You, Me and Dynamics GP
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Showing posts with label Rockton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rockton. Show all posts
17 January 2008
One VOICE for ISVs and VARs
I'm unsure whether to post about this or not so in the spirit of reckless abandon I'll take a shot.
Mark Rockwell of Rockton software has been a fixture in the GP community for a long time. One of his newer ventures is ISV Central. ISV Central is a central repository of sorts for GP. It includes a searchable list of third party add-ons for the entire Dynamics line, the ability to rate software and the ability to manage your registration keys across multiple vendors. He's passed on some information I'd like to share.
Currently, independent software vendors (ISV) (that is, not your reseller (VAR) but the person who makes your add on software) have access to VOICE. VOICE is the portion of CustomerSource that holds customer data on things like reg keys, seats, etc. (It's all this explaining that makes me reluctant to post this!)
ISV's use the data in voice to verify things like your version number to ensure compatibility, your renewal date to synchronize support date renewals and your VAR to ensure that they get paid. (Not all software add ons go through the VAR.)
Per Mark, Microsoft Legal has proposed shutting off ISV access to VOICE. Mark contends that this will increase the burden on resellers who will now have to answer ISV questions about their mutual customers. Mark also contends that this will ultimately reduce customer service because of communication snafus.
I work for a VAR and would prefer to let them take their own public position on this so I'll leave it this way:
Mark Rockwell of Rockton software has been a fixture in the GP community for a long time. One of his newer ventures is ISV Central. ISV Central is a central repository of sorts for GP. It includes a searchable list of third party add-ons for the entire Dynamics line, the ability to rate software and the ability to manage your registration keys across multiple vendors. He's passed on some information I'd like to share.
Currently, independent software vendors (ISV) (that is, not your reseller (VAR) but the person who makes your add on software) have access to VOICE. VOICE is the portion of CustomerSource that holds customer data on things like reg keys, seats, etc. (It's all this explaining that makes me reluctant to post this!)
ISV's use the data in voice to verify things like your version number to ensure compatibility, your renewal date to synchronize support date renewals and your VAR to ensure that they get paid. (Not all software add ons go through the VAR.)
Per Mark, Microsoft Legal has proposed shutting off ISV access to VOICE. Mark contends that this will increase the burden on resellers who will now have to answer ISV questions about their mutual customers. Mark also contends that this will ultimately reduce customer service because of communication snafus.
I work for a VAR and would prefer to let them take their own public position on this so I'll leave it this way:
- If you're an ISV or a VAR, consider your position on this and if you feel strongly one way or the other, shoot Mark an email at markr at isv-central.com (you know how to fix that to make it work, I don't want Mark to get spammed)
- If you're a customer, your first reaction is probably, why do I care? If you think that this could ultimately impact your customer service, email Mark and tell him you care. If not, go have a bagel on me and cross this off the list of things to worry about.
- If you want to see more or fewer postings like this, leave a comment.
27 October 2007
GP Rocks Podcast with Rockton
GP Rocks episode 8 with Therese Rudzis of Rockton Software us up here. Find out what these zany software nuts are up to.
10 August 2007
ISV Central for Dynamics GP
ISV Central contacted me the other day. They are trying to build a master repository of GP add-ons. I was a really reluctant to post this because frankly, the contact email was too heavy on the sales side. It rubbed me the wrong way.
Then I got over it. You are all big boys and girls and you have people trying to sell you stuff all the time. You deserve to know about sites like this to be able to make smart decisions.
Then I got over it. You are all big boys and girls and you have people trying to sell you stuff all the time. You deserve to know about sites like this to be able to make smart decisions.
13 December 2006
December is Amnesty Month for Omni Products
Rockton Software is offering an amnesty program in December for their newly acquired Omni Tools and Omni Price. Customers with lapsed maintenance plans can now get current with no penalty.
Find out more from Rockton at RocktonSoftware.com
Find out more from Rockton at RocktonSoftware.com
22 September 2006
GP is Having a Compliance Sale
Just in time for Audit Season, Microsoft is having a sale on compliance related modules for Dynamics GP.
Electronic Signatures and Audit Trails are 20% off. If you buy both you can also get Analytical Accounting, Field Level Security, Account Level Security, and Microsoft® Forecaster for $5,000.
Your partner can give you specifics. I can't point you to a website since the link I got from MS only takes you to the "ask for info" page and the discounts aren't listed on CustomerSource yet.
Speaking personally, we're looking at compliance products for GP. I've seen both the Audit Trails and Electronic Signatures products. My feeling is that they are both overpriced. Audit Trails in particular has several good 3rd party competitors that are considerably cheaper (Rockton, Fastpath) and they appear to have more functionality.
I would really argue that in today's world, the compliance stuff should be built in. Both Audit Trails and Electronic Signatures should have been part of a free enhancement pack. That would really add value to the annual maintenance fees.
Electronic Signatures and Audit Trails are 20% off. If you buy both you can also get Analytical Accounting, Field Level Security, Account Level Security, and Microsoft® Forecaster for $5,000.
Your partner can give you specifics. I can't point you to a website since the link I got from MS only takes you to the "ask for info" page and the discounts aren't listed on CustomerSource yet.
Speaking personally, we're looking at compliance products for GP. I've seen both the Audit Trails and Electronic Signatures products. My feeling is that they are both overpriced. Audit Trails in particular has several good 3rd party competitors that are considerably cheaper (Rockton, Fastpath) and they appear to have more functionality.
I would really argue that in today's world, the compliance stuff should be built in. Both Audit Trails and Electronic Signatures should have been part of a free enhancement pack. That would really add value to the annual maintenance fees.
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