What are you looking for?

By Kyle Kienzle, Account Executive, BroadPoint Technologies, Raleigh NC

Here are some reporting guidelines, capabilities and tools often inquired by Microsoft Dynamics GP clients:

1. SmartlistBuilder: This tool allows you to extend the query capability in Smartlist in Dynamics GP to span different modules and even datasources. This tool has been well-received by our clients and ‘used hourly and the starting ground’ for many users workday. It is best for quick views and inquiries.

2. SRS (SQL Reporting Services) – This is a packet of reports and reporting tool, all free, provided by Microsoft and deployed by BroadPoint. There are some template reports to begin and can always be tailored – these reports are technical though and will require some ramp up time.

3. Microsoft FRx is a well-versed mid-market financial reporting tool. It is used by most of our clients for financial reporting due to it’s capabilities. FRx reports allows information from the summary financial level to the single transaction in GP. From Convergence 2009, FRx is probably going to be replaced soon.

4. The inherent report writer comes with about 150 reports per module, over 2000 all together, to be the main reporting engine. This should be the primary source of your reporting at this time, of which adjustments can easily be done and shared.

5. There are free Excel reports already created as well and are embedded in the Dynamics.dic. You have to go to the Reporting Tools Setup window and deploy them.

6. For advanced reporting – there are a number of ISV’s available, each of which have different pros, cons and price point. Here are just a few: Prophix, Solver, Targit, ProClarity, Zap Technology, etc.