Year End Wrap Up

To help our clients prepare for a successful year end close, Vertical Solutions held a series of seminars in Charlottesville and Pittsburgh. In addition to reviewing the year end checklists, we demonstrated some of the more popular features in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 (still hard not to say Great Plains for some of us old timers), introduced the complete collection of tools and resources for Dynamics GP, and discussed some tips and tricks as well.

The tips and tricks session was considered especially beneficial . The loose format, which allowed everyone to inquire about their particular issues with processes, allowed attendees to get real world solutions from our complete consulting team. Here are some of the tips the groups took back to back to their offices:

Tip	Benefit
Navigation Pane Options	Only show what you need, compact view.  Click the Configure button at the bottom of the Navigation Pane.
Toolbars	Quick launch icons, time savers.  Right click on the Toolbar to open men.
Word Forms/ Email	Customize Payables and Receivables documents using Word and email in Dynamics GP 2010 only.
Budget Transactions	Keep an audit trail of budget modifications, in Dynamics GP 2010 only.
Report Lists	Use the Type to Filter Box to find reports quickly.
Rename SmartList Column Names	Click on the Columns button on the Search Page to change the Display Name.  Remember to save or update the Favorite.
Allocution Accounts	Fixed Allocution and Variable Allocution accounts can replace maintaining spreadsheets to allocate costs.
Shut off posting reports	Tools>>Setup>>Posting>>Posting.  Select the Series and the Origin and uncheck reports not needed for printing after posting.
Recurring Batches	Payables and Financial entries saved to a recurring batch.  This can eliminate repeatedly rekeying entries and transactions.
Remove Entries from AutoFill	Once the list is presented, right click the entry and click on remove.  You can also change the AutoFill preferences in the User Preference Window.

Didn’t get to attend? You download the checklists from our web site. Also, we would be happy to come out to your location and replicate our consulting roundtable, and show you the best tricks we have collected over the years. We will even spring for lunch! Contact us if you want to hear more.

The New Year is a Great Time to Upgrade

As we are approaching the holidays and year-end, it is not too early to start planning “what comes next”. Take advantage of the ability to improve insight, productivity, and collaboration across your organization, make sure your organization is on the 2011 upgrade calendar.

We suggest that you take a few moments with other Microsoft Dynamics GP users and learn about their experiences using the latest features and functionality of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010.

Vertical Solutions is pretty excited about how you and your team, and the different ways you work, can drive business success with Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010. Employees can make quick and informed decisions with insight that is personalized and easy to access. In addition, this release continues to remove barriers that get in the way of working effectively, to better connect you to information that is across applications and systems.

It seems hard to believe as the snow is flying, but summer and vacation time will be here soon – February, March, and April are a great time to take advantage of all the features offered by Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010. Contact us today to schedule your upgrade!



Twenty Tips to Improve the Value of Your Businss

Last night, the First Tuesday Networking Group heard a presentation by Alex Kinder of Horovitz, Rudoy & Roteman and our own Bob Nelson on how to improve your business value. It was a cold snowy night, but the hardy group picked up several valuable tips. Most important was that there is always an opportunity for your business to be sold, you should always be prepared and have a plan.

Sprinkled into their top 20 list, Alex and Bob shared several real-life cautionary tales of clients who, unfortunately did not anticipate selling their business, did not have a plan, and saw their business being purchased for much less than valued.

Twenty Tips to Improve Your Value of Your Business1. Clean up the Balance Sheet
2. Streamline operating ratios
3. Evaluate leased assets and convert to owned assets
4. Evaluate on-going service and maintenance contracts
5. Conduct fixed vs. variable expense analysis
6. Perform a product line profitability analysis
7. Modify all leases, mortgages, agreements and contracts to ensure they are transferable
8. Engage your CPA to prepare audited financial statements
9. Evaluate inventory for accuracy and relevancy
10. Settle all outstanding lawsuits, tax liens, employee disputes and union grievances
11. Recast financial statements to reflect “normalized, non family” impact
12. Update the Strategic Plan
13. Find and implement the Best Practices for your industry
14. Ensure that you are in compliance with federal, state, local, environmental, labor rules and regulations
15. Automate your processes, invest in technology
16. Resolve partner – shareholder disputes
17. Engage a knowledgeable, experienced Board
18. Separate real estate from the business
19. Ensure that all product/service liability policies are in place
20. Ensure that all copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names and patents are fully documented

Our First Tuesday Networking Group will take a break in the month of January to let everyone get settled in after the New Year’s holiday. We’ll see you in February for The Business Value of Going Green.