Merit Matters Blog

Advanced Distribution for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 targets Distribution / Retail companies wishing to expand their Business through various sales channels, such as the web, nomad or in-house sales force, contact centers, stores or specialized distribution networks, mass distribution… The sales channel diversity is a very positive accelerator to increase the sales turnover, but only if the company can face this generated complexity.

You can learn more about our Advanced Distribution Software Solutions by downloading the product brochure / white paper.

Register to download:
Advanced Distribution Software Brochure

In an effort to help companies improve efficiencies through enhanced communication and collaboration, Microsoft recently developed 30 applications for Microsoft Windows® SharePoint® Services. These applications were tailored to address the requirements of specific business processes (the link to these applications can be found in the “Relevant Resources” section). In addition, the applications served as a starting point for partners and developers to build deeper Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services solutions.

This white paper, which is presented as a follow up to the 30 applications for Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services, details three different scenarios showcasing how a company could benefit from integrating these applications with back-end Microsoft Dynamics AX data. Each scenario is further split into three distinct benefit categories: View Microsoft Dynamics AX Data via Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services, Update Microsoft Dynamics AX Data via Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services, and Collaborate in Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services then Upload Data to Microsoft Dynamics AX. An overview of each scenario is presented below. The companies described in these scenarios are purely fictional. The functionality showcased is also fictional and is intended to illustrate potential application capabilities.

View the white paper:
Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Microsoft Dynamics AX Integration Scenarios

Business success depends on insight. From ad hoc queries into customer records to a detailed analysis of performance, people need faster, easier access to information in ways that make sense for their particular jobs. Microsoft Dynamics® GP 2010 delivers insight that fuels a new way to do business—with information that’s personalized, simple to access, and extended across the organization. Whether people are drilling down to specific data sources from KPIs, accessing real-time reports through a Web browser, or performing sophisticated analyses with new options for Microsoft® Office Excel®, everyone can contribute more to the decisions that fuel business performance.

For example, more than 27 roles have personalized views of data from multiple sources within a single window or role-based dashboard. People can take that information and create virtually any report they need—and refresh data at any time with a single click—with more than 220 Excel and Microsoft SQL Server® Reporting Services reports.

It’s also easy to quickly build Excel reports and even a predictive analysis that includes data from multiple companies. Reports can be accessed and refreshed through the ERP system or a SharePoint® portal—extending the power of information across your organization, without the expense of a full access user license. Just as important, this latest release takes full advantage of data connections that automatically connect Microsoft Dynamics GP data with Microsoft Office applications. This makes it even easier to deliver business intelligence through the tools people use every day.

With Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010, we’re delivering on organizational needs that go well beyond basic reporting, and at the same time giving people tools that are affordable, personalized, and familiar. It’s all part of what we call the RoleTailored experience—and key to the new way to do business.

Visibility into business information is critically important to achieving business goals. Insight into the key drivers that impact your business provides the foundation for informed decisions and overall business success. But all too often the right people do not have access to the information they need when they need it, and in a format that makes sense to them.

The business team and the IT have always been at loggerheads over reporting from the business system. Traditionally, IT staff has been needed to write reports and extract data as requested by the business team to help support decision making. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 provides out-of-the-box OLAP cubes and reports that are located in customized employee role centers to enable users to extract data as needed.

There is still the need to create more complex reports and for the IT team to support the infrastructure needed to run the business intelligence tools. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 uses the infrastructure provided by Microsoft SQL Server - specifically, SQL Server Analysis Services and SQL Server Reporting Services.

This demo shows the value of reports development provided by Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 integration with Microsoft SQL Server.

View the demo now:
Business Intelligence for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009

The term “business as usual” simply doesn’t apply in today’s marketplace. Organizations need systems that help their people orchestrate routine tasks and complex processes—all in the course of a day’s work. Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 offers capabilities that help people work faster and smarter. This latest release fuels efficient task management and teamwork, simplifies setup and IT administration, and offers built-in tools for meeting specific business needs.

Microsoft Dynamics GP is already well known for rich integration with Microsoft® Office system applications—without leaving the ERP solution, users can take full advantage of Microsoft Office Outlook®, Microsoft Office Excel®, and Microsoft Office Word. We're enhancing that connection so that people can quickly create customer and vendor-facing documents using Word forms. They can also send batch and individual e-mail messages for invoices, orders, and check remittances. The result? People get more work done in less time—and the work looks more professional and polished.

There's more. Teams can now work more efficiently, with precise tracking and accountability, by using new workflow approval processes and improved capabilities for documenting sign-offs. In addition, simplified system access includes default logon settings that can save users valuable time. Just as important, Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 offers straightforward tools that ensure fast installation, setup, and data migration from applications such as QuickBooks and Peachtree.

The latest release also makes it easier to meet unique business needs with built-in personalization tools. For instance, people can stop juggling customer and vendor information stored in multiple sources such as Microsoft Office Access® and Excel. Without writing new code, administrators or users can create a mini business application in Microsoft Dynamics GP that consolidates the information for easier tracking and management by multiple people, for multiple tasks.

Finally, we've paid close attention to customer requests for enhancements that improve business efficiency and performance in highly specific areas—including analytical accounting, budget tracking, payables and receivables, payroll, field services, manufacturing, and distribution in a complex marketplace.

Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010. We're making it easier to do business.

“Works well with others”—a term you’ll remember from childhood report cards. In today’s business world, that term spans everything that technology can offer organizations for extending connections. Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 brings home a high mark, taking full advantage of Web services, integration with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, and a simplified platform to bring together employees, customers, and vendors across applications and systems efficiently and cost-effectively.

To start, developers can quickly choose from more than 350 Web services that offer better performance and easier integrations. We’ve also developed a straightforward integration platform based on Web services that connects applications to and from Microsoft Dynamics GP and enables developers to create independent integration adapters. And connections through Web services integrations no longer depend on Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS)—eliminating the need to buy separate servers and greatly simplifying infrastructure and IT management.

This latest release helps sales, service, and business management staff collaborate through built-in integration with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Sales and service information flows directly to the back office and provides people with a complete view of customers, contracts, pricing, product and service availability, and more. In addition, we’re offering an important innovation with the Extender tool. Without writing new code, organizations can capture and consolidate business-specific information—for example, every unique detail related to a customer, client, or vendor—that’s previously been housed in separate systems. People now have a centralized source that simplifies reporting and tracking and lets them work together more easily on cross-team and cross-department tasks.

All our innovations work to strengthen business relationships. One quiet, but important example: while working in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010, employees can connect at a deep level with customers and vendors through instant messaging. They can hold ad hoc conversations, hold a Microsoft Office Live Meeting, share views of customer and vendor information, and create and deliver sales quotes, sales orders, and purchase orders—all within an instant message.

We’re delivering a solution that extends connections so that everyone in your organization—and the systems that help your business run—work well together.

Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010. The new way to do business.

We are excited to share the launch of the Advanced Distribution Partners' new website: http://www.advanceddistributionsoftware.com.

This website contains more information on the Advanced Distribution software for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009. If you need distribution software for Customer Management, Order Management, Supply Chain Management, Automated Data Capture, or Order Fulfillment, then the Advanced Distribution Partners can help you out.

What makes Advanced Distribution different is:

• Our solution was designed and built by Distributors, for Distributors.
• Our solution is utilized by top performing Distributors worldwide.
• Our solution is adjusted on an ongoing basis for Distributors changing needs.

Advanced Distribution is a Dynamics AX solution that is designed for flexibility and the long term. Find an Advanced Distribution Partner near you, or learn more about Advanced Distribution for Microsoft Dynamics AX.

Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 extends the reach of insight, productivity, and collaboration across your entire business, helping ensure that people -and the different ways they work - are your most powerful asset. New capabilities deliver faster access to personalized business intelligence, enhanced ways to streamline business processes, and new ways to build better business relationships. Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010—The new way to do business.

With Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010, customers have unprecedented access to view and update data, while Executives are empowered to understand trends and performance like never before.

Extending the Reach with Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 and Microsoft Office 2010.

View the demo:
Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Dashboard Drilldown

Whether workers are trying to troubleshoot an application issue, resolve problems in product development, or develop a blueprint for future business models, the ability to access the right data quickly is important. See how Windows technologies leverage Enterprise Search to help users solve problems faster and more efficiently.

View the demo:
Problem Solving with Enterprise Search

Providing Advanced Distribution Software Solutions Built on MCC by TVH and Microsoft Dynamics AX

Wheaton, IL — January 21, 2010 — Merit Solutions, Inc., (www.meritsolutions.com) a leading Microsoft Gold Certified and 2009 Presidents Club Partner, is proud to announce today the creation of a new Microsoft Dynamics Partner Group focused on delivering world class Advanced Distribution software built on solutions from Microsoft Dynamics and TVH Consulting. Advanced Distribution Partners is a nationwide group of six elite Microsoft Partners specializing in providing clients with ultra sophisticated Distribution software solutions. As a group, the partners span the U.S. and include the following organizations: Collins Computing, I.B.I.S., Inc., InterDyn AKA, InterDyn BMI, Merit Solutions, and Socius.

The Advanced Distribution Partners’ channel is being announced after a contract was signed with TVH Consulting, granting the group the exclusive right to resell TVH’s MCC product with Microsoft Dynamics AX in the U.S. This Advanced Distribution for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 solution comprehensively addresses:

• Warehousing, Procurement, and Supply Chain Management
• Fulfillment & Shipping, including Cross-Docking
• Point-of-Sale Integration, Automated Re-Stocking, and Vendor Managed Inventory
• Detailed Demand Trending, Analysis and Sales Forecasting
• Mobile Sales Force Support 
• Contact Center & Ongoing Customer Management Support
• Special Promotions and Discounts
• Marketing & New Customer Acquisition
• Financial Risk Management
• eCommerce and EDI Integration

The relationships between Supplier, Manufacturer, Distributor and Customer are becoming increasingly intertwined, which is having an impact on the way Distributors do business. Many Distributors have created websites and are starting to fully comprehend the importance of implementing sophisticated tools which allow customers to do business with them directly online while managing the information directly in their enterprise system.

Customers are insisting on improved levels of flexibility and responsiveness, and this unprecedented access to information and industry knowledge makes them ideal candidates for the “Customer-Centric” Distributor. At the forefront are the technological solutions which have brought about the current state of the industry – solutions like Advanced Distribution for Microsoft Dynamics AX.

"Through I.B.I.S. and the Advanced Distribution Partners, the value of a superior Distribution solution will now be available in the United States,” said Guy Tubiana, President and Chairman of TVH Consulting. “Advanced Distribution for Microsoft Dynamics AX delivers the most powerful distribution capabilities from Mobile Sales Force Support to Detailed Demand Trending, Analysis and Sales Forecasting. We look forward to working with the Advanced Distribution Partners to help maximize the value that customers receive from their technology investments.”

“It is truly exciting to be working with the finest Partners in the Microsoft Dynamics channel,” said Andy Vabulas, Chief Executive Officer at I.B.I.S., Inc. He continues, “The ability of this partner group to deliver Advanced Distribution Solutions to the U.S. market in unmatched. Every one of these Partners is a long time award winning Microsoft Dynamics Partner focused on the Distribution Vertical market. Combined with the Microsoft Dynamics AX and the MCC by TVH Consulting products, we are able to offer the most complete and sophisticated Distribution Solution for the Microsoft Dynamics AX market today. ”

Over the past couple of months, we have rethought our online newsletter strategy.

With our readers' privacy in mind, we have decided to ask all of our Merit Momentum recipients to re-opt-in to their email subscriptions. This will enable us to continue sending relevant Microsoft Dynamics information to those who find it most valuable.

Meanwhile, we are excited to introduce a new series of emails, titled: Accelerate Your Business. These are product-specific emails designed to send you urgent Microsoft Dynamics news as it occurs. The AYB series will not replace the Merit Momentum monthly newsletter, but will support our desires to provide you with up-to-date Microsoft Dynamics information as it happens.

To (re)opt-in to these emails, please visit our Merit Momentum Registration page. (Click here to see a sample newsletter)

We would like to take a moment to pause and reflect on the ongoing disaster taking place in Haiti. Already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti again has taken a major blow.

How can you help? First off, be cautious. There are a lot of scams going on right now. Make sure you are giving to the right organizations, and do a little background before donating.

We recommend giving to The Red Cross. So far, the American Red Cross has received $37 million in donations, breaking records for pledges to the Red Cross made within the same time period after a disaster. More than half of the donations have been through online contributions, with strong support from corporations and record-setting activity in mobile giving. However, this is not enough.

There are numerous ways to donate to the Red Cross.

1. Text "Haiti" to the number 90999. A $10 donation will be added to your next cell phone bill. (Verified by The Red Cross website)
2. Dial 1-800-RED-CROSS and make a donation over the phone.
3. Donate online at www.redcross.org

Not only is Microsoft making an initial commitment of $1.25 million, which includes cash and in-kind contributions, but they are taking it one step further. Microsoft is also matching all current employees in donations, up to $12,000 per employee. To learn more about Microsoft's commitment, and their Disaster Response Team, visit "Microsoft on the Issues".

In this webcast Nigel Montgomery, Research Director at AMR Research, describes why upgrading or investing in a new Microsoft Dynamics ERP solution can be a smart business decision, even during an economic downturn.

Newer solutions implement quicker, are more intuitive for new people, and can provide high cost visibility and include key analytics capability to enable smarter business drive and reduce risks. Although many companies expect the recession to end mid-2010, economists are still hesitant. So what are you going to do - hold off on a new ERP decision for the next 10 years?

This webcast video discusses why Microsoft Dynamics ERP is the core needed to support future growth. The "squeeze" is on for most companies, and they need a flexible and adaptive business foundation to optimize decisions, business processes, and to maximize resource utilization and profitability.

View the webcast:
AMR Research Presentation - "Why Buy Microsoft Dynamics ERP Now?"

During a recession, investing dollars in new technology to manage resources may seem counterproductive. But in fact, automated enterprise resource planning (ERP) can result in efficiencies you'd never achieve with the conventional practices your company may be used to. And those differences could make or break your company during tough economic times.

Here are just a few examples of how Microsoft Dynamics can really help you tighten your belt, navigate tough times, and emerge as a leaner, stronger, winning business.

Read the White Paper:
Recession Intervention: Why ERP is Critical Now

As a result of an analysis performed in December 2009 utilizing the latest edition of The Accounting Library, one of the most respected software selection tools serving the needs of mid-sized companies, Microsoft Dynamics GP was determined to be a much more functionally rich product than NetSuite.

This analysis of Microsoft Dynamics GP and NetSuite is designed to give readers a somewhat more generalized across-the-board view of Microsoft Dynamics GP and NetSuite. Accordingly all features were included in the underlying needs definition and each requirement was assigned the same level of importance.

The detailed functional information that drives this needs analysis has been provided by each vendor. The analysis contains no subjective review of Microsoft Dynamics GP or NetSuite.

View the White Paper:
Microsoft Dynamics GP vs. NetSuite