There are two basic paradigms for CRM systems: Contact centric or Account Centric. In Contact Centric systems, the primary organization is around independent contacts. In Account Centric systems, there are two levels to the basic organization: a company or account layer to which multiple contacts can be related.

Contact Centric

In a contact centric system, the database is organized around individual contacts. So, if you have dealings with 3 different people all from the same company, you would have 3 different contact records and in each record would be the company name. There may be ways to relate different contacts together, but these will be in the “workaround” class.

A Contact centric organization makes sense if you are dealing with individuals and you do not need to do such things as look at an organization’s combined history. It is very difficult/clumsy to track company related information separately from contact information. For example, if you want to track information about a company (e.g. sic code, # employees, annual budget, etc.) separately from contact related information (e.g. favourite hobby, home phone number, spouse’s name, etc.). there isn’t an easy way to do that:

difficult.

and somehow relate the contacts to it?

Account Centric

Account centric CRM systems have a layer above contact, the organization or account, that can tie multiple contacts together. This has the advantage of being able to track company-related information entirely separately from contact-related information. This approach is usually easier to:

My Recommendation

If you’re working in an industry where you only need one contact record per account, you may want the simplicity of contact centric. However, if you are going to want to track multiple contacts per account then contact vs. account centric becomes a very important consideration and you should give heavy weighting to systems that are truly account centric. This is just one of many considerations that must go into determining whether or not a particular CRM software fits your needs. For a complete step-by-step process for evaluating CRM software, see the Insider’s CRM Success System.

Scott Gingrich, founder of The CRM Coach (http://www.thecrmcoach.com) is the creator of “The Insider’s CRM Success System” (http://www.crminsidersguide.com), the world’s most complete and only CRM Success System guaranteed to save thousands, developed specially for small business.

If you have Microsoft Great Plains and support it for your company and have light or heavy Great Plains customization, written in Dexterity – you need to know your options in upgrading Great Plains or migrating it from ctree/Pervasive to MS SQL/MSDE.

Great Plains Dexterity is proprietary programming language/environment, which was created in early 1990-th to provide platform / database / graphical interface independence for Mac and Windows based Great Plains Dynamics.  Today it is legacy and Microsoft Business Solutions is phasing Dexterity out.

However Great Plains 7.5 and even 8.0 is Dexterity based application, so you have to deal with it and it’s customization.

Good news.  Prior to version 7.0 Great Plains had plans on expanding GP functionality and so was changing tables structure – forcing Dexterity customization to be analyzed and partially rewritten with each upgrade.  Not any more – GP structure stays the same – Microsoft is doing new modules acquisition and unifying it’s graphical interface to move all it’s ERP packages: Great Plains, Solomon, Navision and Axapta to web-based Microsoft Business Portal.

Still pain.  Dexterity has possibility to customize existing Great Plains screens, so called Alternative Great Plains forms.  This was upgrade problem in the past and it stays now – there is no way to do it in house (until you are willing to pay for full-time internal developer – who is usually in the learning curve).  You got to bring in consultant.

Recommended approach.  You should have the strategy to migrate Dexterity customization to SQL, Crystal Reports, custom web publishing – Visual Studio.net and slowly abandon Dexterity customization

1. SQL Stored procedures - performance improvement.  Consider replacing dexterity data manipulation with SQL stored procedures.  Dexterity is cursor-driven language and it is not efficient when processing huge datasets.
2. Crystal Reports.  Take advantage of open and leading technology.  Crystal Reports will eliminate the need in the future for painstaking Dexterity reports upgrade.  Base you Crystal report on the SQL view or stored proc
3. Do direct web publishing off your GP database.  Use Visual Studio – it is easy to find specialists and have them in staff.  We are in the World when web publishing is very easy.

Good luck and if you have issues or concerns – we are here to help! if you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, based in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Boston, New York, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Seattle and having locations in multiple states and internationally (www.albaspectrum.com), he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.

Cons–Tech is a Construction and Buildings ERP software solution which has been developed after in depth analysis of the needs and requirements of the construction and buildings business owners to increase the efficiency of the entire system. Now a days the Construction and Building business is flourishing at a rapid pace and modern technologies are involved to carry out the whole process. The construction business process is not limited to build the high rises and super highways only, besides the mechanical works there are a lots of software related works are involved to successfully execute the process. Time is more precious than money in today’s world, so to complete the work in a synchronized manner and to meet the goal in optimum time and with perfection this software is helpful. Cons-Tech is designed to solve the critical paper work problems involved in the Construction and Building business. Many satisfied clients finds this software as the ultimate product they were looking for their business.
The Modules in this software are -
User and System Administration
Purchase
Engineering
Inventory Management
Sales and Marketing Mangement
Online customer relationship management
Accounting Management
Society Management
Online Document Management
Complete Suit of Civil Engineering Software
Land and Legal Record Management
Decision Support System (DSS) and Management Information System (MIS).

Kundan Upadhyaya, Software Engineer - Dev Genie Software Technologies.
e-mail - kundan@dgstonline.com
url - http://cons-tech.dgstonline.com

Microsoft Business Solutions stakes on Microsoft Great Plains as main Accounting/ERP application for US market.  At the same time it seems to be staking on Navision in Europe and has Axapta as high end large corporation market competitor to Oracle, PeopleSoft, SAP, IBM.  This article is brief review of Microsoft Great Plains integration with Microsoft Access.  This is also applicable to Small Business Manager (which is based on the same technology – Great Plains Dexterity dictionary - DYNAMICS.DIC and runtime DYNAMICS.EXE) and Great Plains Standard on MSDE  or MS SQL Server.

If you are developer who is asked: how do we implement  Great Plains integration/interface  with your MS Access-based  system – read this and you will have the clues on where to look further.

1. Great Plains Integration Manager - this is rather end-user tool - it is very intuitive, it validates 100% of business logic, brings in/updates master records (accounts, employees, customers, vendors. etc.) brings in transactions into work tables.  The limitation of Integration Manager - it does use GP windows behind the scenes without showing them - so it is relatively slow - you can bring 100 records - but when you are talking about thousands - it is not a good option.  By the way you can program Integration Manager with VBA.  Microsoft Access is ODBC compliant and so you can do direct Integration Manager query to MS Access
2. eConnect – it is type of Software Development Kit with samples in VB.Net.  Obviously the development environment should be Visual Studio.Net.  eConnect will allow you to integrate master records - such as new customers, vendors, employees, etc., plus you can bring transactions into so called Great Plains work tables (eConnect doesn’t allow you to bring open or historical records - you need to post work records in Great Plains, the same limitation applies to Integration Manager above)  eConnect is rather for ongoing integration.  It was initially created for eCommerce application integration to Great Plains.
3. SQL Stored Procedures.  Obviously you have unlimited control and possibilities with SQL queries.  You need to know Great Plains tables structure and data flow.  Launch Great Plains and go to Tools->Resource Description->Tables.  Find the table in the proper series.  If you are looking for the customers – it should be RM00101 – customer master file.  If you need historical Sales Order Processing documents – they are in SOP30200 – Sales History Header file, etc.   Do not change existing tables - do not create new fields, etc.  Also you need to realize that each GP table has DEX_ROW_ID - identity column.  Sometimes it is good idea to use inbound/outbound XML in the parameters - then you can deploy web service as a middle party between two systems.
4. Data Transformation Services (DTS) – Good tool for importing your third party data into staging tables in GP - then you can pull them in using either stored procs of Integration Manager.  You can also deploy this tool for EDI export/import.  You can have DTS working with Linked Server - SQL Server Construction for linking to Microsoft Access
5. Great Plains Dexterity Custom Screens.  Sometimes users prefer to have seamlessly integrated into GP interface custom screens - for parameters settings and initiating integration.  Dexterity is a good option, however remember - it is always better to create new custom screen versus customizing existing one - due to the future upgrade issues.  Also - Dexterity is in phasing our by Microsoft Business Solutions.
6. Modifier/VBA custom buttons on the existing screens -  alternative to Dexterity is you are comfortable with VBA and ADO.
7. SQL Linked Servers – you can do direct SQL queries to other ODBC compliant platform via SQL Linked Server (including Microsoft Access) - you may need to familiarize yourself with OPENROWSET command in Transact SQL.  This is also good option if you need cross-platform Crystal Report - pulling data from SQL Server and third party databases on the same report.
8. Warning - do not place existing GP tables into Replication! - you will have upgrade issues.

Happy integrating!  if you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, based in Chicago, California, Texas, New York, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Oregon, Arizona, Canada, UK, Australia and having locations in multiple states and internationally (www.albaspectrum.com ), he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.

Distribution software is loaded with excellent opportunities for you. First, consider the methods that you are using now. Are they the most effective? Do they supply you with accurate information in a moments notice? Do they provide for you the most efficient and cost effective way of managing your business? If you have doubts, then the purchase of distribution software is something that you should consider.

Here are some things distribution software can do for you:

• Most all of the software programs that you will find out there will provide for you an order processing and management application. This alone can organize you effectively.

• You will find that inventory control is also available and can offer you not only good quality inventory but also reliable numbers that you can count on.

• You will find that distribution software can handle just about all levels of accounting as well.

• Purchasing is usually included in it as well.

• Do you need help with customer service? Distribution software may include help for that as well.

• In management forms, it can handle finance management, warehouse management as well as supply chain management through effective and reliable methods and applications that you can call on any time.

• Sales are managed as well as allowing you to know what is happening with your business, up or down within seconds of requesting this information.

Although there are many various options available to you that may or may not include these elements in them, you are sure to find the distribution software that you need rather easily. In fact, you can often find those options that combine the elements that have the most effect on your business as well. In order to choose which is the right option for you, simply consider the features and applications it offers along with other factors such as price and ease of use. The most effective distribution software programs are those designed with the user in mind.

for more information please see http://www.distribution-software-shack.co.uk

Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more and more popular, partly because of Microsoft muscles behind it.  Now it is targeted to the whole spectrum of horizontal and vertical market clientele.  Small companies use Small Business Manager (which is based on the same technology – Great Plains Dexterity dictionary and runtime), Great Plains Standard on MSDE is for small to midsize clients, and then Great Plains serves the rest of the market up to big corporations.  There are several reporting tools available and you definitely need to know which one to use for different types of reports.

If you are developer who is asked: how do we create report for Microsoft Great Plains – read this and you will have the clues on where to look further.

1. Great Plains Report Writer (ReportWriter) – this is built-in reporting tool.  All the original report in Great Plains are written in ReportWriter.  ReportWriter itself is Dexterity module.  You should use this tool if you would like to modify existing Great Plains reports, such as Blank Invoice Form - here you can place your company logo, change the positioning, fonts, colors, etc.  ReportWriter will allow you also do new  reports - simple option  if you want to export all the records from one Great Plains table - use it.  New report, however doesn’t have interface where you would enter parameters - so it is not useful for real custom reports.  Another limitation of ReportWriter - you can not do cross-modules report - when you need sales and purchasing info on the same report for example.
2. FRx.  This is excellent tool when deal with financial reporting - it works on the General Ledger level (Balance sheet, P&L, Cash Flow Statement, etc.).  It also allows you to do multiple companies consolidation - when you do consolidated Balance Sheet (with inter-companies transactions elimination).
3. Smart List - Export to Excel – this is nice feature in Great Plains - you could create a list with simple criteria and then export it to Excel.
4. Crystal Reports.  It gives you unlimited functionality.  Obviously flexibility requires you to know Great Plains table structure:  Launch Great Plains and go to Tools->Resource Description->Tables.  Find the table in the proper series.  If you are looking for the customers – it should be RM00101 – customer master file.  If you need historical Sales Order Processing documents – they are in SOP30200 – Sales History Header file, etc.  Create ODBC connection to GP Company database.  Use the same technique as when you create standard ODBC connection for GP workstation – but change default database to targeted company database.  Create SQL Query to probe the data – we always recommend tuning your query and see that you are getting adequate results – in any case – Crystal Report is just a nice tool to show the results of your query.
5. Direct Web Publishing off Great Plains databases – yes - it is easy now with Visual Studio.Net and you can hire good programmers.  This is good - Microsoft Business Solutions products: Great Plains, Solomon, Navision and Axapta will be integrated into so called Microsoft Business Portal - which will have web interface - you can get the idea if you look at Microsoft CRM web client - so direct web publishing is good taste.
6. SQL Queries.  If you have SQL background - this is great field for you.  You know - with properly formatted SQL query you can realize simple EDI export/import for the integration with legacy systems.

Happy designing!  if you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, based in Chicago, California, Texas, New York, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Oregon, Arizona, Canada, UK, Australia and having locations in multiple states and internationally (www.albaspectrum.com), he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.

Microsoft Windows Vista, the next version of Windows, is scheduled to arrive in H2 2006. Vista is loaded with new technologies, the most visible being an enhanced graphical user interface. Vista’s user interface improves rendering of text, allows smooth, eye-pleasing window transition effects, and utilizes high-resolution icons.

Icon in Windows Vista Explorer

Windows Vista Explorer makes use of high-resolution 256×256 icons. While 256×256 pixels seem to be too much for current displays, Vista is able to dynamically downscale images to any size. By using large icons, Vista Explorer is already prepared for future displays with higher resolution [DPI].

The image size is controlled by a slider control in Windows Explorer. This slider replaces the discrete view modes in Windows XP. Vista makes it possible to assign different view mode and different icons sizes to each folder.

Support for high resolution icon is not limited to system icons. Our test showed that a custom icon with a large image is accepted and used by Windows Explorer without problems.

PNG Compressed Vista Icons

A typical Vista icon contains 12 images:

• 16×16 pixels in 16 colors, 256 colors, and truecolor+alpha
• 32×32 pixels in 16 colors, 256 colors, and truecolor+alpha
• 48×48 pixels in 16 colors, 256 colors, and truecolor+alpha
• 256×256 pixels in 16 colors, 256 colors, and truecolor+alpha

The ability to put 256×256 pixels image inside an icon is not new. This feature was available in Windows XP and in previous systems. The problem is that an icon with all 12 formats requires more than 400kB. This is considerably more than a typical Windows XP icon needs (approx. 25kB). Microsoft solved this problem by extending the icon format.

Vista icons store the images in icons using PNG compression. With PNG compression, the size of an icon is reduced. Because PNG is loss-less and supports 8bit alpha channel, the quality of icon is maintained.

Current Vista icons use compression for the large 256×256 formats only. This makes the icons backwards compatible with previous systems. Windows XP will ignore the high resolution images and load the standard 48×48 pixels images. It is possible to compress all images in an icon. Such icons will occupy even less space and they will work without problems in Vista. They will of course fail under Windows XP.

Creating and Converting Compressed Icons

Vista compatible icon editor is needed to work with Vista icons. Icon editor authors are adopting the Vista enhancements to the icon format and some of them have already managed to release new version of their software. A Vista icon is created by simply adding a high resolution images and by selecting the Vista format when saving an icon.

Some editors allows extracting Vista icons from executable files and converting them to XP icons (e.g. saving them without compression).

Conclusion

Microsoft improved the visuals of Windows delivered a future-proof solution compatible with high-end system as well as with lower definition screens. The 256×256 icon images allow icon authors to add more details and make the icons more appealing under wide range of conditions.

The information in this article is relevant for Windows Vista Beta 1. Vista icons specifications are preliminary and subject to change.

Copyright 2005 Vlastimil Miler / RealWorld Graphics

More resources: Vista icons screenshots and example icons

RealWorld Icon Editor 2005.2.1 - first Vista-compatible icon maker

Microsoft Great Plains is main accounting / ERP application from Microsoft Business Solutions, targeted to the US market.  It serves the whole of vertical and horizontal market: most of the industries and company sizes.  Crystal Reports on the other hand is the leader in the reporting software industry and Microsoft is willing to use Crystal as main reporting tool for Great Plains, Solomon, Microsoft CRM, .Net platform, etc.

If you are developer who is asked: how do we extend Great Plains ReportWriter with somewhat more sophisticated – read this and you will have the clues on where to look further.

1. Great Plains Tables Structure – first of all you need to know the tables to link.  Launch Great Plains and go to Tools->Resource Description->Tables.  Find the table in the proper series.  If you are looking for the customers – it should be RM00101 – customer master file.  If you need historical Sales Order Processing documents – they are in SOP30200 – Sales History Header file, etc.
2. Create ODBC connection to GP Company database.  Use the same technique as when you create standard ODBC connection for GP workstation – but change default database to targeted company database.
3. Consider SQL Views – if you don’t want complex links in Crystal Report itself or if you need unionization from several companies – SQL view is the answer.
4. Consider SQL Stored Procedures.  Sometimes you can not pull the data in one view – you need temporary tables to be created and the final query should be based on these temp tables – this is when you need stored procedure.
5. Call Crystal Report from GP Screens via VBA/Modifier – if the user wants to call Crystal report for example - printing Invoices in GP and do it from SOP Entry window – you can use Modifier and VBA to call Crystal Reports engine.
6. Create SQL Query to probe the data – we always recommend tuning your query and see that you are getting adequate results – in any case – Crystal Report is just a nice tool to show the results of your query.

Happy customizing, querying and designing! if you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, based in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Boston, New York, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Seattle and having locations in multiple states and internationally (www.albaspectrum.com), he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.

When it comes to the terms, “Streamline Operations” or “Reduce Operating Expenses” and “Cut Labor Costs”, do you really have any idea what these terms actually mean? How much money does the company actually want to save? And how does workflow software help the company to achieve this seemingly insurmountable goal?

When it comes to workflow software, every company definitely has their own sets of procedures as well as methods that they implements when it comes to handling all sorts of day-to-day operations in and out of their companies such as the following: invoicing, time sheets, status reports, new account setup and you might as well include everything else that will be able to make your business tick. The term workflow in workflow software actually refers to the tasks, personnel, procedural steps, required information as well as the various tools that are needed for the steps that that the business has to take in order for it to become successful.

Every company has a unique and different process as compared with other companies in the business, this is why a lot of growing companies usually end up with a highly unorganized business process when it comes to email templates, spreadsheets, shared documents, paper forms and even trivial knowledge which the employees should know in order to be able to handle the day-to-day business.

Majority of the time under such chaos and disorganization often leads to various frustrations and problems for the small company, such every day hassles include: missing paper work, missed deadlines, lost as well as incorrect information as well as extending heavily on working hours in order to complete a certain task. This is what usually happens to unorganized offices and is often referred to as “red tape.” The bottom line is that when red tape starts getting on your customers nerves, it would soon be a downward spiral for your company as well.

So to your company’s rescue comes workflow software automation. But what exactly is workflow software? And how can it will be able to help you out in this company crisis? Workflow software is actually still relatively new to the corporate setting wherein it is a combination of a to-do list as well as project management tool, only set on a different scale.

When it comes to workflow software just think of having a simple to-do list at your hands wherein through the workflow software, that to-do list can now also be accessible by other employees from your company through the company network. This simple to-do list can actually, on its own, keep track of all the items that need to be addressed by everyone in the company. Also, through the workflow software, once certain tasks are completed by the assigned company employees, the workflow software will actually automatically send off other to-do tasks to the appropriate company employees.

The workflow software is actually smart enough to also pass whichever documents or data that is needed to be able to perform whichever tasks that it sends out to the employees. And lastly, if the workflow software’s features are not exciting enough then there are other great features that this automation software has in store for its users. The workflow software can also do some visual status tracking of the tasks at hand, due data monitoring (which ensures every member of your team that a deadline has been set and has to be especially met by the employees, business rules). The workflow software will always make sure that the employees continuously adhere to the company’s rules and regulations, e-mail and database capabilities.

It is incredibly important for a company to have a well sorted out database in order to prevent people from panicking once a certain file has mysteriously disappeared most especially during the time that their boss needs it. All these are jam-packed in the workflow software automation wherein it will certainly be able to help you and your company, and most especially the employees to have a simplified working environment which is highly geared towards being able to produce the best results at any given time. The workflow software will actually enable employees to be able do their job well since they would not be scrambling for lost files anymore as well as all sorts of other hassles that may erupt when you are in a highly disorganized company. It is also equally important that the employees are highly skilled but their skills will not be a match to the cluttered chaos that will be caused by disorganization.

For more great document shredding info and advice check out: http://www.superiorbpm.com and http://www.justworkflow.com

Java has come along a long way.  Many would agree with this.  I did not until the Java 1.5 “Tiger” hit me.  The tiger had several new features, and more importantly, it has new syntax.  Six major upgrades that the tiger presents are certainly the generics, enhanced for loop, autoboxing (unboxing), improvement on Typesafe enum, Static import and the metadata.  Of course there are many more, which can be found at java’s official site.  Out of these six, at least four would be used in my daily “programming” life.  From java 1.1 to 1.4, it seemed more like new frills were simply added.  It felt like earning more brownie points when you downloaded the newer version.  But should I start using 1.5 immediately, maybe not.

The developers and programmers (if you distinguish between them) are left with one great dilemma (me too).  It certainly is as to which version to use when preparing software in java.  This problem hides itself under the carpet when you are programming for a specific client with a specific system where you can get it upgrade on site, but when the app is going to be used by Mr. Williams from South Africa and Ms. Lee from Japan, you really have to give a thought as to whether your app is going to run on both the systems (that is why java was made in the first place, isn’t it?).  I’ve always had the latest version of the sdk, yet I would try and target compiling in a lower possible version, so that even those people would be able to use the apps, who were, well, frozen in time and didn’t go up the “version ladder”.  For e.g., ordinary applets, by me and my company, in most of the cases would be compiled in java 1.1, so that no user ends up waiting for an hour before the plugin for the latest version is downloaded and installed (get yourself a coffee if your yawning).  For e.g., once on a tour, I happened to visit some site in a cyber café, which said that I needed to install java plugin 1.4 to view the page correctly (apparently, cyber cafes don’t bother much about upgrading java), and when I did, it turned out to be a stupid advertisement (Ahhh! What agony!).  Of course, over a period of time, you expect the users to have gone to a level of higher java plugin courtesy other company’s applets, but just to be sure…

Well, so this “dilemma” is real and has to be looked after (you don’t stand a chance if you don’t).  Many a times in java forums, you’ll find beginners with the problem of “applet not initializing” and when the compiling is targeted for 1.1, it runs.  Preferably, developers should have the latest version (despite the huge bandwidth it’s going to cost you to download it) and they should try and keep their apps designed, if possible, for lower versions for a universal application.   Although, this might not necessarily be imposed for a long time, but certainly try and keep your apps designed by the java 1.4 specifications for a few weeks, till most of the users catch on with the tiger.  This should also give you sufficient time to upgrade your programming ability version also.  A recent survey about java’s versions had about 260 respondents out of which about 15% didn’t know that java had versions, 8% preferred java as the good old java (can’t believe it, me neither), 29% were happy, 32% wanted newer versions but wanted the syntax of older versions to remain and only the bugs being killed and the rest were too confused to have an opinion. 

On this note, its now entirely up to you to decide which is your cup of java.  I’ve just got a book to learn to tame the tiger and I’ll be using java 1.4 till I tame 1.5 good.  So, I think it’ll be around October, when I start using 1.5 hoping (with crossed fingers) that most of the users by then would be roaring with it.

I hope that this small article would help you make a decision about which version of java to use.

Shashank is the founder and administrator of the java apps rating site - thejavahub.com.  To know more about this venture with java, please visit his site at http://www.thejavahub.com