Insight eNews
A Monthly Newsletter from AVF Consulting, Inc.
Microsoft Navision Solution Center &
Microsoft Certified Partner
February 2004
- In this edition:
From the President: Save on additional users and support time blocks
AVF News: User Conferences
Tips & Tricks: Change Log
Product Spotlight: Microsoft Demand Planner-
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Insight eNews is written andproduced by AVF Consulting for their clients and business partners. All contents have copyrights belonging to AVF Consulting. Please contact Karen Tran at ktran@avfconsulting or 410-296-5100 with questions.
From the President-- Andrew Fass
Take
Advantage Of Money Saving Opportunities!
AVF Consulting wants to help you stretch your budget as far as possible as
we help you address the needs of your business. Working together with
Microsoft, we are able to offer you discounts on additional user sessions
as well as support services. Take advantage of the programs below to
begin maximizing your use of Microsoft Navision and AVF Consulting’s
services.
Microsoft Offers Savings! Add Navision User Sessions and Receive a Discount.
Beginning February 23, 2004, Microsoft Navision clients will receive between 10% and 20% off additional user sessions purchased by Friday, April 30, 2004.
· 10% discount for the purchase of 1 additional user
· 15% discount for the purchase of 2 additional users
· 20% discount for the purchase of 3 or more additional users
This may be the only time that this promotion will be offered in 2004, so consider your long term needs for the year. Do not wait until the last minute to take advantage of this offer. Contact Jeremy Fass at jfass@avfconsulting.com or 410-296-5100, ext. 1019 to order.
Save up to 10% on AVF Support Services!
AVF knows that customer support bills can add up quickly, so we want to provide you with a way to save money ahead of time. Purchase a Time Block of 8, 16 or 24 hours and receive discounts of up to 10% on our standard hourly rate. Time Blocks are good as long as you are a customer, so you do not have to worry about expiration dates. You also don’t have to worry about bills for unexpected support needs.
· 8 hours=$1,200
· 16 hours=$2,320
· 24 hours=$3,480
Contact Jeremy Fass at jfass@avfconsulting.com or 410-296-5100, ext. 1019 to purchase your Time Block today.
Microsoft Convergence—a Conference Just for Customers! This year’s customer conference promises to have lots of sessions aimed at Navision users. Each year, this four day conference in Orlando, Florida focuses on issues like: Business Analytics, E-business and Integration, Financial Management Dimensions and more. Convergence provides a unique forum for your customers to explore, learn, network and exchange ideas that help them improve their business success. If you are interested in attending Convergence, March 21-24, 2004 then visit http://www.microsoft.com/businesssolutions/convergence/ or contact Karen Tran at ktran@avfconsulting.com or 410-296-5100.
Microsoft POS Seminar for Retailers: Interested in finding out more about Microsoft Retail Management System and Infostore for Microsoft Navision? Attend one of our free seminars in March! We will be demonstrating these two products on March 4 in Baltimore and on March 30 in Washington, DC. Contact Karen Tran at ktran@avfconsulting.com or 410-296-5100 for more information or sign up at www.avfconsulting.com/pos.
Not-for-Profit Users’ Conference for Microsoft Navision: This year’s Serenic Explorations will be held at the Westin Embassy Row in Washington D.C. August 8-11, 2004. In past years they have covered topics such as new features, advanced procurement, donor management and more. Those who register by March 31 pay only $499 (after 3/31 the fee is $599/registrant). For more information, contact Karen Tran at ktran@avfconsulting.com or 410-296-5100.
AVF’s New Contact Info:
AVF’s new phone and fax numbers are in working order. Please be sure to
update your contact information for AVF:
1220-C
East Joppa Road,
Suite 514,
Baltimore, MD 21286
Phone:
410-296-5100
Fax:
410-296-5330
Change Log
The Change Log can be set up and activated to log record insertion, modification, or deletion. This is helpful in tracking changes made to the system. The Change Log Setup List Window lets you specify what the program must record and for what tables. You would not typically want to set the Change Log to record all table changes, as this would quickly increase the size of your database (i.e. setting it to record insertions made to the G/L Entry table would record every G/L entry). Instead, it is advised to set the Change Log to record and track changes to key master tables like the G/L Account, Customer, or Vendor tables. Setting up the Change Log in this way will provide you with a record of all changes to the G/L Account, Customer, or Vendor Cards and what the original entry was.
Microsoft Demand Planner Offers Ease of Use and Strong Results
Microsoft Demand
Planner helps you quickly produce forecasts for customer demand using
historical trends data and current sales data from Navision. This software
is fully integrated with Navision and takes a collaborative approach to
forecasting by consolidating input from sales, marketing, and production
with historical data and economic indicators in an SQL Server database.
Demand Planner allows you to rapidly adjust to unforeseen demand changes,
relying on technology to respond quickly to customer requirements and
assess plan feasibility. Production planners can generate forecasts with a
higher level of accuracy in a shorter amount of time, allowing them to
focus on other strategic tasks.
The Excel interface of Microsoft Demand Planner is very easy to use and is a tool that most production planners are very familiar with. Designed specifically for mid-sized manufacturers, retailers, and distributors, demand planner provides accurate, up to the second data.
Download detailed product information here: Microsoft Demand Planner.
Some key benefits include:
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Improved forecasting processes: A clear definition of the forecasting process workflow, well-defined process responsibilities and outputs.
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Enhanced quality of forecasts: Reduced planning cycle time and increased frequency of demand forecasting, application of statistical techniques, usage of clean, updated data, all leading to a noticeable reduction of forecasting errors.
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Higher commitment to demand plans: The collaborative model empowered by the tool can reach a wider consensus and commitment on an agreed demand plan.
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Team Insight: With a facilitated cycle of review and improvement, contributors end up with a clearer picture of the strategic imperative for decision making, and innovation boundaries.
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Improved customer service: A good demand forecast enables better response to actual customer demand with the available goods or services, which increases the customer service level.
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Lower inventory levels and related costs: Confidence in the demand forecast allows reduced safety stock levels and lower inventories at all distribution stages while preserving satisfactory service levels.
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Improved purchasing and procurement: A good demand plan leads to better planning of purchasing and procurement, which reduces cost of goods, increases predictability in the buying process, and improves relationships with suppliers.
For a live demonstration of Microsoft Demand Planner, contact Jeremy Fass at jfass@avfconsulting.com or 410-296-5100, ext. 1019.