Blog Posts - MCA Connect

April 29, 2020

Why S&OP is Critical for Manufacturing COVID-19 Recovery

We understand the recent health crisis makes for uneasy times and has already impacted many manufacturers in one way or another. Most businesses are wondering how big of an impact this will have on ...

Topics: Manufacturing

February 28, 2020

How to Build a Future-Ready Strategy for Manufacturing

From rapid changes in technology to ever-increasing consumer demands, every industry is trying to keep up with the pace of change and reinvent processes for a more sustainable future. When a ...

Topics: CRM

February 27, 2020

Are These Pitfalls Preventing You from Maximizing Your CRM Investment?

Let’s consider this - an organization invests in business applications to modernize its Customer Relationship Management. The business case promises everything and more: excellent efficiencies, ...

Topics: CRM, Manufacturing

February 26, 2020

How to Better Manage the Automotive Bid Response Process

As a company that frequently works with automotive supply manufacturers to implement technology solutions, we find that while some manufacturers have mastered the production process, very few have a ...

Topics: Energy

February 12, 2020

6 Challenges in Oil and Gas and How to Solve Them

The oil and gas business operates within complex global and national frameworks. Expansion into new geographical regions and environments can create new opportunities for revenue growth, but it also ...

Topics: IoT & Analytics

January 30, 2020

6 Best Practices in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

Most CFOs are not happy with their Financial Planning and Analysis process, believing it delivers too little value and can eat up too many resources. As a result, they often ask “what best practices ...

Topics: CRM, Manufacturing

January 28, 2020

5 Benefits that Explain the Importance of CRM in Manufacturing

To gain a competitive advantage these days, exceeding your customers’ expectations is key. It turns out that CRM software for manufacturing has revolutionized many businesses as it gives a holistic ...

Topics: ERP, Energy

January 15, 2020

Why Oil & Gas Companies Need Joint Venture Accounting Software in 2020

One of the complexities of the oil and gas industry is handling the accounting and communication between multiple land owners, especially for Exploration and Production companies. They have many ...

Topics: ERP, Energy

December 31, 2019

Oil & Gas Buzzing about Rental Management Software

The main thing about industrial equipment for oil and gas exploration is that it’s HEAVY – literally and financially. It’s expensive to manufacture, expensive to move, and expensive to maintain. And ...

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing

December 18, 2019

Looking to Upgrade from MAPICS? You're not alone.

There are many manufacturing companies that are still running on legacy ERP systems like MAPICS, also known as Infor XA. Many of these companies have the mind set of ‘if it’s not broken, don’t fix ...

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing, Manufacturing ERP Guide

December 18, 2019

Enterprise Resource Planning: An Introduction

An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system can revolutionize many types of business operating within a wealth of verticals. ERP platforms allow different systems to communicate, integrate, and ...

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing, Manufacturing ERP Guide

December 18, 2019

How Are Microsoft’s ERP Systems Different?

Microsoft has developed a powerhouse system in the form of Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations. If you’d like to learn about the functionality from more of a top level view, take a look ...

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing, Manufacturing ERP Guide

December 18, 2019

Are You Ready for an Upgrade?

Auditing readiness for an ERP upgrade can seem like a daunting task. If you feel like you’re caught in the technological dark ages, you’re not alone. Many companies make the assumption that an ...

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing, Manufacturing ERP Guide

December 18, 2019

Choosing the Right Partner

Choosing the right manufacturing ERP partner can be the difference between a smooth, functional process and a downright tedious process. We have put together a handy checklist for selecting an ERP ...

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing, Manufacturing ERP Guide

December 18, 2019

Unique Aspects of ERP Solutions for the Manufacturing Industry

Microsoft’s ERP solution can be customized to manage many types of business processes. Building a custom system form fit to the manufacturing industry, then customizing for your direct needs, ensures ...

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing, Manufacturing ERP Guide

December 18, 2019

Common ERP Implementation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Utilizing all of the sections above to create a comprehensive upgrade/implementation strategy helps things run smoothly, but there are some major risk factors to stay away from when you are looking ...

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing, Manufacturing ERP Guide

December 18, 2019

Develop and Execute an Implementation Plan

Gaining internal buy-in from the implementers as well as your executive team is a linchpin when implementing a manufacturing ERP system. We have put together a handy guide for a successful ERP ...

Automotive Manufacturing - Manufacturing ERP Implementation for the Auto Industry

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing, Manufacturing ERP Guide

December 18, 2019

Training Employees and Gaining Buy In

While we mentioned the importance of training the users who will be utilizing your software, we want to devote a section of this guide to training users properly as this is an item that can derail ...

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing, Manufacturing ERP Guide

December 18, 2019

Case Studies

Dell Dell is among the most well-known technology brands in the world. They were one of the first to sell computer products directly to consumers. Dell needed solutions to match their high-volume, ...

Topics: Manufacturing

December 16, 2019

The Top 5 Automotive Trends for 2020

Some big changes are coming in 2020! With each new year, we seem to be faced with a new set of changes in the automotive industry, far surpassing trends experienced over the past few decades. 2020 ...

rap definition robotic process automation explained

Topics: IoT & Analytics, ERP

December 16, 2019

What is RPA? Robotic Process Automation Explained

More executives are turning to an emerging technology practice called robotic process automation (RPA), to streamline operations and reduce costs. With RPA, businesses can automate tedious, ...

what microsoft dynamics 365 for finance and operations users need t oknow about azure data lake storage gen2

Topics: ERP

December 09, 2019

What Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance & Operations Users Need to Know About Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2

Prior to the introduction of Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations (D365FO), AX 2012 users were able to directly access the transactional database using traditional OLEDB or ODBC ...

two-women-in-front-of-dry-erase-board-1181533 (1)

Topics: CRM

December 03, 2019

How To Navigate Common Customer Service Challenges with Microsoft Dynamics 365

Due to the recent technology and digital boom, an entire “customer revolution” has taken place and a new breed of an informed ‘Customer 2.0’ has emerged. This ‘Customer 2.0’ wants to purchase your ...

Topics: CRM

December 02, 2019

Power Apps: Solving One Business Challenge at a Time

Power Apps is a tool used to create, connect and extend your internal business applications – including Dynamics 365 and Office 365 – but also 200+ other applications. The beauty of Power Apps is ...

Topics: CRM

November 27, 2019

Microsoft Power Apps for Beginners: How Can it Be Useful for You?

Microsoft Power Apps is, fundamentally, a development platform for mobile and web apps. It allows “citizen developers” to reach capabilities that were once only reserved for high-end developers and ...

Topics: IoT & Analytics

November 13, 2019

How a Financial Planning & Analysis Solution Can Impact Your Business

About a year ago, a survey of finance officers found that a financial planning & analysis (FP&A) solution was at the top of their list of key finance processes. It beat strategic planning, ...

Topics: IoT & Analytics

November 08, 2019

How to Easily Migrate and Access Your Historical Data

When companies invest in a Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations implementation (or Microsoft Dynamics AX), they are faced with decision of whether to move their previous data into their new system. Some ...

Topics: CRM, Manufacturing

November 05, 2019

What Every Automotive Supplier Should Be Doing

Most of the automotive parts manufacturers we work with have a pretty efficient shop floor. Lean manufacturing has its roots in the automotive industry and most OEMs and parts suppliers have been ...

Topics: IoT & Analytics

October 31, 2019

Is the Data Warehouse a Zombie?

In honor of Halloween this year, we’re going to help answer the question of whether or not data warehouses can be considered zombies these days. For years, there have been a few technology pundits ...

Topics: ERP

October 22, 2019

Data Lake Storage for Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations

The transition of Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365FO) from an on-premise ERP to a cloud-based ERP has created numerous changes, most of them highly advantageous for users, admins and ...

Topics: Business Transformation, CRM, ERP

October 15, 2019

5 Fundamentals to Becoming a Global Connected Enterprise

Consumers use technology to their advantage. With it they are less tolerant, less loyal, and more adventurous and they have learned how to exercise control over brands.

Topics: ERP

October 10, 2019

3 Ways Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Modern ERP System

You probably don’t think you use Artificial Intelligence (AI) on a regular basis, but if you have a smart home device, check out recommended products on Amazon, or use Google’s local search results, ...

Topics: CRM, ERP

October 04, 2019

4 Ways Your Dynamics System Should Be Supported

Whether you are using Microsoft Dynamics 365, or previous versions like Dynamics CRM or AX in your business, there are certain ways to keep the systems running smoothly. For your system to gather and ...

Topics: IoT & Analytics

September 30, 2019

10 Signs your Company Needs DataCONNECT for Dynamics

Is DataCONNECT a wise investment for your organization? Well first off, what is DataCONNECT? Have you ever thought to yourself, 'I can't make any sense of this data' or, 'how can we actually ...

Topics: CRM, ERP

September 16, 2019

How Do The Features of Microsoft Dynamics 365 in the Cloud Compare to On-Premise?

Enterprises across the globe are gradually moving their business applications to various online platforms. But these enterprises are, however, debating which deployment option (in-cloud, on-premise, ...

Topics: ERP

August 28, 2019

The Voice of the Operator: Turning Data Into Insight

How ERP systems generate so much data Those of us who “live and breathe” Dynamics 365 implementation are flooded with information about orders and transactions. There are transactions for shipments, ...

Topics: Business Transformation, CRM, ERP

August 12, 2019

Best Practices to Ensure Successful Change Management

Since the mid-2000s, organizational change management has become a permanent feature of the business landscape. As vast new innovative technologies come up, once-powerful business models are on the ...

Topics: Manufacturing, Field Service, Energy

August 07, 2019

Field Service Delivery: Quality, Speed or Price?

There’s an adage that says, “You can have something cheap, fast or good. Pick two of the three. You can’t have it all.” The truth is that quality, speed and price are all important to customers. This ...

Topics: IoT & Analytics, Field Service

August 05, 2019

5 Ways to Increase Technician Efficiency at Remote Facility Locations

Getting the right technician, with the right tools and resources, to the right job, at the right time, can be complicated. But the success of those processes is vital for any field service operation. ...

Topics: Field Service

August 02, 2019

What an Empowered Field Service Technician Looks Like

Think for a moment about how things operate for many field service businesses today. They get word a piece of equipment is broken, a work order is likely created in some system, and someone prints ...

Topics: Manufacturing, Field Service, Energy

July 31, 2019

Are you Ready for Connected Field Service?

With most field service operations, a piece of equipment experiences a problem, and the customer calls. You dispatch a technician who goes to the site and runs diagnostics. If you’re lucky, all the ...

Topics: CRM, ERP

July 29, 2019

Why Your Project Go-Live is Not the End, But the Beginning

After what may seem like a long, but hopefully successful journey, you can finally start to see the light as your go-live date approaches. But we’ve got news. That light is the beginning of a whole ...

Topics: ERP

July 29, 2019

MCA CONNECT Achieves 2019/2020 Inner Circle Recognition for Microsoft Business Applications

[Denver, CO – July 26, 2019] - MCA Connect, a Microsoft Gold Partner, has achieved the prestigious 2019/2020 Inner Circle for Microsoft Business Applications for the 11th year. Membership in this ...

Topics: ERP

July 19, 2019

MCA Connect has been named to the Bob Scott’s Top 100 VARs for 2019

[Denver, CO – July 18, 2019] - MCA Connect, a global systems integrator and Microsoft Dynamics Gold Partner, has been named to the Bob Scott’s Top 100 VARS for 2019. The Top 100 resellers are chosen ...

Topics: Field Service

July 19, 2019

Which is the Best Field Service Software for You?

What’s the best field service software for your organization? That depends. The best field service software is one that gets your company results.

Topics: IoT & Analytics

July 17, 2019

How to Get Started with Internet of Things (IoT)

The key to launching your first IoT project is to start small. Internet of Things (IoT) devices are taking the manufacturing world by storm. Back in 2017, at the Industry of Things World conference, ...

Topics: Field Service

July 16, 2019

Are Whiteboards & Paper Tickets Shackling Field Service Operations?

Being a technology consulting company, we occasionally forget how much we take technology for granted. Our consultants regularly communicate and collaborate with vendors, clients and contractors ...

Topics: IoT & Analytics, Field Service, Energy

June 11, 2019

3 Trends Helping Oil & Gas Companies Protect and Grow Field Service Revenue

Leading oil & gas companies have taken many steps towards cost reductions to help their bottom line. Steps like, streamlining organizational design, reducing head count, renegotiating contracts, ...

Topics: Field Service, Energy

June 04, 2019

5 Biggest Mistakes Made by Oil & Gas COOs

Oil & Gas COOs have a complex job in one of the most demanding industries. COOs must figure out how to manage fluctuating production costs, uncertain energy prices, rugged conditions, globalization, ...

Topics: IoT & Analytics, Manufacturing

May 23, 2019

How IoT & Connected Devices are Changing the Manufacturing Landscape

The expansion of smart devices has reached a level that no one can ignore. Devices with wireless connectivity are more present in people’s homes today than not. But smart technology has some heritage ...

Topics: IoT & Analytics, Manufacturing, Field Service

May 16, 2019

Manufacturing Field Service: How to Increase Technician Profitability by 25%

The goals of field service software are to get the right technician, with the right tools to the right job at the right time. This will help increase technician efficiency and improve customer ...

Blog

Why S&OP is Critical for Manufacturing COVID-19 Recovery

How to Build a Future-Ready Strategy for Manufacturing

Are These Pitfalls Preventing You from Maximizing Your CRM Investment?

How to Better Manage the Automotive Bid Response Process

6 Challenges in Oil and Gas and How to Solve Them

6 Best Practices in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

5 Benefits that Explain the Importance of CRM in Manufacturing

Why Oil & Gas Companies Need Joint Venture Accounting Software in 2020

Oil & Gas Buzzing about Rental Management Software

Looking to Upgrade from MAPICS? You're not alone.

Enterprise Resource Planning: An Introduction

How Are Microsoft’s ERP Systems Different?

Are You Ready for an Upgrade?

Choosing the Right Partner

Unique Aspects of ERP Solutions for the Manufacturing Industry

Common ERP Implementation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Develop and Execute an Implementation Plan

Training Employees and Gaining Buy In

Case Studies

The Top 5 Automotive Trends for 2020

What is RPA? Robotic Process Automation Explained

What Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance & Operations Users Need to Know About Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2

How To Navigate Common Customer Service Challenges with Microsoft Dynamics 365

Power Apps: Solving One Business Challenge at a Time

Microsoft Power Apps for Beginners: How Can it Be Useful for You?

How a Financial Planning & Analysis Solution Can Impact Your Business

How to Easily Migrate and Access Your Historical Data

What Every Automotive Supplier Should Be Doing

Is the Data Warehouse a Zombie?

Data Lake Storage for Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations

5 Fundamentals to Becoming a Global Connected Enterprise

3 Ways Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Modern ERP System

4 Ways Your Dynamics System Should Be Supported

10 Signs your Company Needs DataCONNECT for Dynamics

How Do The Features of Microsoft Dynamics 365 in the Cloud Compare to On-Premise?

The Voice of the Operator: Turning Data Into Insight

Best Practices to Ensure Successful Change Management

Field Service Delivery: Quality, Speed or Price?

5 Ways to Increase Technician Efficiency at Remote Facility Locations

What an Empowered Field Service Technician Looks Like

Are you Ready for Connected Field Service?

Why Your Project Go-Live is Not the End, But the Beginning

MCA CONNECT Achieves 2019/2020 Inner Circle Recognition for Microsoft Business Applications

MCA Connect has been named to the Bob Scott’s Top 100 VARs for 2019

Which is the Best Field Service Software for You?

How to Get Started with Internet of Things (IoT)

Are Whiteboards & Paper Tickets Shackling Field Service Operations?

3 Trends Helping Oil & Gas Companies Protect and Grow Field Service Revenue

5 Biggest Mistakes Made by Oil & Gas COOs

How IoT & Connected Devices are Changing the Manufacturing Landscape

Manufacturing Field Service: How to Increase Technician Profitability by 25%

Categories

Join Our List

Let’s Talk