Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 and Tablets: Where is Business Analyzer?

Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 is out. Users are past the holidays and deep into year end, after which, I expect to see a much bigger push to GP 2013. This is a great release and it's generated a lot of excitement. But I find myself already asking "What's next?"

There is more to come with Dynamics GP 2013 including its release on Windows Azure, an updated Business Portal and the continued roll out of the web client to more areas of the system. But I want more. I have some thoughts on where Microsoft  should head next. Not necessarily specific features, but broader themes and one of the biggest is mobile.

The arrival of the web client opened the door to more mobile options. That is, mobile in the classic sense of "not in the office". I'm really thinking of mobile in terms of smartphones and tablets. I don't think that the GP team needs to be worrying about cutting checks via mobile phone just yet, but there is one piece of low hanging mobile fruit dangling in front of the GP team: Business Analyzer.

In March of last year at Convergence 2012, Microsoft showed off a concept of Business Analyzer on a Windows 8 tablet. It got rave reviews. This product needs to get finished and released, now. On a PC, Business Analyzer is just one of many tools that could be used to deliver graphical reports. It often gets lost in a crowded field that includes SharePoint, Excel and SQL Reporting Services (SSRS). But on a tablet or a phone, Business Analyzer could ...