The year-end audit may be necessary to gauge
financial solvency, ensure proper fiscal controls and protect
against fraud, but, understandably, it’s an annual task
that few business owners embrace with enthusiasm. Fortunately,
the process can be simplified by upgrading to a more sophisticated
accounting software product that captures a valuable audit trail
like Microsoft Dynamics™ GP (formerly Microsoft Business Solutions–Great
Plains).
While this capability is perhaps Dynamics GP’s most notable
advantage over products like QuickBooks® and Peachtree®,
it is far from the only one. The fact that GP can be customized
to fit the needs of each business and has superior integration
capabilities with hundreds of industry specific applications
explain why a growing number of businesses around the globe are
becoming GP converts.
Designed with the needs of small to medium-sized business, the
software offers financials, analytics and reporting, project
management, manufacturing, human resource management, inventory
and order processing, e-commerce, retail management, field service
and CRM capabilities.
Since 2001, OPAL Business Solutions has been a licensed Great
Plains, and now Dynamics GP, reseller. “We really like
this product because of its versatility,” says John McFarland,
a Senior Business Systems Consultant for OPAL Business Solutions. “In
fact, more than 1,200 third-party modules can be integrated with
Dynamics GP, making it an invaluable and incredibly flexible
business management tool.”
While numerous companies resell the product, what sets OPAL
apart is their expertise at tailoring the acclaimed software
to meet the specific and varying needs of their clients and the
first-rate technical support that the company is known to offer.
Currently, OPAL is working with approximately 40 companies who
rely on OPAL’s integration expertise and software support
capabilities.
“The reseller market is very competitive but customizing
the systems for our clients and supporting them are what we pride
ourselves on and what brings our clients the most value. It’s
a huge competitive advantage for us,” states John.
 Stephanie
Kotsenas, Accounting Department Office Manager for the Southwestern
Group, agrees. The Pleasant Hills-based company is comprised
of a freestanding ambulatory surgery center, a nursing center,
as well as assisted living and independent living facilities.
The company was founded in 1972.
Three years ago, the 250-employee company found itself in a
quandary when the healthcare software company that they contracted
with stopped supporting the Great Plains integration software
that Southwestern depended on for numerous in-house ERP operations,
making it impossible for them to upgrade to newer versions of
the product.
Immediately, OPAL Business Solutions began rewriting the necessary
integration program for Southwestern. While they were the first,
other disgruntled clients of the healthcare software company
soon followed and sought OPAL’s technical expertise and
support services.
“I really like that they were able to customize our financial
statements to meet our needs,” explains Stephanie. “For
instance, the nursing home financial information is tracked departmentally
and with OPAL’s customized financial statements, we are
able to consolidate or keep separate any departmental data we
need, while keeping the process user friendly. OPAL created financial
statements that are customized to our industry.”
 Additionally, at the company’s busy surgical center, the
solutions developed by OPAL have been instrumental in managing
inventory. “They were able to link our inventory program
with Great Plains, which has streamlined the entire process,” she
adds.
While companies appreciate the high end programming talents
of OPAL consultants, what
they appreciate most is having a company that can help them correct
problems or issues that arise.
“For us, the service is most appealing. Knowing that OPAL
consultants are a phone call away and capable of solving any
problems that arise is very reassuring.”
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