As your business grows, you may find your organization struggling with the limitations of software designed for smaller concerns. Everyone has to start somewhere, so it’s only natural that you will eventually outgrow the systems you had at the beginning. This is particularly true of accounting packages. QuickBooks, for example, is a fantastic resource for … Read more
Is it time for you to upgrade Microsoft Dynamics GP? Don’t get caught with an unsupported version, you’ll miss out on important updates, hotfixes, new features, and it could potentially cost you more in the end. Should you make the move? Here are some things to consider and planning tips. Are you on an old version? … Read more
When you’re just starting out, QuickBooks is the default option. Easy to set up, familiar, and easy to use, the decision to use the product is usually an easy one. You made the decision years ago, and the software did its job. However, as your company grew, the software began to show its shortcomings. While … Read more
Ransomware Attack Have you ever encountered a ransomware attack? It’s not good. Here’s a true story. A Crestwood client was the victim of an attack. Their on-premise servers got rooted badly, they even encrypted all the backups. The attackers were demanding over $100,000 to get back their information. What would you do? The client decided … Read more
Increase cash flow and reduce collection times through automation There is an uptick in expectations around finance teams to be innovative as well as efficient. With this, more leaders in this area are looking for ways to work smarter, not harder. Modern CFOs are increasingly turning to cloud-based financial management systems to replace legacy ERP … Read more
As I was searching for a new topic for our Productivity Tips & Tricks, I came across this nifty tool called Dictate. Similar to voice to text on your mobile phone, this feature allows you (actually your fingers) to take a break from typing. What’s not to love about that? First thing, Dictate is only … Read more
Construction professionals struggle with many of the same challenges as those in other areas of business, but with an entire set of unique issues. Accounting and ERP software designed specifically for construction contractors, fabrication, home builders, subcontractors, specialty contractors, and land developers with the solutions they require to improve their bottom line, can help keep … Read more
Distribution businesses need real-time visibility into sales, order management, inventory, purchasing, production and services—and accounting information. Customers and employees now expect to have complete information at their fingertips. Maybe you’re considering a new or upgraded ERP system? Cloud solutions can help, but only if they’re built the right way. Do you know the difference between … Read more
Before you make any important business decisions, it is necessary to check the books. Can you afford to take on this project at this price, or will it strain the profit margin? Can we invest in new equipment this year, or do we need to put it off? Are the efforts we’ve been dedicating to … Read more
If you’re a visual person like I am, and you like things color coordinated, then you need to check out Color Categories in Microsoft Outlook. This feature has been around since 2010 and it’s a great way to get organized, and keep track of your emails. It helps me to sort and find my messages … Read more
When you notice that numbers in the books have mysteriously changed, it is likely not a glitch; it’s probably a manual entry that was rewritten. Many basic accounting software programs, QuickBooks included, allow any user to login and edit data at will, without any restrictions or an audit trail. Unless you keep a close eye … Read more
Here’s a quick and great way to speed up your reports – enable pre-filtering in Microsoft Dynamics 365. Pre-filtering is a feature that allows users to restrict the parameters of the data they are grabbing. It leverages the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Advanced Find filtering. For example, you may want to enable pre-filtering when running a … Read more
Have you ever needed to move a field from one Acumatica tab to another? You might want to organize your fields on the tabs to match your process. It will make your day go faster and easier. I’m going to show you how, without needing an Acumatica developer to help. However, keep in mind that … Read more
What is a portal? A portal is a website you can customize for your customers, partners, or employees. It is connected to your Microsoft Dynamics 365 environment so users are able to externally: Submit and review cases or knowledge articles Create and review sales opportunities Utilize forums for discussions, questions, or suggestions Can you envision … Read more
A QuickBooks History Lesson It wasn’t too long ago that general ledgers and other financial data were kept by hand in notebooks or in rudimentary spreadsheets on the computer. Basic accounting software like QuickBooks soon followed (much to the pleasure of accounting departments everywhere), and it remains a great entry-level tool. But it hasn’t evolved … Read more
If not making a decision to implement or upgrade to a modern-day, cloud ERP is the decision you choose to make, your business isn’t going to grow. Learn about the financial effects of your non-decision in the new Aberdeen Group whitepaper “The Cost of Doing Nothing: Why You Can’t Afford to Sit on an ERP … Read more
Crestwood Associates recently attended the 2019 Acumatica Summit and WOW, what a great week! Here are some of our highlights: We spent lots of face time with our clients, peers, and experts Christine and I attended the sold-out “Women in Technology” Luncheon We learned about great features in the new release of Acumatica 2019 R1 … Read more
Hopefully by now, you’ve upgraded to Acumatica 2018 R2! Acumatica is routinely adding new features and improving on current functions. Below are two quick how-to videos for two new functions; one for dashboards, and the other for the ARM reporting package. Stay tuned for more short how-to videos, and be sure to subscribe to our … Read more
Our Marketing department here at Crestwood decided to try out Microsoft Teams. I was leery at first, but I have to say, overall, it’s AWESOME! The more I use Teams, the less time I spend searching for emails, files, or switching between screens. Microsoft Teams has brought almost everything into one window. It truly is … Read more
If you’ve built your business on QuickBooks, you know it’s a great entry-level accounting solution. As your business flourishes, however, QuickBooks may not be able to keep up. There are telltale signs that you’ve hit your limits with your current systems and when those start to occur, your future growth will be stifled until you step … Read more
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue has a new requirement for wage payers and information filers for 2018. Yes, any employers and payers doing business in Wisconsin are required to file wage statements (W-2s) and information returns (e.g.,1099-MISC) with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR); however, for 2018, there is a new requirement. New Requirement: If … Read more
Crestwood Associates has been named to the 2018 Bob Scott’s VAR Stars list for the fifth consecutive year! Add another one to the trophy case! The list, which has been published since 2009, touts a variety of high profile firms and recognizes factors such growth, industry leadership and recognition, and innovation. Which, as you likely … Read more
We want to make sure you get the most out of your Microsoft Dynamics GP system. Crestwood Associates holds free, monthly webinars on various Dynamics GP topics. Here are some of our recent recordings. If you’re interested in attending our webinars, you can register here for our upcoming sessions. If you have questions or need some assistance, … Read more
Some businesses experience that holiday season lull, but not Crestwood Associates. It was all hands on deck to roll out seven – yes, seven – new Acumatica implementations in December and the beginning of January. Wow, we were busy. Kudos go out to our incredible team of rock stars! Each one of our clients had … Read more