What this book covers
Chapter 1, What Is BI and What Are BI Tools for Microsoft Dynamics GP?, explains how BI should be viewed to help users determine what they need to see. In this chapter, we tackle the challenge of deciding what should be viewed by thinking about "problems/goals" and not "reports." I also briefly describe the various BI tools available with Microsoft Dynamics GP.
Chapter 2, Business Intelligence for the General Ledger, is all about using General Ledger data as our source of information. This chapter covers examples and guidance on building a balance sheet dashboard (changes in cash, AR, AP, inventory, and profit/loss) and the ratio of AP to AR.
Chapter 3, Business Intelligence for Bank Reconciliation, is more about managing cash flow than monitoring a bank balance. This chapter contains examples and guidance on:
- Building bank balances with last reconciliation dates
- Where the money goes
Chapter 4, Business Intelligence for Payables Management, explains how proper use of the payables management module combined with good BI can improve cash flow. This chapter covers examples and guidance on building unapplied credit/payments, invoices on hold and vendor holds, and shareable aged trial balance.
Chapter 5, Business Intelligence for Receivables Management, helps you know what is owed to you. Making a sale is great, but collecting on it is even more important. This chapter will contains examples and guidance on building a shareable aged trial balance and customers' sales in the current year compared to the last year.
Chapter 6, Business Intelligence for Sales Order Processing, covers the heart and soul of all businesses and organizations—revenue (or income). This chapter covers examples and guidance on building the following: a dashboard of sales by customer, state, item class, and salesperson; a dashboard of open orders by customer, state, item class, and salesperson; and items sold by the manufacturer.
Chapter 7, More Business Intelligence on Sales Order Processing, demonstrates order management, making fulfilment easier and improving customer service. This chapter contains examples and guidance on building the following: SOP documents on process holds, items shipped within the last 30 days with tracking numbers, and a returned items report.
Chapter 8, Business Intelligence for Inventory Control, is designed to help you manage what you have in your inventory in an attempt to keep your inventory stock at a minimum, while maintaining what you need. This chapter covers examples and guidance on building a rolling 12-month turnover report, and items on which you most frequently adjust quantities and transfers.
Chapter 9, More Business Intelligence for Inventory Control, is all about items that are returned. This chapter contains examples and guidance on building the top 10 most invoiced and returned items, items with quantities that are not available for sale, and items that have not been sold within the last year.
Chapter 10, Business Intelligence for Purchase Order Processing, includes both distribution purchase orders and non-inventory/distribution purchase orders. This chapter covers examples and guidance on building purchase orders that await approval and open purchase orders older than 45 days.
Chapter 11, Miscellaneous Business Intelligence, covers additional content, including information based on employees, projects, and fixed assets. This chapter contains examples and guidance on building commission details and an employee list with personal details by location.
