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From the Desk of Bernard Mustafa
Exciting Product Direction Shown at Microsoft User Conference
We just got back from the Microsoft Convergence 2008 conference which is the premier event for current and future Microsoft Dynamics customers. The commitment Microsoft is making to the Dynamics product line, and Dynamics NAV in particular, will spell great things for high-growth government contractors. The customers who were at the event with us said they felt the same way. Over 9,500 people were in attendance.
There were a few things we learned about how significant the Dynamics product line is in Microsoft's portfolio that I'd like to share. Microsoft is investing over $1B a year in research and development on this product family. In addition to Dynamics NAV, which is the flexible ERP, project accounting and financial management solution PVBS brings to market for government contractors, the Dynamics product family also consists of basic, horizontal accounting solutions for general use such as GP (formerly Great Plains) and SL (formerly Solomon). Other Microsoft Dynamics solutions include Microsoft CRM and RMS (Retail Management System).
An AMR Research Report on "Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Spending" shows Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) leading all other ERP vendors on evaluation lists for ERP software purchases. When asked which vendors would be considered for ERP applications during the next year, surveyed companies chose MBS, Oracle, and SAP in the top three positions.
For Dynamics NAV specifically, the worldwide acceptance is staggering:
- More than 65,000 entities around the world use NAV
- There are almost 300,000 Dynamics customers worldwide and growing.
- More than 2,700 certified partners have built more than 1,500 add-on solutions (including PVBS)
- There are more than 40 localized versions and NAV is sold in more than 150 countries
- More than 1 million licensed users
- Business Solutions gets a significant internal investment with one of the Top 5 R&D budgets in Microsoft.
- With a large R&D and the interoperability with Microsoft Office, Microsoft is investing in the Dynamics product lines and focusing on the convergence of its solutions into the next generation's solution.
Dynamics NAV is Microsoft's fastest growing ERP and accounting solution. These milestones show that Microsoft Dynamics NAV provides real business value to high-growth and mid-sized businesses around the globe, such as the fast growing service providers and product resellers to the Federal Government that PVBS services.
Contact me if your company sells products AND offers services and wants to control both in one solution.
Best regards,
Bernard Mustafa
CEO, Pleasant Valley Business Solutions
www.pvbs.net |
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Strategic Alternatives for Government Contractors in Today's Turbulent Market |
| By Kevin P. DeSanto, Director, KippsDeSanto & Co.
(This article originally appeared in the The Government Contractors Council Report, a monthly newsletter distributed by the Northern Virginia Government Contractors Council, an initiative of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce.)
For the private shareholder considering his or her company's strategic alternatives (e.g., acquisitions, sale or merger transaction, external equity or debt financing, ESOP, etc.), the global financial headlines of the past 12 months may seem incredibly daunting. Add to the mix the real issues that affect government contractors - U.S. government budget pressure, the uncertain outcome of the 2008 presidential election and changing government contractor regulatory environment (e.g., recent changes in the SBA rules), to name a few - and we have quite the murky picture.
These and other headline issues are important components of any thorough strategic planning process. However, they are just a few of the many components. For the well-positioned government contractor, 2008 represents a continuation of the robust market environment for building and extracting shareholder value. The government contracting industry is one of the few sectors experiencing positive overall market dynamics. (More) |
| Rules, Regulations, and Risks: Government vs. Commercial Contracting |
This article was originally published in the April 2008 issue of Contract Management magazine. We found it particularly interesting due to the large number of PVBS clients who purchase Dynamics NAV because it's ideal for companies with both commercial and government contracting business lines.
When transitioning from the commercial marketplace to the complex world of government procurement, a business must fully understand all of the rules, regulations, and risks. (More) |
| New Seminar Launched for Government Product Resellers |
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Microsoft, PVBS and Diamond Mind, Inc. announced that a new seminar for companies that sell any type of product to the Federal Government launched in April at the Microsoft Technology Center in Reston. New government procurement trends including SmartPay2, which starts December 1, 2008, will be discussed at this seminar. Dynamics NAV which uniquely supports companies that sell products and provide services to the Federal Government will also be demonstrated. To register or to learn more about future seminars, call Michelle Pycior at 703.391.0977, or email michelle.pycior@pvbs.net. | |
Be sure to visit and register at our blog.
Sincerely,
Bernard
Pleasant Valley Business Solutions
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| Government Resellers Say Dynamics NAV Fits the Bill |
iGov (McLean, VA) is a management and technical services firm that specializes in helping federal agencies with their IT programs. Established in 1996, iGov is an example of the rare government reseller that has shifted its business model from pure product sales to the services model. Today, the company offers numerous sophisticated services to its public sector customers. However, since it still offers many IT products to help round out its service offerings, it had a specific requirement for a financial management solution that covered both business lines.
iGov has been a Dynamics NAV user for many years and recently started taking advantage of the government contractor functionality PVBS offers in Dynamics NAV.
Rich Marksberry, CFO at iGov, a provider of IT products and services to the Federal Government, said, "Dynamics NAV from PVBS is a great solution for companies like ours that have substantial services practices but also need to efficiently manage its product business to support Federal Government customers. It's been a huge benefit to iGov to be able to manage our product sales and IT services business lines in one solution with the flexibility of Dynamics NAV, and the extensions PVBS has provided for meeting government contractor requirements"
Read the complete press release this quote came from. |
| About Dynamics NAV |
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Microsoft Dynamics NAV is an ERP solution that offers: Project Accounting, Web Based T&M, Inventory Control, Order Processing, Fulfillment, Warehouse Management, Human Resources, Financial Management and more. The software has been designed specifically for government contractors to help meet Federal Government requirements. | |
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