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Five Tools that Microsoft Should Quit Charging For in Microsoft Dynamics GP

by Mark Polino
Director of Client Services, Fastpath, Integrated Business Group

Last month I looked at ten ISV products that Microsoft should buy and incorporate into Dynamics GP.  What about products that Microsoft owns but still charges extra for? With Business Ready Licensing, Microsoft has rolled almost all of the possible functionality of Dynamics GP into one of three bundles, Business Essentials, Advanced Management and Advanced Management Enterprise. However, there are still a number of a la carte products that I think Microsoft should quit charging extra for and roll into Business Essentials. So which products fit the bill...er...no bill?

  1. Integration Manager - I've argued that Microsoft should dump Integration Manager in favor of buying SmartConnect, and I like Integration Manager. The problem is that Microsoft keeps reworking the same things without adding additional value or fixing core issues like missing fields.  If Microsoft doesn't replace Integration Manager with SmartConnect they should at least stop charging extra for it. By that I don't mean giving folks a 120 day transitional license, I mean give companies the full product, Financials, Distribution, everything. The ability to regularly integrate from other sources can dramatically improve the efficiency and flexibility of Dynamics GP. Adding Integration Manager as part of Business Essentials would significantly improve the core product.
  2. Professional Service Tools Library - Microsoft offers a set of tools for maintaining Dynamics GP called the Professional Service Tools Library (PSTL or "Pistol" for short). Some of these tools are free, other tools can be purchased individually and the whole suite is available for a fixed price. Curiously, these tools are not part of a company's maintenance renewal; they must be re-purchased each year.   The PSTL tools can do things like renumber vendors and make wholesale ...

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Accounting BI and Reporting Dynamics GP EDI
About Mark Polino

Mark Polino is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a former Microsoft MVP (2007-2018) for Business Solutions. He is the author or coauthor of 5 books related to Microsoft Dynamics GP.  Mark also maintains the Dynamics GP focused website DynamicAccounting.net. He speaks and writes regularly about ERP related topics. Mark has been a controller and CFO for a division of a publicly traded company and he has  worked as a consultant implementing ERP solutions. Mark holds additional certifications including Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) , Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Dynamics Credentialed Professional for Dynamics GP 2015 (Core Install and Core Financials), Xero Certified. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Central Florida and an MBA from Rollins College. Mark lives with his family in Florida.

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