Microsoft Solomon Project Management and Accounting

8/12/2019 Microsoft Solomon Project Management and Accounting

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ACHIEVE RESULTSProject Management and Accountingwith Microsoft Dynamics SL andMicrosoft Ofce Project ServerProtable project management dependson the right information...


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INSIGHT

at the right time. This focused insight is crucial toapplying appropriate resources, carrying out key tasks,managing protability and making wise decisions. WithMicrosoft Dynamics SL and Microsoft Project ServerProject Management and Accounting, you can empower

your organizations professional project managers with aexible, integrated solution tailored to unique businessneeds. From managing proposal writing to smoothly

launching new projects and tracking their progress toanalyzing opportunities and assessing results, ProjectManagement and Accounting helps keep projects ontrack and your business thriving.


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CONFIDENCE


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Productivity Enhancement Boost productivity with powerful tools for employee time keeping,

utilization management, automated notications, and the ability towork from the eld via Web-based access to information and processes.

Convenient Analysis Retrieve and enter real-time project information securely via a Web

browser. Assess performance and manage prots across multipleprojects with easy access to summaries and details, plus integrationwith industry-standard reporting tools such as SQL Reporting Services(SRS) and Business Analytics.

MICROSOFT DYNAMICS SL PROJECT MANAGEMENT ANDACCOUNTING AT A GLANCEMicrosoft Dynamics SL project-related modules include:

Contract ManagementEnsure timely and protable project completion with features that helpyou track documents, handle change orders, manage subcontractorperformance, and link payments to successful delivery (using thePay-when-Paid feature).

Project ControllerQuickly set up projects to t your business, then manage themeffectively with timely, detailed revenue and cost information.

Project BudgetingGain control of protability with powerful tools to create budgets,track results, and preview the impact of changes.

Time and Expense for ProjectsStreamline labor reporting with timesheets and expense reports thatcan be accessed anywhere, anytime over the Web.

AllocatorEfciently and exibly manage project nances with customized ratestructures, automatic allocation of charges and revenues, work-in-process tracking, and accurate project data for billing and posting.

Flexible BillingsImprove cash ow by automating invoicing processes and convertingunbilled receivables more quickly to revenues.

CommunicatorKeep projects on track with automated alerts for deadlines, approvals,escalating costs, or other messages you choose.

Employee UtilizationImprove human resource productivity by tracking availability andbillable time, setting utilization goals, and managing performanceagainst them.

AnalyzerEnhance decision making with the ability to conveniently summarize,analyze, present, or compare project performance and protability data.

Microsoft Dynamics SLDRIVE PROJECTS THAT MEET CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTSWITH A SOLUTION BUILT TO WORK THE WAY YOU DOMicrosoft Project Management sof tware helps you gain condencethat what you do every day to manage your projects will drive nancialperformance and meet customer requirements.

Efcient Organization Quickly set up, track, and maintain key project information, budgets,

contracts, and documentation requirements. Automated alertmessages keep you on top of deadlines, pending tasks, and keyindicators you choose to track. Deliver role-based information aboutall aspects of projects via an intuitive Project Portal for projectmanagers, employees, executives, subcontractors, owners and allother key stakeholders.

Strict Control Strengthen scal management with real-time access to project

revenues, costs, and margins. Manage change-order processes by

viewing schedule and budget impacts before alterations proceed.

Increased Protability Create custom pricing structures, rates, and mark-ups for billing,

and tailor them to individual projects and customers. Shorten billingcycles and leverage cash ow when project costs ow directly toinvoicing processes.

Integrated Accounting Streamline nancial management with exible, automated processing

and seamless links across nancials, projects, inventory, work order,cash management and eld service operations.

For any given day or time, I can quickly create a snapshot of how productive each broker is and see the expenses coded to their account.Having this timely information, we can immediately react to lowcommissions, excessive spending, or both, as opposed to learningabout it at after quarter end.

Scott Nesbitt,Chief Accounting Ofcer,

Choice Energy


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Capture time information, even from employees working remotely,with data automatically routed to the appropriate managers.

Web Timecard Entry

Now in a matter of minutes, I can open a report and tell the customer

how current he or she is on each project, and what pending and openchange orders there are. Microsoft Dynamics SL has sped up the timeit takes to access data by at least 100 percent.

Steve Heiderstadt, Vice President of Construction,

BP Air Conditioning

ORGANIZED PROJECT MANAGEMENT WITH FINE-TUNED CONTROLTailor project s tructures, information, and tracking to work the wayyou do for closer control of all aspects of project success and protability.

Initiate Projects EffectivelyCustomize project setup and organization with Microsoft DynamicsSL Project Controller. Multiple levels of information, exible billingstructures, and user-dened entries capture the data you need and

let you share it with people you specify.

Gain control over subcontractor performance and costs withMicrosoft Dynamics SL Contract Managements powerful tools fortracking commitments and monitoring and motivating progress.Tighten nancial safeguards by linking disbursements to deliverables,calculating retention, and handling Pay-When-Paid agreements.

Maximize prots by efciently, accurately, and consistentlytracking employee utilization data. Track everything from goals forbillable hours and revenue to actual hours billed and revenue earned.

Manage Time and Expenses Accurately From Any LocationCapture time and expense at the project (job) and task (phase)level for multiple purposescosting, billing, payroll, and projectstatus update. Project and accounting staff can capture labor costs,employee-related expenses, material costs, and other accounts-payable transactions directly against projects and tasks, providinginsight into all costs associated with your projects.

Easy-to-use, Web-based access lets team members and projectstakeholders view, update, and submit project informationincludingtime cards, expense reports, and analysis of project status withdrilldown to detailed transactionsfrom any location. Review andapproval capabilities streamline workow and ensure timely and

accurate submission of mission-critical data, allowing you to bill yourcustomers, analyze protability, and review project status faster thanever before.

Immediate integration of project time and expense capture provides all the information in one place for accurate, centralizedreporting and can dramatically reduce the amount of time requiredto present billable transactions on customer invoices.

Invoice customers with different types of services and fees allat one time.

Flexible Invoice


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FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS THAT KEEP YOU FOCUSEDON PROFITABILITYSatisfy customer demands, stay on top of evolving situations, andimprove cash ow with tailored billing processes, efcient automationoptions, and clear views of protability throughout the project lifecycle.

Maintain Tight Fiscal ControlAutomate your management of unbilled receivables with

billing methods and mark-up rules to automatically post billings toMicrosoft Dynamics SL Accounts Receivable and General Ledger.

Help reduce the time and effort required to produce invoices customers can be invoiced with different types of services and feesat the same time. Choose from unlimited combinations of time andmaterials, progress, and fee billing methods. Managers can beautomatically notied when draft invoices are available for theirreview. Drafts can be reviewed and marked-up online and submittedfor nal invoicing without having to manually markup paper copiesor create invoices in a separate system.

Track and control your budgets from project initiation to completion.See how change orders and revisions affect your budget throughoutthe life of a project.

Use Microsoft Dynamics SL Allocator to design custom rateand billing structures, mark-ups, and recognition rules, and thenautomatically distribute complex charges and revenues by usingautomated processing.

Accurately recognize revenue by using exible revenue-recognitionmethods that meet your specic audit, business, and project needs.Control your revenue by using cost plus, xed price, and time-and-materials methods at the project-task level.

View and Analyze the Exact Information You Need,Exactly the Way You Want ItEnhance protability with real-time views of detailed nancialdata from initial budget through project closure, without waiting foraccounting periods to close.

Access project status and billed and unbilled Accounts Receivableinformation, then drill down to transaction detailsall from aMicrosoft Ofce SharePoint-based Web interface that can beaccessed from any Internet-connected PC*.

Manage scal performance every step of the way with the abilityto forecast outcomes, monitor trends, predict the impact of changes,and track multiple revisions of estimate-at-completion and forecast-at-completion, in addition to the original budget.

Create alert messages for revenues and cost budgets, making iteasy for project managers to identify potential cost overruns andother problems that jeopardize project success before they happen.

SYNCHRONIZE INFORMATION, PEOPLE, AND PROCESSESUSING MICROSOFT SHAREPOINT COLLABORATION.

Enhance productivity with project information that ows seamlesslyfrom one process to the next and across functional boundaries,geographical barriers, and the Internet to your desktop. MicrosoftOfce SharePoint provides a common location for Project data tobe shared among all project stakeholders.

Microsoft Dynamics SL will send alert messages to prompt people toreview exceptions or take action. Project alerts help ensure that key

project issues are addressed promptly.

Project Communicator

Optimize project manager and employee communication withcollaborative project document sharing.

SharePoint Project Documents

*Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or later required. Assumes the viewer has proper

credentials for a secure, authenticated connection to t he SharePoint server.


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Empower Managers and Executives With Business AnalyticsConsolidate information from various business functions andpresent one set of the same, accurate numbers through BusinessAnalytics for Microsoft Dynamics SL. There is no need for managersand executives to struggle to gather data from multiple, disconnectedsystems. Rather, they gain the ability to monitor business ac tivitiesfrom start to nish, dealing with budgets, timelines, department andemployee productivity, and a projects effect on the company.

Analyze rising and falling performance of customers, projectmanagers, inventory, and more. This valuable solution createsmeaningful analytics that provide insight to help measure andimprove operational efciency.

Connect Smoothly Across Applications and PlatformsIncrease productivity with the ability to perform key project tasksand manage progress anywhere you can access the Internet.

Strengthen relationships by giving customers and businesspartners secure, Web-based access to the shared information thatcan enhance your mutual success.

Save time maintaining data. Integration across Microsoft DynamicsSL nancial management modules gives you fast access to updated,accurate information.

Keep on top of deadlines and the current status of importantdocuments. Tracking tools in Contract Management and proactivealert messages from Microsoft Dynamics SL Communicator help youensure compliance with vital paperwork requirements.

Manage resources effectively throughout your organization.Provide a view of resource information and evaluate availabilityacross multiple projects so back-ofce staff and front-line project

managers have visibility into resource schedules and availability.View assigned tasks to resources for optimal management of thesevaluable assets.

Enhance business decision-making with comprehensiveperformance data, quickly collected and summarized by MicrosoftDynamics SL Analyzer for analysis and presentation.

Seamlessly analyze data with industry-standard reporting tools suchas Microsoft Excel, SQL Reporting Ser vices, Business Analytics, andMicrosoft Dynamics for AnalyticsFRx for efcient, in-depth analysis.

Gain insight on relevant metrics like protability and projectmargin percentages by department, item margins, and nancialanalysis and controls. Achieve the compliance control you needby tracking these metrics against budgets, quotas, and goals.

Microsoft Ofce SharePoint ServicesMicrosoft Ofce SharePoint Services enables you to centrally store,link, and share project-related issues, risks, and documents forcollaborative tracking. Propagate best practices for project work withSharePoint templates to improve project management processesthroughout your organization.

Provide interactive reports to people in tools already familiar tothem, such as Microsoft Ofce products or Internet Explorer.

Using Business Analytics for Microsoft Dynamics SL, advancedreporting and analysis of nancial results and operational activityis available to truly understand what is happening within projectsand the business overall.

At a glance, view key project billing and nancial performance indicators.

Project Analyst

KPI Alerts


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CONTROL


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Projects can be initiated and updated in either Microsoft Project orMicrosoft Dynamics SL, with information owing automatically acrossapplications. This powerful connection enables projec t managersand accounting staff to use the tools most appropriate for their roles.

Project Collaboration using Microsoft SharePoint allows all projectstakeholders access to information as it happens where and whenthey need it the most. One integrated system connects every aspectof your business, from nancial and project management, e-business,and payroll, to distribution, eld-service management, and reporting.The result is accurate, timely, and detailed information that providesthe insight for precision control and shrewd decision-making. Asyour business grows, a vast network of dedicated Microsoft CertiedBusiness Solutions Partners and independent software vendors (ISVs)will be there to offer reliable service and long-term support. Enhancedperformance, greater protability, and expanding success its allwithin your reach.

Project SchedulingSchedule projects using Enterprise Project Management that ensuresthe project can be completed on-time and creates a baseline usedto measure performance of the project. Project scheduling thenensures resources know what they are expected to accomplish andin what timeframe.

Microsoft Dynamics SL andMicrosoft Ofce Project Server(Enterprise Project Management)THE AGILITY TO FOSTER COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGEMeet the most complex operational requirements with agile efciency.

Microsoft Dynamics SL and Microsoft Ofce Project Server (EPM)provide the custom operation, reliable processing, and depth offunction you need to exceed expectations, delight customers, andoutpace the competition.

Connect Microsoft Dynamics SL to the Microsoft Ofce ProjectSolution which includes Microsoft Ofce Project Professional andMicrosoft Ofce Project Serverto create a seamless solution fortask assignment, resource management, resource planning, taskstatus updates, project scheduling, project management, budgeting,time and expense entry, invoicing, and more.

The bi-directional connection with Microsoft Ofce ProjectServer makes real-time project/job nancial data available tothe project manager at the task/phase level in Microsoft OfceProject Professional.

Microsoft OfceProject Connector

Quickly view resource goals and performance to adjust to newbusiness demands.

Resource Availability


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Resource PlanningSee how changes to the schedule impact your resources ability toget the task completed in the appropriate timeframe. Immediatelyidentify if a resource is over-or under-utilized.

Get accurate information about resources throughout yourorganization so you can assemble the best team for each project.Evaluate skills and resource task assignments and resource utilizationrates for optimal deployment of resources. Perform valuable resourceplanning by utilizing the Resource planning tools of Project WebAccess of EPM.

Improve Management of Employees TimeAccess information about employee availability and use it to setgoals for billable time, track results, and realize greater productivityby using Microsoft Dynamics SL Employee Utilization and MicrosoftOfce Project Server Resource Planning.

Project Web Access provides project employees a common locationto manage Tasks, Approvals, Status Reports, Issues and Risks aswell as manage Project Workspaces (Project SharePoint Sites).

Project Web Access

AGILITY


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To help support manufacturing demandssuch as inventorymanagement, procurement, and work order processingIACinitially expanded its solution by deploying a Deltek purchasing andmanufacturing module. However, it soon became obvious that theDeltek module could not provide the f unctionality required toseamlessly integrate a growing manufacturing operation. Our handwas forced to nd a new solution, because if we didnt, we knew wewould face ongoing problems in manufacturing and accounting,says Ash.

Difculty Scheduling PersonnelAs the company struggled with the Deltek application, employeeswere also facing issues in managing projects and scheduling. To date,employees had relied on a combination of spreadsheets created usingMicrosoft Ofce Excel spreadsheet software and another Deltekproduct, E-Planner, to gain insight into projects and personnel resourceavailability. However, IAC needed greater insight into the schedulesof various personnel involved in product design, prototyping, andmanufacturing.

IAC began looking for a computing solution that could integrateand report on all of the companys information, including traditionalnancials, accounting, scheduling, project management, and

manufacturing. In addition, the system had to support governmentrequirements in project cost accounting and report generation.

SolutionIAC selected Microsoft Dynamics SL and Microsoft Ofce ProjectServer. To maximize its existing hardware and operating systeminvestments, accelerate the time required for system integration,and benet from an easy-to-use interface.

IAC continued to expand the capabilities of its system, such ascustomizing Microsoft SL so that it would collect the detailed projectcost information required in government audit reports by agencies

such as the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA).

With enhanced business portal functionality of Microsoft DynamicsSL, IAC has access to a central repository regulated by access controls,and electronic timesheet processing is accessible through the portal,and includes sufcient rules and security to comply with governmentrequirements surrounding timesheets.

Intelligent Automation Corporation

Company Builds Integrated Platform, Boosting Productivity by upto 50 Percent

Intelligent Automation Corporation (IAC) supplies diagnosticproducts for helicopter and turbine engines. Seventy-vepercent of the companys revenue comes from governmentcontracts. Initially, the companys accounting application wassufcient to meet the governments strict project accountingand reporting requirements. However, as IAC began to expandits manufacturing operation, integrating manufacturing andaccounting data presented many challenges. To overcome theseissues, IAC deployed Microsoft Dynamics SL and Microsoft Ofce Project Server. As a result, IAC has increased productivityby 10 to 50 percent, expanded manufacturing operations,enhanced employee accountability and communication, andprovided a central repository of information.

SituationFounded in 1999, IAC develops prototypes of diagnostic equipmentused primarily in helicopters, with grant money provided through theU.S. governments Small Business Innovative Research Program. Over

the next several years, government agencies expressed interest inseveral product designs. This meant that IAC had to build prototypesand, consequently, open a small manufacturing facility. By 2003, IAChad won several manufacturing contracts producing products for theU.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and commercial helicopter manufacturers.

Inability to Support Manufacturing ExpansionAs the manufacturing side of the business grew, however, several ITchallenges arose. One key obstacle was that the companys computinginfrastructure was designed to support research and development aswell as strict government contractor accounting requirementsnotmanufacturing. We originally chose Deltek because it is tailored to

support the very detailed, very complex regulations of the U.S.government, explains Robin Ash, Controller, IAC. The applicationfocuses heavily on project cost accounting, and it is quite effectivein managing the services role of a government contractor. But onceour production demands grew, the application couldnt accuratelyincorporate manufacturing subsidiary activity into the general ledger.

Microsoft Dynamics SL at Work Microsoft Dynamics andProject Sever Case Study


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BenetsBoosted Productivity by 10 to 50 PercentEmployees at IAC are working 10 to 50 percent faster by usingMicrosoft Dynamics SL and Project Server. Generally speaking, ourproductivity has increased simply because the Microsoft productinterface is so much easier to understand than our old MS-DOS based system, says Ash. The ability Microsoft Dynamics SL gives usto drill down and instantly access the information we need is invaluable.Employees in manufacturing and project management have realizedthe greatest increases in productivity, working up to 50 percent faster.

One reason for this improvement in manufacturing is a result of workorder processing. In the past, receiving clerks logged informationdirectly into inventory. Today, receiving clerks log materials in thesystem, and then a material operations manager veries theinformation before the new materials are posted in inventory. As aresult, work orders are more accurate, and employees do not haveto backtrack to troubleshoot inventory issues.

Project managers are getting more done because they no longerhave to constantly monitor projects and follow up with employees.Project managers used to manage milestones, schedules, andbudgets, explains Ash. This responsibility has ltered down toindividual engineers.

Enabled Expansion in ManufacturingPreviously, IAC accountants faced reconciliation issues frommanufacturing every month.

Its very hard to marry manufacturing and accounting, says Ash.Microsoft Dynamics SL does a wonderful job connecting ourmanufacturing subsidiary activity into the general ledger. Theinformation we need is just a click away. For example, using our oldsystem, we had to go into so many dif ferent reports to get theinformation we needed. Using Microsoft Dynamics SL, I can instantly

check every work order that has been created against a part number,or check every sales order including transaction information. You candrill so far down into details that it is just amazing.

Enhanced Communication and AccountabilityOne of the biggest changes IAC has realized as a result of thedeployment is an increase in communication between engineeringteams and project managers. Microsoft Dynamics and ProjectServer have transformed the culture of our company, Ash notes.Communication between employees has dramatically increased.Engineers used to focus almost exclusively on their own work,whereas today there is a lot of synergy between engineeringgroups. People realize that one persons work might be relevantto a different project. And as a result, weve seen improvementsin product quality.

Authorized engineers and managers can access project statusthrough the portal, instantly learning how much money has beenspent on a project and how much money is left. Employees can alsosee if the project is on track or if more resources are required to getthe job done on time.

Provided a Central Repository of InformationThe business portal provides centralized access to Microsoft DynamicsSLincluding information about nancials, project cost accounting,scheduling, project management, and manufacturingas well asaccess to electronic timesheets and information from HR. For example,

the portal includes access to job listings, employee benet information,and companywide announcements. In addition, authorized employeescan now view the quantity of an individual product part, the saleshistory of a particular customer, a projects status, or which projectsare over budget.

The business portal is an amazing tool, which we have just startedto use, explains Ash. The portal allows any authorized employee toaccess Microsoft Dynamics SL, even if they do not have a seat ontheir system. Employees use it to set up work spaces for each project,so people can post documents, chat online, or just see whats goingon with a project. We have so many plans for the portal because it is

an enabling technology that provides our employees with theinformation and tools they need to get their jobs done effectively.


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This document is for information purposes only.

MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT.2008 Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft, FRx, Dynamics SL, and Visual Basic are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation, FRx Software Corporation, orMicrosoft Business Solutions or their afliates in the United States and/or other countries. FRx Software Corporation and Microsoft Business Solutions are subsidiaries of MicrosoftCorporation. This brochure is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this document.

For more information about Microsoft Dynamics SL Project Management and Accounting,visit: http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/sl/product/pmaprojectdriven.mspx

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