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Advancing Solutions though Choice
Microsoft Dynamics:
Unifying Horizons Document Version Document Date
0.1 Draft Mar 12, 2013
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Advancing Solutions though Choice
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING (ERP) In the current scenario, organizations on the world stage are competing in an environment which is significantly influenced by the existing economic conditions as well as by the constant challenges such as globalization, increasing customer demands, escalating operational costs, financial turmoil, sluggish growth and much more. Companies and organization need to confront these challenges accordingly to survive and grow in this competitive market. Few businesses take call to cut operational costs and other overheads, while others try to indulge in something more permanent and pragmatic. To succeed, they opt technology as an alternative solution as it offers many more benefits other than cutting costs, like it introduces agility, streamlines the processes and helps find greater efficiencies across the organizations. To assist business owners and help them to succeed in their stride towards technology, major IT companies developed flexible and user friendly applications for Enterprise Resource Planning. ERP solutions can help you in transforming your business and its processes by embracing the ever changing global business environment, with confidence and poise. ERP UNIFICATION Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is the system that catalyses the flow of information within an organization by assimilating the internal as well as the external management of information. It attaches the various segments of an organization like finance/accounting, manufacturing, human resource, marketing, sales and service, customer relationship management, etc. in a single string with an integrated software application. The rationale behind ERP solution is to commence and maintain the glibness in the flow of information amongst various segments of an organization. It also enables the outside stakeholders to get connected with the managed connection. It not only levels the information stream, but also enhances the checkpoint efficiency in every sphere of the organizational ladder. The enhanced focus and competency enables you to acclimatize well in the ever changing global business environment and to deliver unique value to your customers.
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ERP MARKET SHARE ERP solutions have captured a large chunk of the market share that belongs to IT enabled business solutions. The market is divided into the following spheres: Tier 1 Mid-Market Entry Level A Major portion of the complete business market for ERP solutions have been covered with Tier 1 products like Infor (Baan), JD Edwards, Lawson, Oracle, PeopleSoft, SAP (All-in-one, Business by Design, and R/3), MAS-500 and Microsoft Dynamics AX [Axapta]. In this article, we will focus particularly on the ERP solution developed by the Microsoft, i.e. Microsoft Dynamics AX [Axapta]. It is one of the emerging and most promising ERP and CRM systems, in the present scenario.
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Advancing Solutions though Choice
MICROSOFT DYNAMICS AX [AXAPTA ] Dynamics AX [Axapta] is the solution that provides assistance in critical business processes that involves financial management, supply chain management, business intelligence, performance management, collaboration, project management, HR management, etc. This technology enabled software bestowed by the Microsoft, gives you rapid, consistent and all-inclusive capabilities. It also improves the effectiveness of the existing business processes and allows you to extend the filtered information access within your business community.
Microsoft Dynamic ERP Microsoft Dynamics ERP offers five primary products for the customers: 1) Microsoft Dynamics AX (formerly Axapta) - It is one of the most popular products offered by Microsoft for enterprise resource planning. 2) Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly Great Plains Software) - GP is a business accounting software that targets mainly the mid-market segment 3) Microsoft Dynamics NAV (formerly Navision) – It is for small and medium-sized enterprises that assists in business activities like financing, manufacturing, customer relationship management, supply chains, analytics and electronic commerce. It is popular as it is easy to customize and the Value-added resellers (VAR) can obtain full access to the business logic source code. 4) Microsoft Dynamics SL (formerly Solomon IV) - SL is an enterprise resource planning software product developed by Microsoft. It is mostly demanded by the project-driven small and medium sized enterprises. 5) Microsoft Dynamics CRM - It is customer relationship management software that Microsoft developed, mainly to focus on Sales, Marketing, and Service (help desk) sectors. However, Microsoft has been marketing the Dynamics CRM as an XRM platform and has encouraged partners to use its proprietary (.NET based).
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Advancing Solutions though Choice
SECURITY CONCERNS WITH ERP ERP is a flexible IT enabled solution for data integration and streamlining information. However, the security of the data is a big concern for the companies who wish to opt for these ERP solutions. To address this security issue and to help the clients to gain confidence in the ERP solution, Microsoft introduced a unique security model. The ‘Microsoft Dynamics CRM’ and ‘Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online’ comes loaded with that security model. It shields the data integrity and privacy, and also supports efficient data access and collaboration as well. The goals of the security model are as follows: To categorize the users based on roles and restrict access to information based on those roles To provide users with restricted access to information; only up to an appropriate level that is required to finish the assigned jobs To support data sharing for enhancing specified collaborative effort; with this, users and teams will be granted access to records they do not own but require for time being To prevent any unauthorized access to records Technology enabled systems are prone to many other IT Security issues, but Microsoft Products assures you of complete safety and confidentiality. The various security measures that are managed by the Microsoft Dynamics ERP are: Physical Security Microsoft controls the accessibility of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online environment through multiple security checks that are applied at multiple levels in the Microsoft data centers. The environment that has customer’s data is physically secured and the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online service is delivered through carrier-class data centers that ensure consistent delivery according to the service-level agreement (SLA). These data centers include unparalleled and exceptional industry-standard features. They are as follows: Secured physical access for authorized personnel only
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Uninterrupted power supplies (through battery backup and diesel generators) Climate control to ensure optimal temperature and humidity for the operative equipments Natural disaster control Physical monitoring Globally located Microsoft data center Secure network design and operations Exceptional hardware Logical Security Logical security also has a vital role in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. The following key features provide incomparable logical security: Data isolation: The environment that has the client’s data is kept in isolation from other environment or unauthorized access. Hosted application security: Microsoft also ensures that applications hosted by Microsoft data centers are highly secured by the robust security features and measures that control access. Network-level security Apart from physical and logical security, Microsoft also provides security measures for connection over the Internet. The customer’s access to internet service originates from the Internet-enabled client’s locations and ends at a Microsoft data center. These connections established between customers and Microsoft data centers are encrypted using industry-standard Transport Layer Security (TLS) /Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). It effectively establishes a highly secure browser-to-server connection that helps in providing data confidentiality and integrity between the desktop and datacenter. Infrastructure-level security Extensive server monitoring support integrated with the overall Microsoft System Centre Operations Manager monitoring architecture Secure remote access via Microsoft Windows Server Remote Desktop Service Page 6 of 7
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Multi-tier administration, using a three-tier administration model that isolates administrative tasks and controls access based on user role and the level of authorized administrative access Environmental security scanning to monitor for vulnerabilities and incorrect configuration BUSINESS ADVANTAGES OF MICROSOFT DYNAMICS ERP SOLUTIONS If you are exploring new growth initiatives for your business or if you plan to expand across borders to track new business opportunities, the Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions can be your partner in success. It can help you in managing critical operations across various areas simultaneously. For instance: 1. Centralize ERP for Multiple Sites Provide real-time visibility into business performance across entities Consolidate and standardize processes Scale operations quickly Make it easy to work across borders 2. Connect Local Entities to Headquarters Integrate globally, optimize locally Reduce complexity and simplify compliance Scale quickly and deliver industry-specific solutions
3. Target Specialized Business Needs Streamline business processes across your entire business Implement an easy-to-use solution Deploy vertical functionality quickly and with reduced risk With such a convincing representation of all the security features and advantages, the Microsoft Dynamics has created a niche for itself in the global market. It has also gained an edge over other CRM and ERP business solutions.
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