That’s probably my least favorite question that I get on a regular basis.  Why?  There are three problems with this question:

1.     First, Business Intelligence Solution is such a generic term, it’s hard to describe what it is, much less what it looks like.  I think of it more as a set of tools that can be used to solve business problems.  We’ve used these tools (reporting, data warehousing, cleansing, adding business logic to data, visualizing data) to solve a variety of business issues, including reporting, dashboarding, integrations, master data management, and the building of a corporate asset outside transactional systems.  We’ve even used these techniques and methodologies for cleansing data that was later imported into a transactional system as part of a data migration.

2.     Let’s assume that we are talking about business intelligence for the purposes of reporting.  Despite even the largest price tag, I have yet to see any tool that does all things for all people.  The key is to find the right solution for the right problem, and the right solution depends on the audience.  Take a look at the diagram below.  In the last post, we talked about making BI pervasive both in and outside of your organization.  When you look at the potential user base of BI, there’s an inverse relationship between the number of people that will use the solution and their need for feature complexity.  A statistician isn’t going to be satisfied analyzing the data using tools with minimal interaction, just as a customer isn’t going to spend the time to learn a complicated data analysis tool in order to understand their invoice details.  As such, there are different tools designed to fit the different needs of the audience.  These tools will be discussed in the next BI blog post.

 3.     Finally, the “What does your solution look like?” question is often followed closely by the “What product do you sell?” question.  I’m proud of the agnostic approach that SVA takes to solving business problems, and thus we aren’t “product people.”  We don’t walk into an opportunity with a customer thinking we know the answer—what we sell—before we understand the question the client is trying to answer.  As such, part of the discovery and requirements phase is vetting out what the best solution is for the client.  At times it’s leveraging a tool they already own.  Other times it’s purchasing a product that will fit their needs.  This agnostic approach allows us to find the best tool for the situation, not the just the tool at the top of our price list.

In the next post I will review in more detail the different options for presenting data, how they differ, and why the answer to what the solution looks like is always, “It depends.”

For more information on how you might use the tools in the Business Intelligence toolbox to solve your business problems, contact Jenny Herritz:  (608) 826-2018 or herritzj@sva.com. 

SVA Consulting is both a Microsoft Dynamics and Acumatica partner, so I enter into this discussion with a bit of trepidation as I firmly believe both systems are viable ERP solutions for many mid-sized companies.  As Acumatica has a new promotional offer for Microsoft Dynamics SL customers to move to Acumatica, I thought this might be a timely discussion for customers weighing their options.

If you’ve ever taken a look at Acumatica, you will see that it functions very similarly to the Microsoft Dynamics SL solution.  Where Acumatica differs from Microsoft Dynamics SL is that it is a browser-based ERP system, which means it can run on nearly any Internet-enabled device.  Acumatica permits a choice of deployment options, where the software can be installed on your in-house server or deployed as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) option in the cloud.  Another major difference between the two systems is the licensing model, where Microsoft Dynamics SL is licensed by concurrent user and Acumatica is licensed by core processor.

So, if I were speaking to you as a potential new client, which solution would I recommend?

Business reasons to switch to Acumatica:

• Flexibility to move to a cloud-based, SaaS solution, if desired
• Greater than 10 concurrent system users needed
• Remote employees needing access to the system
• Employees who need to enter time and expenses or purchase requisitions into the system
• Requirement to use non-Windows devices such as Mac computers
• Need to create complex system customizations
• Desire to automate intricate approval procedures

Business reasons to stay on Microsoft Dynamics SL:

• Project-centric company with deep project accounting requirements
• Need for an in-house payroll system integrated with project accounting
• High number of corporate entities with low number of employees needing to access the system
• Desire to have more than one company open simultaneously

Decisions such as when to switch ERP systems can be challenging to make on your own.  Please feel free to contact us at (800) 366-9091 if you would like to discuss your options.

 There is a common conception that the ‘sa’ account is required to create users, create companies and perform various maintenance processes within Microsoft Dynamics GP. This is false.

To learn more about securing the ‘sa’ account, I encourage all customers using Microsoft Dynamics GP to review this whitepaper written by Fastpath, Inc.

One metric used to determine the success rate of a business intelligence initiative is to report on how many employees use business intelligence in their daily life.  But like so many questions in life, not only is the answer not black-and-white, but perhaps the question is not as well.

Should the goal be 100%?  Or just decision makers within the organization?  Wouldn’t even line-level employees benefit from knowing key metrics within the organization?  I recently stayed with my family at a waterpark resort.  Through several different interactions with the staff, every employee—from the front desk to the lifeguards to the towel clerk—knew that they were at 100% occupancy one night, and 45% the following night.  More importantly, they adjusted their performance and duties accordingly, focusing their energy and attention where it was needed most.

Since the ultimate goal of empowering employees with information is to positively affect their performance, it makes sense that the goal should be 100%, right?  But, what about customers and vendors?  Some industries are already in the business of providing their customers with business intelligence.  Years ago a client of ours in the marketing research industry differentiated their service offering by delivering self-serve analysis of their research data to their customers.  Most of us receive investment or 401k statements in the mail with various visualizations, graphs, charts, and data analysis—we, as the financial service industry customers, are recipients of their analytical data.  Even our local utility allows you to go online and slice and dice your utility usage!

We live in an information-driven world, and the bar is rising as our expectations as consumers change.  Empowering 100% of your employees with information may no longer be the gold standard:  Think outside the box, outside the organization, and go beyond 100%.

For more information on how to provide better information to empower your stakeholders – both internal and external -  contact Jenny Herritz:  (608) 826-2018 or herritzj@sva.com.  

Are you contemplating a move to Windows 8 yet, either on your desktop computer or a mobile device?  I upgraded to Windows 8 shortly after its release on both my work and personal laptops and love how quickly these devices now boot.  My home computer has a solid state drive (SSD) and Windows 8 boots instantly—love it!

As a person who spends most of my professional time focused on ERP solutions, I’ve been curious about how Microsoft will integrate their Dynamics ERP applications with the new Windows 8 user interface.  I am happy to announce that Microsoft has already integrated their Business Analyzer application with Windows 8, offering this application as a free download in the Windows Storefor customers using Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013, Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011 FP1 and Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2.

If you are unfamiliar with Business Analyzer, Microsoft started bundling this tool for free a few years ago in several of their Dynamics ERP applications, starting with Microsoft Dynamics GP.  Business Analyzeris a tool that displays reports created in Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) in a graphical form, with the ability to drill down to the underlying details within the report.

In the case of the Microsoft Dynamics GP solution, you have the ability to view Business Analyzer graphs with the Dynamics GP application, as shown below: 

…or by accessing the application from outside of Microsoft Dynamics GP using a Light User (read-only) license:

As these graphical reports are created in SSRS, you have the ability to customize the data displayed and include parameters for narrowing or expanding your focus to provide information needed to make critical business decisions.

The new Windows 8 user interface allows users to place graphical views of their ERP data that are important to their position within the organization right on their Windows Start Menu.  If they are using a mobile device, such as a Windows Surface tablet or a Windows Phone, these views are available on their mobile devices as well.

I suspect additional features within the Microsoft Dynamics ERP applications will continue to be made available for easy access from the Windows 8 Start Menu over time, providing great usability and productivity enhancements to the user community. 

A role that nearly always evolves if it is not explicitly identified and does not have specific person(s) appointed to it is that of the “Power User,” also sometimes referred to as a “Super User.”  Typically these are people with the aptitude to cross reference their normal job or process roles and the application of some possibly new technology or, for purposes of this blog, computer application or system.  Power Users have the ability to do this, beyond that of the rest of the user community.  What is important is how they are able to differentiate themselves.  This is not to say that the other users are not, or will not become, proficient.  It is simply that usually there are one or a few individuals for whom this ability to bridge the old and new ways comes quickly, and they can become leaders within the transition and implementation processes as a result.

Ideally Power Users people will nearly self-identify, or already be known for similar past contributions.  This is not always the case, and some general guidelines can be applied to help identify these people as they add significant value over the life cycle of the project(s).  What should you look for in a Power User?

·         Open-mindedness with a thorough grasp of the current process(es), including strengths and weaknesses.

·         Willingness to entertain and ability to envision how changes might be positive and value adding.

·         Ability to communicate to others on the team regarding both current state and future state vision within the new context of new tools or systems.

·         Ability to recognize problems, as well as patience to deal with and bring them to either a creative resolution or to the attention of higher leadership while still being supportive of the project overall.

·         Ideally have the self-confidence to appropriately challenge things they believe may create problems, but also understand when to accept consensus or leadership decisions and help management move them forward.

·         Ability to train and impart how to do things in as detailed a fashion as appropriate to other team members, probably on a continuing basis.

·         Above average aptitude for the technological tools being employed in the project.  Not afraid of new tools and able to transfer past experience with similar or complementary tools to the new ones.  Examples:  MS Windows, existing computer systems, keyboarding, mouse, handheld RF devices, tablets and similar devices.

Identifying and involving these people or likely candidates for the Power User role as early as possible will enhance planning for the project, scoping, testing, user documentation, and ultimately implementation. They will become first tier technical support during and after roll out.  Ideally, Power Users will develop or help identify additional candidates for this role.  They can reduce time to go-live and help control consulting costs as well.

Power Users exist!  They just need to be identified, included and supported.  They need support because they are often already the “go-to” people with the least time available to participate in such an important additional formal role and process.

Scott Brown CSCP, CPIM, CIRM
Supply Chain & Business Analyst
browns@svaconsulting.com

It slices!  It dices!  It even makes Julienne fries!  Ask any business user what the most widely used business application in the world is – the resounding response will be...Excel!  Then ask what the most widely used Business Intelligence tool is. Excel!  Then ask users shopping for non-Microsoft business intelligence tools what features rank at the top of their list?  Integration to Excel!  Excel look and feel!  I can access my data from Excel! 

If it seems like Excel does just about everything, you’re right.  And with Excel 2013, it seems quite possible that a caramel latte with a shot of espresso might just come out of my screen.  Prepare to be blown away… but more on that in a future post.  This post is dedicated to helping you get the most out of your investment in Excel.

From a business intelligence perspective, there are many uses for Excel.  The first and most obvious is evident from the “Excel Olympics” I see some of our clients perform while assembling data.  While not the most efficient way to do it, Excel outperforms any tool on the market when it comes to crunching raw data and making presentable reports. 

Taking it a step further, Excel is the quick and not-so-dirty way to analyze data.  Connect directly to a data source – whether a transactional source or a data warehouse – and a pivot table allowing slicing and dicing putting any static report to shame is only a few clicks away.  The data warehouse can automate the assembly of the data and allows the business users to connect to a vetted data model, while still affording self-service analysis of the data.  Take the analysis to the next level with a cube, allowing the creation and navigation of hierarchies, time-phased metrics (think this year’s rolling 12 vs. last year’s rolling 12), and faster response time. 

Want even faster pivoting?  Or need to connect multiple data sources together for ad-hoc analysis?  Extend Excel with the free PowerPivot add-on.  (Note:  With Excel 2013, Power Pivot is only available with select versions of Excel.)  This tool harnesses the in-memory technology known as X-Velocity to quickly make data models and analyze of hundreds of millions of rows of data… from a business user’s desktop.

So now you’ve developed some awesome analysis through Excel.  But what plays better with Excel than other Microsoft tools?

Publish your workbook to a larger audience – with or without user interactivity – via SharePoint’s Excel Services. 

There’s also an add-on letting business users extend master data and clean up records using SQL 2012’s Master Data Services and Data Quality Services.  Imagine someone gave you a product list with duplicates and some bad data left over from 1994.  And they also wanted you to add categories to the product list that don’t exist in any source system.  What better place to do the cleanup than Excel?

I use these examples as evidence, Microsoft got it right in this case:  Excel is where the business user wants to be.  They continue to invest in the product, and, more impressively, the products around it, to continue to allow users to get more out of their Office investment.  The only thing Excel seems to be missing is some really powerful graphical data exploration features and the ability to navigate data like a database… (hint, hint!) 

For more information on how to better leverage your investment in Excel, SQL Server, or SharePoint to make better business decisions, contact Jenny Herritz:  (608) 826-2018 or herritzj@sva.com. 

Our Senior Technical Services Consultant, John Carpenter, shared the following information with me and I thought it resonated, so much in fact, that I wanted to share his wisdom with you.

Microsoft has made some changes to email functionality offered with Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 which may catch you off guard if you are unprepared for it.  First, the Microsoft Outlook connector on the user home page that was turned on by default in previous versions of Microsoft Dynamics GP has been removed.  You are no longer able to view your Microsoft Outlook Inbox from within Microsoft Dynamics GP.

Next, the process to configure the link to the email server has changed.  The first step to setting up the email integration is to designate an Email Server Type.  This setting is found under Tools>Setup>System>System Preferences.

Two choices are offered:

·         MAPI – This option uses the Microsoft Outlook profile of the user logged onto the machine and only works if the 32-bit version of Microsoft Outlook is installed.  A Microsoft Outlook profile must be setup and functional.  This option is similar to how email integration worked in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010.

·         Exchange – This option requires use of the Microsoft Exchange Auto Discover Service, which must be operational on the local network.  If you have the 64-bit version of Microsoft Office installed, you must use this option and have the Microsoft Exchange Auto Discover Service enabled in order to email documents from within Microsoft Dynamics GP. 

Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 allows you to email documents to customers from the Sales Series and vendors from the Purchasing Series.  You will access the Email Settings windows from the Tools>Setup menus for either the Sales or Purchasing Series.  If you have selected the Exchange Server Type on your email configuration, the system will first prompt you to enter an email address and password in order to connect to the Exchange Server prior to displaying the Email Setup window for the series.

Once the email address has been entered to connect to the Exchange Server or if you have selected the MAPI Server Type option and have a Microsoft Outlook profile setup, the system will display a setup screen to designate the types of Microsoft Dynamics GP documents available for email (Sales Series options are displayed below). 

The email capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics GP continued to be enhanced to meet the demands of customers.  Please feel free to contact us at 800.366.9091 if you have any questions. 

In March of 2011, Microsoft announced a partnership with Jet Reports, Inc. to provide an integration of their popular “Jet” reporting solutions for Microsoft Dynamics NAV2009.  The Jet Reports Express solution is available at no charge for any Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 or 2013 customer covered by a current Microsoft maintenance plan.  

Jet Reports Express provides a set of pre-defined financial and non-financial reports in Microsoft Excel for Microsoft Dynamics NAV.  We often find our clients will export data into Microsoft Excel for distributed reporting or to create accompanying charts and graphs.  Jet Reports Express streamlines the process of generating these reports while maintaining a real-time link with the Microsoft Dynamics NAV database.

Key features included in Jet Reports Express for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 are:

·         Twenty predefined report templates for Microsoft Dynamics NAV

·         Real-time integration with the Microsoft Dynamics NAV database

·         Predefined General Ledger integration

·         Predefined Table Builder functionality to produce non-financial reports from multiple Microsoft Dynamics NAV tables, fields, flow fields and dimensions

·         Customized drilldown capabilities to view underlying detailed data for any number on the report

·         Integrated database security to insure users are not able to view restricted data

Predefined Jet Express Reports for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 include:

·         General Ledger:

w  Trial Balance

w  Company Overview

w  Working Capital and Current Ratio

w  Trial Balance vs. Previous Year

w  Trial Balance vs. Budget

w  Trial Balance by Month

w  Profit and Loss Variance

w  Monthly Income Statement

·         Sales:

w  Top Customer Overview

w  Sales Forecast to Actual

w  Sales Dashboard

w  Overview on Salesperson Performance

w  Item Sales by Customer

·         Operations:

w  Item Returns to Vendor

w  Item Returns by Customer

w  Inventory Turnover

·         Other Financials:

w  Accounts Receivable Summary

w  Accounts Receivable Details

w  Accounts Payable Summary

w  Accounts Payable Details

Note:  With Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013, Microsoft has dropped support for Management Reporter as a financial report writing tool for this system, likely due to the popularity and rich functionality offered with Jet Reports Express.

Additional information for Jet Reports Express for Microsoft Dynamics NAV may be found here.  Please follow this link to learn more about using the Jet Essentials or Jet Enterprise solution to create your own Jet Reports for Microsoft Dynamics NAV. 

There are a myriad of organization issues that emerge in this brave new world. These issues typically reside at a governance perspective. This is where the modern CIO comes into focus. I would suggest that the role of the CIO, in this era of distributed technology decision making, is more important than ever. Visionary CIO’s will have to challenge themselves to work across the organization in vastly different ways then in the past. The modern CIO will have to be a coach and mentor to the LOB executives and will have to proactively create structure for the new technology decision makers to live and succeed inside. They will have to remove themselves from the idea of control and have to lead the organization at a readiness level. Most importantly, the modern CIO will have to create a technology decision making framework, to ensure that the LOB executives make decisions that are right for their business units but that are also in accordance with organizational requirements.

Here are a few ideas on how to do this:

1.       Build a questionnaire for the LOB executives to submit to software (SaaS) providers to pre-qualify them as a potential provider. Questions that address data privacy policies for the organization, data backup and retention policies, and data extract requirements need to be included so that these fundamental aspects of provider selection occur before too much discovery time is expended by the LOB team on the software itself.

2.       Build a resilient network infrastructure that will ensure high availability of the external systems. Many times the network becomes a single point of failure for the business when they are accessing their systems remotely. Focus on keeping people connected and keeping the organization effective.

3.       Most importantly, build and document an information map of key performance indicators for the organization and develop an Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) strategy. Build an EDW asset to provide a place to store your organization’s most important information in an environment that your organization owns. Do not allow your information to only reside in a SaaS provider’s database structure. When your data is in their systems, you pay to visit it. You are buying access to the systems that own your data. You need a strategy to own your data, independent of the access rights to use the software that manages it. By committing to an EDW, you eliminate the information silos that occur from decentralized systems and instead create enhanced visibility into the most important information for the executive team, correlated in meaningful ways and potentially delivered in highly visual and compelling views.

Doing these things can help your organization succeed and, more importantly, prevent expensive mistakes in the procurement and placement of line of business systems with an outside provider.

We are just stepping into this brave new world and the realm of LOB executive technology decision making. It is exciting and challenging. It requires significant teaming, cross organizational decision making and preparation to ensure that you can move your organization forward today, while making sure you can be competitive tomorrow. While technology decisions are happening throughout the organization, they should not occur in silos. In fact, teaming and strategic planning are more important than ever.  SVA Consulting is working hard to understand how to help you navigate this changing time. We have built IT Strategies for our clients, Cloud Technology Programs for our business solutions and a deep Enterprise Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence Practice to help our clients take advantage of these advancements, but, more importantly, to make great decisions about their future. If you would like further information, contact me at bechtoldtb@svaconsulting.com . I would love to chat with you about this.