Microsoft Dynamics SL has always had a strong reputation for project accounting going back decades.  Project Maintenance and the setup of the Project Controller module help define how Dynamics SL will function and is key to any successful implementation.  Acumatica provides its users project functionality as well, so how do the main setup options compare with Dynamics SL?

Integration with other modules

At the heart of any good project accounting package is its integration with the other ERP module.  Dynamics SL has a very tight integration with the financial modules (GL, AP, AR, cash management and payroll).  It also works very well with Inventory and you can load project commitments from the Purchasing module.  The multi-currency and multi-company features are very strong, too.

Acumatica also has a very tight integration with the financial modules (GL, AP, AR and cash management).  Purchase orders will update commitments in Acumatica and Inventory is integrated as well.  Multi-company and multi-currency project transactions can be handled in Acumatica as well.

Acumatica and Dynamics SL are very similar in this area, but with Acumatica’s CRM module users can create a project quote and have it automatically create a project once the quote is accepted.  All budget information is transferred over to the project.  Dynamics SL doesn’t have a CRM module and would require extensive customization to replicate this feature.

Project Maintenance

Once a project is setup, both Dynamics SL and Acumatica have a screen to allow users to review the customer, billing address, project manager, allocation method, billing rule (actually in a separate screen in Dynamics SL) tasks and budgets.

Acumatica will also show users the account group balances (i.e. Labor, Revenue, WIP), the activities (details for time posted on timecards or other activities) and invoices related to the project.  This information is available in Dynamics SL, but users need to open several screens to see what Acumatica can provide in one.

Project System Setup

Both Dynamics SL (Project Controller Setup) and Acumatica (Project Preferences) offer screens to maintain system wide settings.  In here you are able to define reference numbering for transactions, turning integrations with modules on or off, and setting up a “non-post” project.

However, the approach to the project system setup is one area where the differences start to appear.  Dynamics SL has several other setup options or requirements:

• Automating Financial Transaction Transfer (FTT) – Not a requirement in Acumatica, released transactions are automatically available in the project series
• Utilization process and type defaults – While Dynamics SL has an employee utilization module, it is under-used and an additional expense.  Acumatica provides some basic dashboard reporting related to employee utilization out of the box.
• Flexible Report Column Maintenance – Many reports in Dynamics SL require users to populate (and maintain) a table for reports to print with correct information.  This isn’t necessary in Acumatica.

Acumatica has some additional setup options not available in Dynamics SL:

• Approvals – The creation of projects, invoices and project quotes can be sent through an approval process using Approval Maps.  In addition, notifications can be maintained and sent through Acumatica.
• Mailing Settings – Dynamics SL does provide for some functionality with regards to sending invoices automatically to customers (Quick Send), however Acumatica also allows for sending of change orders and quotes and users have the ability to customize the notification template.

Acumatica can match and in many cases exceed Dynamics SL with regards to project functionality.  And Acumatica continues to get better with each release.

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