…more information from “The Cloud”…

Hey, folks, we are back sending you more info on “the Cloud.”

Here is an ERP System that has some real depth and breadth.  It includes Financial, Distribution, CRM and soon-to-be-released Project Series.  The report writers are built in rather than an ‘add-on’ (that may be discontinued in the near future).  I have met with the programmers and they are amazing – really on-top in designing for companies doing business today---the new century, not decades ago.  This is totally customizable and multi-language. 

This software can be deployed in-house, in a datacenter, or in “the Cloud.”  It is your choice.  AND, in the future, an in-house system can be changed to one of the others.  In any case, the data remain under your ownership and is retrievable.  This is a really important point. 

This software can be access from anywhere in the world with any workstation, including a MAC, and on multiple browsers. 

This company is Acumatica.  Acumatica has experienced people running this company and it is well-funded.  I am On Board.  Take a look at our website ..ManApp1.com…and check out the .pdf on Acumatica.

I am in The Cloud again

….just about the time I think I am finished researching The Cloud, some one sends me more data.  So here you go.  Grab some of these articles and check out some of the interesting ideas I have been sent.

I have been in the business world for many, many years and most of the industries have some kinds of Standards.  I have even been a part of those who set those Standards.  In the “olden days” of the PC Network, there were no Standards.  It was pretty much “get your stuff out on the market and who ever sells the most sets the Standards.”

We are in a new era with more and more applications having the ability to run in The Cloud.  So, who now sets the Standards and what will the Standards look like?  I received an interesting article written by Rutrell Yasin entitled “How standards could get cloud out of the 1970s.”  Check out the following URL and read the whole thing.  He feels the standards are either non-existent or based on mainframe technology. 

In the same group of articles is one on security.  Check that one out, too.  The really good  article I read, and am passing on, is one entitled, “At last, a solid definition of what a cloud looks like.”

Most of these articles are written from the point of view of what the Federal Government is trying to do.  But, take a look at the ideas they are trying to implement and whether all of The Cloud providers already clash with each other, what they look like and how can they be standardized world wide. 

http://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2011/07/26/cloud-2-commission-2-roadmap.aspx?s=wtdaily_280711

When you are ready to join accounting in The Cloud, get in touch through http://ManApp1.com

What should Business Intelligence Include and How Can It Be Used?

According to MRC, a provider of BI Software (http://www.mrc-productivity.com/branding/ovbi.html) and I quote:

“5 Essential Elements Every Business Intelligence Solution Should Include

• All of your data. In real-time. m-Power's intelligently designed BI applications provide you with a high level view of real-time data with the ability to drill down to the most minute details.
• Easy in every way. Easy to create. Easy to use. Easy to understand. After all, what good is business intelligence if it's not compeltely intuitive in every way?
• Works well with others. Business intelligence applications created with m-Power integrate with your existing systems easily.

• Friendly pricing: We don't charge user fees, seat fees, distribution fees, or run-time fees. Buy m-Power once and distribute applications for free!
• Easy integration: Applications built with m-Power will easily integrate with your existing products.”

These points sure make sense to me.  But how can it be used?  Internally, certainly.  We have actually been doing that for years, even long before desktop computers came on the market about thirty years ago.  We just kept hand written data and banks of file cabinets.  

I came across an interesting article from edmonds.com, on-line information for automobiles and products.  They used gathered information from questions asked by potential customers to create a database.  From that information, they found what questions are most frequently asked and created answers and forums for potential customers.  Not just a Q & A, but a true BI database for the public and interested customers.  Take a look at their website at http://www.edmunds.com to see what BI developed for the outside world can do for your business.  

Are you ready for BI for your business?  Contact us at www.ManApp1.com.  We are ready to help you!

Let’s talk about Business Intelligence Software

Last Blog introduced BI.  With high-speed computers, the web and databases everyone can access, BI software has made the next Quantum Leap!  So, what can we do with BI Software?

According to Microsoft, using such tools as MS Office and MS SharePoint Services, users can create their own reports analyzing their own data and those they can access.  This allows companies to scale the needs of users to quickly respond to changing needs of the organization.

Where is BI being used right now?

MEDICAL is…using data analysis to keep track of constantly moving regulatory changes, health care reform and care quality.

FINANCIAL SERVICES are…using data analysis to mitigate risk, increase customer retention and manage performance.

COMMUNICATION is…using data analysis to enhance the customer experience, integrate accounting and customize new service delivery.

RETAIL is…using data analysis to better manage already huge databases to satisfy customers, manage inventory and track orders to vendors to just-in-time deliveries.

EDUCATIONS is…using data analysis to use every shrinking resources to provide the most effective learning experience and boost excellence.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES are…using data analysis to provide legal firms, accounting practices, construction and IT providers (to name just a few) to advance performance and make informed decisions.

MANUFACTURING is…using data analysis to mitigate risk, gain visibility and focus on teamwork.

GOVERNMENT is…using data analysis to measure performance, bring awareness to situations, handle changing IT needs and manage and value Intelligence Systems around the nation and the world.

Go to http://Microsoft.com/BI-US/pages/home.aspx to access Microsoft’s BI TV or BI Blog. If you’d like us to come and talk to you about how BI can work for you, contact us at our website, http://www.manapp1.com . Thanks for reading!

 

Dynamics SL 2011 Has Been Released!

Dynamics SL 2011 now available

Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011 raises the bar for productivity, performance, and growth with the familiar user experience your people need, operations and insight that deliver results your customers want, and new ways for project-driven organizations to adapt—and thrive—in a connected world. New capabilities deliver faster access to personalized business intelligence, enhanced ways to streamline business processes, and new ways to build stronger business relationships.

If you are interested in looking at a webcast for the newest and greatest version of Dynamics SL, check our website at ManApp1.com. 

For government contractors and Project Controller in Dynamics SL:  A Great AddOn.

Thirteen new reports will be added to Project Controller. These reports show summaries and supporting detail for Project and Task Labor, ODC, Indirect Costs, Revenue and Fee (Profit) at Target and Actual rates.
The following reports will be added to the Project Controller menu under “Government Contractor Reports”:

·         (PA300a) Job Summary – Project at Target

·         (PA300b) Job Summary - Task at Target

·         (PA300c) Job Summary - Project at Actual

·         (PA300d) Job Summary - Task at Actual

·         (PA310) Job Summary - Labor Hours Detail

·         (PA320) Job Summary - Labor Hours and Cost Detail

·         (PA330) Job Summary - ODC Detail

·         (PA340) Job Summary - Revenue Detail

·         (PA350a) Cost Summary at Target

·         (PA350b) Cost Summary at Actual

·         (PA360a) Project Revenue at Target

·         (PA360b) Project Revenue at Actual

·         (PA370) Indirect Cost Analysis Report

Contained with the download, is a document called "GovernmentContractReportsSetup.docx" which contains detailed Installation Instructions and instructions on Implementing these new reports

Government Contractor features and the new Report Pack for Microsoft Dynamics SL 7.0 FP

One more word on ‘the cloud’

For anyone interested in a new “In The Cloud” complimentary webcast, sign up for July 19, 2011 at 2pm on-line to see ‘leading experts discuss the essential technologies to enable defensible security from mobile to cloud.’  The speakers are Kurt Roemer (Citrix Systems) and Steve Deutsch (Intel).  It is only one hour long and should be interesting and informative.

The title of the presentation is “Now And Into theFuture:  A View of Security, Privacy andTrust for the Cloud Era.”

Internal Revenue Service

These three words will bring you to an immediate halt, but hold on a minute.  Every once in a while, I wander around www.IRS.gov just for ‘fun.’  Sort of like paging through my old fifteen pound copy of Webster’s Unabridged for a few minutes…the truth is you might learn something or remember something you could use today.

Take a few minutes to log into the IRS website.  When I did this recently, I went to “Don’t Fall Prey to the 2011 Dirty Dozen Tax Scams” and looked through them quickly, especially the stuff on Identity Theft.  This was especially interesting to me, since one of my family members has been hit recently.

On the left menu is a Newsroom Topic on 2011 Tax Tips.  Under that topic are tax tips posted for each month of the year of 2011.  Glancing through this list for January, I found one entitled “Tax Tips for Small Business and Self Employed.”  Some interesting facts are that the IRS offers both a Video Portal and Virtual Small Business Tax Workshops for help to business owners.

In February, the first subject is “Four Ways to Find Free Tax Help.”  One of the links under this subject is Small Business/Self Employed. 

Under the March menu I found “Walk-In:  Eight Reasons to Visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center.”  Do you have any idea where your local IRS Center is should you need it?

April tips are mostly about filing individual forms, but there are lots of tips about timing and extensions as well as tips on managing your records.

May has one line only and gives the dates and places for 2011 IRS Nationwide Tax Forums.  That is Forums not forms.  These are three day events offering up-to-date information on federal and state tax issues.  There are sign-up information, YouTube Videos, relevant links in English and Spanish, and, believe it or not, Twitter @IRStaxpros for the latest news. 

Also, on the left side menu is a list of IRS Resources for which includes the NewsRoom which I found more informative than watching the news on TV. 

I guess I would have to say the Internal Revenue Service is getting more involved in the Social Media than some of us.  I have to tell you that while spending a few minutes studying this site may seem minor, I jotted down notes for further investigation later. 

Contact us at ManApp1.com for questions or issues on taxes or how taxes are affecting your business.  Leave your contact information and we will help you resolve your issues.

See you next week.

Looking for Service Providers when entering “The Cloud”

While the largest number of business are small to medium in size, we should look for the same features and services no matter what size of business we have or service.

So I have been researching what the large/enterprise/government organizations are demanding as they enter into the cloud environment. Here are a couple of interesting findings…

More and more companies are merging leaving them with systems that are not similar or matching. This is a perfect opportunity for them to merge data into a cloud-based system. The merger gives the new company growth potential on the horizon that were not even considered in their recent past. The fact is that professional planning of this magnitude is imperative and absolutely necessary to maintain success.

Small to medium sized business probably do not have on-site IT departments equal to the task of managing or servicing the cloud based deployment or ensuring the newly merged company on the scalability it needs now and in the future. Again, call on the pro’s.

I came across a white paper during my research from a company on the East Coast called Cox Business Virginia (coxbusinessva.com) and this paragraph is worth quoting for you.

“As more cloud and hosted applications are adopted to run business operations, you will need a network partner that can ensure the security and performance required to manage you IT resources – and scale as your organization and applications grow.”

They go on to list that continuity, scalability, speed and mobility as well as help when the unexpected occurs are all of utmost importance when looking for a service provider.

The truth is that “the cloud” is part of our everyday life. Give us a call to filter out the facts and the mystery for your company (size does not matter): http://www.manapp1.com

Is It Real?

So are you wondering if this cloud thing is just a fad, or will it really take hold? If you think about it, there’s already evidence that it’ll be around for a while. I’ve been reading a book that discusses this: The Big Switch: Rewiring the World from Edison to Google by Nicholas Carr. Carr compares the introduction and adoption of electricity as a utility to the information systems we’ve all grown to love.

Consider that prior to Edison’s invention of the power plant, power for most manufacturing was derived from waterwheels and plants had to be located to flowing water to take advantage of it. Edison’s invention allowed plants to be located anywhere but, initially, it was still only the large companies that could afford to buy and operate their own electrical power plant.  The next step was centralized power that was shared by smaller concerns, all close together. More efficient, perhaps, but not enough to convince the big dogs to give up their private power.

Enter Samuel Insull. A clerk for Edison, Insull saw the opportunity that lay ahead in truly centralized power. He developed the concept of a utility service that could provide electricity cheaper than the big companies could produce it for themselves. A new industry was born!

Compare this to the information age. From Hollerith’s card reading machines to the mainframes found only in the largest concerns, to the concept of shared computer time for those smaller entities, the development of the information world closely mirrors that of electrical power. With the internet, we can access data (“electricity”) from a central station, but still need to own considerable infrastructure for our working lives. The cloud is that final step: all the infrastructure (hardware, software, data) will be outside of our walls where we don’t have to worry about maintenance, obsolescence, or replacement. If we can believe what happened to electrical power, it’s inevitable.

If you’re interested in reading Carr’s book, you can find it here at Amazon. By the way, I’m reading it on my smart phone, not as a printed book. One more step into the cloud!

Stuart Nottingham
Management Applications Inc. of Raleigh
http://www.manapp1.com

How savvy are you about Cloud Computing?

The Gartner Group has made this Prediction:

“ Cloud computing will take such a stranglehold on the market as companies try to reduce hardware spending that Gartner has made the bold proclamation that one-fifth of all businesses will own absolutely no IT assets come 2012.”

How about taking a look at this little Quiz to see how savvy you are about Cloud Computing? (answers at the end of this post)

1.    Cloud computing allows you to:

a.   work from anywhere in the world.

b.   allows workstations to use most OS & browsers.

c.    customize dashboards for users.

d.   operate as long as you have a internet connection.

e.   all of the above

2.    Operating through the Cloud means all except:

a.   Data backups are outside of your premises.

b.  Backups are automatically stored off site.

c.    Software is automatically updated periodically.

d.   Software is deployed on your company’s local server

e.   Rollout of software solutions are considerably faster.

The next are True & False

3.    Some of the things about which companies would have less

          concern are:

a.   Companies will need a large IT staff.

b.   There is a large investment in hardware.

c.    Natural disasters in the company’s area may not adversely affect business.

d.   Making a detailed implementation plan for your company is unnecessary.

e.   Local network security is automatically covered.

If the Gartner Group Prediction is correct, then 20% will be moving to Cloud Computing in the next 18 months.  This is like people moving to cell phone technology from land line phone technology or from cell phones (about a year later) to smart phones, or to automobiles or electricity.  We are just moving much, much faster, as in months instead of decades.

So, what is the next step?  Education!  Contact us on our website at //www.manapp1.com/ in the Contact Us button to sign up for a demo or ask questions and we will be in touch. 

Answers: 1. (e); 2. (d); 3. (a-F; b-F; c-T; d-F; e-F)

More information on the Who’s Who on adapting to the Cloud….

In looking on news on Cloud based systems this week, I found this headline and link in Washington Technology. 

“Get to know cloud computing's advantages”

Budget constraints drive efficiency  by Karen D. Schwartz

In the article, Karen states that the government must now look into Cloud based systems and if an agency or department chooses not to use a Cloud based system, they must justify that decision.

Take a look at this article at http://washingtontechnology.com/microsites/2011/cloud-computing-download/get-to-know-cloud-computing-savings-types.aspx.

Printed beside this article are several smaller pieces such as “Cloud security remains a legitimate, though overhyped, concern” and “Cloud computing can generate massive savings for agencies.”  This idea would certainly be worth looking into for many business as well.

Then this article arrived inbox. 

5/19/2011

·         DHS cancels $450M financial system modernization, considers cloud instead

The Homeland Security Department cancels its second attempt at modernizing its financial systems. What is its new plan?

Take a look at the entire article at

http://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2011/05/17/dhs-cancels-tasc-financial-modernization-considers-cloud-instead.aspx (or press CTRL + click on the article name)

I was interested in the fact that ‘”Housing the system solution in the DHS enterprise data center is no longer a requirement.”’  The article also quotes Chris Ortman, a spokesman for DHS (in a May 16e-mail) as saying ‘”With advances in IT security, DHS security architecture now expressly supports external services as an extension of the trusted internal environment.  Thus, a cloud-based or shared services solution could meet the Department’s need”’  This article states that DHS is looking for Cloud based solutions for financial, asset and management systems.

I attended a seminar this week expressly felt the exact opposite.  Perhaps ‘beefing-up’ our internal security is the first order of business. 

Newest MYTHBUSTERS from I-BN (I-Business Network)

Myth:  You can recover data from a failing hard drive by putting

                   it in the freezer for a few hours and then reinstalling it in

                   the computer.

True or False?

 

Answer?

True - While this won't fix what is wrong, it can get your mechanical hard

                  drive working long enough for your to recover important data.   

                  Freezing the hard drive cools and shrinks the metal so the drive

                  will mount properly and run long enough for you to copy your

                  files to another source.

When I read this question, I thought of the many times in the old DOS days when I would put backup floppy disks in the freezer before attempting a restore.  Clients thought it was a miracle!

See you next week.