Dynamics SL Partner Review
Software Version
2011
Modules Used
- GL, Management Reporter, AR, AP, Cash Manager, Projects, Sales orders, Inventory, eBanking
Overall Satisfaction with Microsoft Dynamics SL
Dynamics SL is used by our firm to do all accounting, payables, receivables, billing, project accounting and financials. We use many add on products since we resell this product and support over 200 customer users. It gives us experience on what works well to solve our problems and our customer needs.
- SL Dynamics has a deep background in project costing. For over 15 years, the product has focused on this type of business and added deep functionality. We have many government contractor and other professional services firms that run their business a project at a time and SL is a great fit.
- SL also has strong multi company accounting capability. One of our customers has 52 entities. Due to and Due From accounting is automatically managed. Cost allocations to entities is quite strong. Users can work in more than one company at a time.
- SL also has deep functionality for distributors. Inventory, Sales order and purchasing are quite strong. For firms that have inventory and also are project oriented, it is one of the few products that manage both functions in a single system.
- Core financial accounting is also strong and there are many add on products that enhance the capability of the product.
- Because the product has been used in Windows since the mid-90s, there is a lot of feature depth. This sometimes gets in the way of customers with simple needs. Training can usually address this concern.
- The application is client server at this time, so it can be hosted in the cloud using Terminal Services. Web enabled functions are starting to be released in the last year and more are to come, so in a few years, the product will be browser based.
- The payroll module (used by less than 10% of our customers) could be easier to use and needs some new features, but it is a 3.5 out of 5.
- Microsoft doesn't have a good budget solution, but there are good products from Solver (BI360) that do a great job of addressing complex budgeting needs.
- The main reports in SL are Crystal and SSRS. Third party tools for simple reporting are available to help get data out. The new Smart Reports address this need also.
- Dramatic improvement in our ability to judge the profitability of jobs.
- Lots of improvements in delivering invoices and statements to customers.
- Automated AP approvals and imaging made our last tax audit a breeze.
- Ease of reporting data is a big plus. Financial statements with drill down capability are very useful.
- One integrated system means less data moving around and more real time information.
- EFT payments, email statements and live linked Excel charts have improved our efficency
- Too many more to name.
We used Connectwise, which did a good job costing function, but had to be periodically integrated and lacked some reporting capability.
We looked at GP but it does not have good project accounting, so it was not a good fit for our company.
We looked at NAV but there was too much customization required.
We used to use MAS 200, but the database was proprietary and the technology was very old and slow to change.
Deltek is used by many firms in our business, but feedback from customers that changed to Dynamics SL led us to avoid that choice.
We also looked at SAP Business One, but the product had weak job costing and limited functionality.
We looked at GP but it does not have good project accounting, so it was not a good fit for our company.
We looked at NAV but there was too much customization required.
We used to use MAS 200, but the database was proprietary and the technology was very old and slow to change.
Deltek is used by many firms in our business, but feedback from customers that changed to Dynamics SL led us to avoid that choice.
We also looked at SAP Business One, but the product had weak job costing and limited functionality.
Using Microsoft Dynamics SL
12 - Accounting department, Executive leadership for financials, project managers for billing and project measurement, marketing for customer infomation.
3 - A network engineer, a consultant and one of our owners. Of course,we are a Dynamics SL partner so most of our firm could support the product.
- Project costing and analysis
- Corporate financials
- Expense reimbursements to employees
- Email distribution of invoices and statements
- Inventory and product billing
- Excel reports for Top customers by year and all to date
- Completely paperless expense reports with EFT payments direct to employee banks accounts
- Project alerts and other alerts for out of bounds conditions and proactive analysis
- Cloud deployment with no on site servers or equipment/software.
- More integrated document storage and approval
- Web based budgeting system
- Automated email distributions of statements to internal Project Managers and Executives based on past due automated testing
- Additional alerts to internal staff.
Microsoft Dynamics SL Support
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Quick Resolution Good followup Knowledgeable team Problems get solved Kept well informed Immediate help available Support understands my problem Support cares about my success Quick Initial Response | None |
Yes - Microsoft and our firm have programs to get access to premium support. Less than 5% of customers have to get this as the standard support is quite strong.
Yes - We have reported customer issues related to bugs and have found that the delivery exceeds the promised time in many cases. Bugs are taken seriously by Microsoft. Good experience here.
SSi Consulting (my firm) has an assigned Escalation Manager at Microsoft. We don't have to use them often, but when necessary, they can bring a team to focus on a customer problem and solve it quickly. It can be very helpful.