MVP Collaborative

MVP Collaborative has improved financial controls and increased productivity by implementing a flexible business management accounting system. Project management is the heart of their business. With Solomon Desktop, they have been able to enforce their project management processes through simple, intuitive web screens rather than standard operating procedure manuals and numerous training sessions saves them thousands of dollars each year.

About

When it comes to business meetings and executive presentations... personalized, custom, client-specific creative and production is what MVP Collaborative is all about. Their video, interactive, and business theater production is specifically designed to the exact needs of their clients, one project at a time. For that, MVP Collaborative has earned an incredible level of loyalty from their clients... many of whom they have served for over 20 years.

Information Access Anytime, Anywhere

MVP Collaborative invested in Microsoft Dynamics^® SL 5.0 - Solomon Desktop, and added an additional custom module from SVA Consulting called NetRequisitions which provides Purchase Order approvals via the web in Solomon Desktop. This technology investment allowed approximately five primary employees to utilize the Microsoft Dynamics SL windows application while the remaining company (approximately 40+) was able to utilize Solomon Desktop screens. All are able to manage projects, do timesheets/expense reports/PO's and view job profitability etc., from virtually anywhere in the world. In their business, project management is crucial, and for MVP it's a strong competitive advantage. Guided by solutions partner, First Tech Direct, MVP Communications implemented Microsoft Dynamics SL to help ensure that information and processes migrated to company-wide standards.

Microsoft Dynamics SL - A Flexible, Customizable Solution

According to Karl Siegert, MVP Collaborative implemented Microsoft Dynamics SL to provide enterprise-wide information delivery and workflow controls on project management that includes what their company calls "The Big Four" which are timesheets, expense reports, purchase orders and budgets. Microsoft Dynamics SL 5.0 web based timesheets and expense reports provides the heart of their cost management which also provides the approvals for purchase orders and budgets. Because Microsoft Dynamics SL is designed for customization and integration, the company also created a home page for project managers with a customized version of the time and expense approval screen adding all project approvals and encouraging them to happen as quickly as possible. Through the development of a custom project list screen with filtering capability, project managers can view all their open projects using MVP specific terminology. From there, project managers can view a custom Project Profitability Report that shows how they account for external and internal costs separately.

What Works for MVP Collaborative

"We have dramatically reduced the amount of time required to perform a wide range of administrative tasks. The result is that we can grow without having to make proportional increases in financial staff" MVP Collaborative Project Manager Karl Siegert says.

MVP saves at least two days in its closing process by automating processes and taking advantage of Microsoft Dynamics SL reports. Previously, financial reports were manually produced in spreadsheets and information wasn't current until the end of the month when all systems were updated and synchronized. Now, accounting and project managers can review the same information in real time and manage adjustments throughout the month rather than at the end of the month.

Overall, we are very impressed with the functionality of the new accounting system," Siegert said. "It provides all of the features that you'd expect from an accounting system while at the same time meeting our special requirements as a marketing communications company such as project management and sales management. Our reseller, First Tech Direct, also did an outstanding job in helping us set up and maximize the standard features of the system."

Return on Investment

For MVP Collaborative, moving from Peachtree to Microsoft Dynamics^® solution will provide major savings of both time and money on several levels:

Project Management-Incorporating the Project Management series will enhance the company's invoicing and project management capabilities, allowing it to better meet the urgent needs of its clients.

Reliability-The combined stability of Microsoft Dynamics SL and Microsoft^® SQL Server^TM provides the organization with a reliable system that's easy to maintain. Real-time information will provide project managers accurate project profitability status reports throughout the project.

Easy access to data-Through easy, customizable reporting and drill-down capabilities, up-to-date data is easily accessed at any time by decision makers.

Security-Detailed controls allows the organization to manage access to data.

MVP's mission is to help clients meet their business objectives by communicating effectively. When it comes to business meetings and executive presentations... personalized, custom, client-specific creative and production is what MVP is all about.