Upgrading NAV & How to Ensure a Smooth Transition to the RTC Dynamics NAV Midwest Regional User Day May 9, 2012 Chad Williams & Jenny Hollingsworth ABC Computers, Inc. Peer to Peer | Greater Scale | More Voices | Faster www.navug.com Where USERS Make the Difference! Introduction Jenny Hollingsworth – Application Consultant Chad Williams – Development Manager ABC Computers – – – – In business for about 28 years 3 locations in WI and 1 in South Bend, IN Top Microsoft partner specializing in NAV Over 70 customers throughout Midwest/US Where USERS Make the Difference! Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 No more Classic Client Role Tailored Client Only Need to be using Microsoft SQL Server, not C/SIDE database If you want to stay current, what is the best path to get you there? Where USERS Make the Difference! What Are Your Options? Option 1: Go directly to the NAV2009 RTC or NAV2013 Option 2: – Go to NAV2009 Classic Client – Phased approach to get to NAV2009 RTC – Then upgrade to NAV 2013 Where USERS Make the Difference! Why Go to NAV2009 Classic First? Less of a “SHOCK” to the users Minimizes risk, you can control how much of RTC you start using and when – However, do NOT let Classic client become a crutch Allows you as a customer to control the cost More proactive approach Where USERS Make the Difference! What is the Typical Upgrade Project Flow? Planning Process – – – – Conduct a Procedure Survey Understand your business processes Identify GAPS between old and new versions Decision: Re-Implementation or Standard Upgrade Development – Compare & Merge Process – Data Conversion Test Deployment – Establish a test environment Where USERS Make the Difference! What is the Typical Upgrade Project Flow? ABC Computers Testing – Preliminary testing to catch frontline errors Customer Training – Training on any new functionality being utilized Customer Acceptance Testing – Create a test plan and use it – You know your system better than anyone – Taking full responsibility for testing ensures success Where USERS Make the Difference! What is the Typical Upgrade Project Flow? Deployment (Go-Live) – Scheduled during off business hours • Typically over a weekend – Data conversion can be done remotely – Upgrade clients, server, and licenses – Application Consultant onsite, Developer oncall remotely Where USERS Make the Difference! Next Step – Transition to RTC Object Transformation – Dataports to XML ports – Forms to Pages – Classic Reports to RTC Reports Training on RTC – Review and select User Roles – How to Navigate in the RTC – How to Customize in the RTC Phased Approach by User/Department Where USERS Make the Difference! Final Step – Upgrade to NAV2013 Repeat “Typical” Upgrade Process instead of a “Complex” Upgrade Where USERS Make the Difference! How to Ensure a Successful Upgrade Planning Upfront – Spend the time upfront, critical step Communicate changes before they happen Use a phased approach – Don’t do everything at once Take ownership of NAV – TEST, TEST, TEST Review Customizations – Don’t bring forward customizations no longer used Where USERS Make the Difference! Ask the Audience What have you learned during an upgrade? What went wrong? What went right? Were your goals reached? Questions Where USERS Make the Difference!