Ideaca's Dynamics AX Tips & Tricks - Product and Production Lead Times

Ideaca's AX experts provide answers to common AX 2012 questions, helping you leverage your Microsoft Dynamics AX investment. This video helps viewers understand how to see lead times on products and production in AX 2012. For more information or to contact us, visit www.ideaca.com

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Ideaca Dynamics AX Tips & Tricks - Security in AX 2012

Ideaca's AX experts provide answers to common AX 2012 questions, helping you leverage your Microsoft Dynamics AX investment. This video discusses security in AX 2012. For more information or to contact us, visit www.ideaca.com

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Ideaca Dynamics AX Tips and Tricks - Workflow

Ideaca's AX experts provide answers to common AX 2012 questions, helping you leverage your Microsoft Dynamics AX investment. This video discusses 4 new workflow features in AX 2012. For more information or to contact us, visit www.ideaca.com

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Ideaca Dynamics AX Tips and Tricks - Turning off unwanted functionality in AX 2012

Ideaca's AX experts provide answers to common AX 2012 questions, helping you leverage your Microsoft Dynamics AX investment. This video helps users learn how to turn off unwanted functionality in AX 2012. For more information or to contact us, visit www.ideaca.com

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Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2012: Toronto

Last week, the City of Toronto was flooded with more than 16, 000 people representing Microsoft Partners from all over the world! Partners from coast to coast took  part in the biggest ever Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC). 
WPC travels the globe to take place in a new city every year giving Microsoft Partners a chance to discover the latest technology and trends to come in the year ahead. It also provides a valuable forum to gain industry knowledge, and learn new strategies to ensure Microsoft Partners, like Ideaca, can continuously deliver the highest standards of care and information to our customers.


This year, the conference was held in Toronto at the Metro Convention Centre and the Air Canada Centre. The conference was said to bring in the most traffic throughout the GTA that Toronto has ever seen for a conference, and even brought in a whooping $500 million to the City of Toronto! 

Each day Ideacans experienced  dozens of sessions and key note speakers that helped us to learn new strategies and product knowledge. There were even a few ground-breaking announcements, such as a demonstration shown on Kinnect that scanned a person to virtually produce them in 3D, then their 3D image was printed out into a 3D mold!  Truly a thing to see!  We also spotted new laptops that can convert into a tablet; which will be beneficial to all those stubborn people who cannot part without their keyboards. There was also a great deal of hype around the new Windows 8 phone and operating system that is sure to make many smartphone and Windows 7 users change their mind about what they currently have. Windows CMO and CFO Tami Reller announced at the conference that the new Windows 8 operating system will be launch in 231 markets worldwide, starting in October 2012.

The 5-day conference kicked off with a stunning performance by Cirque du Soleil and wrapped up Thursday night with a packed concert by the Grammy Award winning band Train. What a week! Ideaca is proud to have been apart of it and we look forward to sharing our new learning with our customers in the year to come.

Were you at WPC this year? What was your favourite part?
 

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When the Forecast Calls for Clouds

 

Is cloud computing right for your company? Inc. posted an article on the different ways you can use Cloud Computing, and how making the switch could benefit your company. Check out the article link below and tell us how your company benefits from the "cloud".

When the Forecast Calls for Clouds.

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Mmmm...Donuts!

Social Media is finally explained in terms we can all understand!

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Toronto Advertising Week 2012

This week a few members from the marketing team got together to attend a few sessions at Toronto's Advertising Week.

We found some of the sessions to be most compelling, and were intrigued to find out what the future has in store for us, and the way technology will be shifting within the next year.

One particular session caught our attention, which was put on by Google Canada, where we learned about "Going Mobile" and the future of businesses on the mobile internet.

Google has launched a page where you can type in your company site, and see how your site currently looks on a mobile device. This page give you tips and trick to optimize your site for mobile accessibility.


    Check out Google's Mobile site to see how your site ranks!   Follow @Ideaca

Break Down Organizational Walls

At Ideaca, we do many different things to keep our corporate culture a fun and motivating work environment. We proudly hold the title of "100 Best Workplaces 2011" in Canada, (and are hoping to qualify again this year!)

Sometimes it is the little things that count, and ultimately make your employee feel valued and appreciated.

Check out this Article on "9 Ways to Break Down Organizational Walls" to help your company break down those intimating corporate walls.

For more insightful ideas and discussion topics, also check out our SharePoint User Group on Linkedin! Follow @Ideaca

Effective New Year's Resolutions from Toronto Board of Trade

Happy New Year and Welcome 2012! As we start the year, it’s a good idea to reflect on the past one, and try and start this New Year with a fresh and positive attitude. The Toronto Board of Trade compiled 10 New Year's Resolutions that every business owner should make to start off 2012 on a high note!

1. Stop being negative about the state of the economy.
This country is still staggering through tough and turbulent economic times. The reality is this economic state could continue throughout 2012. That said, in a trillion dollar economy there are definitely more than a few new prospects that can help grow your business. While complaining doesn’t help find them, offering solutions to solve their problems does.

2. Critique the performance of your employees.
Stop holding onto the people that are poor performers, don’t fit within the culture, or don’t augment the bottom line. If that employee went on a month long vacation would it negatively affect the company? What impact would their absence have? Be objective and make those tough decisions.

3. Market to prospects that meet my product purchasing criteria.
Businesses spend a lot of time trying to market their products to an audience that simply does not possess the financial means to make a purchase. Businesses spend a lot of time on these “Maybes” (prospects that show inconsistent interest). Separate these “Maybes” from buyers by determining the customer’s income bracket, their influence on decision making, and timeframes for their purchases.

4. Do not lower prices to substitute a real marketing strategy.
Have the confidence in what your company sells and do not lower prices in an effort to win business. Focus on prospects that recognize the value your company or products delivers. Leave the price wars to your competitors.

5. Meet with customers and vendors face to face.
Stop relying on email and the phone as an exclusive way to talk with customers. Even in a social media world, deep and long lasting business relationships are still built through face to face meetings and conversations.

6. Attend at least one major industry event.
A big part of success in business is to never stop learning from others. Attend a conference, and focus on the discussions and content. Don’t spending the time working on issues that are happening back at the office.

7. Invest in yourself and learn a new skill.
“Old dogs can learn new tricks." Most companies invest in training and professional development their employees. Take this year to become proficient in a professionally weak area or an area you lack the courage to tackle. Furthering your skill set will ensure success and growth, personally and professionally.

8. Recognize when you need to take time off.
Professional and personal lives are merging. Take one vacation of seven days or longer this year and leave the computer at home. Go at least one day this year without using your work cell phone. You can do this!

9. Truly understand your businesses financial statements each month.
Many business owners are too busy to check or don’t understand their financial statements. Make a commitment to learn what the profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow statements mean to your business and use them as a guide for future action. Do not delegate that understanding to your bookkeeper, CFO or accounting professional.

10. Be proud you’re a small business owner.
Celebrate the big achievement of creating a company, successfully establishing products and/or services, assisting your customers and empowering your employees. As a small business owner your energy and entrepreneurial spirit is the economic driver of the region and this country.

To read more helpful and interesting articles check out The Toronto Board of Trade's weekly bulletin board here!

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