US employers have been sorting through the regulations of the Affordable Care Act for months now, determining which parts of the law apply to them, when certain requirements are due, and how to manage the costs. And while the information reporting requirements and the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions have been delayed until 2015, the IRS is encouraging employers to begin measuring and reporting in 2014 in preparation for full implementation. Other provisions of the law are already required, such as Employer Notice to Employees of the New Health Insurance Marketplace, W-2 Reporting of Aggregate Health Care Costs, and a 90-Day Maximum Waiting Period. (For a complete list, visit: https://www.sba.gov/healthcare.)
Experts across the country tell us that employers need to use 2014 as the test year for compliance. This is the opportunity to outline your strategy and implement compliance. The liabilities are significant. Employers are likely to be subject to tax liabilities when employees go to the Marketplace and receive a subsidy. It will be the responsibility of the employer to prove whether or not the liabilities apply to them. With careful strategic planning and record-keeping, employers can be ready to respond when these notices arrive or even an associated IRS or Department of Labor audit.
Unfortunately, most current payroll systems or internal spreadsheets really do not meet the comprehensive requirements of the ACA. As the regulations are further hashed out, evolving requirements will compound this problem. However, there is a solution that can be used with existing payroll systems to address the requirements and plan for the future. The ACA Dashboard is designed to accept payroll information in the form of a data upload or a scheduled integration (for certain payroll systems (including Microsoft Dynamics ERP products) and providers.) The result is an ongoing tracking and reporting solution that allows employers to actively manage compliance, mitigate costs, and plan for the future. 
What’s your plan?
Attend a free webinar on the ACA Dashboard on January 21, 2014 2:00 PM CST. Click here to Register.
By AIM Technologies, Microsoft Dynamics GP Integration Specialists

The post Employers Shouldn't Wait Until 2015 to Prepare for Affordable Care Act Reporting Requirements appeared first on ERP Software Blog.

Join AIM Technologies and SyncStream Solutions for a Free Webinar for Microsoft Dynamics Customer and Partners
Employers are looking for solutions to the many regulations related to the Affordable Care Act. This informative meeting for Dynamics Customers and Partners will cover the Affordable Care Act requirements and how The ACA Dashboard addresses the many compliance monitoring and reporting elements of the ACA.
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1247264354851198209
The ACA Dashboard is now available with full integration with GP Payroll. The Dashboard is also available for non-GP Payroll customers through a simple data upload tool.
The Dashboard features:

• An Ongoing Compliance Checklist advising you of where you are in the process, highlighting key dates, and upcoming reporting requirements
• A guide with tools to help you decide how you will setup your tracking periods as defined by the Affordable Care Act
• Monthly reporting as required by the Act
• Live visibility into:
  • How many hours are your employees working?
  • Who is actually full-time?
  • What happens if an employee works over 30 hours next week?
  • Am I subject to any tax liability?
  • Where are your reports for the IRS?
  • When will a new employee's measurement period end?
  • How do I know to whom I must offer coverage?
  • Am I paying employees enough to meet affordability requirements?

 
Register Today. Space is limited.
 
By AIM Technologies, Louisiana Microsoft Dynamics GP Implementation Experts

The post Webinar – The ACA Dashboard for Measuring and Managing Affordable Care Act Regulations appeared first on ERP Software Blog.

As the Affordable Care Act is implemented the number of reporting requirements and compliance issues an employer faces are significant.  Are you ready to report to the IRS? 
Luckily, there is a solution available that allows you to be ready. And whether you’re using the Microsoft Dynamics GP Payroll module or not, the solution can work for you. If you’re are using Dynamics GP Payroll, the solution will tie in with your live data via a web service. If you’re using any other payroll tool or even outsourcing payroll, then you can upload your data into the tool. Either way, the end result is a fully functional dashboard with the following features:

• An Ongoing Compliance Checklist telling you where you are in the process, highlighting key dates, and upcoming reporting requirements
• Tools and a guide to help you decide how you will setup your tracking periods as defined by the Affordable Care Act
• Monthly reporting as required by the Act
• Live visibility into:
  • How many hours are your employees working?
  • Who is actually full-time?
  • What happens if an employee works over 30 hours next week?
  • Am I subject to any tax liability?
  • Where are your reports for the IRS?
  • When will a new employee’s measurement period end?
  • How do I know who to I must offer coverage to?
  • Am I paying employees enough to meet affordability requirements?

And unlike any reports written today for this purpose, this tool will be updated and evolve as regulations are updated and revised.
Ready to see whether it will work for you? Send us an email to be invited to our next live webinar.
 
By AIM Technologies, Microsoft Dynamics GP Integration Specialists 

The post Coming Soon! A Dashboard for Measuring and Managing Affordable Care Act Regulations appeared first on ERP Software Blog.

A large service organization had a custom legacy operational program that was on its last leg. It wasn’t just a question of if it would cripple operations, it was a question of when. Furthermore, while it did integrate with Microsoft Dynamics GP accounting and payroll data, it took upwards of eight hours to complete these integrations – when they actually ran successfully. But users were used to the functionality and management wanted to minimize the training and chaos of bringing a new system online. AIM Technologies tackled this by recreating the same functionality in a Dexterity-based version. This means that it was written with the same language as Microsoft Dynamics GP and operates completely within the GP environment. Read more...
By AIM Technologies, Louisiana Microsoft Dynamics GP Implementation Experts

The post Case Study: AIM Delivers Custom Operational Software within Microsoft Dynamics GP appeared first on ERP Software Blog.

AIM Technologies, a Louisiana Microsoft Dynamics ERP Gold Partner, is a company that grew up in and around New Orleans. As such, we’re thrilled to welcome Convergence back to our area. We’d like to share a few tips about the area and the event, especially for those on their first trip to the Big Easy.
What to Do
The city is still recovering from Mardi Gras which wrapped up on February 12, but we’re already gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day parades. If you are in town on Sunday, March 17th, there are several to choose from. Also, if you are interested in seeing our local flora and fauna, there are some great Swamp Tours with round-trip transportation from the convention center area. Of course, the French Quarter, The Aquarium of the Americas, and The Riverwalk are within walking distance of the convention center too.  You could also hop on the Street Cars for a relaxing trip through the French Quarter to points along the Riverfront, St. Charles Avenue, and Canal Street. One-way fares are $1.25 and can be paid with exact change when you board. Check out the Convention and Visitors Bureau website for even more to do.
What to Eat
New Orleans is the melting pot of a variety of wonderful cuisines and there is no shortage of fat and calories. Don’t attempt to diet while you’re here. Luckily, we’re in the middle of Crawfish season and crawfish is low in fat and contains a high proportion of omega-3 fatty acids.
What to Pack
In March, Louisiana is generally sweater weather. It’s cool at night, but don’t be surprised if it gets warm enough during the day for shorts! The Morial Convention Center is long – 1 kilometer long! Wear comfortable walking shoes. If history is any indication, you will make several trips the length of the building each day. Bourbon Street is cleaner than ever these days, but speaking from experience, it is no place for flip-flops or open-toe shoes.  Also, we had a very mild winter, so everything is already in bloom. While this means that the Azaleas will be camera worthy, you might also want to pack antihistamines.
Staying Safe
Travel in groups and stay in well-traveled areas. New Orleans is like every major metropolitan city in that it has areas where you should not wander alone, especially at night.
 
By AIM Technologies, New Orleans Microsoft Dynamics GP and CRM Partner

The post Convergence 2013 in New Orleans – An Insider’s Guide appeared first on ERP Software Blog.

Much has already been written about the flexibility and convenience of using Word Templates for customer-facing documents in Microsoft Dynamics GP. Users can replace the standard Report Writer formats with slick looking Invoices, Statements, POs, and more. We can email these attractive documents directly from Microsoft Dynamics GP. And, we can dynamically determine which format (read: change logos, wording, messages) by customer or customer class, or vendor or vendor class. But, there are a few caveats to the process of design and deployment that should be considered. Here are a few “Gotchas” we have discovered.

• The process for getting the information onto the Word Templates starts in Report Writer. Each time you must add a new field or formula to the Word Template, you must first add it to the modified Report Writer report and then recreate the Word Template in the Report Template Maintenance window. You don’t have to start completely from scratch each time, but it is a very iterative approach. This can be further compounded if you have multiple versions of the report for different customers, customer classes, etc. So, the best practice here would be to completely finalize the report requirements and design in Report Writer before you ever begin to build the Word Templates.
• Another thing that we found out the hard way is that there are Word bookmarks that must be in place for certain aspects of the Word Templates to work. So, the best thing to do is to make sure that they are exposed so that you don’t accidentally move or delete them. In Word, go to Options>Advanced and make sure Show Bookmarks is checked.
• A common trick with Report Writer is to clone similar reports from one another (for example, copying the SOP Blank Invoice report package to the Historical SOP Blank Invoice report for consistency purposes.) This saves time with Report Writer, but unfortunately doesn’t play well with Word Templates.

Hopefully, these recommendations will save you time and effort in not having to learn the hard way. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at AIM Technologies.
By AIM Technologies, Louisiana Microsoft Dynamics GP Implementation Experts

The post Tips for Designing Microsoft Word Templates in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 appeared first on ERP Software Blog.

I’m excited about attending Microsoft Convergence 2012 in Houston this year. I try to go every year and this will be my fifth or sixth time to attend as a partner. For the uninitiated, Convergence is an annual conference put on by Microsoft for Microsoft Dynamics customers. Users and decision makers of the Microsoft Dynamics flagship products (GP, AX, NAV, SL, & CRM) will be in attendance. Microsoft representatives from Redmond to Fargo to Copenhagen will be there representing research and development, support, services, sales, marketing, and other areas. Last year, attendance was around 9000 people.
For me, it boils down to four key things that make Convergence a good value:
1) Opportunities to Learn (Sessions) – By attending as many concurrent sessions, deep-dive sessions, user group sessions and hands-on labs as I can, I always leave Convergence with new ideas, solutions to long-standing challenges, and pages of notes.
2) Talking to the Pros (Technical Support Desk) – No, I don’t save up all of my technical support problems for Convergence. But, I always have one or two sticky wickets that I want to run past the pros in person. They’re always helpful and it’s so nice to put a face with a voice when I actually do open a support ticket. (They say the same.)
3) Face-to-Face with Third Party Solutions (Expo Hall) – There are so many third-party tools for Microsoft Dynamics products, it’s nearly impossible to know what they all do, where they fit, and what they look like. As a partner, it’s imperative that we know what is out there for our customers and prospects. And, for customers, the expo is like a wonderland with so many tools and problem solvers all in one (very large) room. I generally plan to visit a few times during the conference focusing on one specific area of the room at a time. Otherwise, it can be very overwhelming.
4) Networking – Meeting with customers, other partners, Microsoft representatives, third party solution providers is almost a full time job at Convergence. Opportunities abound – from one-on-one meetings to all-night parties.
My best advice to those attending is to bring your best walking shoes, dress comfortably, and get plenty of rest before you come. You won’t get any while you’re there.
By AIM Technologies – Microsoft Partner - Gold ERP – Louisiana

The post Four Reasons to Attend Microsoft Convergence 2012 (Whether you’re a Customer or a Partner) appeared first on ERP Software Blog.

We love it when Microsoft introduces new integrated functionality into the Microsoft Dynamics GP product. This year, one of the new additions was Online Payment Services. While there have long been 3^rd parties offering the ability to process credit cards inside of GP, this gives the option to customers without having to purchase an additional add-in. Customers can choose from several payment processors to process transactions. Setup is fairly straightforward and the solution not only has hooks into GP, but has its own customer portal for monitoring and reporting. While this product may not have the flexibility to handle every payment processing need, this is a major win for Microsoft Dynamics GP and its customers.
For more details,  contact your channel partner or authorized Online Services Partner.
By AIM Technologies –Microsoft Partner -  Gold ERP – Louisiana

The post Online Payment Services in Microsoft Dynamics GP appeared first on ERP Software Blog.

AIM Technologies’ consultants are crazy about two very smart tools that every Microsoft Dynamics GP customer should own. They’re so handy that we include them on all new customer proposals.
SmartView (from eOne Solutions)
We love SmartList and we teach all of our customers to take advantage of the power of ad hoc queries to improve productivity. SmartView has taken SmartList and made it even better.
Why we love it:

• It’s much faster than SmartList
• Cut and Paste directly from results into Excel
• Drag and Drop Grouping and Subtotals
• Easy checkboxes to add/remove columns

 
SmartFill (from Rockton Software)
It’s like Google for Dynamics GP lookups.
Why we love it:

• SmartFill allows you to type part of the Name, Description, or WHATEVER you know into any ID field, and then intuitively discovers the correct ID and types it in for you.
• It makes data entry so much quicker and easier
• It works with all Customer, Vendor, Item, Account, and Employee fields throughout Dynamics GP and any 3rd party product.

 
AIM Technologies is a Louisiana-based partner focused on providing tools and training to make the Dynamics GP user experience more productive. Let us help you discover the most productive solutions for your business!
By AIM Technologies – Microsoft Dynamics GP and CRM Gold Partner – Louisiana

The post Get Smart (Two Smart Tools for Every Microsoft Dynamics GP User) appeared first on ERP Software Blog.

Out of the box, Microsoft Dynamics GP supports accrual basis accounting. Luckily, this is the generally accepted method for accounting and paying taxes for most organizations in the US. However, many companies would also like to see their accounting reported in cash basis. Cash Basis Reporting can fill the need within Microsoft Dynamics GP. It uses standard reporting tools within Microsoft Dynamics GP and allows users to prepare cash-basis and accrual-basis financial reports simultaneously.
Accrual basis versus cash basis accounting is really a matter of timing. Accrual basis allows companies to accrue expenses when they are earned and claim deductions when expenses are incurred. For example, you run a bicycle shop. You order bicycles on May 1st, but you don’t actually get the bikes and invoice until June 1. Accrual basis would show the expense on May 1st. Similarly under accrual basis, if you were to perform work on a bicycle on May 1st but you don’t get paid for the service until May 15th, you would go ahead and accrue the income on May 1st.
Under cash basis, the opposite is true. Expenses are accounted for on the day they are paid – and income is counted on the day it is received, regardless of when it was incurred or earned. (Similar to the way most individuals manage their personal finances.)
So, why, if most companies use accrual basis for accounting and paying taxes, would a company want to see cash basis reporting? The number one reason is a gap between what management expects to see and what accrual reporting shows. Many managers aren’t concerned with depreciation or don’t care that you prepaid your insurance in January for the year and are accruing each month. They wants to know why in the world your cash balance didn’t grow by the amount of income for the month. That’s the gap that cash basis bridges.
The Cash Basis Reporting add-on for Microsoft Dynamics GP is available from AIM Technologies. Download a free trial at http://www.aim-technologies.com/enhancements.html.
By AIM Technologies, Louisiana Gold Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

The post Why Some Companies Need Cash Basis Reporting in Microsoft Dynamic GP appeared first on ERP Software Blog.