Are you still running your business out of a box? If you’re part of a start-up, you actually may be. Hopefully by now you’ve transitioned to a software platform that can help with file organization. If this is the case, you may have already discovered – all accounting platforms are not created equal.

Are basic business functions holding you back?

Frequently, small businesses experience growing pains as they struggle to streamline efficiencies by automating various employee processes. Typically they have multiple data points across several software systems, and they’re seeking increased efficiencies though integration of these various parts and pieces. They may be experiencing:

Move over, Intuit QuickBooks Online. There’s another accounting software competitor that is snagging – and retaining -- your customers. The beauty of this other online software platform is that is goes beyond the basic business functions of finance and billing and allows a true upgrade to a business intelligence package that can do everything from integrate with your customer database, create customized income and expenditure reporting, and can be accessed from any digital device through the cloud.

In July Oracle announced it was buying NetSuite. IT pundits suggested that would be a positive outcome for a NetSuite platform that struggles to keep up with its main competitor in the cloud: Microsoft Dynamics.

NetSuite’s biggest claim to fame was that they had the foresight to jump in the cloud before the IoT began to rule the world.

But NetSuite has struggled to gain and retain market share, primarily, many would say, due to serious shortcomings.

Microsoft Dynamics GP is an all-in-one, fully integrated ERP solution targeted towards small-to-midsized organizations. Through Microsoft Dynamics GP, you can optimize your supply chain, manage your employees, and track your finances in a single consolidated and easy to use suite. But though Microsoft Dynamics GP is a fairly intuitive platform, there is still an extraordinary number of benefits to training and certifications. Microsoft Dynamics GP is an extremely robust suite, and many of its impressive features may not be used correctly without proper Microsoft Dynamics GP training.

As with any Microsoft product, Microsoft Dynamics CRM has a fairly rigorous certification process. Obtaining Microsoft Dynamics CRM Certification—or engaging with employees and contractors who have MS Dynamics CRM certification—can offer some significant benefits, both in terms of internal management and client servicing.

Integrating shopping carts and e-commerce platforms directly with MS Dynamics GP can be used to substantially streamline operations. Reducing costs, improving productivity, and consolidating data in a single all-in-one resource can be achieved through the use of MS Hosted Dynamics NAV. By better integrating back end financial information with front end e-commerce portals, companies are able to better serve their customers and reduce administrative costs. Here are some of the critical advantages to integrating through Hosted Dynamics NAV.

Dynamics GP eCommerce rolls all of your distribution and logistics management directly into your eCommerce portal, creating a consolidated, easily managed system that will simplify maintenance and operations. Through Dynamics GP eCommerce, you'll have a single data warehouse, maintain real-time product information, and be able to provide superior customer service.

Through Microsoft Dynamics Magento integration, businesses can streamline the entire process of sales and customer management, avoiding duplicate entries and the maintenance of multiple systems. Everything from accurate inventory quantities, projected stocking needs, and shipping and product addresses can be stored and shared within the two suites. But as with any integration, there are some important things to remember.

One of the major advantages of Microsoft Dynamics CRM is its ability to integrate with other Microsoft product suites such as SharePoint. Proper SharePoint integration can vastly improve the productivity of an office, but it needs to be done the correct way to be effective and secure. Here are a few of the most critical best practices.