Being in MRP implementation, customization, integration, data migration/conversion business for many years, we would like to give you some orientation, in the case if you are on the way of ERP selection for your company. In this small article we will be talking about Microsoft Business Solutions ERP brands only, you can check our future publication to get similar orientation on Oracle and SAP ERP products.

• “Legacy” vs. “Modern” ERP. It might not be the focusing question, however we’d like you to look at the ERP products from this perspective: Java/EJB Sun Microsystems conception is less then 10 years old, and now Microsoft .Net/C# construction is in the process of getting market from Java. Similar time test should be given to ERP system - if the system has legacy architecture - it might be candidate for replacement or be seriously re-written/renovated.

• International aspect. If you think your company is and always be focusing on the US market and will do business with local folks only - this paragraph might be skipped. For the rest of us - and we are in this cohort - we should watch closes Microsoft Business Solutions international policies. When Great Plains Software and Navision Software were independent software vendor and being forming their international policies completely independently from one another - both had intentions to expand to all the world markets: USA, Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, South and Central America. Now, when Microsoft sells all former GPS and Navision ERP products - it can choose one product over the other to promote on the regional market - simply due to the fact that it has to invest into ERP localization.

• Microsoft Dynamics GP - Great Plains. Great Plains Software pioneered in the earlier 1990th with its graphical and DB platform independent product for Mac and Windows: Great Plains Dynamics. The shell was written on C programming language and was named Great Plains Dexterity. Currently with Microsoft Dynamics project initiative - Microsoft renovated Dexterity - it supports now COM object calls and so XML web services, but it is not pure .net application/shell - Microsoft is investing in web interfaces for Microsoft Dynamics GP - Microsoft Business Portal for GP is very good example. Microsoft Dynamics GP incorporated all the best technologies from Microsoft Office to .Net, but its design was done more then 10 years ago. Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 is available in English, Latim Americal Spanish and Canadian French, plus German, Dutch and French/France versions will be available for version 9.0 only - they will not be supported for future version of Dynamics GP.

• Microsoft Dynamics NAV - Microsoft Navision - Navision Attain. Navision Software was established in 1994 and since then it gained European ERP mid-size and portion of USA market, especially for light manufacturing. Navision success should be attributed to Denmark software development market miracle of earlier 1990th. Navision went even further into graphical and DB platform independence - it designed its own database platform - C/SIDE - Navision separated SQL coding from the database itself. Currently MBS promotes Navision on MS SQL Server platform and its database independence is losing its actuality. Navision was localized by MBS to the majority of East European, South American and other emerging markets - if you are in Europe, South America, Asia and looking for supported reliable solution on your regional market - you should look at Navision first.

• Microsoft Dynamics AX - Axapta. Axapta was the newest ERP designed by Navision Software prior to its acquisition by Microsoft. The architecture is dated at the end of 20th century. Axapta needed some time for Microsoft to get upper mid-market ground - traditionally occupied by SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, JDEdwards. Currently Microsoft is localizing Axapta to Brazilian market - due in April 2006. Very good chances are in East and Continental Europe, including UK. In 2005 US Microsoft Business Solutions regional and nation-wide VARs invested into Axapta consulting practice - training and certifying consultants, marketing campaign, etc. Very good chances for Axapta for US mid-market and and upper mid-market clientele and prospects

• Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 or simply Microsoft CRM 3.0 is promoted by Microsoft Worldwide. So, do not question it from the international perspective - you will have integration with Microsoft Dynamics GP, Navision (through third party integration), Axapta - in progress, plus with IBM Lotus Notes Domino - via Alba Spectrum Lotus Notes integration.

Please do not hesitate to call or email us: USA 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918 help@albaspectrum.com

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer at Alba Spectrum Technologies (http://www.albaspectrum.com, http://www.greatplains.com.mx, http://www.enterlogix.com.br) - Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, Navision, Axapta MS CRM, Oracle Financials and IBM Lotus Domino Partner, serving corporate customers in the following industries: Aerospace & Defense, Medical & Healthcare, Distribution & Logistics, Hospitality, Banking & Finance, Wholesale & Retail, Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Placement & Recruiting, Advertising & Publishing, Textile, Pharmaceutical, Non-Profit, Beverages, Conglomerates, Apparels, Durables, Manufacturing and having locations in multiple states and internationally.

We are serving USA Nationwide: CA, IL, NY, FL, AZ, CO, TX, WI, WA, MI, MA, MO, LA, NM, MN, Europe: Germany, France, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Middle East (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, OAE, Bahrain), Asia: China, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, South & Central America: Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Chili, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico

PowerPoint is a strong program with a plethora of useful and special features. It is also almost expected from a presenter — but, unfortunately, often with dread. I am not suggesting that we shouldn’t use PowerPoint. Just remember it is a tool, and only a tool. Used properly, it is your friend. Yes, visuals are important and can add an extra and memorable element to your presentations when used with planning, thought and care.

Start by deciding what purpose your use of PowerPoint serves. Below are some considerations for using and/or not using this slick program:

• You feel you should use the program. My advice is to avoid using PowerPoint for this reason. Many people who travel this route, end up with a program that falls flat, because they are obviously not comfortable presenting this way.
• You love all of the bells and whistles.
• You have so much information to impart, you feel that this is a way to get it all up in front of your audience. This approach doesn’t work well either, because the slides get overloaded with words that many can’t see, and the presenter’s approach often ends up with him or her just reading from the slides.
• By now, you are wondering when and if to ever use PowerPoint. Yes, use it as a powerful visual tool. I suggest creating short, punchy slides with few words, striking (but not distracting) graphics, and large, easy to read fonts. These slides will serve as an outline for your presentation and move you along at a fast and ordered pace. When you show meaningful graphs that explain, and graphics that make your main points memorable, you have succeeded.

Remember, you are the presenter, your PowerPoint program isn’t. It should be your friend and partner — a trusted and useful assistant. The following tips will help you create a PowerPoint presentation that enhances - and doesn’t detract - from you as the speaker:

• Slides with a dark background and light lettering are easier to read in most lighting conditions.
• Sans-serif fonts are easier to read from a distance.
• Use shadows behind the fonts and graphics to make them more prominent.
• KISS! Keep it simple, silly! As you prepare your presentation, repeat this over and over to yourself, so you are not tempted by all of the extras.
• And always have a backup plan in case the projector and/or your program doesn’t work. If you are going to use PowerPoint slides, have the program on a separate disk, just in case, and always try to arrive and set up early to make sure that everything is working the way you want it to. If you know that there will be Internet access, it doesn’t hurt to have your slides up on a site, in case you need to access them that way.

Remember, use PowerPoint for power, not distraction.

Chris King is a professional speaker, storyteller, writer, website creator / designer, free agent, and fitness instructor. You will find her powerful presentations website at http://www.powerfulpresentations.net and her business website at http://www.creativekeys.biz.