The Buzz - August 2007
Daily Defragmentation - Over-Reaction or Best Practice?
Despite vast improvements in Windows (we'll leave Vista for another discussion), data storage is still vulnerable to fragmentation. Fragmentation can occur with unexpected swiftness. The results of severe fragmentation can include a drastically slow system, corrupted files and the possibility of a server crash.
Nowadays, more and larger data files are stored on volumes in compliance with the requirements of government regulations like Sarbanes-Oxley, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley act, HIPPA and the Patriot Act. Fragmentation problems increase in proportion to the number and size of files created or deleted. Systematically backing up files is a "best practice" for everyone from office workers to IT managers, but studies have shown that defragmenting a system's volumes prior to backup saves more than 50% of the time taken to perform the backup. Defragmentation also improves overall performance of the system, and provides a more stable environment.
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The graph above describes an experiment which started out with a completely defragmented drive. During the course of this experiment, the drive was never defragmented. With ordinary office use, the storage efficiency of the drive was critically affected within only two weeks. The same drive, defragmented on a daily basis over two weeks, maintained a low level of fragments.
Is daily defragmentation an over-reaction to a minor problem? Demonstrably, it is not. The "more and larger" files used in business today make daily defragmentation prior to backup an imperative "best practice".
Top 10 Reasons You Need ERP - Part II
In last month's issue we looked at some funny reasons why you need ERP - ASAP! Now let's look at the real reasons...
1. Is your existing software more than 20 years old?
2. Do the users of your system manually enter the same information multiple times in order to process transactions through the system?
3. Does your existing business software consist of many compartmentalized smaller sub-systems which are then "integrated" through some other series of processes?
4. Do your users have off-line systems (typically spreadsheets or other small database applications) that they use to either do their jobs or to maintain information they need to function in their job?
5. Are standard business management reports taking a long time to run?
6. Do you have problems with inventory management (e.g., do you know what you have in inventory, where it is, and what it is worth)?
7. Are you seeing an ever growing number of user complaints regarding their ability to do their jobs in an efficient and timely manner?
8. Is your IT organization increasingly unable to fulfill requests for information in the desired format or time frame from either internal (employees) or external (customers, partners, etc.) sources?
9. Have your support costs risen (i.e., do you have adequate support resources and do you find yourself in a position in which external resources are required to provide support)?
10. Does your organization take full advantage of technologies such as the Internet and EDI?
If your answer to any of these questions is "Yes", it's probably time to start shopping!
Microsoft Dynamics Live CRM - Microsoft Announces Product Offerings and Customer Early Access Program
Live CRM service defines new level of affordability for customers
At its Worldwide Partner Conference in July, Microsoft Corp. announced the kickoff of its partner-led customer early access program for Microsoft Dynamics™ Live CRM, as well as detailed product and pricing information for the new on-demand service. In addition, new pre-configured vertical templates for Microsoft Dynamics CRM were demonstrated for the public sector and manufacturing industries.
Visit Microsoft Dynamics CRM Live to find out more!
Bob's Bits
What are the key ingredients of a new system implementation ? These ingredients are all present in any size project. Over the next several months, I will share with you some insight into what I have found to be key ingredients or characteristics of a successful project. Insight Number 1 was "Don't Change Everything At Once!" and last month I reminded you to "Document, Document, Document!"
Insight #3 - Train Your People. Companies often overlook the importance of training in enabling the success of enterprise implementation. Training should be delivered in stages. At first, company team leaders should be trained during different stages of the implementation. The training should be delivered by a product and process expert. It should follow a methodical approach which maps the company's way of doing business, performed on company data. The second tier of training should be rolled out and populated to the rest of the company staff prior to the enterprise application "going live."
TIPS N' TRICKS FROM ALL OVER - WE HAVE A WINNER!
Sean T. Furman, President of S.T.F. Consulting, is this month's winner of our Special Prize! He sent in two handy hints. This is the one we like the best.
Sean writes - "Well, here is my special blurb... When in Microsoft Outlook you can press CTRL SHIFT "M" to create a new message."
If you want to know what the prize is, send us your tips or tricks for getting things done, and if we print it, you too could win!
It's Time To Renew - What Will You Do?
Is it time to renew your service agreement? Have you been thinking about adding users or extra modules to your Microsoft Dynamics Business Solution? Are you challenged by budget? Microsoft Total Solution Financing lets you keep your upfront cash while you build your future by financing Microsoft Dynamics and related Microsoft software, as well as services and hardware.
Help ease the economic burden associated with acquiring and implementing business software, hardware, and related consulting services. By financing the total end-to-end solution you need now, you can help your business maintain its competitive edge and cash reserves, help preserve your corporate credit lines, and own the hardware you purchase outright.
Visit Microsoft Dynamics Total Solution Financing to learn more!
3 Reasons to Finance the Business Solution You Need
Total Solution Financing from Microsoft Financing helps your organization realize its full potential sooner by making the total end-to-end solution you need affordable now. It allows your business to finance a total solution delivered by a certified Microsoft partner-including the software, reseller partner services, integrating solutions developed by Microsoft partners, and hardware.
1. Gain a competitive edge today. Many companies are reconsidering their technology investments because of uncertainty in the business world. But now is precisely the time to be proactive and invest in your company's future-because stalling technology investments in the short term can cripple the long-term growth of your company.
Total Solution Financing from Microsoft Financing is available to cover most of the costs associated with Microsoft Dynamics implementations such as software, services, maintenance, and hardware. So, while the competition only thinks about investing in its future, you've already started-and that gives your business an edge.
2. Improve your cash flow. Total Solution Financing from Microsoft Financing transforms large "cash up-front" technology investments into affordable monthly payments. You get the benefits now but pay over three to five years. That means you can keep cash reserves and invest in other critical assets or preserve capital for emergencies.
3. Make things easier on yourself. Total Solution Financing from Microsoft Financing makes the process of financing your technology investment easy. For example, you'll talk financing with people who understand your business. Your Microsoft partner understands the details of your implementation project and the concept of software and services as intangible assets. You save time because you don't have to explain all this again to a third party who may not understand the big picture.
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