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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    MindTap

    Score9 out of 10
    N/AMindTap is an eLearning course management solution from Cengage, a digital learning content and technology provider. For educators, it includes pre-made interactive course materials (such as homework assignments, assessments, etc.), analytics around student engagement and performance, and the ability to customize courses. For students, MindTap offers a mobile app to access eBooks, flashcards, quizzes, grades, and due date reminders.N/A

    Microsoft Dynamics SL

    Score5.1 out of 10
    N/AMicrosoft Dynamics SL is one of the ERP products in the Dynamics family. This product was acquired from Solomon 2000. The product is typically used by SMBs, particularly in project-based businesses (e.g. construction). It has strong accounting and project management capabilities.N/A
    Pricing
    MindTapMicrosoft Dynamics SL
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    MindTapMicrosoft Dynamics SL
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    MindTapMicrosoft Dynamics SL
    Considered Both Products
    Cengage
    No answer on this topic
    Microsoft
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    86%
    Would buy again
    6 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    86%
    Delivers good value for the price
    6 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    86%
    Happy with the feature set
    6 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    83%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    5 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    86%
    Implementation went as expected
    6 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Features
    MindTapMicrosoft Dynamics SL
    Payroll Management
    Comparison of Payroll Management features of Cengage MindTap and Microsoft Dynamics SL
    Feature
    Cengage MindTap
    -
    Ratings
    Microsoft Dynamics SL
    8.5
    2 Ratings
    12% above category average
    Pay calculation00 Ratings9.62 Ratings
    Direct deposit files00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Customization
    Comparison of Customization features of Cengage MindTap and Microsoft Dynamics SL
    Feature
    Cengage MindTap
    -
    Ratings
    Microsoft Dynamics SL
    6.0
    6 Ratings
    23% below category average
    API for custom integration00 Ratings6.06 Ratings
    Plug-ins00 Ratings6.04 Ratings
    Security
    Comparison of Security features of Cengage MindTap and Microsoft Dynamics SL
    Feature
    Cengage MindTap
    -
    Ratings
    Microsoft Dynamics SL
    8.7
    10 Ratings
    3% above category average
    Single sign-on capability00 Ratings7.49 Ratings
    Role-based user permissions00 Ratings10.09 Ratings
    Reporting & Analytics
    Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of Cengage MindTap and Microsoft Dynamics SL
    Feature
    Cengage MindTap
    -
    Ratings
    Microsoft Dynamics SL
    8.0
    10 Ratings
    6% above category average
    Dashboards00 Ratings8.06 Ratings
    Standard reports00 Ratings8.010 Ratings
    Custom reports00 Ratings8.010 Ratings
    General Ledger and Configurable Accounting
    Comparison of General Ledger and Configurable Accounting features of Cengage MindTap and Microsoft Dynamics SL
    Feature
    Cengage MindTap
    -
    Ratings
    Microsoft Dynamics SL
    7.1
    11 Ratings
    8% below category average
    Accounts payable00 Ratings6.011 Ratings
    Accounts receivable00 Ratings6.08 Ratings
    Global Financial Support00 Ratings6.02 Ratings
    Primary and Secondary Ledgers00 Ratings6.63 Ratings
    Journals and Reconciliations00 Ratings3.04 Ratings
    Configurable Accounting00 Ratings8.03 Ratings
    Standardized Processes00 Ratings6.03 Ratings
    Inventory Management
    Comparison of Inventory Management features of Cengage MindTap and Microsoft Dynamics SL
    Feature
    Cengage MindTap
    -
    Ratings
    Microsoft Dynamics SL
    5.7
    6 Ratings
    33% below category average
    Inventory tracking00 Ratings5.06 Ratings
    Location management00 Ratings6.03 Ratings
    Order Management
    Comparison of Order Management features of Cengage MindTap and Microsoft Dynamics SL
    Feature
    Cengage MindTap
    -
    Ratings
    Microsoft Dynamics SL
    6.2
    4 Ratings
    24% below category average
    Pricing00 Ratings6.03 Ratings
    Order entry00 Ratings3.04 Ratings
    Credit card processing00 Ratings7.02 Ratings
    Cost of goods sold00 Ratings7.03 Ratings
    Subledger and Financial Process
    Comparison of Subledger and Financial Process features of Cengage MindTap and Microsoft Dynamics SL
    Feature
    Cengage MindTap
    -
    Ratings
    Microsoft Dynamics SL
    5.7
    4 Ratings
    28% below category average
    Billing Management00 Ratings6.02 Ratings
    Cash and Asset Management00 Ratings7.33 Ratings
    Travel & Expense Management00 Ratings5.01 Ratings
    Budgetary Control & Encumbrance Accounting00 Ratings6.32 Ratings
    Period Close00 Ratings6.04 Ratings
    Project Financial Management
    Comparison of Project Financial Management features of Cengage MindTap and Microsoft Dynamics SL
    Feature
    Cengage MindTap
    -
    Ratings
    Microsoft Dynamics SL
    4.7
    3 Ratings
    47% below category average
    Budgeting and Forecasting00 Ratings7.33 Ratings
    Project Costing00 Ratings6.33 Ratings
    Cost Capture00 Ratings2.12 Ratings
    Capital Project Management00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Project Revenue Recognition00 Ratings2.01 Ratings
    Grants Management
    Comparison of Grants Management features of Cengage MindTap and Microsoft Dynamics SL
    Feature
    Cengage MindTap
    -
    Ratings
    Microsoft Dynamics SL
    6.3
    1 Ratings
    17% below category average
    Award Lifecycle Management00 Ratings6.01 Ratings
    Manufacturing
    Comparison of Manufacturing features of Cengage MindTap and Microsoft Dynamics SL
    Feature
    Cengage MindTap
    -
    Ratings
    Microsoft Dynamics SL
    6.0
    1 Ratings
    22% below category average
    Production Management00 Ratings6.01 Ratings
    Supply Chain
    Comparison of Supply Chain features of Cengage MindTap and Microsoft Dynamics SL
    Feature
    Cengage MindTap
    -
    Ratings
    Microsoft Dynamics SL
    6.0
    1 Ratings
    20% below category average
    Inventory Planning00 Ratings6.01 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    MindTapMicrosoft Dynamics SL
    Small Businesses
    No answers on this topic
    Zoho One
    Score9.2 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    No answers on this topic
    Zoho One
    Score9.2 out of 10
    Enterprises
    No answers on this topic
    Microsoft Dynamics AX (discontinued)
    Score4.8 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    MindTapMicrosoft Dynamics SL
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.5
    (8 ratings)
    5.0
    (18 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    5.4
    (8 ratings)
    Usability
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    3.0
    (7 ratings)
    Availability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.9
    (2 ratings)
    Performance
    -
    (0 ratings)
    1.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    9.9
    (3 ratings)
    9.5
    (4 ratings)
    Online Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    1.0
    (1 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.0
    (4 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    1.4
    (2 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    MindTapMicrosoft Dynamics SL
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Cengage
    We started using the application optimally at the beginning as a digital learning and consultation platform. In it we imported all kinds of bibliographic material so that students could access them with the ease of a tap. The application is perfect for those instructors who are not beginners in HTML. In that case, the application very practically allows them to create a complete course in the shortest possible time because it has a state-of-the-art instructional design. It was excellent for unifying all the basic course plans between teachers teaching the same subject, giving the advantage that all courses at the same level would have exactly the same information and nothing would be overlooked
    Incentivized
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    Microsoft
    For a small to mid-size business, MS Dynamics SL is effective. We are capable of managing our finances with a very low risk of error. We have worked with MS Dynamics for almost 15 years and have more than doubled the size of our business in that time with very few issues from the program. We have exponentially increased our revenue and reporting demands and have found SL to be very dependable and stable. The program does have the occasional glitch and those are sometimes outside of the realm of expertise of our IT department. SL support is excellent, but their timeliness is not as urgent as ours.
    Incentivized
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    Pros
    Cengage
    • digital textbook platform with accessibility tools (read-aloud, note taking)
    • interactive exercises and practice tools
    • assessments including self-check quizzes and customizable exams
    • LTI integration to pass grade information to learning management system
    • excellent support for faculty
    Incentivized
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    Microsoft
    • Provides flexibility for complex project based cost accounting
    • Strong and flexible allocation processer for cost allocations, markups, and pricing
    • A "Flexible Billing" module under the project controller series that allows for multiple billing formats ranging from fixed price schedule of values, T&M or Cost Plus, and scheduled billing.
    • Flexible reporting with options using Crystal Reports, SSRS, a Quick Query tool, and ability to tie into MS Office tools such as MS Access and MS Excel
    • Tight integration with Financials, but also the ability to integrate with modules such as Sales Order, Inventory, and Field Service
    • Customization abilities ranging from a VBA (visual basic for application) foundation to allow customizing existing forms to the ability to use the SDK (Software Development Kit) to build more complex customizations that integrate with Dynamics SL.
    Incentivized
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    Cons
    Cengage
    • The biggest issue our first-time users have with Mindtap is that ad/pop-up blockers often stop the tool from opening. (Mindtap typically opens in a new window vs inside the LMS) This leads to a lot of initial frustration amongst the students early in the course.
    • MindTap lacks a really strong set of roles outside of Instructor and Student. There is no Teaching Assistant role or and IT/Course Builder role. Additionally setting up students workers as TAs in one course while they may be a student in another concurrently has been more than a little cumbersome.
    • The UI is a bit dated and it doesn't implement many responsive web design features, though this can typically be worked around by downloading the free app.
    • The mobile app experience is not as strong for Instructors as it is for students.
    Incentivized
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    Microsoft
    • Reporting in the Project module is lacking functionality. I understand that most companies have specific needs when it comes to tracking project information but the standard reports are not good.
    • I would recommend a product like Management Reporter that is for Projects only. Project Reporter should allow users to pull in all Project related data into reports.
    • Fixing suspended batches. Obviously all of us users have experienced this mess. SL knows what needs to be corrected and there could be some step by step fixes in a separate repair module to do the steps we do in Query Analyzer.
    Incentivized
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    Likelihood to Renew
    Cengage
    It's hard to imagine not renewing it as the professors would not want to go back to the way their courses were previously populated. The only thing that would cause us to change would be in the textbook changed and the new company offered a better tool
    Incentivized
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    Microsoft
    Unfortunately, Dynamics' lack of ability to smoothly integrate with our CRM system is causing us to look at other solutions. The efficiencies that we gain by using Dynamics for our day to day accounting are lost in the constant headaches of getting sales quotes to import properly into the system for invoicing. Another major issue for us has been budgeting and reporting. We currently do all of our budgeting and board reporting in Excel, which is too time consuming and inefficient, especially when a system as robust as Dynamics should easily be able to handle this relatively simple task.
    Incentivized
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    Usability
    Cengage
    Very easy to use.
    Incentivized
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    Microsoft
    I rate it a 10 because we have removed the fields we don't need so users can really crank the data into the system. The software was designed for the professional services firm in mind but does a tremendous job for construction firms and "blended" companies that are both distribution firms but project centric as well. Perhaps they drop ship inventory to a project where their employees or subs need to work on a project for example.
    Incentivized
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    Reliability and Availability
    Cengage
    No answers on this topic
    Microsoft
    We have had only one unplanned outage for 2 hours in the last 30 months. We shut down for 30 min to 1 hour once a month, but that is for Microsoft OS updates to the servers. Being a 24/7 world wide operation, the reliability is really important. We do get an 8 hour window on the weekend that we can be down for a short period to install Microsoft Dynamics SL updates, but we do not have many of those. On our last version upgrade, we shut the users out at 9:30 am and were fully operational in less than 6 hours. The upgrade was New SQL server, New SL server and 2 new Citrix servers.
    Incentivized
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    Support Rating
    Cengage
    The effort from them always feels strong - I'd just recommend they be more prepared for OS (mac) and LMS (blackboard) upgrades
    Incentivized
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    Microsoft
    Support is only used when needed, so unfortunately ,they get all the odd issues. It's a difficult business, but Microsoft and our firm do a great job of meeting customer needs. We get routine feedback that our support services are very good.
    Incentivized
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    Implementation Rating
    Cengage
    It worked seamlessly with Blackboard
    Incentivized
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    Microsoft
    Just to let it take its course. The implementation for me once I became a part of my former organization was pretty seamless. Just get to know the basics and call the support team to ask questions if you need help on an issue, should they arise. They are ready, willing, and able to help!
    Incentivized
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    Alternatives Considered
    Cengage
    MindTap is the only learning software I currently use, but in the past I have used Pearson and McGraw Hill learning content. All of these companies are progresses at a similar rate and making great improvements to their educational materials. MindTap, in my opinion has the best customer service support and representatives in the business. Our rep. has been very responsive.
    Incentivized
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    Microsoft
    Of the comparable mid-range ERP systems, Dynamics SL competes at the lower end based on price, but also above the high-end based on flexibility, data, and reporting. Being able to stay with the same core accounting from a $100 million dollar company to a $3 billion dollar company shows the range of capabilities.
    Incentivized
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    Scalability
    Cengage
    No answers on this topic
    Microsoft
    Since the backbone of the database is MS SQLServer, the database can be easily scaled.
    Incentivized
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    Return on Investment
    Cengage
    • The positive impact is to help students practice statistics to solve business problems.
    • The negative side is that the pricing might be too high compared to other free options available, even though the free options might not have the same features MindTap has.
    Incentivized
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    Microsoft
    • More time is spent on manipulating reports which can and should be automated.
    • Lack of electronic invoicing process and other green technology features creates more cost on printing and storage costs.
    • The lack of a user friendly interface requires more training and a bigger learning curve for staff.
    Incentivized
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