Article

Retreat, Retrench, or Replace: What To Do With Management Reporter

by Mark Polino
Director of Client Services, Fastpath, Integrated Business Group

In my last piece, I expressed my view that it was time to rethink Management Reporter (MR). Even if Microsoft decides to go that route, it is going to take a while to build a replacement. How should users deal with Management Reporter woes now?

Essentially, there are three strategies for Microsoft Dynamics ERP users to consider today: retreat, retrench, or replace. But be warned: none of them are perfect.

Retreat

Companies that aren't yet using Management Reporter can stay on FRx. Microsoft won't tell you that, and in truth, it's not a great option, but it is an option. FRx is no longer supported. Many of the building blocks of FRx are starting to have problems running on newer operating systems and with newer ERP versions. To get it to run with GP 2015, for example, you need to hunt down and replace a specific DLL. But it does work and you don't have to migrate your reports; they just run. For companies already using MR or companies not previously licensed for FRx, this isn't a viable option. There's no way to get a new FRx license or reverse migrate MR reports to FRx.

Another option is to use the financial reporting built into some packages. The Dynamics GP option is just awful and I've been told that a similar offering in NAV isn't much better. The problem is that your reporting needs have to be pretty simplistic for this option to work. If they are that simple, you might be okay with MR.

Pros: No additional cost; Potentially no conversions

Cons: Unsupported; Maybe difficult or impossible to run with new ERP versions

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About Mark Polino

Mark Polino is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a former Microsoft MVP (2007-2018) for Business Solutions. He is the author or coauthor of 5 books related to Microsoft Dynamics GP.  Mark also maintains the Dynamics GP focused website DynamicAccounting.net. He speaks and writes regularly about ERP related topics. Mark has been a controller and CFO for a division of a publicly traded company and he has  worked as a consultant implementing ERP solutions. Mark holds additional certifications including Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) , Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Dynamics Credentialed Professional for Dynamics GP 2015 (Core Install and Core Financials), Xero Certified. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Central Florida and an MBA from Rollins College. Mark lives with his family in Florida.

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