Microsoft Dynamics NAV/Navision Financial Management System provides you with all the information you need at the one click of a mouse to make informed decisions, identify trends at an early stage and plan and control your business activities. Financial management functions are seamlessly integrated into the ERP (Enterprise Resources Planning) analysis tools and into Microsoft Office, meaning that account schemes and analysis reports, for example, can be easily transferred to Microsoft Excel for further processing.
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Microsoft Dynamics ERP is enterprise resource planning (ERP) software primarily geared toward midsize organizations as well as subsidiaries and divisions of larger organizations. Its applications are part of Microsoft Dynamics, a line of business management software owned and developed by Microsoft.
Microsoft ERP comprises five primary products: Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics SL and Microsoft Dynamics C5. Navision is the original ERP system for Microsoft Dynamics NAV. More specifically, Microsoft “Navision” was the name of a Danish accounting package that was founded in 1983 in which Microsoft acquired in 2002. Microsoft has 4 business management systems that are part of a category of “Enterprise Resource Planning” systems or ERP that are designed to connect many different business units under one system. Microsoft “Navision” has had several name changes over time including “Navision Financials”, “Navision Solutions”, “Navision Attain”, and “Microsoft Business Solutions”. In 2005, Microsoft re-branded this ERP product and called it “Microsoft Dynamics NAV”. People call this system “NAV” as it one word, however, the correct terminology is spelling out the words “N, A, V”. Frequently, users today, still call it “Navision”, though.
Enterprise Software, like Microsoft Dynamics NAV, are designed to handle the complex inter workings of a company’s financials, inventory, warehousing, sales, purchases, manufacturing, ect. under one system to streamline supply chain operations and get a much better idea of trends and business data through advanced detailed reporting. Through its history, Dynamics NAV, has been released with many editions to help gain access to this vital business intelligence and to make it both easy-to-use and customizable to adapt to an organizations unique business needs. Improvements have been made to NAV along the following areas just discussed: Business Intelligence: By utilizing a robust data base, such as Microsoft SQL reporting service, business data can be generated and shared for analysis across the enterprise. The latest version include a connection as part of the ERP solution to Power BI (Business Intelligence), which is a Microsoft business analytics service. More specifically, Power BI is a collection or suite of business information and analytics tools to both share insight within the organization and analyze data. There are different options to access this information such as PowerBI Desktop and the Power BI Mobile App. As part of this information analysis includes data retrieved from SQL and data collected from other sources. User Interface: A “RoleTailored” User interface was introduced in 2008 to increase productivity by having employees log onto their user interface screens that corresponds with their work title to access task that are most relevant to their position. There are 21 "out-of-the" box roles such as Accounting Manager, Bookkeeper, IT Manager, Machine Operator, President, Purchasing Manager and Sales Manager to give some examples. All of these RoleTailored Client or RTC roles are customizable and new roles can be added in addition. Customization: Also in 2008, part of the RoleTailored Client user interface design was part of a new ERP architecture called the Three-Tier Graphical User Interface or “GUI”. In this configuration, the data resides in the SQL data base (called the Data Tier), and the top tier accounts for the RTC User Interface called the Client Tier. The middle tier, is called just that or sometimes the Server Tier. This Middle Tier is a multi-tiered environment that is designed to host and execute all the business logic and makes a significant departure from the previous 2-tier ERP architecture. Having this additional layer makes NAV more scalable and customizable with the addition of NAV’s Web Services which makes it easy for other authorized programs and systems to Integrate and tailor the ERP solution to meet the unique requirements of each business. Collaboration: The latest improvements with Dynamics NAV "Navision" increasing include the ability to share vital information across the enterprise for better decision making. and knowledge sharing. This is accomplished through better business intelligence such as PowerBI that was discussed earlier, and other Microsoft connected applications such as Microsoft CRM (now called Dynamics 365 for Sales) Office 365 and PowerApps which are individual, unique business functionality used to connection information without the need of custom software development. This tight integration with other useful business applications enhances Dynamics NAV's ability to easily allow the accessibly of relevant and actionable information. New Versions: Microsoft Dynamics NAV continues to be updated and released on a more frequently basic. The current version is called Dynamics NAV 2018 and has improvements in financial management, document management, enhanced business insights, expanded cloud connectivity with other cloud-based services, plus deeper integration with other Microsoft applications. This solution can be deployed either On-Premise or In-The-Cloud. The latest ERP release is now taking the Microsoft Dynamics NAV information, along with enhancements, to a new Cloud ERP deployment and is called Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Business Central is a cloud solution built on the rich functionality within Microsoft Dynamics NAV and adaptable to extend business applications to other Microsoft Cloud Services such as Office 365, Microsoft Flow, Power BI, and PowerApps. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Solution can grow as your business requirements change while taking advantage of the latest technology-a modern digital business management solution. Microsoft ERP Strengths & Weaknesses
Competitive positioning in the ERP software market is highlighted with the following strengths and weaknesses. Microsoft Dynamics NAV Strengths Dynamics NAV strengths relative to the SMB ERP software competitive landscape.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV Weaknesses Strategic and commonly cited ERP weaknesses include the following:
Top 7 Beneficial Steps For Successful ERP Implementation ERP is Your Opportunity to Be Successful in a Competitive and Challenging Business Environment1/17/2020 According to the most recent McKinsey Global Survey on digital transformations, more than eight in ten respondents say their organizations have undertaken such efforts in the past five years. Digital transformation provides a valuable opportunity to move away from manual processes, increase productivity and efficiency, and allow leaders to focus on more strategic initiatives.
For a digital transformation program to truly create impact, it requires a solid strategy, foundation, and core: The ERP application (Dynamics NAV, Business Central And Oracle Fusion). ERP bridges the gap between business challenges and technology, simplifying functions such as finance management, accounting, and inventory management. Cloud-based ERP accelerates the speed of transformation while providing a single version of the truth to business users. When used correctly, ERP guides and supports the business on a daily and real-time basis, bringing revolutionary change to processes and how work gets done. The ERP core contains all the business rules which drive decisions, processes, and other business systems that require data and instructions. This is what will eventually automate the business, drive enhanced return on investment, and create a competitive edge in the modern business environment. The ERP strategy should be to maximize on all available functionality within the core application, reducing application and process duplication, ultimately reducing cost and business complexity. ERP: A Friend for Life When investing in ERP, don’t think short term. A strong ERP core can support the business beyond three to five years, and more likely closer to 10 to 15. Consider current needs, but also how the business will grow to ensure that decisions are made with longevity and the future business model in mind. Many business applications such as customer relationship management systems are short to medium term. ERP is the business foundation and not a short-term strategy. Implementing a future-fit ERP solution, organizations can easily incorporate new, emerging technologies such as business intelligence (BI), artificial intelligence (AI), and the internet of things (IoT). This will not only make the transformation process easier but also opens the door to greater efficiencies and growth, as well as opportunities to innovate. ERP fundamentally changes the business, if you allow ERP to lead your digital transformation program . ERP Leading the Digital Transformation Digital transformation failures are predominantly associated with no clear strategy or being underfunded. McKinsey finds that fewer than one-third of organizational transformations succeed at improving a company’s performance and sustaining those gains. Ironically, the lack of strategy creates the underfunding issue. A strong digital transformation strategy involves a radical reimagining of how the organization uses technology. Organizations that retrofit current processes to fit their new technology rather than rebuild their operations to most effectively use new technology are limiting ROI. Cloud provides an opportunity to accelerate the transformation and eliminate customizations. Organizations that take a “do what has always been done” approach are more likely to end up with one-off customizations that vendors may not support for long. These customizations also likely don’t follow leading practice recommendations, further lowering the probability of project success. Along with a strong digital strategy should be a strong strategy to change. Humans are creatures of habit and not comfortable with changes to their habits. Having a solid Organisational Change Management (OCM) plan can help. According to the global leader in change management best practice research Prosci®, the number one indicator of project success is active and visible sponsorship from leadership. Faster and more active adoption is more likely when executives and business leaders show strong support for change, as well as feeling they understand why change is happening. The digital transformation strategy exists because the business requires it for sound and justified reasons, including scaling up, improved security, market drivers, customer requirements or modernization. Conversely, the biggest risk to the business is the digital transformation program. Risk can be mitigated by building the core first in the ERP layer and then allowing the ERP to drive the digital transformation in achievable and manageable sprints. These sprints should be aligned with the business operational and financial strategies for the duration of the digital transformation. Digital transformation is a large step for most organizations, but one that can come with big rewards for those who plan correctly. Focusing on the core, your organization’s ERP system allows for the largest competitive advantage and future growth. Avaap is an industry-focused advisory service and IT management consulting firm. Headquartered in Edison, N.J. with global offices and customers around the world, Avaap has deep expertise in healthcare, retail, fashion, manufacturing and distribution, and other industries. Avaap has earned numerous industry accolades, including being named on Computerworld’s list of 100 Best Places to Work in IT since 2014; recipient of Infor’s Alliance Partner of the Year award since 2014 as well as winner of several other Infor partner awards; five-year honoree on the Inc. 500, KLAS Category Leader in Revenue Cycle, recipient of NJBIZ 50 Fastest Growing Companies since 2015, and multi-year recipient of Becker’s Healthcare and Modern Healthcare’s Top Places to Work awards. Avaap’s culture is powered by passionate people who are relentless in driving customer satisfaction. Microsoft Dynamics NAV is a fully integrated ERP solution that bridges the gap between you and your collaborators.
Complete ERP solution from Microsoft Business Solutions Microsoft Dynamics NAV is a fully integrated ERP solution that bridges the gap between you and your business partners. ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems streamlines your business by automating and optimizing operational core functions. The right ERP system connects your business processes and improves your company's ability to cooperate and make faster decisions, thereby increasing the overall productivity of the company. You can customize Dynamics NAV to your company, as the system is based on modules and you only need to acquire the parts of the system which are needed in your business. Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Navision), with over one million registered users worldwide, is one of the most widely used ERP applications. The solution is easy to customize, use and maintain and can optimize and increase productivity without disrupting daily operations. Growth and development Microsoft Dynamics NAV is the ideal ERP system for growing businesses. But what is ERP and how can it benefit your business and company? Many small and medium-sized enterprises reach a critical point where the tools which until then has supported and been the basis for economic growth rather than an obstacle to the company's ability to act flexibly and insightful. The Information Department in your company is improved with Dynamics NAV. The information indicated in the database is available to all employees. This improves the overview for your employees with anything from production from inventory management to sales and marketing. Microsoft Dynamics NAV connects your employees, working routines and systems. Therefore, you can instead focus on the company's operations and future development and growth. Mobile ERP Microsoft Dynamics NAV mobile app is the mobile version of the ERP system and available to all users of Dynamics NAV. The application is fast to implement, easy to customize and especially user-friendly. It works on most platforms and devices which means that the app delivers reliable remote access to your Microsoft Dynamics NAV solution. Office 365 Integration Microsoft Dynamics NAV provides a direct integration to Office 365. This means that you can analyze and share data with your colleagues and thus improve collaboration across your company. Using Dynamics NAV Dynamics NAV offers everything you need from a modern ERP solution. The flexibility of the solution means that it can be adapted to match and comply with the unique requirements that exist in your company. As a certified Dynamics NAV partner, we have extensive experience from working with organizations of all types and sizes. Industries Microsoft Dynamics NAV complies with all the special requirements that exist in your industry. We have a thorough knowledge of some of the most well-known industries and the particular challenges that exist in your specific industry. The story behind Navision Dynamics NAV, or Navision, has a long history behind it. Since the beginning of 1984, when the solution was first developed in Denmark by PC & C Ltd. under the name PC Plus and up to 2002 when it was acquired by Microsoft, the ERP system had a number of different names. What is the price of Dynamics NAV? The price of Dynamics NAV is calculated based on your specific needs for the solution's functionalities, the number and type of users that are allowed to access the system, your need for support at the implementation process and especially how you choose to install the solution. Local or Cloud? Price-wise there is a great difference whether you prefer an ERP solution that is placed in the cloud or if you prefer it to be hosted by a Microsoft partner or locally on your own server. Read Also:
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is critically important for small to medium-sized businesses (SMB). Since these businesses often have limited IT resources and budgets, it is imperative for them to make sure they choose the right ERP system and do not go broke in the process. Facing such obstacles, every SMB should consider Cloud ERP, which offers lower cost and complexity and more flexibility than traditional on-premises ERP.
Cloud computing is a method of deploying services, applications and/or platforms over the Internet without requiring the user to install software, maintain infrastructure or manage servers. It is usually provided as a service on a subscription basis rather than sold as a high-cost software package. Users can access cloud ERP from anywhere using supported devices, which usually includes computers and mobile devices. Updates and maintenance fees are generally built into the subscription model. Adoption of cloud ERP has been slower than other business applications, such as CRM, perhaps because of the critical nature of ERP and some apprehension business decision-makers might have regarding the cloud. Nevertheless, the number of ERP vendors offering cloud solutions is growing. Cloud ERP offers a number of benefits, such as:
Deciding to move to the cloud is only the first step. You also need to make an informed decision about which cloud provider to choose. SMB Group has published a research report, Clearing the ERP Clouds, which offers an extensive look at the benefits of cloud ERP and advice on how to choose a good product and vendor. There are five steps that every company should take prior to upgrading from Dynamics NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central. These steps will give you the valuable information needed to plan and execute the best possible upgrade scenario for your business. By taking the time to gather information and define business processes and requirements, your Business Central deployment will align with your business and enable your continued growth and success.
Assemble Upgrade Team Determining the members of your upgrade team is your first step. Ideally, this group will include representation from each department that works with the software including developers, technical resources, business analysts, and subject matter experts. Additionally, you should appoint an internal project manager who will work to keep the project on track and ensure tasks are completed. If possible, include a representative from corporate leadership on the team. Determine Upgrade Date The best-practice is to be conservative with your go-live date, which should be determined based on your initial project plan and how many steps and tasks need to be completed. We recommend including at least a one-week buffer from when you think you’ll be ready for any issues that may arise. Because your upgrade team includes a variety of people from varied departments, it’s important to take a good look at departmental schedules, upcoming vacation time, and prior commitments when considering a go-live date. Develop your Process Catalog and Library Your Process Catalog and Library are the foundation for your upgrade. These resources will identify all the current processes and activities both within NAV and in other software programs. This list can be quite extensive and usually requires both your internal IT staff and your software partner to develop. Complete Process Comparison Once you have your Process Catalog and Library built, execute a cross-comparison of those processes and functions to what is included in native Dynamics 365 Business Central. It’s likely there is new functionality you can leverage to reduce or eliminate custom code and third-party systems. There could also be functionality that you had been using that is no longer included in Dynamics 365. AppSource and custom code development is available to fill any gaps between the native system and your business processes. Review Custom Code List out custom objects, models, layers, and ISVs within your current system. Assess each customization to determine if it is still needed, if it can be replaced by an app, or if it needs to be transitioned into Business Central. Consult with your software partner for assistance in completing each of these steps, Microsoft Dynamics CRM and NAV integration is more art than science, but this tip provides the steps and paths to some readily available tools that can help.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM and NAV contain overlapping data. By combining the sales data found in Dynamics CRM with the customer data stored in Dynamics NAV, you can gain advantages and improve operational efficiency. Many organizations initially use Microsoft Dynamics CRM, only to later decide that they want to take advantage of other Microsoft Dynamics products. One popular choice is Microsoft Dynamics NAV, an ERP application. Although Microsoft Dynamics CRM and NAV are separate applications, there are benefits to integrating the two. Linking Microsoft Dynamics CRM and NAV together involves establishing data synchronization. This means that CRM data can be accessed through NAV and vice versa. As such, the end users can choose to work primarily in whichever product is best suited to their jobs. Identical data is exposed in both applications, but the data may be exposed in different ways. Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers, for example, typically keep track of sales quotes through the use of accounts. When Dynamics CRM and NAV are integrated, CRM users can use accounts to access customer information associated with NAV. Similarly, NAV users are able to create new customers based on CRM data. NAV users can also access quotes, opportunities and cases within Dynamics CRM without leaving the Dynamics NAV interface. Of course, customer accounts are only one example of areas in which there is overlap between Dynamics CRM and NAV. There is also sharing of data related to users, products, transaction currencies, units of measure and sales orders. How to integrate Dynamics CRM and NAV Microsoft's answer to integration between Dynamics CRM and NAV is the Connector for Microsoft Dynamics. Integration can be established for both the on-premises and cloud-based versions of the software. Integrating Microsoft Dynamics CRM and NAV is more art than science. At its simplest, integration can be established by installing the Connector for Microsoft Dynamics, turning on integration and importing your data. Each of these processes is relatively simple, requiring only a few steps. Microsoft cautions customers that integration is designed to work without customizations, but for the best results, you must customize it for your business and customer processes. The integration and customization process is based around the concept of entity mapping. Entity mapping is a fancy way of saying that because Dynamics CRM and NAV are two separate products, they do not share a common set of records, and therefore, database fields in one application need to be mapped to a database field in the other application. For example, Microsoft Dynamics NAV uses the concept of customers, while Dynamics CRM uses the concept of accounts. Entity mapping is therefore necessary to tell the software there is a relationship between customers and accounts. For each entity that is mapped, there are four pieces of information required for each entity. The first is the entity name. Second, the connector needs to know the connector source entity -- a NAV customer card, a NAV item card or a NAV resource list, among other things. Third is the synchronization direction. Synchronizations can be bidirectional, but in many cases, data is synchronized only from NAV to CRM, or vice versa. The fourth and final requirement is the connector destination entity. This is the location where the data is being synchronized to. For instance, if the Microsoft Dynamics NAV entity is Customer, the Connector Destination Entity is Account. You can see standard entity mappings and get help with custom entity mappings on Microsoft's Developer Network. Note that entity mapping can be quite granular. For example, Dynamics NAV uses several different fields within a customer record, and these fields need to be mapped to corresponding fields within a Dynamics CRM account. The customer's name, for instance, is mapped to the CRM Account Name field. The NAV customer Phone Number field is mapped to the CRM account's Main Phone field. The demands of the manufacturers are increasing day by day. Management in their periodic plannings, staffings, organizing, controlling, directing of the warehouse activities. Warehouse Management System (WMS) is essential to improving the efficiency of the company’s warehouse activities and the operations. “Prudence Technology” offers the best ERP System Microsoft Dynamics NAV For Warehouse Management Software solution (WMS Solution).
Warehouse Management System that provides the configurable Supply Chain processes required by the companies to provide the better customer service and control operational costs. Highly advanced logic-based stock put away, collection and intelligent direct stock movement features in NAV helps dramatically control the labor costs and the space utilization. The solution based on its Service Oriented Architecture offers the full integration to sales, purchasing, logistics, and other 3rd party systems. ....... Read Full Article Also, Read |