Synergy Software Systems

Archive for March, 2011

Zap Business Intelligence 2011 for Microsoft Dynamics

March 14th, 2011

Zap Business Intelligence 2011, is a web-based business intelligence (BI) software for Microsoft Dynamics AX, NAV and CRM.

Major enhancements to the product include new and improved data visualization and analysis capabilities, enhanced SharePoint support, multi-browser support, and mobile BI for iPad users.

Zap Business Intelligence 2011 can be used with many different data sources, but Zap offers out-of-the-box Microsoft Dynamics BI solutions for AX, NAV and CRM with additional packaged capabilities. The Zap CubeXpress productivity tool makes it easier to create a SQL Server data warehouse and Analysis Services cube for a SQL Server or Microsoft Dynamics AX, NAV or CRM data source.

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Posted in Microsoft Dynamics Ax, Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Spare a thought.

March 13th, 2011

Anti-government protests have now spread to several Gulf countries including Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia although there have been no signs so far of protest in the UAE where a high expatriate population, a cushion of high oil prices and there has been positive government actions.

The news from Egypt, and Tunisia caused consternation enough, and Libya and Yemen have even more serious problems to resolve and we can only hope for their people sake that this happens soon. There seems to be no end to bad news. Australia has more floods, China had an earthquake, War is looming in West Africa, Europe struggles with debt, pirates continue to raid from Somalia …

But of course the real tragedy that dwarfs everything else is the dreadful news from Japan. The name Tsunami is no longer an obscure scrabble winning word, but twice in the last decade has struck real terror.

So whatever your religion spare a thought and a prayer for those not so lucky. Whatever our moans about the heat, the traffic, the rents, the price of food, recession, etc right now Dubai does not look such a bad place to be.

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Posted in Dubai and regional news

MindManager – what is it?

March 13th, 2011

Conquer information overload, simplify project planning and communicate more clearly with MindManager software.

MindManager’s visual information maps (mind maps) start with a central theme, and then add branches with ideas, notes, images, tasks, hyperlinks and attachments. Easily import from, or export to, Microsoft Office. Use MindManager maps to capture and organize information, and you’ll quickly transform your thoughts and ideas into fine-tuned documents, compelling presentations and winning strategies. MindManager gives you with a better way to brainstorm, organize facts, plan projects, and communicate results.

The goal is to provide a free-flowing chart, making even the most complex goals visible. This is accomplished through a flexible set of tools to map agendas, priorities, people working on the project, deadlines, and more, all with the ability to update and change.

What’s new?: Version 9.0 uses dramatically fewer system resources; adds project Gantt chart & resource planning, slide presentations, dynamic outlook dashboards, WYSIWYG printing, image & icon library

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Posted in Mind Map

SharePoint Success

March 13th, 2011

SharePoint licenses have surpassed the 100-million mark and more than 17,000 customers use SharePoint.

Note:

Office and SharePoint teams recently disclosed that Service Pack 1 (SP1) will include some minor updates and should be expected in the usual time frame of 12 to 18 months after the products launched. Project 2010 SP1 will also be a part of the same Service Pack.

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Posted in Microsoft

EPM 2010 – Enterprise Project Management

March 13th, 2011

A recent review of Project Server 2010 from CapGemini – a strong global partner building a strong Project 2010 practice. The review is very thorough and, best of all, is available as a free download from CapGemini. The Microsoft EPM 2010 Functional Review gives a great overview of the latest features and functionality in Project Server 2010. A few excerpts from the report :

We believe that the portfolio management process incorporated in EPM 2010 is really a best-in-class solution . . .

We find reporting in EPM/SharePoint 2010 very powerful and considerably easier than in many other PPM platforms, including . . . CA Clarity.

The breadth and strength of the Microsoft SharePoint collaboration platform give the Microsoft EPM platform its greatest competitive advantage. No other PPM product supports the range of solutions that the Microsoft EPM platform can support.

IDC’s most recent MarketScape also positions Microsoft as a leader in the Enterprise IT PPM and Application Lifecycle Management (ALM). You can download an excerpt taken from the “IT Project and Portfolio Management 2010 Vendor Analysis – Four Views to Enable Effective Evaluation” from http://idcdocserv.com/225802E_MSFT.

The other two views in the report were the SaaS and Financial Market views in which Microsoft placed as a contender and major player respectively.

A few things worth calling out from the report:

Microsoft integration with Visual Studio 2010 and evolution of portfolio management solution along with usability features such as the ribbon UI, “position [Microsoft] better for enterprise IT PPM. . .” and “make Microsoft Project more accessible to a broader base.”
The report says for IT PPM/ALM, “Microsoft ranks in the leader segment, with excellent capabilities as a result of its close coordination between Visual Studio 2010, Microsoft Project Server 2010, the combined collaboration capabilities with SharePoint 2010, and emerging agile support.”

The recent release of the Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2010 and Project Server Integration Feature Pack which further strengthens Microsoft’s Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Solution. The integration between Project Server and Team Foundation Server is a considerable advancement for organizations that want to bridge the collaboration gap between the Project Management Office and software development teams.

The Feature Pack will enable teams to work together more effectively by:

Providing up to date insight into portfolio execution, alignment with strategic objectives, and resource utilization of software development projects by leveraging the quantitative data stored in different systems.
Automating the exchange and sharing of project information across teams and improving coordination between teams using disparate methodologies, like waterfall and agile, via common data and agreed upon metrics.

Enabling development and project management teams to collaborate and communicate project timeline and progress using familiar tools such as Microsoft Visual Studio, Project, and SharePoint.

So if you’re looking to replace, upgrade or deploy a new PPM solution for your organization today, I recommend taking a look at Microsoft Project 2010!

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Posted in Microsoft, Project Management

Infor FMS SunSystems Enterprise

March 10th, 2011

Soon to be launched this is an exciting new release, which leverages the full power of SSRS for financial reporting.

Prior to the official launch next month Synergy Software Systems hosted an Infor Regional training event in our offices this week with visitors from as far afield as: Mauritius, Egypt KSA, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria.

Of course Sunsystems has many new features and easier ways of working and it still retains its outstanding core features. Its single ledger, dimensional accounting and powerful multi-currency means that is has few equals for powerful easy to use fiancials..

SunSystems is the leading global integrated suite of financial and business management applications delivered across the Middle East by Synergy Software Systems, which is an Infor Gold Partner.

The SunSystems product family is a combination of strong domestic and global functionalities that are consistently enhanced to capture the rapidly changing requirements in international accounting standards, corporate governance and technology. For over 25 years, SunSystems has been the top tier solution for enterprises seeking best-in-class financial control, measurement and real-time analysis. It has been accredited by KPMG as being Sarbanes-Oxley and IFRS compliant and can also support multiple GAAP reporting in multiple languages.

SunSystems has been a leader in the management accounting arena for over 20 years. Local and international enterprises have chosen SunSystems for its powerful, non-customization approach to rapid and low-cost deployment.

On a global basis, SunSystems has been implemented in over 20,000 sites, including 45 of the 50 largest corporations, a quarter of the Fortune 500, and 75 of the FTSE 100.

Your benefits with SunSystems:

Reduce costs and risks via rapid implementations for local and global roll-out projects
Scalable products
Reduce errors and financial closing cycle time
Improve visibility into financial processes and detailed performance (management accounting)
Improve user productivity through easy reporting, querying, and data entry
Comply with SOX requirements
Life-time support and version upgrades

SunSystems Financial Modules:

Ledger Accounting (Full local and international compliance)

Single integrated ledger combining GL, AP, AR
Analysis codes for transactions, chart of accounts, and non-financial data
Multiple books to manage financials by individual company, business unit, or project
Multiple GAAP support
Multiple languages (English, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese etc.)
Multiple financial periods up to 999 (i.e. close your books up to 3 times per day )
Multiple security levels
Project tracking to manage budgets, capture expenditures, and track billing and revenue
Debtor days management
Sophisticated ledger inquiry function
Automated payment terms functionality to calculate due dates, etc.
Automated reports
Tax reporting, with up to 100 criteria available for selection
Flexible interface format for batch or real-time exchange to and from SunSystems. Interface references with major front office systems in Financial, Insurance, Hotel, Retail industries.
Multiple currency functionality against base currency or dual-base currency
All major currencies supported
Flexible rules for exchange rate settings

Fixed Assets

Multi-currency asset register
Flexible depreciation – up to 10 methods available per asset
Asset notes system for tracking histories and life cycles
Powerful reporting for increased control of fixed assets

Corporate Allocations

Support for apportioned and fixed percentage allocations, fixed amounts and iterative charging
Full support for inter-company processing
High degree of flexibility to define allocation structures for each organization
Posting options with tight controls to enable financial management across the corporation
Comprehensive audit trail to trace all allocations in full

Budget Management (SunSystems Budget Management)

Enables the central collation and control of budget spreadsheets used in financial accounting
Manages all aspects of enterprise-wide budgeting, forecasting and planning
Capitalizes on the power and familiarity of standard Microsoft Excel so that individuals can build and control their own budgets easily
Budget workbooks can be allocated and dispatched to budget holders for completion and return
Through developing a budget data warehouse, Budget Management handles the process of automatic consolidations, iterative amendments, status logging and the distribution and resubmission of workbooks using e-mail

Sunsytems has proved effective in many verticals especially in Oil and gas, Distribution, Financial Services, and Hospitality.

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Posted in Events, General Synergy News, Infor Financial solutions

Blood donation

March 7th, 2011

Blood donation in the UAE – How and where to donate blood locally

Al Wasl Hospital :04 2192331

Time: Sun- Thurs 7:30am – 6:00pm
To host a blood drive: Call: 04 2193338 Al Baraha Hospital Call: 2710000

Sharjah Sharjah Blood Transfuion and Research Center Call: 06 5582111

Time: Sun – Thurs 7:30am – 7:30pm Sat: 7:30am – 1:30pm
To organise a campaign of 40+ people, call 06 5582111

Online UAEDonors.com is a helpful resource for both donors and recipients. Register as a donor and keep track of upcoming blood drives via the site. Those in need of blood can make requests and access the donor database.

Dos and don’ts for blood donors – . Those who can donate blood should:

Be residents of the UAE between the ages of 17 and 60
Have a minimum weight of 45kg
Not have donated blood in the last 90 days
Not be suffering from any infectious diseases, influenza or taking antibiotics Those who can never donate their blood are:
- Hepatitis B and C patients,
- HIV positive patients,
- Diabetics who are insulin or pill dependent. However, those who can control sugar levels through diet and exercise can donate, Alcoholics and drug addicts
Temporary deferrals on people who:
- Have had dental work done in the last five weeks,
- Are taking antibiotics,
- Have smoked or consumed alcohol in the last 72 hours
- Have had tattoos or ear piercing done in the present year,
- Pregnant women,
- Anaemic patients who can replenish their haemoglobin can come back for donation later
When you visit a camp for donation, you should have:
- Had plenty of fluids
- Eaten nutritious food
- Had a good night’s sleep
- Refrained from smoking or drinking

At the centre:, they’ll :

register you as a donor,
take a quick medical history,
do a medical examination,
get you to donate a
provide you with a place for brief rest and some refreshments to replenish your energy.

After donation:

You must continue to lie on the bed with your feet raised above the level of your body for ten minutes
Leave the bandage on for four hours
Drink extra fluids for the next three days, especially the first four hours after donation
Have a protein-rich diet and rest, which means not taking extra stress of work or driving

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Posted in Dubai and regional news

Windows Embedded Compact 7 operating system- “Chelan.”

March 6th, 2011

Microsoft announced general availability on March 1 of the final version of its Windows Embedded Compact 7 operating system, codenamed “Chelan.”

Microsoft posted a 180-day trial version of the final Windows Embedded Compact 7 bits to the Microsoft Download Center on February 28.

The newest Embedded Compact operating system is designed to power phones (including Windows Phones), medical devices, industrial automation products and retail systems, as well as slates/tablets.

The Windows Embedded Compact 7 product — the evolution of Windows Embedded CE — includes several new features. Among them:

* Support for ARM v7
* New developer and designer tools
* New technology for creating user interfaces
* New SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) support for x86 & ARM, MIPS
* New multimedia player, with customizable UI
* New version of Internet Explorer (which is based on IE 7 with some “performance updates” from IE 8)
* Flash 10.1 support (which requires an Adobe license by OEMs who want to include that feature)
* Silverlight for Embedded support
* Improved Connectivity to PCs, servers (NDIS 6.1 support)

Silverlight for Embedded enables OEMs to create custom interfaces, using XAML and native C++, “free from Windows chrome,” meaning the surrounding usual Windows user-interface elements. Here’s a slide from a recent Microsoft presentation to OEMs that outlines the new Silverlight for Embedded feature in Compact 7:

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Posted in Microsoft, Technology, Uncategorized

New ui for Windows?

March 6th, 2011

Could this be the new UI for Windows 8?

A demonstration provided by Microsoft Research at TechForum Monday of a “radical,” colorful user interface used in a presentation triggered speculation that it may be a taste of what’s coming in Windows 8 . The bubbly UI was seen running on Surface 2 and accepted direct input from a Windows Phone 7 smartphone, the HTC HD7.

Presented by Microsoft Chief Research and Technology Officer Craig Mundie, the UI auto-generated colored bubbles rather than icons: blue represented specific personal and social features like Facebook, Twitter, and so on; green represented work-related features such as the current presentation; yellow represented special interests such as listening to music, watching movies and more. The size of the bubbles also indicated a specific level of importance– the bigger the bubble, the higher the importance.

During the presentation, he highlighted one green bubble encasing an airplane icon. This bubble indicated that something was going on with a particular scheduled flight that he needed to address. Using the phone as a makeshift motion sensing remote, he clicked on the bubble and thus revealed information that his flight was indeed canceled. The UI thus went through his calendar, checked the weather for possible problems, and then found other flight options, but awaited his authorization before rescheduling. The UI then rearranged all the bubbles on the screen to reflect his new schedule once a flight was accepted.

What made this interface even more interesting was that Mundie was able to use the WP7 smartphone to navigate through the bubbles by tilting the phone forwards and from side to side. “Our view is that computing is getting embedded in everything, and everything is getting connected,” Mundie said . “And more and more the computing will be invisible. Most of where you encounter computing won’t be in front of something you call a computer.”

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Posted in Microsoft, Technology

Synergy blog update

March 6th, 2011

Nearly 18 million blogs hosted by WordPress were either slowed or offline after the service was hit with an unusually large distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, according to Automattic, which operates the hosting service. “The size of the attack is multiple Gigabits per second and tens of millions of packets per second,” WordPress said in a status update. “We are working to mitigate the attack, but because of the extreme size, it is proving rather difficult.”

Matt Mullenweg founde rof Word Press: ‘This is the largest and most sustained attack we’ve seen in our 6 year history. We suspect it may have been politically motivated against one of our non-English blogs but we’re still investigating and have no definitive evidence yet’