, a check is performed to see which buttons should be enabled (\Forms\RetailStatementTable\RetailStatementClear:clicked).  The specific code for this scenario looks like this:
RetailStatementClear.enabled(statementTable.calculatedDate != dateNull()
&& statementTable.postingDate == dateNull());

Since the statementTable.postingDate has a date of 5/1/2015, the RetailStatementClear button is disabled.  To enable the button again, there are two scenarios:

1. Install the KB below to resolve the issue, but this is normally applicable to future statement posting failures only.  Try reposting the statement after installing this KB to see if it rolls back properly.
     KB 2996213 - A Retail statement that includes transactions that contain blank dimensions cannot be posted and a sales order is generated without an invoice.

2. If after installing the KB and the re-post still doesn't roll back for this particular statement, you can simply clear out the Posting Date field in the RETAILSTATEMENTTABLE.  Reload the form and the clear statement should be available.  After making any necessary changes, post the statement again.  This statement post should recognize that sales orders were already created for some of the transactions and finish the posting job where it left off.  As a precaution, I always recommend performing this in test first to ensure that your posting occurs as expected.

Here are two statements you can run in SSMS to locate and clear out the Posting Date for a specific statement:
select POSTINGDATE, * from RETAILSTATEMENTTABLE where STATEMENTID = 'SSEATTLE000060'
update RETAILSTATEMENTTABLE set POSTINGDATE = '' where STATEMENTID = 'SSEATTLE000060'

Customer satisfaction has never been more important than it is right now in today’s fast-paced and highly competitive marketplace.  Learn how to satisfy your customers and develop deep customer loyalty by integrating a customer relationship management (CRM) solution with your enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution.

In order to provide superior customer satisfaction, your sales and customer services teams need to be able to access accurate customer information quickly and anticipate customer needs.  You can manage all of your customer-centric data from within a powerful CRM solution connected to ERP.  You and your team can access customer preferences or specifications, historical product orders, and current orders.  Without putting the customer on hold, your team can answer customer questions about what they may have ordered last and in what quantity.  Your team can offer assistance with managing replenishments and boost cross-sales or up-sales by offering additional products that may be complementary to the items that customers commonly order.  Impress your customers by showing them that you are not only familiar with their needs, but can also be more proactive with anticipating future needs.

Innovative CRM solutions, such as Microsoft Dynamics® CRM, also offer marketing and advertising insight.  You can release marketing campaigns and monitor the effectiveness of each individual campaign effort.  Keep track of leads, sales, and whether you are grabbing the attention of new prospects or engaging existing customers effectively.  As you get to know your target audience, you can fine-tune efforts to ensure you are investing in the ideal marketing channels and reaching customers on their terms.  In addition, you can personalize advertising efforts, only sending promotional materials or information to the customers most interested in those products or special offers.  No one likes junk mail and your customers will appreciate getting relevant information, not just the latest glossy brochure.

As you get to know and anticipate customer needs, engage them on their terms, and streamline marketing efforts, you can improve customer service and satisfaction.  Contact Sherwood Systems for additional information about using CRM to nurture long-term customer relationships and develop customer loyalty.

By Sherwood Systems, Microsoft ERP and CRM Partner out of Arizona

Improve Customer Satisfaction And Develop Customer Loyalty With CRM is a post from: CRM Software Blog

The post Improve Customer Satisfaction And Develop Customer Loyalty With CRM appeared first on CRM Software Blog.

In this week's Microsoft Dynamics partner news roundup:

• PriceAdvantage Integrates with PetroZone Retail Fuels Module;
• Intellitec Now Supports Long-Term Care Clients in 15 States
• Boyer & Associates Expands Dynamics GP, NAV Consulting Team;
• Crestwood Announces Staff Promotion for Dynamics SL;

PriceAdvantage Integrates with PetroZone Retail Fuels Module

PriceAdvantage, a fuel price management software company and division of Skyline Products, has announced that the company software now integrate with P97 Networks' PetroZone Retail Fuels Module (RFM) powered by the Microsoft Dynamics AX point-of-sale system.

The integratio...

read more

As the month comes to an end, every AP accountant approaches the process with a bit of dread. Tracking down bills from the previous month and closing them out can be a huge pain (and can have you working long hours at the end of the month.) Many of these time consuming tasks can be streamlined by using and AP automation system such as Fidesic AP for GP. If you follow these simple tips you will find your month end runs quite smoothly.

1. Scan invoices as soon as they are received:
Once you’ve got your invoices in a digital form, tracking them down at the end of the month becomes a much easier process. There’s no need to run around the office to track down paper invoices that got stranded on someone’s desk.

2. Run an accrual report compatible with your ERP system
An AP solution like Fidesic allows you to generate an accrual report for all invoices in the system that have not yet made it into your ERP system. Simply run this report and you’re able to import your end of month accrual in just a few simple steps.

3. Find out where invoices are stuck before the month is closed
When you use Fidesic AP for invoice processing you can quickly see where you invoices are at in the approval process. You can easily see who has a pile of invoices pending their approval, and reach out to make sure they make their approvals prior to the month end.

By utilizing these simple ideas and a system such as Fidesic, you’ll be able to close out your month with little more effort than you have to apply throughout the rest of the month.
For more information about Fidesic AP for GP, head over to www.FidesicAPforGP.com or email to sales@enlivensoftware.com.

About Enliven Software

Enliven Software is a leading Lansing, MI Microsoft Dynamics ISV delivering AP and AR  business solutions across industries to local businesses for over 15 years. Enliven provides cloud based solutions that help automate Accounts Payable processes, and provide a dynamic Customer portal designed to work specifically with  Dynamics GP.

The post 3 Ways to Make Your Month End Closing Run Smoothly appeared first on goERPcloud.

Enterprise resource planning has existed for several decades as both a strategy and a type of software to aid businesses with a manufacturing, fabrication or other production component in their operations. Many companies aren't strangers to ERP systems, and some have used them to great effect for many years.

Of course, businesses can't keep using the same ERP software indefinitely. While the lifespan of these platforms can stretch across many years, every one of them will eventually need to be replaced. Organizations that are coming up on the end of the useful life of their current solution - as well as smaller and newer businesses that haven't used such systems before - need to be cognizant of when replacement or a major upgrade is necessary.

Deficiencies in a variety of different operational areas can all indicate a need for a new, more modern ERP system. Here are a few areas where decision-makers should pay close attention:

Time lost to manual processes
Except for the largest, wealthiest and most technologically advanced multinational companies, complete and total automation of business processes isn't a realistic option. However, there are many areas where even the smallest fabrication shops can benefit from eliminating excessive or needless manual work. Such an approach saves time and allows employees to focus on their higher-level duties more so than making sure they've written down the right batch number or have correctly tracked the right amount of resources used in a specific order. ERP doesn't just make this kind of in-the-moment tracking of resources easier and more standardized, it also helps to ensure the data collected remains consistent and accurate. This is true no matter when or where employees need to access than information later on.

Activities on the shop floor aren't the only business operations that can benefit from a lessening of manual, repetitive work. With the ability of modern ERP software to function across nearly all areas of a company, many other departments will benefit as well. Employees in various accounting and administrative roles can draw on this same data to realize better insight and more accurate projections.

Software compatibility issues
An ERP system that's correctly implemented and maintained provides a long useful life for the company that has it in place. However, every system eventually needs to be replaced no matter how effective it is. Support for the software and the changing nature of hardware means maintaining such a platform is difficult in the extreme long term.

Before these truly terminal problems are encountered with older systems, there are plenty of issues that spring up. It becomes difficult and then functionally impossible to integrate a new line of business or new machinery on the shop floor. New servers and workstations have to have some degree of backward engineering to make the older system functional. In many respects, an old ERP system becomes more trouble than it's worth. Just as manual processes eat into the effectiveness of such software, so do the compatibility problems that slowly but surely arise over time.

Most businesses don't want to move on from their current systems too early, and that's a prudent course of action. However, once the issues above start becoming more common, production and profitability will both start to suffer. Developing a plan of action and budgeting for a new ERP system while the old one is still working at a reasonable level is an effective approach to this issue. Additionally, businesses can seek out the help of an experienced ERP partner to aid in planning the transition and get a strategy in place before problems start to arise.

by The TM Group

In our last article we looked at what B2B eCommerce is (and how it is different from B2C eCommerce very briefly) and why understanding that is the critical first step for your business. In this article we will build on where we left last and look at the differences between B2B and B2C eCommerce in little more detail across Pre-Purchase, Purchase and Post-Purchase categories.

Also Read:Understanding the World of B2B eCommerce , the first article for more details.

PRE-PURCHASE

• Customers
  • As discussed earlier, B2B deals with businesses and B2C with end users. But it does not stop there; in B2B eCommerce you have multiple contacts from the same company who purchase on behalf of the company from the store while in B2C you have individual contacts with no relationship between them.
• Product Price
  • Product pricing is little more complex in B2B than in B2C. In B2B the same product is available at different prices for different customers depending on customer type, order quantity, purchase commitments, payment terms, and more. Whereas in B2C the prices are more standardized and vary little from customer to customer.
• Sales Assistance
  • Barring few industries, B2C purchases often require little or no sales assistance, while on the other hand B2B purchases are often more complex and require sales assistance at multiple levels. In B2B you often have sales representatives associated with accounts to help, address any issues and build relationships.
• eCommerce, Content and Traffic
  • In B2B the traffic (number of customers) is often less compared to B2C. Because of this and a few other reasons (customer profile, the purchase process, etc.) the expectations from the eCommerce store are also very different. In B2C the eCommerce site focuses more on differentiating themselves with flashy design, features to help make decisions faster, etc. In B2B the emphasis is more on the ease and usability of the site.
  • While content is gaining popularity in B2C, it is more critical and a must in the B2B environment.
• Legacy Systems and Channels
  • B2B businesses are plagued with legacy systems with sales often happening on both offline (sales representatives, email, phone, etc.) and online channels. While emerging as important channels for B2B as well mobile, social media, marketplaces are happening places for B2C eCommerce. Also, it is often easier to replace systems in a B2C environment than in B2B which makes integration an important and difficult thing in B2B.
• Rules and Regulations
  • The rules and regulations in B2B are more complex than those in B2C because of tax rules, payment restrictions, product restrictions, etc.

PURCHASE

• Role of Emotion
  • B2B purchase decisions are usually cold, logical and carefully thought out with little or no role of emotion. Emotions play a big role in B2C purchases with people often making purchase decisions purely based on emotions and no logical connect (impulse purchases are so common in B2C). The primary reason for this is the risk associated with the purchase, which is much higher in a B2B scenario.
• Decision Making
  • Unlike B2C where the decision is taken by the end customer, decision making in B2B happens at multiple levels. Hence B2B sales are little more complex because it requires convincing people at multiple levels; while gatekeepers can delay the process indefinitely management with veto power can completely kill it.
• Buying Process and Sales Cycle
  • The sales process in B2B is longer, complex and process oriented; it involves requesting a quote, negotiation, approval and order. In B2C the process is much simpler where the users directly purchase the product they like without any delay.
• Order Size
  • Order sizes in B2B usually are much larger than in B2C.
• Payments
  • Unlike in B2C where payment happens almost immediately payments in B2B happen over a period of time; depending on the payment terms
  • Also payment gateways like PayPal, Authorize .Net are very popular in B2C whereas B2B relies on traditional payment methods like offline payments, purchase order, credit limit, etc.
• Product Inventory
  • In B2B the product sold is often not in stock and procured after order confirmation. On other hand for B2C more often than not the product is sold only when in stock.

POST-PURCHASE

• Order Fulfillment and Shipment
  • Because of the size of the order, order fulfillment and shipping are very different in B2B. In B2B fulfillment usually takes longer, costs more and uses very different shipping methods, while same day shipping, free shipping, etc. are the new trends and differentiators in the world of B2C.
• Customer Relationship
  • Because of the nature of B2B transactions (larger order size, repeat/ recurring orders, etc.) B2B relationships are developed over time and are ongoing. To build these long term relationships post purchase customer care, building personal relationships, etc. become critical. In B2C, while repeat customers are common and desired, very little is often done to build and nurture the relationship (other than occasional promotional emails). In most cases competitive pricing, quality product, on time delivery and responsive support (in case of issues with payment, order or returns) are good to drive repeat customers in B2C.
• Returns
  • While not desired returns of part and parcel of every business. In B2C returns are accepted as a part of business and entertained for varied reasons. In B2B returns can be very complicated because of the order size and follow a very strict and rigorous process.
• Repeat / Recurring Orders
  • Repeat and recurring orders are a trademark of B2B eCommerce, while most orders in B2C are one time.

Also Read:Why eCommerce for Wholesalers, Distributors and Manufacturers? to understand why B2B businesses must adopt eCommerce.

by i95Dev – Partner for your B2B and B2C eCommerce Needs.

A selection of the latest insight from the Microsoft Dynamics GP blogs:

• Code to Import a Note with an eConnect AP Invoice;
• Cashbook Management Reconciliation Error:"There is a problem with this Checkbook's balances;
• Sales Order Integration - Sales Person and Territory Are Not populated to Line Items
• Behind the Dynamics GP Remember User and Password Option;

Code to Import a Note with an eConnect AP Invoice

Over in Dynamics GP Land, Steve Endow said that recently a client asked him to add a new field to their AP Invoice Import. They wanted to import a unique transactio...

read more

Why Upgrade Your Microsoft Dynamics ERP Solution?

In the Enterprise Planning (ERP) world, we often explain that implementing your solution is like building a house - start with a strong foundation, add options, etc. If that were the case, ERP upgrades might correspond to adding higher efficiency windows or appliances, installing infrastructure for “smart home” features, addressing building code changes, or minimizing future service costs.

While there are also some intangible benefits and additional opportunities afforded to a business through an upgrade project, we will focus here on the more tangible benefits.

To better crystalize these benefits, they can be broken down into four areas:

• efficiency
• features
• compatibility
• supportability

1. Efficiency

Upgrading your Dynamics ERP solution will increase performance and refresh the user experience.

Just like new windows and furnaces are more efficient today than when your home was first built, so too is computer technology. Technology is continually evolving;  not too many years ago we wouldn’t have imagined the feasibility of cloud-deployed solutions, smart-phones, tablet adoption, and the general speed at which we are now able to do business.

On the hardware side, processors are faster, RAM is cheaper, and solid-state drives are much more prevalent. Additionally, network improvements allow for remotely deployed solutions (cloud/Azure, hosted) – removing much of the IT responsibility from your organization. On the software side, Windows and SQL improve regularly to take advantage of both those hardware changes and other shifting tools.

If you are still using a solution architected years ago, it is not taking advantage of many of these changes. As a result, it will start to feel “sluggish” when compared to your other software. Productivity suffers due to actual software performance, but is also influenced by increased user reluctance to engage the tool.

2. Features

Upgrading your Dynamics NAV or Dynamics AX software introduces new features and functionality.

There is buzz right now over the Internet of Things (IoT). In the home, this may mean that your refrigerator is ultimately able to provide shopping lists or even place orders at the grocery store. Today, applications already allow smarter heating and cooling regulation, lighting control, plant monitoring and many other comforts. Like improvements to the home afforded by the IoT, newer ERP solutions also provide features not available in prior versions.

Every ERP solution evolves to stay competitive. This evolution can sometimes include changes to take advantage of infrastructure improvements, or can provide new and improved functionality. If the solution is competitive in the market, you can always be assured that upgrading to the newest version will do more for your business than only taking advantage of technology changes. It will also provide more streamlined, role-tailored workflows, new functional areas and better interface options.

3. Compatibility

Upgrading your ERP ensures that your business eco-system will be in harmony.

You might have had the experience of starting a home project and realizing that our house is not up to “code.” New regulations never cease. Likewise, the assumptions that your ERP solution was originally written against have changed. Windows versions alone can account for significant compatibility issues if you continue to try to run older software programs. External programs that your ERP solution talked to previously may no longer be able to communicate, once updated.

New business tools are continually introduced and older tools are continually evolving. Some examples of these include smart phones, tablets, VOIP, web stores, credit card integration, business intelligence (BI) applications, shipping software, and Microsoft Office.

4. Supportability

Upgrading your Dynamics solution holds down ongoing support costs.

Much like a plumber or electrician is usually able to work with (or around) outdated fixtures and piping, your ERP solution provider is also likely to provide support for older versions of your software. But also like that plumber or electrician, they are not as efficient in that older environment. The scenario also might occur that your vendor may no longer offer support of any kind for the environment.

If you are on version 4.0 of an ERP solution from ten years ago and the current release is version 8.0, you will likely find that your ERP partner has a limited set of resources that have direct experience with your release. You are still a paying customer, so support will be available - it just becomes more scarce and expensive. Because your partner is implementing new systems and extending those workflows, outputs and configurations in different and exciting ways, they will have less applicable tools for your legacy version. By being on a more current version, you will often find that your partner is more readily able to introduce additional perks (custom micro-solutions, reports, etc…) not applicable in the older releases of the solution.

Waiting too long to upgrade your Dynamics ERP could prove more costly.

An upgrade can be an expensive endeavor and certainly requires a business case to justify the investment, but it is a rare business that can continue to succeed in a moving marketplace while running antiquated software. While an upgrade to every new ERP release is often not required and can sometimes be overly expensive relative to business needs, letting your solution stagnate for five years or more may ultimately prove to be more expensive.

As Director of the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Practice at Stoneridge Software,Sean Solberg is a veteran of many upgrades and implementations.Stoneridge Software is a Fargo, ND and Minneapolis, MN area Dynamics AX and Dynamics NAV partner. If you're researching an ERP implementation or upgrade, contact the experts at Stoneridge Software: 612-354-4966 or info@stoneridgesoftware.com.

by Stoneridge Software

In the world of Business Intelligence, today’s dynamic, flexible dashboards are ensuring that Manufacturing and Distribution companies comprehend company data for stronger decision-making. 

Dashboards are the leading Business Intelligence (BI) software, according to a recent study by Software Advice, a comparison site for Business Intelligence (BI) tools.  Their survey zoomed in on software for Chief Financial Officers and their results pointed to dashboards, scorecards, and performance management software as the most important tool for business leaders today.  If you are charged with managing a manufacturing and distribution company, you understand the fast pace of your business.  Dashboards respond to that by providing quickly and easily understandable analytics.  In particular, dashboards are charts, graphs, and scorecards that showcase data trends, opportunities and threats with key performance indicators (KPIs) for departments, projects and the entire organization.

You’re used to seeing a dashboard in your car, and BI dashboards are similar in that you can quickly make decisions by glancing at a visualization of your operational and transactional data.  The primary difference between a dashboard in your car and BI data visualizations is that the BI product invites interaction, adjustment, and analysis for deeper understanding.  BI data visualizations are built with drill-down and drill-to capabilities, so you can richly inform decision-making processes about the future of your manufacturing and distribution company.  At this point, hopefully, you get it: dashboards are the hottest BI product in the business world today because they are so powerfully accessible.  This article will zoom in on dashboards for the manufacturing and distribution industry.

Let’s begin by discussing your data sources.  Today’s dashboard tools can pull your company data from multiple sources.  You can generate analytics with real-time information by integrating live from Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and/or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems or additional data sources.  Dashboards built from direct integrations are preferred for professionals who depend on up-to-the-minute data, and smaller companies that require less complex ERP system dashboards, without the need or ability to maintain BI databases, like a data warehouse or an online analytical processing (OLAP) cube.  However, bigger organizations usually need a higher performance and the stability that a BI data store can offer.

Selecting a data warehouse or an OLAP cube integration empowers larger corporations to design dashboards without making the data source system server sluggish due to significant and/or simultaneous data queries.  Investing in a BI data store is an additional cost, and you’re also responsible for ensuring that your data is replicated to the data warehouse or OLAP cube, but the high performance is worth it for some companies.  Some dashboard tools allow the user to choose when they would like to integrate live for more urgent analyses, with real-time data (i.e. tracking a customer order), and pulling data from a BI data store for routine data visualizations for more regular analyses, like staffing.  This flexibility is quite value-laden and helpful today, without being too expensive.  And this is just the beginning of the list of considerations to make when shopping for the right tool for your team.

To continue learning more about dashboards for manufacturing and distribution companies, read the rest of this article here.

by Solver, Inc.