What do Manufacturers look for in an ERP

Whitepaper: What Do Manufacturers Look for in ERP Software?

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Choosing new manufacturing ERP software that includes great general ledger, accounts payable, cash management, etc., is fairly easy. Decision makers should look for features like easy inter-company transactions perhaps for a complicated process, great reporting and drill-down capabilities. The manufacturer has a much greater challenge. In the last 20 years I have been selling manufacturing solutions and nine times out of ten, the business leaders are not concerned with how the GL or any of the financial modules work. They ask if the software has financial modules and do they work. Often our demonstrations end with financials, or we schedule them for another day, since really what the prospect wants to see is how the software will handle their manufacturing operations.

I came across this whitepaper by Nick Castellina, the VP and Research Group Director at the Aberdeen Group and thought I would share some of the results of a survey focused on manufacturing leaders: What do Manufacturers Look For in an ERP Solution? I have been following Nick’s work for a long time. He provides insightful information for the manufacturing and distribution industries. Read more

Acumatica-Summit-2018-Cloud ERP

Acumatica New Release for 2018

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At this week’s annual Acumatica Summit in Nashville attendees got a sneak peek at Acumatica 2018 R1.  Acumatica continues to add new features and functionality to its easy to use interface.  Typically the publisher has a major release every 6 months.  (Nucleus Research was right Acumatica is easy to use and will continue to add functionality in 2018!) Read more

Reasons to Upgrade from AX 2009

Mainstream Support Ends April 10 – AX 2009

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Dynamics AX 2009 customers please note that Mainstream support ends on 4/10/18. Extended support ends 10/12/21. It is time to start making plans to migrate to Dynamics 365 Enterprise or even Dynamics AX 2012 R3. If you need help deciding which option is best for your business, please reach out to our team or your Dynamics Partner.  Since there is an on-premise version along with several hundred companies on the SaaS version, even the most cautious company can be confident that this Nov 2016 release is mature and ready for prime time.

We have more information on our Dynamics AX 2009 support and services here: http://clientsfirst-ax.com/services/support-axapta-dynamics-ax-365/.

What is mainstream support?

Customers who remain current on the Microsoft Dynamics Enhancement Plan will continue to receive all of the valued benefits of the Enhancement Plan, including regulatory updates and hotfixes, except for some exceptions for Brazil.  Contact you local Brazilian Microsoft office for more information.

What is extended support?

Customers who remain current on the Microsoft Dynamics Enhancement Plan will continue to receives all paid support options, as well as security-related hotfix support which is provided at no charge.

View the Microsoft official details on this topic here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17140/general-lifecycle-policy-questions

If you want more information on the software and our services, we invite you to get in touch with our friendly advisers at Clients First Business Solutions.  We are a Gold ERP and CSP (Cloud Service Provider).  We focus on manufacturing, supply chain and MRO industries and implement Dynamics 365, AX, NAV and Acumatica.

Email: Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas , or call at 800.331.8382.

Reasons to Upgrade from AX 2009

Skip the Pain with Acumatica ERP

Start and End with Acumatica

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This article is going to try to sell you something and I do hope that if you are a small to mid-sized company you don’t let that turn you off and read the rest of this article.  I have been selling business software to manufacturers and distributors for 20 years.  If I am selling into the small to mid-sized companies, I often find that the reason they need new software is because they can’t function on their old legacy system. These systems can range from a custom database for operations, and QuickBooks for accounting, or software that even I have never heard of.  The focus of the business has been developing a customer base and ensuring plant equipment and inventory as the top priority.  They are talking to me because they are in pain due to the lack of the tools needed to do business in today’s world.  Why not start with a decent software solution at the before your huge growth cycle?  This really has not been possible until now with the cloud ERP solutions like Acumatica a FULL featured business software that can be used on ANY device.  Please read on… Read more

Microsoft Dynamics NAV

What’s New in Dynamics NAV 2018

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Microsoft Dynamics NAV is a complete enterprise resource planning (ERP) with over 110,000 companies using this business software solution. Built for mid-sized organizations, it is fast to implement, easy to configure, and simple to use. Right from the start, simplicity has guided, and continues to guide, innovations in product design, development, implementation, and usability. Here is a brief explanation of what’s new in NAV 2018 since the NAV 2017 release. Read more

TMAC Manufacturing Event

Manufacturing & Distribution Half-Day Event

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Lane Gorman Trubitt, LLC (“LGT”) is  partnering with TMAC for an upcoming manufacturing and distribution half-day event. Please join them for 5 complimentary hours of continuing education, not to mention a continental breakfast, lunch, and networking with M&D industry leaders from across the Metroplex.

Satya Kudapa will be presenting on Lean Six Sigma.  He has more than eight years of experience providing professional coaching, mentoring and implementing Quality Management Systems, Lean Six Sigma Principles and Project Management.

If you’ve ever wondered what a behind-the-scenes view of implementing Lean Six Sigma would look like for your company, or if you are in the process and are looking for expert advice on how to make the implementation as smooth as possible, make sure you don’t miss out on a discussion on that topic (and more) led by Will McDade, the CFO of Interstate Batteries.

CPE: 5 hrs
Area of Study: Management
Level: Intermediate-Advanced

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Dynamics NAV and 365/AX User Group Summit Gold Sponsors

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What are your plans October 10-13, 2017?  We are a proud Gold of NAVUG and AX/Dynamics 365 Enterprise Summit Nashville, one of the most engaging conferences in the industry. And as a Gold ERP,  Clients First is excited to share this experience with you this October in Nashville, TN as we squeeze every last bit of functionality out of the products and get you the ROI you want—and deserve.

Why YOU should attend
NAVUG Summit is THE go-to conference bringing together industry experts, software development vendors, and everyday users to discuss important issues, trends, product updates, customer pain points, and genuine solutions. The value of NAVUG Summit is endless! Here are a few more reasons why you should attend:

  • Meet & network with your Dynamics NAV buddies: Boost confidence, competence, and connections with fellow Dynamics NAV peers who know the importance of learning together.
  • Geek out over great content: Attend hands-on training sessions that will make you feel able to accomplish everyday tasks and take this information back to team members of all skill levels.
  • Learn from your seriously smart peers: Dynamics NAV can be a challenge to master, but with masters in the industry at hand to help, you’ll never have a better chance to grow than at NAVUG Summit.
  • Evaluate and test solutions: Learn about tools available to you and your company, then take them for a test drive, troubleshooting and asking questions that will prepare you to implement new skills as soon as you step back in the office.

Visit us at booth 870 and meet our NAV and AX/Dynamics 365 Enterprise team.  Register here!  https://www.navugsummit.com/home

If you want more information on the software and our services, we invite you to get in touch with our friendly advisers at Clients First Business Solutions.

Email: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, or call at 877.428.7205.

Email: Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas , or call at 800.331.8382.

Choosing Inventory Software

Selecting Inventory Control Software

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Selecting a new accounting software package can be a monumental task that nearly every C level professional has had to do or will have to do sometime during their career.   Add inventory control and manufacturing to the list of requirements and the task can be even more challenging. Company executives don’t want to under or over buy an ERP solution.  The goal should be to have a solution that won’t require a major upgrade for a few years (even on a SaaS model), and flexible enough to meet all the business needs over the next 3 – 5 years.  In our current business environment acquisitions are fairly common, which means the software you buy today may need to run a completely different line of business in the future.   Read more

Dynamics 365 Enterprise Webinar: Top 5 Reasons to Upgrade

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Dynamics 365 Enterprise Demo

It is time to start working on next year’s budget so why not include a business software upgrade in that budget? You can start by attending our webinar that will be showcasing the latest in ERP (enterprise resource planning) technology: Dynamics 365 Enterprise for Finance and Operations.   This solution can be deployed as a service; SaaS or software as a service or it can be purchased and installed on your own servers.   The best thing about this solution is well, really everything!

Dynamics 365 Enterprise for Operations and Finance  (the new Dynamics AX) is a true Enterprise ERP solution with a global presence.   Multi-company, multi-language, and can support multiple lines of business and operations with one software code-set.

During this free webinar, you will gain insight into the powerful feature set inside the all new Dynamics 365, including:

  1. Easily Create Mobile Apps With Point And Click Functionality
  2. Robust Warehouse Management System all Inclusive
  3. Improved Productivity with Workspaces, Embedded PowerBI Along with Full Office Integration
  4. Flexible Deployment Options, including SaaS on Azure or On Premise
  5. How To Get the Best of Breed “All in one” ERP Without Paying More

Client First is a Microsoft Gold ERP Partner and Cloud Service Provider (CSP) with a team of tenured specialists with core competencies in the implementation and support of Microsoft Dynamics 365 and it’s base code: Dynamics AX. In fact we have over 180 years combined experience in Dynamics AX.  To explore all the capabilities of Dynamics 365 and find out how this business solution can help your manufacturing, supply chain, or MRO organization achieve its full potential.  Reach out to our Texas or Minnesota location and get more information on how Dynamics 365 Enterprise can transform your business.

Benefits of ERP

6 Manufacturing Problems ERP Solves

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6 Manufacturing Problems ERP Solves Manufacturers face various challenges every single day. The challenges may vary from one manufacturer to another. However, there are common problems facing all the manufacturers alike. Some of these issues can be addressed using personalized company policies or well-designed SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)  while others can be addressed by implementing […]

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