Microsoft Dynamics SL Services

Microsoft Dynamics SL is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution for project-focused small and medium-sized businesses. Microsoft Dynamics SL connects natively to Microsoft Office Project Server. This business application provides project, service, and distribution organizations with robust project management and project accounting functionality. The system's functionality includes:

  • Finance (A/P, A/R, G/L)
  • Project accounting
  • Field service
  • Manufacturing
  • Supply chain management
  • Electronic commerce
  • Analytics

Microsoft Dynamics SL's roots go back more than 35 years, when its co-founders formed TLB, Inc. in 1980. TLB, Inc. was later renamed Solomon Software, and then Microsoft Dynamics SL. Solomon was acquired by Great Plains Software in June 2000. Great Plains was subsequently acquired by Microsoft Corporation in May 2001.

Microsoft Dynamics SL Roadmap: Latest Updates and the Future of Dynamics SL

Dynamics SL is an ERP Solution designed to solve some of the most complex business problems organizations face today.

The latest Dynamic SL roadmap

Microsoft launched a new version of SL in 2018, a clear sign that they are committed to developing the product. The new roadmap includes several updates and enhancements that are designed to improve the business outcomes for all users of the solution.

What Are Options for Customers using Dynamics SL?

If you are currently using Dynamics SL, here are three alternatives moving forward:

1. Stay on Dynamics SL

If you stay on Dynamics SL, you will still receive updates and support from Microsoft. You can also continue leveraging the product before making a change (which may help you to conserve resources in the near-term.

2. Move to a Hosted Environment

If you desire to move to the cloud, Microsoft Azure is a good choice for hosting your Dynamics SL instance. You will have a user-friendly interface, and it can be integrated easily with Microsoft’s other services, such as Power BI.

3. Move to Dynamics 365 Business Central

This entirely cloud-based ERP platform is relatively new and is continually being improved upon. If you are looking for a new Dynamics product but are not sure if Dynamics 365 Business Central is right for you, we can set up a free trial so that you can try it out before making a decision.

No matter which path you choose, Microsoft will continue supporting and updating Dynamics SL. We can help you to stay informed regarding the latest roadmap and updates so you can decide what is best for your business.

For more information about how we support Microsoft Dynamics SL clients, please call (310) 539-4645 or click here to schedule a time to speak with one of our experienced consultants.

Microsoft's Bridge to the Cloud Promotion

Cloud services are a key part of modern business strategy and Microsoft’s Bridge to the Cloud Promotion has been designed to enable companies using Microsoft’s on-premises business applications to take advantage of its cloud-based ERP solutions. This promotion enables you to keep your on-premises systems while leveraging the power of the cloud. This promotion is ideal for just about any organization currently using Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Dynamics GP, or Dynamics SL.

While most special offers come in the form of a discount, Microsoft has structured this one differently. By purchasing licenses for Dynamics 365 Business Central with an equal or greater value than your current Enhancement Plan, you can continue to run the system that you use on-premises at no additional cost. This means that you concurrently can run both Dynamics 365 Business Central in the cloud and your on-premises system.

This promotion is available to all Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (on-premises), Dynamics NAV, Dynamics GP, or Dynamics SL customers with an active Enhancement Plan. You must apply for the offer before your Enhancement Plan’s renewal date.

The easiest way to take advantage of the Microsoft Bridge to the Cloud Promotion is through a trusted services provider like Strategic Systems Group. We will work with you to see if you qualify and take care of the application process for you. This will make it nice and easy for your business to get onto the cloud without risk to your on-premises system.
For more information about Microsoft’s Bridge to the Cloud promotion and how our Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central services team can help you get it running smoothly in your business, please call (310) 539-4645 or click here to schedule a time to speak with one of our experienced consultants.

The recent updates to Microsoft Dynamics SL in 2023 bring several benefits to businesses enabling them to effectively manage their operations and finances. Here are three highlights from these updates:

Streamlined Project Management

  • The new project dashboard offers a comprehensive view of the status of each project, enabling project managers to make decisions supported by data and stay updated on the progress of their projects.
  • Enhanced resource management tools facilitate efficient resource allocation, ensuring that the right resources are assigned to the right projects thereby optimizing productivity and minimizing bottlenecks.
  • Improved project reporting capabilities allowing project managers to track project performance, identify processes for improvement, and ensure projects stay on time and on budget

Efficient Financial Management

  • The addition of a budgeting tool enables businesses to create and track budgets effectively, ensuring appropriate allocation of financial resources and control over expenditures.
  • Enhanced reporting capabilities enable businesses to gain insights into their financial stature, make smart decisions, and identify potential risks and opportunities.
  • Seamless integration with Microsoft Excel improves financial data management, simplifies data import and export, and enhances efficiency of financial operations.

Enhanced Mobile Accessibility and Collaboration

  • The introduction of a mobile app allows team members to access and maintain data in Dynamics SL using their mobile devices, enabling real-time updates and increasing productivity when away from the office.
  • Improved integration with Microsoft Teams enables collaboration by providing a platform for project teams to communicate, share documents, and effortlessly collaborate on projects thereby increasing efficiency and communication.
  • These mobile capabilities empower businesses to stay connected, collaborate effectively, and make informed decisions when team members are away from the office thereby improving overall agility and responsiveness.

The updates to Microsoft Dynamics SL in 2023 offer streamlined project management, efficient financial management, and enhanced mobile accessibility and collaboration, providing project-based businesses with tools they need to succeed in a dynamic business landscape.

Manufacturing System Implementation

Microsoft Dynamics SL Migration 

While Microsoft has made great strides on its cloud-based ERP applications, Dynamics SL continued to be a solid platform for many small to mid-sized, project-focused businesses. When it is time to move away from Dynamics SL to a more modern business application, we assist clients in the software selection process. Primary concern: Given Microsoft's roadmap for the Dynamics SL product, which ERP product should I select to support my company's business in place of Dynamics SL? As with many things, it depends and we can help you make an informed decision. We've found that selling a replacement ERP system is the easy part. Choosing the right mix of components and integrating 3rd party applications is where we are of the most value to our clients. The implementation a new solution entails implementing the new system to facilitate the effective execution of your organization's business processes. 

Systems Integration

Systems Integration

Systems integration brings together unrelated systems into one to deliver needed functionality minimizing wasted effort. This entails linking different software applications to act as a tightly integrated unit. Why is this so important? We perform systems integration for clients to increase value to the customer (quality, performance) while providing value to the company (reduced operational costs and improved on-time delivery). We help you achieve the objectives of making users of the Microsoft Dynamics SL system more productive and your organization profitable by integrating people, departments, systems, and processes for new competitive advantage. 

Business Process Analysis

Business
Process Analysis

Business processes are simply collections sequential tasks which lead to the delivery of a service or product to a customer. Business processes can also be defined as sets of activities that accomplish a specific organizational goal. Clients often ask us why business process analysis is so vital. We use business process analysis to help you identify the weakest points in an operation and identify ways to minimize wasted effort in your company. We use "Fit/Gap" analysis to evaluate each how effectively Microsoft Dynamics SL enables the organization to achieve its business objectives. This process calls for identifying the business processes that fit with well the business system as well as gaps that need to be filled. In situations where there is a gap between the business process and the business system, we assist clients to re-engineer the business process or make customizations to the application to improve fit. 

Financial and Operational Reporting

Financial and Operational
Reporting

Microsoft Dynamics SL comes with an advanced many pre-defined reports all of which pull directly from the Dynamics SL database. With this native reporting functionality, we've helped our clients generate clear, concise operational reporting to augment the financial reports generated from the system. Management Reporter (formerly FRx) is the financial report writer that comes with Microsoft Dynamics SL. Unless there are pressing reasons to do otherwise, we suggest that our clients use Management Reporter for generating formatted financial reports from the Dynamics SL system. Using Management Reporter, we can help clients with the development of consolidated financial statements. We help clients integrate Microsoft Dynamics SL with Power BI to create a portal from which they can generate key financial and operational metrics. Visualization of these metrics over time enables executives to make timely, effective decisions. 

Software Development and Customization

Software Development and Customization 

There are trade-offs to consider when developing software or customizing the Microsoft Dynamics SL application. On the one hand, it improves current fit between business processes and the system. On the other, it increases the cost and complexity of a future migration. We suggest that the extent of software development and customization be kept to a minimum to extend the useful life of the Dynamics SL application. This makes the cost of migrating Dynamics SL to another solution more manageable. In certain situations, we suggest developing a custom application external to, yet integrated with, the Dynamics SL system. This approach serves to provide your company with needed functionality without modifying the core software. We can help you to make an informed decision regarding software development, customization, and writing an external application. 

Technical Support

Technical
Support

After the Microsoft Dynamics SL system has been implemented, our clients often find technical support to be critical. Even if it's for nothing more than having someone to call when the unexpected happens. You have peace of mind knowing that there is a strike team on standby to take action if something catastrophic happens to your Dynamics SL system.