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The growing number of complex projects
has led to a restructuring of the internal infrastructure at impuls. In particular,
the more frequent requests from the areas of NAV, AX, and Advanced Solutions for the
setup of new development or test systems made new approaches necessary.
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Efficient and secure data and development systems
The creation of these systems has tied up increasing time, space, and resources,
since often times there is not enough computer capacity, memory space, or physical
memory available. With the creation of the „impuls cloud,“ this bottleneck is removed.
In a high availability cluster with the associated NetApp®, there is the possibility
that in the future, impuls employees will be able to create the images they need over
a self-service portal. With the immediate setup of as many development and test systems
as needed, parallel processes can be run, simultaneously improving performance and quality.
All development and test images are operated in a mirrored environment within a fireproof
computer center and are therefore fail-proof.
Key issue: Green-IT
With the selected architecture, memory and capacity can be customized to the needs
of the moment. Since impuls places high value on keeping to the Green-IT mindset,
they put particular consideration into the energy efficiency of the system.
Optimal project environment
In combination with the Team Foundation Server long used by impuls and the project
management platform Project4Sure, which were also implemented failsafe, impuls now
has a complete, integrated, protected, and failsafe project environment. A further
step toward the automation and creation of computer capacity will be the inclusion
of the Microsoft technology Azure and Microsoft Cloud Services.
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In the course of a prototype,
impuls was commissioned by a large, south German publisher to evaluate the
suitability of Dynamics AX for two core processes for publishing houses.
The publisher is a large editor of various daily newspapers and makes various
online services available.
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Prototyping processes
The processes to be evaluated consisted of the administration and processing of orders
in the areas of subscription and advertisement. The prototypes involved setting up all
necessary master file data for both processes in Dynamics AX and bringing the data to
the media module. Then the order processing for the requests for a subscription or
advertisement order was checked, and when necessary, adjusted.
Prototyping results
The result was convincing: In the presentation of the prototypes in front of a top-class
publishing audience, both processes could be shown in the mainstream completely all the way
to the production delivery. The audience was positively astonished that the complex processes
could be integrated in Dynamics AX in such a short time and that such a large part
of Dynamics AX standard functionality could be used in doing so.
The successful prototyping is a substantial deciding factor for the future of the
software selection for the company.
Prototyping methodology
impuls frequently leads companies in different industries through prototyping projects
to help confirm the suitability of Dynamics products. To do this, impuls has developed
a methodology based on Sure Step for the procedures in prototyping projects.
This methodology establishes a fast and efficient implementation of this special
project type and can optimally be used with the project management platform Project4Sure.
Thus the client receives a valid and secure foundation for making the decision for Dynamics.
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The impuls Check Tool, which checks
that Microsoft Dynamics NAV applications adhere to development and design guidelines,
is now available with new and improved functionality as a download of version 1.4.
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The new version of the impuls Check Tool contains improved checking algorithms and new rules,
such as the checking of vertical distances and of standard widths of form controls.
In addition, version 1.4 shows a clear performance improvement in, for example, the checking of overlapping controls.
As with version 1.3, the current version is completely compatible with Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009,
both in direct access as well as in the checking of Reports and Pages.
The impuls Check Tool supports Microsoft Dynamics NAV developers and testers in ensuring
that Microsoft Dynamics NAV applications comply with development and design guidelines.
To do this, the impuls Check Tool compares object properties and source code with underlying rule sets
and displays any deviations found. The impuls Check Tool recognizes early any discrepancies in the current development.
The result: The quality of Microsoft Dynamics NAV solutions is clearly higher, and the user satisfaction is noticeably improved.
The current version of the impuls Check Tool for Microsoft Dynamics NAV is now available in the Product area of the impuls website.
Customers who have already licensed the impuls Check Tool will receive the update to version 1.4 for free.
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For the fourth time, the impuls team, „Frontrunners“,
took part in the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region Company Run on May 6th.
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The impuls IT experts replaced keyboards with running shoes and together completed the 6 kilometer distance
around the Nuremberg Dutzendteich. With the motto „Beginner or pro, anyone who loves to run can participate“,
colleagues from every impuls department took part once again this year. In spite of the cold and gray weather,
everyone had fun both at the event as well as at the runner party afterwards. Every year, this event is a
welcome opportunity to experience the impuls team spirit.
The Nuremberg Metropolitan Region‘s Company Run has quickly established itself and has become the most
important running event for companies in northern Bavaria. The magic mark of 10,000 starters was almost
reached at this year’s 6th Nuremberg Metropolitan Region Company Run, which is record participation.
Pictures, reports, and information are available at www.firmenlauf-metropolregion.de.
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With a go-live on April 1, 2010, Beate Uhse in Germany
is now using Microsoft Dynamics NAV as their business management software. The impuls consultants were
responsible for the Finance area and the integration of the Retail add-on.
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With the beginning of the second quarter, another impuls NAV project got off to a successful start.
The impuls NAV experts supported the ACA Retail ERP Solutions BV in the implementation of Microsoft
Dynamics NAV at Beate Uhse in Germany. impuls‘ primary tasks were the requirement analysis and
implementation in the areas of Finance and Fixed Assets, as well as the integration of the ACA Retail
add-on in the German NAV version. Besides the on-time fulfillment of the technical requirements,
impuls experts‘ competent company setup, the accompanying training, and the go-live support
were substantial factors in the users‘ positive feedback.
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Meet the expert - impuls represented again at the Microsoft stand.
Both in the "cinema" as well as at the info points, the specialists from impuls shared their expertise
with partners and interested visitors at CeBIT 2010.
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At this year's event, impuls Managing Director Udo Krachenfels presents new ways for a dynamic business to empower people,
to adapt processes and to connect to a vibrant ecosystem in his presentation, "Working in New Ways with Business Solutions from Microsoft Dynamics"
in the "cinema" at the Microsoft booth. As in years past, Michael Ferschl, also Managing Director at impuls,
is on hand at the Microsoft Dynamics info point for questions about the various Microsoft Dynamics products.
This year's repeat performance shows that Microsoft relies on the impuls IT experts’ comprehensive product
and project knowledge to inform and excite prospective customers about Microsoft Dynamics solutions.
The Nuremberg IT company delivers these services for Microsoft at CeBIT for more than 10 years now.
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The company KIND, the leading provider of hearing and acoustic devices in Europe,
has decided as part of their company-wide IT strategy, “KINDvision,” to introduce Microsoft Dynamics AX as its standard business software.
The strategy encompasses other solutions and products that are being implemented at this time in cooperation with impuls.
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In the future, „KINDvision“ will cover all the operational processes in the company. The strategy bases the optimal integration
of KIND’s IT landscape on a foundation of various Microsoft products. Besides Microsoft Dynamics AX,
the strategy calls for the implementation of solutions such as Microsoft BizTalk Server 2009, Microsoft Dynamics SureStep Implementation Methodology,
as well as Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007. At KIND’s child company, audifon, the cornerstone for “KINDvision” was laid
and the first experiences with Microsoft Dynamics AX were collected. audifon develops and produces high-performance hearing devices
and distributes them in over 65 countries worldwide.
Implementation of Project4Sure
The introduction of Microsoft Dynamics AX at KIND is being led by impuls. To manage this process, the Nuremberg IT experts are using Project4Sure,
their project management platform, based on SharePoint and SureStep. Project4Sure guides every phase and task of the project,
from analysis through successful operation. The consideration of change requests, check lists, and the most exact permission
and release processes ensure not only transparency for the customer but also the necessary traceability within the project.
First Milestone Reached
On this solid basis, the KIND group of companies and impuls have now reached the first important milestone – the closure of the analysis phase.
The project now enters the design phase, in which the highest value is placed on the standard implementation of the requirements and, consequently,
the ability to easily upgrade Microsoft Dynamics AX.
Connection of Specialty Shops
With the connection of the over 550 specialty shops, BizTalk Server functions as the data hub for up- and downstream systems.
In addition, KIND-specific applications will be based on Microsoft .NET technology to optimize the cooperation of the individual functional modules
and the integration of other audiological products. SharePoint will be implemented to organize the bidirectional information flow
of the decentralized organization and to make the integration possible.
With the implementation of „KINDvision,“ the company will be able to accelerate many processes and make optimal use of the value-added chain.
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The first edition of the impuls insight newsletter in 2010 is released.
In this new edition we would like to present exciting projects and new developments.
The implementation of Microsoft Team Foundation Server is topic within the category “impuls best practice”.
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All topics of this edition at a glance:
- Microsoft Dynamics AX: New Technologies for KIND
- Voith Turbo: Rollout of NAV 2009 update is in full swing
- Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009: Update of vertical solution for tso-data
- Expansion at impuls: impuls takes over employees from Quelle
- Project4Sure: Fast P4S setup
- impuls best practice: Implementation of Microsoft Team Foundation Server
Got curious? In order to receive our newsletter, please send a mail with your name and your company to
insight@impuls-nbg.de.
Enjoy the reading!
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After the two pilot projects in the U.S. and Brazil (see web news June, 2nd 2009),
the rollout of the global upgrade to NAV 2009 at Voith Turbo is in full swing.
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In order to implement the ambitious plan for 2010, a second team was added to the original team.
The two teams will work in parallel and staggered to implement the rollouts.
With the experience gained from the first rollouts, the time that the teams spend on site can be greatly shortened.
The teams will not need to be on site for more than three to four weeks in 2010 in order to carry out the entire conversion and guide the go-live.
In 2009, besides the pilot rollouts, systems in Australia, Dubai, and Hong Kong were converted and the system in Russia was begun. In 2010, 14 new rollouts are to follow.
AIn addition, starting in 2010, the server concept will be implemented on the virtual server (Hyper-V) for the smaller companies,
while the larger subsidiaries will remain on the “classic” server architecture.
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impuls is showing its regional colors by taking on seven employees
from the insolvent Quelle AG. Since the beginning of January, the IT experts from the former Quelle daughter company
Itellium AG have been taking part in a training program specially designed for them.
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The “new impulsers”, who in the past worked with the mail order business and who will now work in the Dynamics AX area,
are getting to know the configuration, development, and functionality of the product.
For the training, impuls is taking advantage of the outstanding internal know-how and experience of its impuls Academy.
The training will last twelve weeks altogether, in order to meet impuls’ high requirements.
With this addition to its team, impuls looks forward to an optimal combination of knowledge in mail order and shop systems
with the impuls expert know-how in the areas of Microsoft Business Solutions and New Technologies.
The impuls team has now grown with the new colleagues to almost 80 employees.
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As in past years, impuls has achieved for 2010
the highest status in the Microsoft Partner Network, “Microsoft Gold Certified Partner”,
and was able to furthermore expand their competencies in the area of “Portals and Collaboration.”
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For impuls, the Microsoft Partner Network qualification is a significant component of their strategic direction.
For one thing, it allows them to yearly substantiate their actual capabilities in projects with corresponding
customer references, and for another, it provides the opportunity to continually update the certifications
of impuls’ own IT experts.
This year, impuls has expanded their competencies even more: With the new competence, Information Worker Solutions
and the specialization “Portals and Collaboration,” impuls’ comprehensive know-how in SharePoint is now confirmed
by Microsoft. impuls has impressively proven these competencies with the development of their project management
platform Projekt4Sure, based on Microsoft Office SharePoint, and the successful conversion and implementation
of SharePoint projects.
impuls’ certified competencies are as follows:
Microsoft Business Solutions
- Microsoft Dynamics AX
- Microsoft Dynamics NAV
Information Worker Solutions
- Specialization "Portals and Collaboration"
- Project4Sure based on Microsoft Office SharePoint
SOA and Business Process
- Enterprise Application Integration, EAI
- Business-to-business Application Integration
- Business Process Management, BPM
- Adapter Development
ISV/Software Solutions
- impuls Check Tool for Microsoft Dynamics NAV
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At the Microsoft Dynamics Airlift that took place
from November 23rd to November 24th, 2009 in Munich, the experts from impuls presented their
know-how to a diverse public with a total of seven different sessions as well as the keynote address.
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“From experience, for experience”, with this motto, the impuls speakers shared examples of use, experiences, optimal approaches and new tools on the following themes:
- Microsoft Dynamics SureStep meets SharePoint Server
- Microsoft Dynamics AX – Implement High-Performing and Release-Capable
- Microsoft Dynamics AX Benchmarking – Performance Assured
- Microsoft Dynamics AX Workflows – Processes Well-Managed
- Microsoft Dynamics AX – Team-Developed Projects
- Best Practice: Microsoft Dynamics NAV – Upgrade to NAV 2009 Role Tailored Client
- BizTalk Server 2009 in Connection with Microsoft Dynamics
The Technical Airlift gives developers and architects, on the one hand, deeply technical information
on Microsoft Dynamics products and, on the other hand, the opportunity to share experiences with colleagues
and Microsoft employees (“Meet the Experts”). In numerous sessions, the speakers covered not only the features
of the products, but also gave a preview of coming developments.
The feedback to impuls’ sessions was very positive. In particular, following the individual sessions,
the impuls experts were repeatedly in demand to show new aspects of the various products and to answer questions
on customer customizations and implementations.
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impuls is showing its regional colors by creating new positions
for the IT staff of the insolvent Quelle companies.
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In an informational presentation, the two directors of the Nuremberg company introduced interested employees
of the Quelle child company Itellium already to a model describing impuls’ company structure and principle
activities, as well as the integration and training of eight to ten employees.
“For us, the current situation of the IT personnel at Quelle was the deciding factor in developing
a special qualification plan in order to give some of the employees a prospect for the future,”
explained impuls Managing Director, Udo Krachenfels. “Our current order situation was a motivation for us
to expand our team with skilled professionals,” continues Krachenfels. “We see this initiative as a great
opportunity for everyone involved.”
“Normally, we would have looked around the general labor market and
expanded the team bit by bit, according to the skills needed,” reports Michael Ferschl, also Managing Director
at impuls. “Now, however, the point for us is to act quickly to help and, in doing so, to put each individual’s
potential to optimal use.”
In the coming days, individual meetings will be held to discuss the employment
possibilities and training branches in the company. The company plans to hire the first employees as soon as December 1, 2009.
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Within the last couple of weeks many Microsoft
Partners and persons in charge received a postcard from impuls. Since the shipping
of the first postcard people want to “know what happens” (English translation for
“Wissen was kommt”).
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Here is the first hint: On November 2nd we will host a Live- Meeting to officially
launch Project4Sure, to show the top features of our project management platform.
Would you like to be part of it and find out “what happens”? Then please sign up
at www.wissen-was-kommt.de
to attend the Live- Meeting on November 2nd.
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impuls, together with Microsoft Partner
KCS.net, has successfully implemented an international Dynamics AX solution for
the Norma Group, following the establishing of a central data center in Germany.
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The Norma Group is a worldwide leader in the development and production of connecting
and fastening technology. The company, headquartered in Maintal near Frankfurt am
Main, encompasses 24 subsidiaries worldwide and 15 manufacturing facilities with
a total of 3,300 employees.
With the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX for several international locations,
the Norma Group has set for itself the goal of consolidating centrally the many
shared and different ERP systems used throughout the company. The task of implementing
remote access and printer controls for several hundred users in the central ERP
system was particularly challenging in this context. With the help of the new system,
it is now possible to centrally handle the maintenance and administration of the
various subsidiaries.
The transfer of the European Dynamics AX solution from Scandinavia to Maintal in
Germany was prepared with the collaboration of the employees of Norma Germany GmbH
and the consultants from impuls. The solution, based on Dynamics
AX 4.0, is now being used in Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Germany as the European
instance. In addition, further Dynamics AX instances were successfully implemented
for locations in China and India.
In this project, the impuls experts have once again proven their
outstanding competence in the international implementation of Microsoft Dynamics
AX. The key points of the work were the Microsoft Dynamics AX installation, configuration,
training, and quality assurance. For the Norma Group, the Dynamics AX installation
for Europe, India, and China is the first part of the worldwide rollout.
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In the new edition of the impuls insight
newsletter we would like to present exciting projects and new developments. The
Microsoft OCS is topic within the category “impuls Best Practice”.
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All topics of this edition at a glance:
- Successful cooperation with Hitachi Consulting: impuls implements the Hitachi FSA
Solution for Dynamics AX2009.
- Everything at a glance: the Exchange Manager from impuls provides to centralize
local data.
- Download for free: impuls develops the NAV interface to DATEV-Payroll accounting
software.
- Balanced Expansion at impuls: By adding 14 new members to our team we reached the
75 employee barrier. Quality and Expertise are our topmost values.
- Global Update: impuls experts support the international Upgrade to Dynamics NAV2009
at Voith Turbo.
- Next Generation: We put Microsoft’s Office Communication Server to the test.
Got curious? In order to receive our insight newsletter,
please send a mail with your name and your company to ?
insight@impuls-nbg.de.
Enjoy the reading!
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The positive test results are an important
milestone for the implementation of a new ERP solution for the entire HABA corporate
family, based on Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009.
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The HABA corporate family has contracted impuls Informationsmanagement GmbH
in Nuremburg to conduct performance tests to determine whether Microsoft Dynamics
AX 2009 can appropriately handle HABA’s requirements, particularly in regard to
order quantities and their processing, both for today and for the future.
The test included all the members of the HABA corporate family in the form of independent
companies:
- HABA – Wood manufacturing company producing high-quality toys for babies and children,
children’s games and furniture, as well as jewelry, porcelain, and textiles.
- Jako-O – Mail-order company for toys, children’s clothing and furniture, as well
as practical items for young families with children from 0 to 10 years old, both
in Germany and abroad.
- Wehrfritz – Competent partner as single-source supplier for social institutions
such as preschools, schools, childcare centers, and homes where people from young
to old are cared for.
The individual companies concentrate on different customer segments (B2B, B2C, B2G).
This means that different process structures and data volumes are required in the
individual companies.
impuls Informationsmanagement GmbH undertook the following tasks:
- Requirements analysis for test scenarios
- Conceptual test design
- Creation of test scripts based on the Benchmark Toolkit for Microsoft Dynamics AX
2009
- Testing
- Analysis and interpretation of test results
- Creation of benchmark reports
The test processes mirrored today‘s quantity structure, as well as a gradual increase
in the number of users and processes. The following processes were identified beforehand
as performance-critical and were therefore components of the parallel process scenarios:
order capture (within Microsoft Dynamics AX and over Webshop), invoicing, dunning,
payment processing, and campaign selection.
The tests were run with the complete customer, supplier, and item data from all
the companies. In addition, prototypes of application enhancements, which were deviations
from the standard application and classified as critical in terms of response time
behavior, were also integrated.
The Benchmark Toolkit for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 was used for the simulation
of user actions in mass production (such as order capture). To validate the processes
of the global test concept, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 batch processing (such as
for the invoicing of incoming orders) and manual Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 client
sessions (for example, for the campaign selections or the processing of dunning)
were used in addition to the Benchmark Toolkit.
Within the scope of the performance test, over 21 million transactions were generated
in the total test time of four days, completely fulfilling the jointly defined transaction
goal criteria. These transactions were also the foundation for checking and reporting
in detail the application and system behavior in individual process- and user-scenarios
for the special requirements of the HABA corporate family.
The system behavior in different parallel processes and user scenarios showed that
the system very successfully handled the requirements of the present transaction
volume and the required response time, and that it is appropriate for the forecasted
transaction volume and parallel processing in the future. In addition, the results
of the performance test gave valuable indications for the appropriate hardware platform
for the HABA corporate family.
The fact that Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 fulfilled all the requirements of the tests
performed is an important milestone for the implementation of a new ERP solution
for the entire HABA corporate family, based on Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009. Based
on the positive test results, management has now given the green light for the start
of the implementation project.
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The new impuls Exchange Manager supports
your company by transferring data from different subsidiaries and ERP systems and
managing it centrally.
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Many globally operating companies are challenged by the need to consolidate data
from different production, sales, and service operations in a way that allows them
to analyze the data in a valid and timely manner. The different parameters of the
individual locations as well as different ERP systems further complicate the data
comparison.
impuls Exchange Manager as the solution
The impuls Exchange Manager meets this challenge, using clearly
defined filters to read data from different locations, transfer it, and store it
in a central data warehouse. The impuls Exchange Manager can handle
as many clients and permissions structures as you need.
An important feature of the impuls Exchange Manager is the flexibility
with which each location is parameterized and precisely represented. The user can
create data groups in the definition of the data packets to be collected, thereby
guaranteeing a complete data transfer. This ensures that, for example, in the transfer
of open customer entries, all the accompanying invoice headers and lines are carried
over. The order of the extraction and transfer also plays an important role, and
this can also be freely defined within the impuls Exchange Manager.
.NET as framework
The impuls Exchange Manager is developed on the basis of current
technologies in the .NET Framework, making its software architecture fit for the
future. The available Dynamics NAV plug-in makes it possible to export Dynamics
NAV reports as XML schema and import them in a target schema directly into impuls
Exchange Manager. New and existing reports can therefore be included
in the data transfer with very little effort.
Oerlikon Balzers as a user
The impuls Exchange Manager is appropriate for all companies that
operate in different locations with decentralized ERP systems and want to consolidate
their data in a central location.
Oerlikon Balzers in Liechtenstein, one of the leaders in tool coating technology
with around 2,500 employees, currently uses impuls Exchange Manager.
Oerlikon Balzers uses the impuls Exchange Manager in 32 subsidiaries
to gather production, sales, and service data from the local Dynamics NAV instances
and consolidate it in the intercompany SAP Business Data Warehouse. It goes without
saying that the impuls Exchange Manager handles the time zone and
character code differences between the various countries.
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On behalf of Microsoft, impuls has developed
an interface to connect DATEV payroll software to Microsoft Dynamics NAV.
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As part of the collaboration between Microsoft and the Nuremberg IT service provider
DATEV eG, impuls has developed an interface to DATEV software that
enables a direct processing of payroll accounting in Microsoft Dynamics NAV. Companies
that have outsourced their payroll accounting to DATEV eG or that work very little
in this area, can now transfer posting documents directly to NAV. By automatically
transferring data over the tested interface to the company’s financial accounting,
the users save time in capturing the data, and possible entry errors are avoided.
The interface is available to all NAV users that are connected to the DATEV payroll
accounting program. They can download the interface from the impuls
website DATEV Payroll Interface for Microsoft
Dynamics NAV 2009 for free. There you will also find further information
about this interface.
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The impuls NAV-Team supports the worldwide
operating specialists for drive technology, Voith Turbo, in their changeover from
NAV 3.70 to NAV 2009. The first pilot is successfully implemented in the U.S.A.
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With the recently concluded implementation of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 in the
three American subsidiaries of Voith Turbo, impuls‘ expert NAV-Team
has successfully achieved the first milestone of an international IT project. Altogether,
39 locations of the technology companies belonging to the Voith business group will
be converted from NAV 3.70 to NAV 2009. After the first pilot projects – in May
in the USA and soon in Brazil – a parallel roll-out in all other locations will
take place starting in the fall of 2009, to be concluded by the end of the business
year in October 2010.
Voith Turbo is part of Voith AG and is a specialist in drive technology and drive
units. The operation employs around 5,300 employees worldwide and generates around
1.1 billion Euro in sales per business year. With the conversion of the existing
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 3.70 template to NAV 2009, Voith Turbo is sure to see a clear
improvement in system performance, especially in month-end and year-end closings,
and with the move to an SQL-server structure, they have an upgrade to a software
platform that is secure for the future. Next, the individual customizations that
were made in the past, particularly in the area of service management, should be
rolled back. This will keep the Voith operation closer to standard functionality
and ease future updates.
With the introduction of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 in the 39 Voith Turbo locations,
the impuls NAV specialists are once again pioneers, as there have
been very few upgrades of complex business structures to NAV 2009. In addition,
for several of the international locations, there have been no individual country
versions that could be updated. Nevertheless, all the local and legal requirements
for these localities needed to be met. Last but not least, the time frame for the
execution of the entire project has been tight.
With the successful pilot implementation in the USA, the first crucial hurdle of
the project has been cleared. The cooperation – not only on the software basis,
but also between the teams from Voith and impuls – has been superb.
The second pilot – planned for August in Brazil – will be built on this success,
before the parallel roll-out in the remaining subsidiaries in the fourth quarter
of 2009 begins.
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Once again, with the help of impuls, a
record is broken: In only nine weeks, impuls consultants, working together with
Hitachi Consulting, implemented the Field Service Automation (FSA) software solution
in the German subsidiary of the Kofax company and secured the integration with Microsoft
Dynamics AX 2009.
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What sounds the most incredible is the Herculean effort put forth by everyone involved.
From the kick-off to the go-live, strategists, developers and consultants from Hitachi
and impuls worked hand-in-hand. The background of this project
is the current introduction of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 by the Kofax company in
26 subsidiaries in 19 countries. Running parallel to this was the implementation
of the Field Service Automation solution from Hitachi, which was certified by Microsoft
last year. Kofax is a manufacturer of Capture and Exchange software for scanners
and employs 1,200 employees worldwide. Besides this, the company offers hardware
and software support for high-performance scanners.
In the first phase of the implementation of the FSA solution at Kofax, the Call
Management and Material- and Work- Time Confirmation modules were put into service.
With the help of the new system, it is possible to take care of preventive maintenance
at the time of the service call. In the second phase, the intercompany planning
was integrated, so that, for example, service technicians could be booked for service
calls in bordering countries. In addition, the service technicians can capture their
time directly on site (FSA Mobile) and send the reports with the customer’s signature
to the main office.
Finally, with the complete FSA integration, Kofax offers its customers a perfect
workflow with the tracking of, for example, a machine from its purchase through
the shipping to the destination where the customer has it installed and uses it.
FSA offers even more advantages. These include:
- Resource planning (service technicians)across company borders
- Best-fit calculation for the optimization of driving directions to external service
calls
- Full integration with Microsoft MapPoint
- Graphical resource scheduling
- Mobile connection to the external employees (Publisher/Subscriber)
For impuls, this project is an important success story. After the
certification of the Field Service Automation solution by Microsoft in the last
quarter of 2008, this was the first project in cooperation with Hitachi Consulting.
impuls’ main duties were Microsoft Dynamics AX Service Management
configuration, data conversion, training, and quality assurance. The FSA implementation
in Germany is the first part of the worldwide rollout.
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After work, it’s time for fun together
as a company: For the third time, the impuls Frontrunners, impuls‘
running team, took part in the Company Run for the Nuremberg metropolitan region.
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Together with about 8,000 runners from more than 450 companies, the impuls-Team
finished the 6 km around the Nürnberger Dutzendteich. In contrast to past years,
gorgeous sunshine accompanied the runners and lit the social gathering following
the run. “The Company run is not just a good team event for us, where we can spend
some active time together here as well as in training,” according to managing director
Udo Krachenfels, “but it is also a great opportunity to inspire our employees in
athletic activities.”
Last but not least, the event supports a good cause: The entry fees and profits
go to benefit social projects and facilities in the metropolitan region.
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In a one-day workshop you will be given
an overview of the Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step methodology as well as deep insights
into the Project4Sure project management platform on the basis of Microsoft Office
SharePoint. You will obtain first-hand information on how to plan and implement
challenging Microsoft Dynamics projects successfully.
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You may choose between the following dates:
• 31 March 2009, impuls Academy - Nürnberg, 10:30 - 16:00 h
• 08 April 2009, impuls Academy - Nürnberg, 10:30 - 16:00 h
• 20 May 2009, impuls Academy - Nürnberg, 10:30 - 16:00 h
We have compiled the following contents for you in cooperation with Microsoft:
1. Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step - Overview
An overview of the Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step
methodology
Opportunities and requirements for Microsoft
Dynamics Partners
Speaker: Arno Schäfer - Microsoft Deutschland
GmbH
2. Project4Sure – How to manage Microsoft Dynamics
projects successfully
The "Project4Sure" project management platform
- Sure Step in practice
Going through the diagnosis, analysis, design,
development,
deployment and operation phases on the basis
of practical examples
Range of application and operating model
Speaker: Michael Ferschl - impuls Informationsmanagement
GmbH
To register please send an e-mail to info@impuls-nbg.de.
Participation in this event is free of charge for you. Due to the fact that that
the number of participants is limited, we will schedule according on a first come
first serve basis.
The workshops take place on the premises of impuls Academy GmbH:
• impuls Academy GmbH
Deutschherrnstr. 15-19
90429 Nürnberg
• impuls Academy GmbH
Albert Einstein-Ring 13
22761 Hamburg
For travel directions and hotel recommendations please refer to
www.impuls-academy.de.
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Specialists who are able to make binding
statements on Microsoft solutions such as Dynamics AX and NAV as well as SharePoint
and BizTalk are few and far between. Thus, Microsoft has relied on the experts at
impuls Informationsmanagement GmbH in Nuremberg, not only in major
and demanding projects, but also at the company's stand at CeBIT (Hall 4, Stand
A26).
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impuls Managing Director Udo Krachenfels presents daily at the
Microsoft Cinema “Microsoft Dynamics – business solutions by Microsoft“. These lectures
inform visitors about how company employees in the future will be able to work more
productively, realize opportunities and convert them into business success. On the
other hand, Michael Ferschl, also Managing Director at impuls,
is the Dynamics AX and .NET expert on site. He gives Microsoft Partners and interested
companies insights into the above-mentioned solutions and tomorrow’s technologies,
which impuls is already testing in terms of the suitability for
everyday use and modifying according to customers’ needs.
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With insight, impuls gives readers
a look at its current issues, projects and experiences from the areas of business
solutions and new technologies.
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The managing directors of the Nuremberg company, Udo Krachenfels and Michael Ferschl,
are excited to introduce the first issue of the newsletter to customers, partners,
and all other interested parties. “It frequently happens that we encounter astonished
faces when we talk about issues and solutions that impuls has worked
with. “If only we had known…,” or “Oh, so you have a solution for that…” – these
kinds of reactions were our motivation to provide an insight into our work. With
insight, we report on our exciting projects, complex challenges,
and technical solutions based on the newest technologies. In addition, we examine
new topics and share some of our own experiences in working with business solutions
from Microsoft. In short: "with insight, you get a view into the
world of impuls!”
Simply send an email to insight@impuls-nbg.de
with your name and company name, and we will promptly send you the current issue
by email.
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With an above-average score, impuls again
achieved its status as Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for 2009 in the
competence areas of Microsoft Business Solutions, SOA and Business Process
and ISV/Software Solution.
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The result is all the more remarkable because impuls posted the
bulk of the required Partner Points in the valuation areas of Microsoft competencies,
employee certification, and number of customer references. impuls
receives important feedback with the yearly survey for obtaining references: The
survey shows extremely high customer satisfaction with the company’s project work.
For impuls, the certification as Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
is an important part of company strategy. It is both a confirmation of success and
an incentive for employees to continuously qualify in existing and new technologies,
as well as in project management, and then to use their skills to ensure success
for customers.
impuls’ certified competencies are as follows:
Microsoft Business Solutions
- Microsoft Dynamics AX
- Microsoft Dynamics NAV
SOA and Business Process
- Enterprise Application Integration, EAI
- Business-to-Business Application Integration
- Business Process Management, BPM
- Adapter Development
ISV/Software Solutions
- impuls Check Tool for Microsoft Dynamics NAV
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With the internal transition to Windows
Server Hyper-V impuls is getting ready for the internal operation and highly complex
projects in 2009. The new, even more flexible infrastructure is putting the Green
IT concept into practice.
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In November 2008 impuls migrated its entire internal computing
centre to the new Microsoft virtualization technology Windows Server Hyper-V. Windows
Server Hyper-V is a Hypervisor-based functionality of the new Windows Server 2008.
It comprises all features enabling the virtualization of PCs. In this way, IT companies
are able to reduce costs, increase server utilization and create a dynamic IT infrastructure.
The integrated management tools make it possible to optimally administrate physical
as well as virtual resources.
Before the transition, more than 80 servers were needed to enable internal operation,
development and testing and the entire range of demo systems. The aim of the changeover
in server systems is to significantly reduce the number of physical servers and
to further simplify central administration.
The transition at impuls was carried out in two phases. In the
first phase, the existing server landscape of Windows 2003 servers was consolidated
and migrated to the follow-up release Windows Server 2008. In a second step, the
migrated servers were transitioned to Hyper-V. With the migration process, it was
possible to cut down more than 30 physical servers.
The transition to Windows Server Hyper-V created a highly flexible infrastructure
which made it possible to make available new test and development systems for new
and existing customer projects within hours and has made the administration of existing
systems even more simple.
With the reduction in physical server systems and the simultaneous transition to
more energy-efficient systems, impuls is also taking into account
the global Green IT concept and handling precious energy resources in a responsible
way.
With this transition, impuls once again puts into practice its
guiding principle to use latest technologies in order to be able to make available
the resulting experience in customer projects as early as possible. Thus, impuls
is optimally prepared for new, challenging projects in 2009.
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Together with impuls
consultants adidas started preparations for the next installation of adiRBO, the
global adidas retail solution in Latin America. adiRBO – based on Microsoft Dynamics
NAV and LS Retail NAV – is running in seven Latin American countries now. Brazil
with its complex requirements will be the eighth country in this region where adidas
is going to have one global retail system.
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adiRBO is the global adidas retail solution implemented worldwide, based on Microsoft
Dynamics NAV and LS Retail NAV. It has been customized to fulfill all needs and
requirements resulting from individual business structures and workflows within
the adidas workgroup.
After the successful implementation in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Panama, Puerto
Rico and Argentina another demanding adiRBO project has just started in Sao Paulo,
Brazil. Like in the other Latin American countries impuls specialists
will take care of the adiRBO implementation.
Due to the complexity of legal requirements, projects in Latin America are always
very challenging. Individual document number series for fiscal transactions, on-line
to till connected formal fiscal systems and finally different fiscal printers are
only a few of the requirements which had to be implemented during the first seven
installations - all supported by impuls consultants.
However, the adiRBO implementation in Brazil will be the most ambitious project
in Latin America so far. The country is divided into 25 counties, each with different
legal requirements. It is therefore essential to understand the heterogeneous requirements
to identify gaps and fits in the standard solution. The result of the Gap/Fit workshop
will lead to a solution concept that will ensure the expected and required performance
of the retail system.
Right now impuls consultants are designing all specifications within
the solution concept. Since in Brazil all installed software solutions must be certified
in every county separately, the certification process requires functional and technical
specification as well as specific test scripts for each county.
Once again impuls consultants will ensure that the preparation,
development and installation processes will go smoothly in all aspects, like in
many other countries before – worldwide.
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On October 01, 2008 the impuls Informationsmanagement
GmbH team pops the corks. The company is celebrating 15 years of successful existence.
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The formula for success for impuls is – as the two Managing Directors
Udo Krachenfels and Michael Ferschl are confident – the reliable execution of highly
complex IT projects assigned to impuls by Microsoft and other internationally
operating companies. A highly motivated team is standing ready for this purpose.
"Our 65 employees bring a lot of expertise and personal commitment into their work.
The results are successful projects and a favorable working atmosphere“, they both
note.
The expertise of impuls employees is in great demand in all parts
of the world. impuls is the center of competence for consulting,
development and training for advanced Microsoft Business solutions for international
companies, such as adidas, apetito and Balzers and point of contact with respect
to company-specific conception and implementation. It is not uncommon that Microsoft
involves experts from impuls in order to find solutions which are
in step with actual practice.
On the occasion of this anniversary, employees had the opportunity to gather a completely
new project experience – cooking sophisticated gourmet dishes and consuming them
with pleasure.
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The impuls Check Tool Version 1.3
checks Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 objects, contains optimized search algorithms
and simplifies the analysis of the test results. The update is free for registered
customers.
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The
latest version of the impuls Check Tool for Microsoft Dynamics NAV
is now available in the product area of the impuls website.
The advantages of the new version: Version 1.3 is completely compatible with Microsoft
Dynamics NAV 2009, both in direct access to the objects as well in the checking
of reports and pages. The search algorithm has been further optimized, and exported
test results can now be re-imported and then later organized using filters and grouping.
The impuls Check Tool supports Microsoft Dynamics NAV developers and
testers in ensuring that their Microsoft Dynamics NAV applications comply with the
current development and design guidelines. To do this, the program compares object
properties and source code with rule sets and displays any discrepancies it finds.
By using the impuls Check Tool, these problems can be found and resolved
early, thereby raising the quality of the Microsoft Dynamics NAV solution and increasing
user satisfaction in a tangible way.
Customers who have already licensed the impuls Check Tool receive
a free update to Version 1.3.
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After completion of a successful training
series, impuls is now the first certified implementation partner for the “Field
Services for Microsoft Dynamics AX“ solution in Germany. In the future, the company
will support Dynamics AX Partners in all activities in connection with the service
management solution.
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Field Services for Microsoft Dynamics AX
The efficient management of customer services such as maintenance, repairs etc.
is an integral part of a company's success. The Microsoft MDIS solution “Field Services
for Microsoft Dynamics AX“ is designed to support companies in administrating these
processes. The solution enables a targeted automation of the information flow between
field services and back-office. The result: “Field Services for Microsoft Dynamics
AX“ reduces response times and cost while enhancing productivity and quality of
customer service.
„Field Services for Microsoft Dynamics AX“ is suitable for the majority of
industries and leverages the Project und Service Management standard modules by
Dynamics AX. Thus, this solution integrates seamlessly into the existing IT.
impuls Service
impuls as a certified implementation partner supports Microsoft partners in all
activities relating to the „Field Services for Microsoft Dynamics AX“ solution.
This includes: Sales presentations, preparation of solution designs, realizations
of additional functionality as well as implementations.
For further information, please contact

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impuls demonstrates competence in applying
the Sure Step project methodology in various joint Dynamics projects with Microsoft.
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The introduction of Dynamics products is frequently accompanied by misunderstandings
resulting from different expectations among customers and partners. Partners find
that their customers have only limited knowledge of their own work processes as
well as unrealistic ideas on the technical possibilities of systems. On the other
hand, customers criticize the situational project management of their software partner
resulting from a lack of analysis due to time pressure. The consequences are time
and budget overruns, unplanned extra functionality and anger on both sides. The
right methodology, however, can ensure the success of a project from the very beginning.
The central theme of every Dynamics project
It is against this background that Sure Step was developed by Microsoft – a methodology
including tools designed to support partners in the introduction, optimization and
upgrade of Microsoft Dynamics solutions. The fact that version 2.0 now has been
released clearly shows the dynamic character of Sure Step. The current version adds
a framework for Enterprise implementations as well as tools for project-related
document filing to the well-established version 1.1 of this methodology and its
tools. The central theme in a Dynamics project is to employ the Sure Step methodology
to map the individual process phases, from Diagnostic via Analysis, Design, Development,
Testing, Deployment to Ongoing Operation and to define milestones for the planning
and monitoring of project tasks.
Read the entire article in the August edition of the
Microsoft Monatsspiegel.
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Managing director Udo Krachenfels outlined
the potential of Microsoft Dynamics to a packed audience: Reliable basis for the
success of medium-sized companies
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Real crowd-pullers are rare. Yet throngs of people regularly flock to the presentations
held by impuls Informationsmanagement GmbH in the Microsoft solutions solution
theater at CeBIT, the world’s largest ICT trade fair, to hear about Microsoft Dynamics.
Every last place in the solution theater was taken this year as impuls managing
director Udo Krachenfels presented the topic “Microsoft Dynamics – Business Solutions
from Microsoft”, outlining the current possibilities and further development of
the Microsoft products Dynamics AX, Dynamics NAV, Dynamics CRM and Dynamics Entrepreneur
Solution.
And there was much applause for Mr. Krachenfels when he detailed the current developments
to the auditorium: “The key words of the Microsoft Dynamics concept – familiar to
your people, fits with your systems, fuels your business productivity and enables
confident decision making – can be built upon in future, too. The use of Dynamics
products will also secure the continued future success of medium-sized businesses!”
Mr. Krachenfels explained how the tight integration with other Microsoft products
enables seamless interaction with existing systems as well as further optimization
of process sequences.
For 11 years now, within the framework of CeBIT, Microsoft (and before that Navision)
has entrusted the experts from impuls, who provide a professional combination
of product knowledge and presentation technique, with the task of demonstrating
the full potential of Microsoft business solutions. The trade visitors were certainly
enthusiastic about this trip to the movie theater.
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Strategic alignment with challenging and
future-oriented Microsoft Business Solutions affirmed by the market: 2007 was the
most successful year for impuls Informationsmanagement GmbH.
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“Customers excited, sales and earnings clearly increased.” According to managing
director Udo Krachenfels, this performance in 2007 was made possible by the rigorous
specialization of the Nuremadberg IT specialists in the implementation of Microsoft
Dynamics business solutions and innovative technologies. The understanding of business
processes and the competence to effectively implement the right products and future-oriented
technologies drew orders from all over the world.
Krachenfels: „Our customers particularly appreciate that we work in a demand-oriented
way to implement individual solutions that are based on standard products, while
taking future versions into consideration.” As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner,
this means that the Nuremberg company has an enormous motivation to continually
build know-how and to push its outstanding market position further in 2008.
The impuls Academy GmbH also contributed to the fantastic numbers in 2007.
The official Microsoft Dynamics training center for Microsoft Partners is continually
expanding its offerings and ensuring the optimal knowledge transfer to customers
and end-users.
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adidas Panama and adidas Colombia started
running Monday, December 10, 2007 - with the industry solution adiRace based on
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 5.0 - under Microsoft SQL Server
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With the support of the specialists from impuls, adidas successfully migrated
the business solutions of its first subsidiaries to Microsoft SQL Server. Business
operations were only momentarily interrupted during the change-over, and everything
is now operational. All the associated systems and interfaces are online and well-integrated
in the operations, and the employees in the subsidiary are already working intensively
with the current software.
Technically, the new version brings several immediate benefits: for one, it makes
an easier integration from NAV to Microsoft Office products possible. Another benefit
is that the SQL integration allows significantly better performance.
The most important aspect by far is the advantage that business will see from the
implementation. The subsidiaries now have enhanced opportunities, with the help
of the SQL server, to react to the challenges of the rapid growth in the Latin American
region. Besides the efficient support of daily work, the expanded reporting functions
and the accelerated backup and maintenance times have proven themselves to be enormous
advantages over the previous version.
The experts from impuls made sure that the change-over ran smoothly in all
areas. Once the concepts were drafted and transcribed, the next critical step was
the implementation. With many years of experience in international projects, our
specialists were able, together with the adidas employees on-site, to make a smooth
and successful start. The project manager from adidas emphasized in particular the
great team spirit of all the participants that made the success of such a large
and important project possible.
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Microsoft's first event of this type directed
explicitly at developers and project managers - impuls in demand at "Meet the Experts"
for lectures and advice
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The participants at the first Microsoft Dynamics Technical Community Airlift rated
the event, presenting special content for developers and project managers, a complete
success. Besides providing interesting glimpses into the next versions of the Microsoft
Dynamics products, the first-rate representatives of the Microsoft Product Group
gave perspectives on the coming generation of software.
The focus was above all on the stronger integration of the existing development
tools and Visual Studio. Developers could also get a look at the future of the visual
interface and information on using this with the help of .NET in their own development.
impuls was invited by Microsoft to present a series of exciting lectures
that put the spotlight on practical experience from daily project work. Jörg Brugmann
from the impuls Academy presented information on training plans for introducing
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 6.0 in the coming year. Peter Güttinger demonstrated how
to successfully manage ERP projects with the help of the Microsoft Sure Step Methodology.
Udo Krachenfels explained the new role concept in the Dynamics products, and Michael
Ferschl presented the integration of the test framework in Microsoft Dynamics AX.
Between events, interested participants could get information in the specially-provided
"Meet the Experts" area. Here, the specialists from impuls were available
to discuss the innovations in the Dynamics environment. In the conversations with
our experts, the participants were excited to discuss the practical application
of the information and to use the experience of our employees to learn about tips
and tricks to use in their daily work.
All in all, the event benefited everyone involved, and it brought more motivation
and optimism to the community. We're looking forward to next year!
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The "Microsoft Dynamics NAV Software Solution
Test Guidelines" officially recommend the "impuls Check Tool for Microsoft Dynamics
NAV" as the "Best Practice" tool for testing the compliance of industry solutions
or individual software with design guidelines.
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The "Microsoft Dynamics NAV Software Solution Test Guidelines" describe the technical
requirements that a software solution must meet in order to be seamlessly integrated
with Microsoft Dynamics NAV 5.0. The goal of the initiative is to improve the quality
of all the solutions surrounding Microsoft Dynamics NAV and to thereby increase
customer satisfaction.
The impuls Check Tool helps you in ensuring
that your application complies with the current development and design guidelines.
It does this by comparing object properties and source code with established rule
sets and displaying any discrepancies. Of course, this works also with your company-specific
design specifications, which you can define as exceptions.
The impuls Check Tool has established itself
as a standard tool for the quality assurance of applications for Microsoft Dynamics
NAV. It is being continually enhanced to guarantee its compatibility with the current
state of the NAV versions.
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The impuls specialists at the Convergence
- Getting information first-hand
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Visit us at the most important conference for Microsoft Dynamics customers and users,
the "Convergence", taking place this year from October 23rd to the 25th
in Denmark's capital Copenhagen.
Udo Krachenfels, Jörg Brugman, and Michael Ferschl, together with our colleagues
from Microsoft, will give presentations and answers on the current issues for Microsoft
Dynamics AX and NAV, particularly regarding the upcoming versions of both systems.
Discuss "Multi-Company Operations", "Role Centers & Dashboards",
as well as "The Future of Microsoft Dynamics AX" with us in one of the
focus groups or roundtable sessions. We promise you exciting and fascinating insights
into the newest developments.
As a central point of contact between Microsoft, Microsoft Partners, and end customers,
our experts from the impuls Competence Centerlook forward
to reporting on your implementation experiences.
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Support for 365 days a year – A good start for worldwide outsourcing of adidas
Retail (NAV) support at impuls
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The experts from impuls support the deployment and operation in the EMEA
region of the business-critical Microsoft Dynamics NAV solution adidas Retail. Since
August 1st of this year, specialists are available from 9:00 am to midnight to promptly
resolve especially critical support cases.
While the professionals from impuls provide support in the office during
working hours, a special model is implemented for safe-guarding the availability
of after-hours support: the support team is supplied with UMTS-cards for their notebooks,
giving them access to customer data from any location. They also use special cell
phones with profiles controlled by automatic timers. Rainer Fischer, area leader
for NAV at impuls is excited: “This technology allows us to deploy our staff
flexibly while still guaranteeing their availability.”
For adidas, this service means that additional resources do not have to be purchased,
but rather that the existing support team has simply expanded its range of services.
With a standard, worldwide support number, the participating subsidiaries can take
advantage of the seasoned support, even outside the normal working hours in Germany.
This is particularly important in the retail business, where a short reaction time
for the shops is one of the most important IT challenges. Rainer Fischer is convinced
that this service has a direct impact on the satisfaction of adidas’ end customers.
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Industry solution adirace on NAV Version 5 – Preparation for the conversion to
SQL Server – New technology opens Office-world
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adidas turns to the experts from impuls to convert their industry solution,
adirace, based on Dynamics NAV, from version 3.70 to version 5.0 in time
for the fall season. The upgrade to Dynamics NAV 5.0 is the first step in the migration
of the country subsidiaries to the SQL Server Option for Microsoft Dynamics NAV.
adirace is the industry solution for adidas, implemented worldwide, and customized
and expanded for the special needs of the business. The comprehensive changes in
the source code, as well as the large number of complex interfaces, are essential
parts of a functioning information workflow within the adidas group.
The new version brings some immediate advantages: for one, it makes possible an
easier integration of NAV with Office products from Microsoft. Also, the new SQL
integration gives substantially higher performance.
The experts from impuls make sure that the conversion goes forward smoothly
on all fronts. This affects particularly the concepts and specifications for server
hardware, server installation, server setup, security models, backup strategies,
service plans, and data migration.
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Service update optimizes the import function and search algorithm
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The
current version of the impuls Check Tool is now available in our
Products area. Improvements include, among other things, changes to the import function
and the interpretation of certain code changes.
The impuls Check Tool helps you as Microsoft Partners in the creation of
Microsoft Dynamics NAV solutions. It supports you in ensuring that your solutions
are free of errors and compliant with GUI and programming standards and guidelines.
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impuls Workshop with webcast for Microsoft Spain explains the installation and
customization of the ADCS module for Microsoft Dynamics NAV
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In an Expert Casting by Microsoft Spain, a workshop for partners was organized concentrating
on the installation, setup, implementation, and customization of the Advanced Data
Capture System module.
At the event, first-hand practical and technical knowledge of the details of development
was in demand. The key questions for the partners were how to implement ADCS in
the real world and how to customize it to meet the needs of the customer.
impuls was integral in the development of ADCS and therefore could best fulfill
the needs of Microsoft Spain: a descriptive and project-oriented presentation of
the operation and implementation of ADCS. Besides installation, setup, and monitoring
of the components, this includes above all the demonstration of sample use cases.
„The participants showed particular interest in the solutions and experiences that
impuls gained from successful projects, and they asked especially about the
creation and integration of the so-called miniforms,” explains Rainer Fischer, area
leader at impuls for Microsoft Dynamics NAV, regarding the emphasis of the
workshop and the accompanying webcast.
With the introduction of Dynamics NAV 5, the technology of ADCS has changed. The
explanation of the improvements and their impact on existing solutions was a further
highlight to the well-attended event.
In the end, all of the participants appeared content with the knowledge they obtained
and were confident in their ability to put it to use in their own projects.
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Microsoft provides information on product
development – impuls specialists catch up on the current trends
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From the 9th to the 12th of July, over 7,300 international Microsoft Partners gathered
in Denver, Colorado to learn about the newest developments at Microsoft and to make
contacts with manufacturers, colleagues, and customers. Also there: team members
from impuls!
The forums and presentations in Denver were of particularly good quality. "Topics
were discussed that offered a glimpse into the mid- and long-term strategies of
Microsoft!", says director Udo Krachenfels. Together with the impuls-specialists
Jörg Brugman and Michael Ferschl, he used the three days in Denver to collect extensive
information and to further cultivate contacts with colleagues from Microsoft and
partner companies.
By regularly taking part in such events, impuls ensures that the Microsoft
strategies of tomorrow are a part of the concepts they use today.
You can find more information about the Worldwide Partner Conference here.
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Certified expertise – 67 tests in the first half of 2007 – Competence in demand
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In the first half of 2007 alone, 19 employees of impuls completed 67 official
Microsoft tests with great success. Within the framework of the employee-qualification
program "Fit For", the employees were systematically trained. Official certifications
were earned in association with products such as Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft
Dynamics NAV, and Microsoft SQL Server 2005.
"Knowledge is the most important resource for our success," emphasizes Udo Krachenfels.
The already high standard of knowledge of the employees, continues the director
of impuls, will be permanently expanded through the planned further training
and will ensure impuls' position as a Competence Center for the implementation
of Microsoft business solutions.
And this competence is in demand: The team from impuls can draw on a wealth
of experience from more than 400 successful, national and international projects
in all industries.
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Webcast reaches specialists at the workplace – Great response – Know how from
Nuremberg in demand
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In cooperation with Microsoft, impuls carried out a BizTalk Server 2006 initiative
for all Gold Certified Partners in Germany. In a Webcast, impuls-Specialist
Daniel Scheffel explained the implementation and integration scenarios of BizTalk
Servers to Dynamics products in a detailed and convincing way.
In the intensive training that followed, Daniel Scheffel then showed how effective,
secure, and high-performing the communication between Dynamics solutions and other
systems can be.
"The reason for the initiative was the increased awareness of the Microsoft Dynamics
Partners for BizTalk Server. We wanted to increase the transparency for the integration
scenarios and to show the partners how much they have to gain from an effective
BizTalk implementation," explains Daniel Scheffel, regarding the objectives of the
event.
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Roadmap for Dynamics products in focus – Successful and secured for the future
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The 20 most influential IT consultants in Switzerland were personally invited to
Zurich to discuss current developments and challenges in the market for business
solutions.
At the "1st Dynamics Consultant Circle", the specialists could get a glimpse at
the future of Microsoft Dynamics products AX/NAV/CRM. Through Udo Krachenfels, director
of impuls, the guests were also able to receive comprehensive information
on the current challenges from the practice as well as an outlook on the middle-
and long-term position strategies.
The lecture "Microsoft Dynamics – Business Software from Microsoft in a Competitive
Marketplace" addressed the situation from the viewpoint of both competitors
and users. Detailed and with a wealth of experience from many hundreds of successful
projects, Udo Krachenfels explained the roadmap through market challenges and communicated
a very positive appraisal for the future of innovative Microsoft Dynamics products.
The entire event was shaped by intensive dialogues and discussions that were pursued
in a more comfortable atmosphere after the "official" part of the day was over.
The first event of this type in Switzerland was a great success. Udo Krachenfels:
"The event was more than convincing in both style and content! I hope that this
platform establishes itself to facilitate early communication of ambitious planning
for Dynamics products and to foster exchanges between practices."
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Europe’s biggest AX-project – Know how from impuls in demand – Seamless upgrade
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More than 2,000 users in all of Europe were hardly affected in their work, when
Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 replaced the existing business software solution Micrsoft
XAL.
This was a challenging project, in which Microsoft Consulting Services and
Siemens IT Solutions and Services Management GmbH put the support and know-how
of impuls to use.
Michael Ferschl of impuls, who worked as "Solution Architect" in the realization
of the biggest AX project in Europe to date, was thrilled about the "…complex solution
and a task that was far from routine!"
The impuls AX experts gladly faced the challenges – to design an international
project for a user with a multifaceted branch structure and to provide support in
the implementation. Ultimately, impuls was chosen as partner because the
company provides comprehensive expertise and has a wealth of experience to draw
from in the realization of complex and international ERP projects.
The current application provides the business with a central database, available
worldwide. "The access to the data by a multitude of different users in differently
organized branches makes a comprehensive and accurate process design essential!"
according to the solution architect.
The impuls-Team provided a superior solution to the fullest satisfaction
of the customer.
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Peter Güttinger in the Webcast - Microsoft Sure Step Methodology ensures the successful
and quick implementation of Microsoft Dynamics solutions
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With the Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step Methodology, Microsoft specialists have developed
a comprehensive and secure course of action for optimal planning and consistent
results in all project phases. In the current Microsoft Webcast, Peter Güttinger
explained the deployment of the method to more than 70 interested Microsoft partners.
"The big advantage", according to the director of impuls, "lies in the close
interlocking of the methods with the Dynamics products."
The Dynamics Sure Step Methodology supports the partners in all phases of a project.
Besides development, this includes above all the Pre-Sales and Support phases. The
procedural support is coordinated with the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics
products. You can view the webcast with Peter Güttinger here.
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Quick Start, Lasting Value – impuls shows the way for convincing solutions in
Dynamics
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Industry competence and the knowledge of specific requirements distinguish all successful
Independent Software Vendors (ISV) in all of Europe. On behalf of Microsoft, impuls
leads the Europe-wide "ISV Partner Readiness" Workshops, whose goal is to show ISV
Partners how to effectively migrate their existing industry solutions to the Microsoft
Dynamics platform.
"The practical knowledge of the implementation of industry solutions in Dynamics
is the main focus of the workshops," explains Peter Güttinger, executive manager
of impuls.
The workshops are divided into two phases. In the evaluation phase, the specialists
from impuls select, together with the customer, the optimal product strategy.
The object of the second phase is the diagnosis with a target vs. actual comparison
of the core processes and an estimation of the migration effort.
The result of the workshops is a first assessment of the scope and effort of the
application development. The employees of impuls draw on the comprehensive
expertise from more than 400 implementation projects.
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Service Pack available - Developer's Toolkit for Microsoft Dynamics NAV compatible
with Microsoft Windows Vista and NAV 5.0
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The Service Pack is a cumulative Service Pack, which contains the newest updates
as well as security and stability improvements for the – impuls-developed
– Developer’s Toolkit for Microsoft Dynamics NAV. Among other things, the current
Service Pack ensures compatibility with Microsoft Windows Vista and supports the
current version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 5.0.
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Bite-sized applications – Webportal supports branch organization in catering business
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impuls' technology team develops an efficient Webportal, with whose help
the internationally operating company apetito Catering GmbH secured the smooth
cooperation of more than 350 business units.
Serving more than a million dishes daily is an enormous logistical challenge. The
operational effort to administer the complex process required significant coordination
of the 350 associated service businesses of the company. impuls was therefore
commissioned to develop a central solution using the most modern .NET technologies
in order to centralize the operational processes and to make the relevant information
for the effective company organization available to more than 500 users.
For this, data is captured over a portal and gathered in a centrally-hosted Dynamics
NAV. The centralized posted information is then handed over to an SAP R3 system
deployed enterprise-wide.
"The solution by impuls provides actual, realized savings that exceeds by
far the expectations from apetito," confirms the project manager for apetito Catering
GmbH.
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Workshop determines optimal product strategy - impuls-experts evaluate individual
deployment of Dynamics solutions
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With Dynamics AX and Dynamics NAV, Microsoft offers two highly capable ERP solutions
for companies of every size and industry. To find the right strategy in the deployment
of the products is the purpose of a workshop that impuls already leads with
great success for nationally- and internationally-operating partner companies.
"We don’t compare statements on Powerpoint slides, in order to assess the particular
appropriateness of a product for the task," explains impuls director Udo
Krachenfels. Rather – together with the partner – the strengths of both products
are examined within the scope of the individual task. At the end, the recommendation
for a product is clear.
"This pragmatic procedure is convincing," according to Udo Krachenfels, "because
a partner hardly ever has the opportunity to directly compare the performance of
both products with one another!"
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Pinnacle-Award ("Excellence in International Implementation") – Report on the
adidas implementation available
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The announced, complete report on the award-winning adidas project is now available
as a download. The PDF-file explains the situation
and the resulting task. The report describes in detail the chosen solution as well
as the collaboration of the heterogeneous IT systems.
impuls was significantly involved in the implementation of the worldwide
Microsoft Dynamics NAV installation that was recognized with the Pinnacle Award
("Excellence in International Implementation").
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The future of Dynamics products – Insights and perspectives from Udo Krachenfels
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Under the title "The Microsoft Dynamics Concept", Udo Krachenfels presented the
current solutions and the design guidelines for further development of the Microsoft
products Dynamics AX, Dynamics NAV, and Dynamics CRM.
The director of impuls in a packed solution-theater: "The key words of the
new design guidelines – familiar user interface, easy integration, increased productivity
and well-founded bases for decision-making – ensure that the Dynamics products secure
the success of mid-size companies in the future!" The tight integration with other
Microsoft products, explains Krachenfels further, makes seamless cooperation with
other established Microsoft systems possible.
For 10 years, Microsoft (and before that, Navision) has trusted the impuls
presenters, with their combination of product knowledge and presentation technique,
to inform and excite the participants.
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"Excellence in International Implementation" – Recognition for outstanding ERP
project – impuls is there in 30 countries
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adidas counts on Microsoft Dynamics NAV in more than 30 countries to optimize
supply chain management – and to do this, uses impuls as a partner to solve
the complex IT tasks. The specialists from Nuremberg developed the elaborate solutions
for the ambitious project, which has now been recognized with the "Pinnacle Award
for Excellence in International Implementation" at "Convergence 2007."
"The biggest challenge for us was to consider the statutory requirements and peculiarity
of the markets in 30 countries, and to customize a universal ERP solution for them.
We had to master an enormous system integration," Udo Krachenfels explains the deployment
on all continents by the impuls-team.
A detailed report on the award-winning project is now available on the website www.impuls-nbg.de.
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Roadshow - Microsoft presents NAV 5.0 to Partners - Udo Krachenfels explains Roadmap
– Perspective on Version 5.1
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In a country-wide roadshow, Microsoft presents partners with the new version of
the efficient ERP solution Microsoft Dynamics NAV 5.0.
"With Microsoft Dynamics NAV 5.0, users have an innovative and completely flexible
solution that is secure for the future, and that today already sets the course for
future requirements," states Udo Krachenfels confidently.
The director of impuls added a highlight to the roadshow: He explained the
future of the product and – with a glimpse at the new client and the 3-tier architecture
– the supporting elements of further development for version NAV 5.1.
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International implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX – Current modules ensure
success at manufacturers of bearing and energy chains – Expertise in project management
and organization in demand
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The manufacturing of bearings and energy chains results from high specialization,
tightly bound with the processes of the customer. A challenge that can only be managed
with IT support and optimally solved through the implementation of Dynamics AX 4.0.
"We implemented the Lean Production Module in this project, in order to optimally
represent the processes of discrete manufacturing in the system," says the responsible
project manager from impuls. The specifics: this module was developed by
eBECS Ltd. and will only become a part of the standard application with the version
5.0 of Dynamics AX.
impuls coordinated the efficient implementation of the module and is responsible
for organization and project management. Eventually, more than 450 users should
be able to productively use the system.
The international roll-out of the solution in 2008 is planned for South Africa,
India, and Japan, and more countries should follow.
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