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Microsoft Dynamics SL

Score6 out of 10

69 Reviews and Ratings

What is Microsoft Dynamics SL?

Microsoft Dynamics SL is one of the ERP products in the Dynamics family. This product was acquired from Solomon 2000. The product is typically used by SMBs, particularly in project-based businesses (e.g. construction). It has strong accounting and project management capabilities.

Top Performing Features

  • Pay calculation

    Pay calculation provides for computation of employee pay with state and federal deductions.

    Category average: 7

  • Direct deposit files

    Direct deposit is the ability to electronically transfer pay to an employee’s personal bank account.

    Category average: 7.4

  • Capital Project Management

    Track and manage capital asset costs

    Category average: 7.6

Areas for Improvement

  • Cost Capture

    Capture costs including those for procurement, financials or time and labor, including from external systems

    Category average: 7.9

  • Project Revenue Recognition

    Recognize project contract revenue in line with accounting policies and regulations

    Category average: 7.8

  • Location management

    The software can track multiple goods across multiple locations.

    Category average: 7.7

SL experience

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We processed all our transactions in Microsoft Dybamics SL, for income and expenses cycles. I would say that not being an online operation makes difficult to have data always on time, because it uses batches sometimes business rules are not achieved but transactions were already made. So only thing is to correct them through sql

Pros

  • Reporting
  • Detailed Warehouse setup (bins)
  • Document application (ap and ar)

Cons

  • Online transaction register (not baches)
  • Validation before posting inventory transactions with missing item availability
  • Preview of accounting before posting.

Return on Investment

  • It allowed us to achieve a 95% order fullfilment
  • It allowed us to reduce from 35 days to 1-3 days to ship orders
  • It allowed us to have finance information with one day delay

Usability

Other Software Used

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne

Perfect financial software for your small to mid-size business

Pros

  • Easy to understand. The program can be taught t new users with no prior experience with minimal effort.
  • Very thorough modules for all areas of financial reporting and analysis.
  • Uncomplicated layout and maneuverability. The screens can be personalized for easy access to most frequently used modules.

Cons

  • Reports are created as Crystal Reports. These are not as dependable or dynamic as PDFs.
  • The standard package can be somewhat limited. Modules can be added but are often cost prohibitive and simply don't seem to perform dependably.
  • Tech support is costly and there is no sense of urgency. It would be helpful if there was an online user forum.

Return on Investment

  • We have been able to downsize our Accounting Department, creating more efficiencies and less "downtime" within that department.
  • We have been able to eliminate the need to outsource our IT department, thereby reducing a large budget item.
  • We have the ability to create and modify custom reports within our package.
  • We are "paper free" since all vendor documents, contracts, financial reports and purchase orders are digitally maintained in the program allowing us to archive as necessary.

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft Dynamics GP, QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions and Sage 50 Accounting

Other Software Used

Bitdefender Network Traffic Security Analytics

Non-profit's review of Microsoft Dynamics SL

Pros

  • Simple
  • Configurable
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Reporting is weak
  • Not modern
  • Security is complex

Return on Investment

  • Nothing significant

Alternatives Considered

Oracle PeopleSoft HCM and Oracle PeopleSoft SCM

Project Accounting

Pros

  • Project accounting is linked to the Financial modules - there is no need to duplicate data entry. Reporting in Project Modules is extensive.
  • Validation of fields for data entry and solid integrity of data.
  • Customizations of screens for data entry for users and addition of fields.

Cons

  • Purchasing does not have a budget validation to warn or stop a purchase from going over budget on a project level.
  • Project budgeting does not have an interface with inventory ids.
  • Financial modules could have more quick vewing screens for example a quick way to find the check no. of an invoice.

Return on Investment

  • Project data is updated quickly and reporting tools available for management daily.

Usability

Dynamics SL For Project and Crew Based Accounting

Pros

  • Provides flexibility for complex project based cost accounting
  • Strong and flexible allocation processer for cost allocations, markups, and pricing
  • A "Flexible Billing" module under the project controller series that allows for multiple billing formats ranging from fixed price schedule of values, T&M or Cost Plus, and scheduled billing.
  • Flexible reporting with options using Crystal Reports, SSRS, a Quick Query tool, and ability to tie into MS Office tools such as MS Access and MS Excel
  • Tight integration with Financials, but also the ability to integrate with modules such as Sales Order, Inventory, and Field Service
  • Customization abilities ranging from a VBA (visual basic for application) foundation to allow customizing existing forms to the ability to use the SDK (Software Development Kit) to build more complex customizations that integrate with Dynamics SL.

Cons

  • Incorporate some functionality provided by third party products into the core product.
  • Since Dynamics SL has strong multi company capabilities, incorporate functions to secure projects within a company to certain groups.
  • Improve the budgeting, forecasting, and change order interfaces so that the tools are more online.
  • Improve the forecasting capabilities to include more robust and integrated tie in to the project EAC/ETC (Estimate at Completion/Estimate to Complete) numbers. This would allow project revenue/margin/cash forecasting.
  • Expand on the subtask concept
  • Improve the interface for multi level rate entry for pricing and cost allocations such that more security can be applied and reduce risk of inadvertent changes.

Return on Investment

  • Faster Closing Cycle
  • Improved Reconciliation Tools
  • Accurate and Timely Revenue Recognition