September 2009

Well, the AV and IT equipment has gone, the ranks of chairs dispersed, the Partner stands dismantled, Coldplay’s X&Y album returned to its CD case and the Marriott Hotel in Huntingdon reverts to business as usual as the Cambridge Online Client day 2009 has come to a close. We await the final verdict from our client feedback questionnaires, but we hope everyone who attended felt it was an inspiring day, spent with inspiring people in a welcoming and efficient environment.

Our theme this year was “Smarter, not Harder.” Our primary aim was to help clients understand how they can better use their Microsoft Dynamics applications and related solutions to resolve business issues and improve performance.

We certainly know from comments we received yesterday, that our two Keynote speakers hit the mark with their presentations. Firstly, Gary Simon, Managing Editor of FSN Publishing Ltd, who told us that successful companies aren't battening down the hatches and waiting for an “official” declaration of the end of the recession. Instead, they are anticipating rising demand and getting busy planning strategically and making operational improvements ready for better times. Secondly, Steve Farr, Product Manager for Microsoft Dynamics UK who gave us an entertaining look back at the “good old days” of 64k systems and an inspirational look forward to Microsoft’s Roadmap for Dynamics to 2017 and beyond. He certainly left us in no doubt about Microsoft’s commitment to Dynamics NAV and CRM and to ensuring they remain the world’s best business productivity solutions.

There was a choice of twelve Breakout Sessions this year, ranging from NAV budget functionality to total resilience planning plus purchasing, document management, reporting, virtualisation, forecast management, CRM workflow, internet connectivity, Activigence, Windows Mobile technologies, CRM Service and disaster recovery… phew!

We were also very pleased to welcome six Solution Partners who hosted mini exhibition stands throughout the day: AGR (supply chain planning), Targit (business intelligence tools), Equisys (document management), Miracle (HR management), Marathon (business continuity) and Jet Reports International (reporting inside Excel). Just before dinner, Phil Bride (President – Jet Reports) and Kip Michaelson (UK Sales Channel Manager – Jet Reports), who had flown in specially from Portland, Oregon, treated us to a preview of the superb Jet Reports 2009 which was launched on Tuesday this week.

The dinner concluded with a fund raising for the vital work of the East Anglian Children’s Hospice (EACH) - between clients, Partners and staff we raised the brilliant sum of £600. The raffle prize of an XBOX 360 Elite was won by a delighted Gemma Thomas from Dawson Media Direct (Kate Malsher drew the winning ticket but insists, despite DMD being one of her clients, that it was definitely not a “fix”).

We started the day with the Coldplay track Talk - and that is what we now need to do. As Jon Gardner remarked more than once, the hard work for Cambridge Online starts now, especially for Kate and himself. They will be getting out and about following up on interest expressed by our clients in better utilisation of NAV and CRM and in the excellent productivity and planning tools supplied by our Solution Partners. As a business, too, we continue to expand our skills and our solution offerings. We are hugely excited about the possibilities, both for our own business and for those of our clients, in our combined service offering - whether you need business solutions, infrastructure or communications technologies we can provide a one-stop-shop.

We hope we demonstrated to all the clients who attended yesterday that we have the will and the skills to assist with improving utilisation of Dynamics and that we are committed to the best possible Account Management and Customer Service offerings. Thank-you very much to all those who gave up precious time to attend Client Day 2009. We hope to see you - and those clients unable to make it this year - at Client Day 2010.

Ray Olds

 

 

 

 

About Cambridge Online
Incorporated in 1978, Cambridge Online Systems Limited is a highly experienced and trusted provider of Information Technology solutions and supporting services.
Cambridge Online’s Business Systems Group specialises in Microsoft Dynamics™ Business Solutions for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) to mid-market and corporate businesses in a wide range of industry sectors.
Cambridge Online’s Applied Technology Group specialises in the provision, development and support of IT infrastructure – covering computer systems, storage, networks and telecommunications. It is a major UK business partner for Hewlett-Packard and other industry-leading technology vendors.

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