Glenrand MIB Benefit Services (Pty) Limited, a subsidiary of one of the largest risk, financial and investment advisory groups in SA, Glenrand MIB, has adopted the Microsoft Great Plains accounting software as part of its drive to improve the quality of financial information across the group.
Grant Walker, Financial Director of Glenrand MIB Benefit Services, says the group decided more than 18 months ago to replace its DOS-based package with a new system when it became clear that the old software was no longer meeting its financial reporting requirements.
After evaluating several financial software products, Glenrand MIB Benefit Services decided to opt for Microsoft Great Plains because of its strong track record running in Microsoft environments and the power of its financial reporting tools.
Says Walker: "The financial reporting requirements in our business are fairly complex, with the need to provide detailed management accounting information.
"We have around 20 cost centres that we need to report on across four divisions. All of this information needs to be consolidated onto one trial balance that gives management a view of the business down to minute detail. This involves drawing information from a host of systems across the group. The data from the Microsoft Great Plains software can be presented to the Glenrand MIB group MD in the format of an Excel spreadsheet."
"In addition, Microsoft Great Plains offered Glenrand MIB Benefit Services tight integration with Microsoft SQL Server, the database platform the group has embraced as its standard," says Walker.
Walker says the implementation of the software, undertaken with MB Worksoft`s Microsoft Great Plains Business Solution Provider, Resolution Software, has proceeded smoothly, despite the fact that Glenrand MIB Benefit Services restructured its business during the roll-out.
"The Microsoft Great Plains software has so far proven to be flexible enough to adapt to the constantly changing needs and structure of our business," he adds.
Glenrand MIB Benefit Services currently has 12 users on the Microsoft Great Plains software in its head-office and long-term insurance division. It is moving users in its three other divisions - employee benefits, healthcare and management services - onto the package as well.
According to Walker, Glenrand MIB Benefit Services also plans to start migrating to Release 6.0, the newest of the Microsoft Great Plains software, towards the end of the month. This will allow the group to automate reporting functions that it is performing manually, as well as to take advantage of several interface and reporting enhancements in the newest release.
The Microsoft Great Plains software will provide a strong foundation on which the financial services group can build a customer relationship management (CRM) system in the coming months.
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E-business solutions provider Microsoft Great Plains Africa is a wholly-owner subsidiary of American company, Microsoft Great Plains Business Solution (www.greatplains.com).
The company`s e-business software solutions automate business processes including financials, distribution, enterprise reporting, project accounting, electronic commerce, human resources, sales and marketing management, customer service and support functions.
Microsoft Great Plains` products are sold and implemented by a unique worldwide network of independent partner organisations that share the company`s commitment to lasting customer relationships. Named four times to the "Top 100 Companies to Work for in America" list.
MB Worksoft`s Great Plains Business Unit - Resolution Software
MB Worksofts` Great Plains business unit is the premier Microsoft Great Plains partner in SA, offering full product, implementation, training and support of the Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics and eEnterprise suite of business solutions. Previously falling under the name Resolution Software, the company continues to aim at the mid to upper market where a flexible solution is required but where high-end enterprise management systems are too costly and over specified for the clients needs.
Microsoft Great Plains, through its Dynamics and eEnterprise product platform, offers open, scalable, business management systems designed to allow unlimited growth for a business. Microsoft Great Plains eEnterprise is a proven, global business management solution for Microsoft Backoffice and offers the fastest time to benefit of any mid-range solution.
MB Worksoft is the e-business arm of JSE-listed MB Technologies.
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