GPUG

The Central Florida Dynamics GP User Group meeting was in Orlando today. The good folks at AirTran were kind enough to host the event and they did a fabulous job. I have to say, the tour was very cool! Thanks Kim!

The Dynamics GP Users Group is an organization designed around bringing users together to help learn from each other. Yes, they let in resellers, we can learn from them to, but resellers are not the key, users are. GPUG also functions as a lens to give focus to Microsoft on customer issues. My little voice crying in the wilderness can only go so far but a couple hundred customers makes some real noise. GPUG is one of those megaphones to Microsoft.

The central Florida group is small but growing and includes some very talented folks. They are willing to let me join, though, so I worry about their standards. They'll need a lot more talented folks to make up for letting me in. ;)

We had some productive discussions today. A few things that stuck out are:

• Excel still rules as a budget tool despite auditor and vendor pushes. Tools like Forecaster and Budget Maestro offer better control but lack the simple familiarity of a spreadsheet. One member mentioned that they are going back to Excel and I've been considering it.
• There is an inconsistent issue with GP10 upgrades. Security is not migrating to the new security model and security is in fact being wiped clean. For one reseller they are batting 0 for 3 on security migration for GP 10 upgrades. I know what you're thinking, that's very consistent but MS insists that it's not happening with all upgrades, there's just no pattern yet. If you are going to GP 10 soon, test the heck out of the upgrade.
• Upgrades aside, GP 10 rocks. There's a learning curve from 9.0 but on the whole, it will be worth it. Just don't do it yet if have many users or complex security.
• LOTS more people are heavily using integration manager than I realized. Nobody's ever written an IM book. Every time I think about doing it realize how much work it would really be and then the desire passes. Maybe I need to revisit that or release pieces as a serial rather than a book.
• Resellers again confirmed that support for version 8 is being extended to October 2009. That's enough for me. I don't know when we'll see official confirmation but this one is real in my mind.

Oh, there was a lot more, but well, you missed it. You had to be there. Too bad!

If want to join the conversation for help, advice, ideas or just because you have an opinion, give the GPUG folks a shout or attend the GPUG summit in Redmond in September. You don't have to be in central Florida, groups are springing up all over.

Update: The GPUG Summit will be providing CPE credits for those who attend. This is always a subject close to my heart and my wallet.