Limited Technical Support: January 7-8

Written By Kelli Sexton,
CEO of Rockton Software

Rockton Software will have limited technical support on Monday, January 7, 2013, and Tuesday, January 8, 2013. We will be in Orlando, Florida for our biannual Rockton Retreat. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience that this could cause you or your business.

If you have an urgent request, contact support@rocktonsoftware.com; we will get back to you as soon as possible that Monday and Tuesday!

Thank you for your understanding.

Useful ISV Products for Microsoft Dynamics GP: Part 8 of 8

Written By Mark Rockwell,
President of Rockton Software

141. Software Index: Reconciler for Inventory matches Inventory GL Control Accounts against transactions that have been generated through the Inventory Module.
142. Solutions@MBAF: PaperSave is a Document Management and Electronic Workflow built on SharePoint.
143. Solver, Inc.: BI360 is a complete, Excel-based Business Intelligence solution for the Microsoft Dynamics ERP systems. It is integrated with both GL and sub-ledgers as well as with Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
144. TARGIT: TARGIT BI Suite streamlines the decision processes in your company through a set of tools that enables you to create intelligent dashboards, multi-object analyses with insightful reports in less clicks.
145. The World On-Line, Inc.: The Missing Link, (Sr.) imports data into almost any module. Imports can be scheduled and imported from outside Microsoft Dynamics GP.
146. Trinity Computer Services: Advanced Inventory Replenishment helps you make sense of your demand history and ensures that you purchase the right items at the right time in the right quantities and at the right price.
147. Trinity Computer Services: Pricing Enhancements and Integrates enables you to manage your pricing off-line in Excel with whole order value discount, product group volume discounts, sales rebate tracking and online price negotiation.
148. Trinity Computer Services: Consolidated Invoicing is a rules based approach to simplify your accounts by rolling up multiple shipments into a single financial invoice with full audit trail back to original documents.
149. Trinity Computer Services: Sales Powerpack takes you from simple order capture to proactive up-selling and cross-selling while speeding up the order entry process.
150. Vicinity Manufacturing: Vicinity for Process Manufacturing is specifically for the needs of formula-based manufacturers. Also called process or batch manufacturing.
151. vSync, an Accellos Division: EDI completes, integrates, rules-based EDI for sales order and purchase order processing.
152. vSync, an Accellos Division: vShip provides integrated pack verification, ASN generation, customer specific labeling, reporting, small parcel, and LTL shipping.
153. vSync, an Accellos Division: Accellos One Pinpoint is a comprehensive suite of supply chain execution products built around a common technological framework that leverages Microsoft’s complete platform stack.
154. vSync, and Accellos Division: Pulse and EDI for GP Adaptor is a management tool that permits business systems to generate an enterprise-level views with charts, graphs, data grids, reports, also include an EDI adaptor.
155. vSync, an Accellos Division: Accellos One Collect for GP is an Automated Data Collection product that leverages RF handheld devices to automate inventory transactions.

Searching for Part 7 of Useful ISV Products for Microsoft Dynamics GP?

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GP Optimizer Summer 2012 Edition: Manufacturing for Label, Carton, and Flexible Packaging

Written By Computer Productivity Services, Inc.  for
GP Optimizer Summer 2012 Edition by Rockton Software

Since 1994, Computer Productivity Services (CPS, www.cpsinc.ca) has specialized in providing business management software based on Microsoft Dynamics GP and Dexterity for the Label, Carton and Flexible Packaging industry.

Computer Productivity Services is the only Microsoft Dynamics based ERP software vendor to specialize in label, carton, and flexible packaging converters. In an increasingly competitive environment, this is key.

“Preparing quotes no longer requires hours; it’s done in minutes with the ability to change variables in an instant. CPS proved to be familiar with the industry and our specific needs, and was able to modify the system to accommodate our unique applications. CPS is a true partner in this endeavor. The implementation of the new system went very well and we avoided many of the pitfalls and problems typically associated with a new implementation.” Jim Imburgia, Control Group USA

Case Study: Control Group, USA
Being a supplier to the pharmaceutical industry is not for the faint of heart. It’s a high-stakes, highly regulated industry that requires the utmost in manufacturing discipline and control.

One company that has been highly successful as a pharmaceutical label supplier is Norwood, N.J.-based Control Group. This company cut its teeth in pharmaceuticals, with its early roots in 1971. Today, the Control Group is supplying a number of demanding markets, including health and beauty, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals, along with other consumer goods markets using flexo and gravure.

“Like everyone in our industry, cost is the driving factor,” according to Jim Imburgia, Control Group USA, “our customers want to have first-class service at the lowest price. This drives us to constantly look at our costs to see how we can manage our business so we stay competitive.”

“Paper” trail - Being a supplier to the pharmaceutical market brings along a number of challenges, not the least of which is traceability and ISO compliance. Customers in including health and beauty, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals require a tremendous amount of documentation supporting what was produced and how it’s verified.

Solution - The Control Group uses a solution from Oakville, Ontario-based Computer Productivity Services (CPS, www.cpsinc.ca). CPS specializes in providing business solution software based on Microsoft Dynamics GP. With CPS, paperwork associated with the quote to cash cycle has been virtually eliminated.

CPS was selected because his company’s team felt CPS had the right mix to meet their needs. “Because it was a Microsoft-based platform, it gave us a tremendous amount of comfort,” he adds. “CPS proved to be familiar with the industry and our specific needs, and was able to modify the system to accommodate our unique applications.”

Benefit - The benefits provided by a management information system are especially important in dynamic market segments, such as pharmaceuticals. “We are able to process accurate quotes and orders quickly and at the same time, check capacity and inventory.  This makes our scheduling and turnaround times more accommodating to our customer base,” notes Imburgia.

Satisfaction - The Control Group is more than satisfied with the results of the investment in its new information system. “The ERP system provides us with all the business intelligence we need to manage our business, identify trends, and provide accurate and timely cost information,” says Imburgia.

Download GP Optimizer Summer 2012 Edition by Rockton Software for more great content on how to make Microsoft Dynamics GP work simpler and easier, simply click on the GP Optimizer Picture at the bottom, right corner of Rockton Software's Homepage.

What are you grateful for?

Written By Mark Rockwell,
President of Rockton Software

It feels phenomenal as Rockton (www.rocktonsoftware.com) is finishing our fourteenth year of business. Rockton has survived, perhaps even thrived, during the radical changes in technology and business world.

Rockton’s roots are in the Microsoft Dynamics GP space, this year we announced our future direction utilizing Dynamics CRM with our Rockton Connect. Rockton Connect is a financial management system built on the foundation of CRM, and our future vertical prospects are exciting and promising.

To be where we are today and to propel us forward requires a dedicated and loyal team of employees. As president of Rockton Software, I am grateful and often humbled by the commitment and passion of the Rockton team in providing software solutions that make a difference in customers’ lives. It is fun, challenging, and most of all rewarding to work in synergy with our team throughout the entire creative process. While we focus on software, Rockton is a team that could be successful with almost any business venture, mainly because of our company culture. We value each person for who they are and what they bring to our team. With a personal core of humility and integrity, our team is more like a big family where we encourage each other to do their best.

I am grateful to have the support of the Rockton team, especially my wife, Kelli. Growing a business can be tough, but it is highlighted with a multitude of blessings.

Don't forget to like Rockton Software on Facebook!

Useful ISV Products for Microsoft Dynamics GP: Part 7 of 8

Written By Mark Rockwell,
President of Rockton Software

Like Rockton Software on Facebook!

121. Nolan Business Solutions: InterCompany Postings automatically posts all types of transactions between companies.
122. Nolan Business Solutions: Advanced Bank Reconciliation automatically reconciles posted GL Transactions to an imported bank statement.
123. Olympic Systems, Inc.: Project Cost for Dynamics GP is a full featured, easy to use Project Costing solution for Microsoft Dynamics GP. It is well suited to government contractors.
124. Olympic Systems, Inc.: Multi-Currency  Import Module provides unattended daily imports of currency exchange rates from one of 3 data sources: The European Central Bank, the Bank of Canada, or Commonwealth Foreign Exchange.
125. Panatrack: PanatrackerGP is a bar code data capture for inventory management, fixed asset tracking, and sales transaction processing.
126. RedTail Solutions: RedTail Transaction Manager takes responsibility for EDI success—every transaction, with every trading partner, everyday including setup and testing of trading relationships. Out of the box integration with continuous monitoring.
127. Reporting Central: The Closer automatically reconciles the Dynamics GP System with multiple sub-ledgers. Reconcile, Balance, and Close the books with The Closer.
128. Reporting Central: The ValidatorGP inspects over 100 key points in the Dynamics GP System covering system set-ups and master data files.
129. Reporting Central: The Validator1099 is specifically for Microsoft Dynamics GP that automates the process of validating TIN’s for expedited and accurate 1099.
130. Rockton Software: SmartFill: Do you want your team to increase their productivity? They can. SmartFill dramatically decreases data lookup time.
131. Rockton Software: Dynamics Report Manager: Got Reports? Sure you do. Use DRM to email and print your reports when and where you need them. SRS, Management Reporter, Crystal, FRx, Word, Excel—DRM will launch them all!
132. Rockton Software: Auditor: Do you waste time figuring out why data changes occurred? Take the guess work out of WHY with Auditor.
133. Rockton Software: Dynamics GP Toolbox is a collection of over 20 tools to improve the Microsoft Dynamics GP experience. 1. Got Deadbeats hogging your GP licenses? Kick ‘em out with Inactivity Time-Out. 2. Ever wonder where the data hides behind those window fields? Stop guessing with Inspector. 3. Ever wish you had a search tool to find windows in Dynamics GP? Now you do with Mentor.
134. Rockton Software: Omni Price: Are your pricing updates ugly? Turn that toad into a prince with Omni Price.
135. RockySoft, Corporation: RockySoft’s Pack Light Inventory Management Suite delivers software and services to help mid-market distributors and manufacturers manage their inventory.
136. Rose ASP: myGPcloud provides Microsoft Dynamics GP on-demand with no annual commitment, no setup fee, no user minimum, and instant provisioning.
137. SalesPad Solutions: SalesPad is a quick quote and order entry, complete inventory visibility, access to all customer information, configurable workflow, and built-in credit card processing.
138. Sierra Workforce Solutions: TimeMaster Labor Management Solutions: Time, Attendance, and Labor Management solutions with Data Integration for Payroll, HR, and Job Costing using Biometrics, Badge, Web, or PC based time clocks.
139. Software Index: Invoice Approvals and Accruals is a browser based invoice approvals for Purchasing and Payables transactions integrated with Microsoft Dynamics GP.
140. Software Index: Reconciler for AR and AP validates transactions that have been entered into Receivables and Payables against their respective control accounts within the GL.

The Rockton Software Family

Written By Bryan Page, .NET
Developer at Rockton Software

I am one of the newest members of Rockton Software Family (http://www.rocktonsoftware.com). I used to work for a huge corporation, so I was not exactly sure what to think when joining Rockton Software. Granted, one of the biggest draws for joining this team was that I wouldn't be a nameless face inside the big machine; I would be a key piece in a smaller company, which gives me more of an opportunity to do something great.

When I first started, I only had brief conversations with most of the team over the phone or a meeting with a small subset of the company in the Denver office since Rockton is a mostly remote company. I seemed to get along with those that I had met, but it is hard to know if you fit in based on quick conversations. It wasn't until we had our company retreat that I found out what the Rockton Software Family is all about.

For those of you that do not know, twice a year Mark Rockwell, President of Rockton Software, and Kelli Sexton, CEO of Rockton Software, pull the team together for a corporate retreat. This gives the whole company a chance to meet up and discuss the state of business, as well as bond as a whole. The Summer 2012 Retreat was the first time I was able to see how Rockton comes together and melds similar to a big family. At first, I was nervous that I would be the outsider since everyone else knew each other, but it was quite the opposite. The Rockton Software Family seemed very happy to meet me and interested to learn about my wife and I. The conversations never felt forced, but there was a genuine interest in getting to know us.

Throughout the retreat, meals were a ton of fun. We would go into a restaurant and even though everyone would order their own meals, it always turned into family style eating. If anybody wanted to try a different entrée, it was possible because someone would be willing to share. Afterwards, we would caravan around town from one event to another in the family truckster (from the National Lampoons Vacation . . . and yes at times it seemed eerily similar). All of this carefully orchestrated amazingly by Mark and Kelli. I’m still not sure how they pull it off so well, but I guess that is why they are the head of the household!

During the retreat, my wife and I never once felt out of place. Even though we are located across the country, it seems that we all have a common bond in our values, which pulls the whole family together. Each of us have the best interest of the customer in mind, from the design of the product to the support of the finished product; we like to think of our customers as our extended family. We hope to make you feel that way. I am truly thankful to be a member of the Rockton Software Family.

Want to stay updated with what the Rockton Software Family is up to? Manage Your Rockton Software Subscriptions.

We Need Auditor NOW! How Long Will It Take Us to Install and Set It Up?

Written By Pam Rasmussen,
Technical Support at Rockton Software

As the primary support person at Rockton Software (http://www.rocktonsoftware.com), I often get asked how long it takes to set up Auditor. The installation of Auditor happens fairly quickly—a matter of minutes for each server or workstation where you are installing it. The part that takes a bit longer is the pre-planning of what you want to track. To help expedite this process, it is helpful to have a good understanding of the different types of audits available.

There are three types of audits in Auditor by Rockton Software, here is a description of each:

Window Field Audit:
Using a wizard, this setup provides a simple way for the non-technical person to setup fields to audit with or without notes at the window level. An audit at the window level will track any change made to a window, not necessarily the database. For instance, it will track changes to a window field after the user tabs off of it, before the Save button is clicked.

Table Audit:
At the table level, table fields that are set up to be audited are tracked when a data change occurs within Dynamics GP application, regardless of the window in which the change was made. A typical scenario would be on a maintenance window after the Save Button is clicked. Once this table save occurs, the audit is triggered and those changes are tracked.

SQL Audit:
The SQL audit level requires a thorough understanding of how SQL tables are setup and used. This type of auditing allows audits to be tracked in Microsoft Dynamics GP as well as other applications. The audits are tracked once the changes are made to the SQL database. NOTE: With SQL audits the user will not have the option to track the “Why” (reason code/note) a change took place. Auditor will capture this change at the point when the data in the database has been changed. SQL audits place triggers on the database and capture when the data is being changed regardless of who changed it.

Once you determine the type of audit(s) you would like to set up, it is just a matter of deciding if you want to use a specific method or grouping to create your Audit Groups (i.e., Accounting, Financial, HR, etc.), and which forms, tables, and fields you want to audit.

You can also decide if the User is required to enter a note when they make a change on a field. With a note required, you will not only know who made the change, but why they made it. You can also assign an E-Signature to a field so that when it is changed, an approval is required before that change is saved. These are both great features to use when you have payroll changes, name changes, and anywhere else where you want to know why a change is made or not allow a change until it has been approved by your predefined approvers.

Knowing what you want to audit and how, is key!

Watch an Auditor Demo to learn more!

GP Optimizer Summer 2012: Multi-Entity Management Streamlined QTS' Database Infrastructure to a Single Database

Written By Binary Stream Software for GP Optimizer
 Summer 2012 Edition by Rockton Software

• Multi-Entity Management streamlined QTS’ database infrastructure to a single database
• Redundant Processes were eliminated by 30%
• Centralized AR, AP and POP processes
• Fully Automated Audit Trail
• Simplified Complex Deferrals
• Simplified QTS compliance with regulatory standards


QTS (Quality Technology Services) is a leading national provider of data center solutions and fully managed services for enterprise businesses. QTS offers a complete, unique portfolio of core data center services including a Custom Data Center, as well as Colocation and Cloud services, while offering the flexibility, scale and security needed to support the rapidly evolving infrastructure demands of web and IT applications.

Using Microsoft Dynamics GP to manage their business flow, QTS found themselves requiring additional customization to meet some specific needs. After a thorough search, they chose Binary Stream’s Multi-Entity Management (MEM) solution and Binary Stream’s Advanced Revenue and Expense Deferrals (ARED) solution.

With 12 data centers across the U.S. and multiple GP databases for each of these facilities, QTS was operating a total of 33 separate Dynamics GP databases – a significant number of core processes were both redundant and time consuming.

Binary Stream’s Multi-Entity Management solution streamlined QTS’ database infrastructure to a single database environment – eliminating redundant processes by 30%!

With Multi-Entity Management, QTS now enjoys centralized AR, AP and POP processes, which are accessed from a single database by a centralized team.

“We can now create a single purchase requisition and distribute the GL coding amongst multiple facilities,” says Kitty Geiger, QTS’ Senior Dynamics GP System Administrator.

Using Multi-Entity Management, QTS also created a fully automated audit trail for posted, voided and corrected entries, as well as fully automated intercompany transactions such as transferring fixed assets or bank transactions between their data centers.

QTS also had as many as 38,000 unrecognized deferral entries that were processed manually from the many different databases they were utilizing. QTS chose Binary Stream’s Advanced Revenue and Expense Deferrals solution to help them address this challenge.

Advanced Revenue and Expense Deferrals is a fully integrated solution that simplifies complex deferrals by creating deferrals by line item and building schedules allowing for complete control over the timing of sub-ledger and GL recognition postings.

Following the Advanced Revenue and Expense Deferrals installation, QTS’ team was able to close their previous month-end financials a full 11 days sooner than their previous month-end financials. Advanced Revenue and Expense Deferrals also simplified QTS’ compliance with EITF 08-1 and subsequent rulings with regards to Vendor Specific Objective Evidence (VSOE) revenue recognition.

Ultimately, QTS is better able to serve their customer base using Dynamics GP in conjunction with Binary Stream’s Multi-Entity Management and Advanced Revenue and Expense Deferrals.

“We have customers with work orders in multiple facilities. With Multi-Entity Management and Advanced Revenue and Expense Deferrals, we are able to effectively manage our monthly invoicing and apply corresponding payments across invoices in multiple facilities,” says Geiger. 

And that makes good business sense!

These are just a couple of ways Binary Stream’s Multi-Entity Management and Advanced Revenue and Expense Deferrals have added value to QTS’ daily business. Please contact Binary Stream to learn more. 

Download GP Optimizer Summer 2012 Edition by Rockton Software for more great content on how to make Microsoft Dynamics GP work simpler and easier. Click on the GP Optimizer Picture at the bottom, right corner of Rockton Software's homepage.

GP Optimizer Summer 2012: The Quality Habit - Affordable Improvement for Any Organization

Written By Horizons International for GP Optimizer
Summer 2012 Edition by Rockton Software

Organizations that value a habit of extreme quality are organizations that can expect greater profit margins.

What if a “quality habit” became a virtue in your organization?

What if having better quality was more affordable than you think?


A Paradigm Shift to the Quality Habit 
Improvements in the quality habit will typically lead to reduction in costs and increases in margin, at relatively lower cost compared to other investments in change.  Yet, even in the face of the clear and obvious benefits of adopting a higher standard of quality, many organizations struggle with creating and improving their quality habit.

Organizations and individuals already committed to quality have a hard time conceiving of “the quality habit” as anything less than a permanent foundational philosophy.  However, if we speak to those same groups about the development of their quality habit they will tell us that it was challenging to achieve and requires focus to maintain. In fact, in many cases we would hear there were several false starts to the process and that while the goal might have been ‘get it right the first time’ it actually took several attempts before the habit became fully ingrained in the organizational culture.

Given the data and anecdotal evidence of the benefits to a company’s bottom line of an effective quality habit, it is difficult to understand why the quality mission is not more robustly pursued and fundamental to all activities across organizations.

It turns out the answer is that this shift of creating a quality habit within an organization may be similar to creating a personally successful habit.  The authors of the book “Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success ” provide a useful explanation of how these hindrances affect our personal habits, along with useful insight, explanations and suggestions on how we can incorporate successful habits into our daily lives. In their explanation of successful habit building we are encouraged to see the building of good habits as less about will power and more about motivation and structure.

The authors identify three levels of habit forming: personal, social, and structural. Each of these levels has two facets, motivation, and ability.  How then might we use this information on personal habit building to shift effective action for organizations?


Personal Habit Building Processes Can Create a Quality Habit
Personal: Individual employees must personally care about quality. They also must be given the empowerment to act on their caring.  Employees must have a way to achieve the goals of quality. They must have the ability and access to the right skills and tools.  Most importantly they must be able to promptly know if they are getting it right.

When these conditions are not present we find that personal frustration and consequent lack of motivation derails the quality habit.

Social: The social aspect of a quality habit in an organization is easy to recognize – the habit must be everyone’s job, not just the work of a select few.   As an example, let’s consider the difference between accomplices versus friends, as part of the support structure for good habits.  In the world of the habit of better eating, our accomplices will enable us to enjoy a celebratory meal, even though we are on a diet. Our friends are those who remember our diet goals and suggest an alternative celebration.

In the world of quality, our accomplices are those who encourage us to believe that the effort of our quality process is not really needed. They might use the example that it hasn’t gone wrong yet so why change? But our friends, those who truly support not just the quality mission but the responsibility we all have in delivering quality goods and services, will support the efforts and disciplines of our quality habit. They don’t just willingly follow procedures with patience and focus but actually embrace the information gains that are achieved from those efforts, encouraging others to do the same.

Structural: When we reach the structural level of building a successful quality habit we would want to see availability of formal methods for tracking our adherence to quality methods. These methods or tools need to be measurable and we need to be prepared and able to monitor and take responsibility for results.  In addition, our monitoring needs to be timely otherwise we find ourselves too far removed from the original impact to properly evaluate and define consequences and will have lost the ability for effective corrective action.

We should also incorporate methods in our quality habit that acknowledge our successes.  All too often when quality systems are manual or otherwise cumbersome we can begin to find that only errors are reported to a level of action.  This focus on the negatives of mistakes can create an organizational awareness of quality as a problem creator, not a success driver, which is an attitude that erodes successful habit development and morale.


A Quality Habit Solution Creates Instant Feedback and Profit Growth
In establishing or developing a quality habit, organizations may find it beneficial to utilize a formal quality system such as Quality Essentials Suite. This solution provides unlimited user access and integrates with Dynamics GP products, including functionality for advanced lot management.

Utilizing software based systems with unlimited user licensing, real time data collection, analysis tools and reporting ensures that all three levels of successful habit formation are supported. Employees individually are motivated and have the ability to participate and monitor results.  All members of staff can have access and visibility to relevant data, which reinforces the social level.

Finally, the structural level of successful habits is achieved through the use of a formal integrated and comprehensive system that includes certificates of analysis, non-conformance reporting, corrective action tracking and root cause analysis.

The use of a formal quality system will have a positive impact on employee morale resulting in improved customer satisfaction and rich rewards to the bottom line.


Download GP Optimizer Summer 2012 Edition by Rockton Software for more great content on how to make Microsoft Dynamics GP work simpler and easier.