Microsoft Dynamics NAV

Microsoft Dynamics NAV is particularly well-suited for multi-site organizations that need to integrate their business management software solution with that of their subsidiaries or divisions. The article on this site will help you understand how we can deliver the ideal solution to use in your subsidiaries or divisions based on Microsoft Dynamics NAV. You will also find the answer to how Microsoft Dynamics NAV can offer standard functionality, yet still meet specific local needs.

Concept
The Specific Needs of Multi-Site and International Organizations Multi-site and international organizations are composed of a parent or holding company that uses one business software system that is integrated with the systems used by its individual sites.

In the world of business management software, the business management solution of the parent company must work together with the systems of its sites in order for the whole organization to successfully reach its business goals. The following section explains why Microsoft Dynamics NAV is the ideal solution to use in your organization. It shows how the comprehensive functionality and flexibility inherent in Microsoft Dynamics NAV can provide individual sites with standard functionality, meet local needs, and integrate smoothly with the parent company's systems.

Integration of Multiple Business Management Solutions
The idea of one standard system that requires no integration of data between the parent company and its sites certainly has its appeal. In the real world, however, companies must deal with integration between different business management solutions at the parent company and the sites. Typically, the sites tend to have very different needs than the parent company, and therefore need a different business management solution. Nevertheless, integration between the parent and site business management solutions is critical for efficiently sharing information, supporting common workflows, and functioning successfully as one entity.

Relevance
Microsoft Dynamics NAV is a standard solution that still has enough flexibility to meet the varied needs of individual sites, regardless of complexity, specialization, location, or need for flexibility. It provides a low total cost of ownership because it is attractively priced and easy to use and maintain.

Complexity
Sites may have the same level of business complexity as the headquarters, but on a different scale and without the same skilled IT resources. The solution that is best for the parent company is often too big, complicated, cumbersome, and costly for its sites. At the same time, the parent company solution may not address the local requirements or specific business needs of the sites. That is why trying to force a parent's solution on the sites can result in lack of cooperation and difficulties in implementation or use. One size does not fit all.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV is an excellent choice for sites because it is designed specifically for small to midsized businesses with unique business processes. Designed for companies with unique business processes, a core value of Microsoft Dynamics NAV is easy customization, deployment, and use without requiring a large IT staff or extensive user training. At the same time, it uses industry standards and tools to help ensure smooth integration with the parent company's business management solution. This makes it a perfect match for sites of a multi-site or international organization looking to provide robust and tailored functionality at a low total cost of ownership.

For example, Microsoft Dynamics NAV helped American logistical services company, New Age Electronics, to maintain their business management solution more efficiently. They now use outside IT consultants only on a limited basis. According to Min Kim, Programming Manager, "[Microsoft Dynamics NAV] provides a simple IDE [Integrated Development Environment] to connect data to users." New Age Electronics reduced consulting costs by 50 percent compared to their last year using their previous solution.

Another example, railway infrastructure service company Goldschmidt-Thermit-Group, worked with its partner, Naviconsult, to replace SAP and other ERP solutions in all of its 20 subsidiaries and is now also replacing SAP at their parent company.

Specialization
Sites with specialized functions have specific industry and vertical requirements that may differ widely from those of other sites. A site that fulfills a specific role in the organization - for example manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, fulfilment, retailing, and so on-has different requirements than other sites.

Trying to adapt the parent company's solution to fit various industry, vertical, functional, and local requirements can result in practical difficulties, either because of insufficient vertical or industry functionality, inefficient solution scaling, or because customization is cumbersome and costly. Again, one size does not fit all. More than 50,000 customers worldwide in many industries have already been able to customize and deploy Microsoft Dynamics NAV to accommodate their individual needs. Furthermore, more than 2,700 Microsoft Certified Partners currently deliver these customizations, as well as specific vertical solutions and more than 1,400 registered add-ons.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV also provides a Rapid Implementation Methodology (RIM) and industry templates that facilitate cost-effective development for specific vertical industries that you can apply and deploy at sites with similar functions. For example, you can apply one industry-specific template to any of your divisional sales offices with similar functions. However, if you need a solution for process manufacturing or retail, then you might want to implement an industry-specific solution based on the Microsoft Dynamics NAV platform. The extensive catalog of industry-specific solutions and the industry templates can help reduce service costs and make it faster and more efficient to implement the solutions at your sites. These advantages together help ensure a long-term solution and help reduce the total cost of ownership and increase the return on investment. For example, InTiCom Systems-a manufacturer of telecommunications and motor vehicle components- implemented Microsoft Dynamics NAV and integrated it with an industry-specific solution. InTiCom gained a 100 percent return on technology investment in just four months.

Location
Sites located in different countries need a business management solution that meets local legal, regulatory, and market requirements including industry-specific practices for bookkeeping, reports, and financial statements. The challenge is to find a standard product that can integrate with the parent company's system and is localized to address individual market and business requirements, and that can be supported long-term by local IT resources.

With more than 40 localized country versions and multi-language capabilities, Microsoft Dynamics NAV provides a standard solution with the flexibility to meet varying local needs. In addition, the Microsoft global network of qualified partners means that multi-site and international organizations can count on finding expert local support.
For example, Coroos, a Dutch food company, worked with one local Microsoft partner to plan their solution and document their requirements, and another for the actual implementation.

Flexibility
Multi-site and international organizations must strike a balance between deploying worldwide standardization and enabling the customizations that a site requires to meet local business practices and increase productivity. A standard "core" of functionality deployed across the organization can be complemented by permitted adaptations to local circumstances, processes, and procedures. To manage complexity, the level of flexibility must be agreed upon between site and parent company. The solution's ability to track local customizations raises another challenge for smooth management of upgrades.

Flexible by nature, Microsoft Dynamics NAV is easy to customize to meet the functional, process, and industry needs of a given site, and it is easily scaled to meet changing requirements as locations and the organization grow.

Minor adaptations, such as customizing forms, can save time in daily work and are simple to carry out in Microsoft Dynamics NAV. Swedish-based EuroFlorist, for example, used the built-in tools in Microsoft Dynamics NAV to add shortcuts that helped cut order entry time by 30 to 40 percent. "They're small details, but they all add up, especially when every minute counts," says Daniel Ekwall, Systems Manager at EuroFlorist.

A complete upgrade methodology in Microsoft Dynamics NAV provides a tool and a framework to help your organization make a smooth transition to new versions of your solution-without losing any of the specific modifications made for your business. Your people can continue to work with their existing, familiar solution while benefiting from new releases. The Upgrade Toolkit and Guidelines, along with RIM, make upgrades easier, less costly, and less risky by carrying over customizations when upgrading.

Do you want to learn more? Please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information. You can also request our 'Six common integration scenarios' on how Microsoft Dynamics NAV can help you increase control, improve efficiency and boost collaboration throughout your international organization.

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