The team at Merit Solutions hopes that your New Year's resolutions are going strong, as we are now just over a month into the new year.

This quarter's newsletter contains valuable information about the release of Microsoft Dynamics^TM GP 9.0, as well as news and tips from Microsoft and Merit Solutions.

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We recently talked with Bob Kennedy, our Director of Business Development, about Merit Solutions' engagement process. Read on to find out how IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and EQ (Emotional Quotient) work together for project success. Watch for more info on Merit's engagement process as well as other pertinent topics in upcoming newsletters.

Q. Bob, of the challenges you see in the industry, what’s the most pressing for clients to address?
A. As a whole, I believe the industry is under-serving clients.

Q. In what way?
A. Many technology and consulting providers are “deal” minded, not “implementation” minded. Often this results in an over-promised and under-delivered project. Furthermore, clients themselves often spend less effort organizing the right project team, and thinking through their project process, than is required for success.

Q. What impact does this have on clients?
A. There are some startling figures. According to a recent AMR report that studied firms deploying business software, 52% of the deployment projects were, on average, 178% over budget; they took two and a half times longer to deploy than intended; and once implemented, they delivered only 30% of the promised benefits.

Q. What steps can be taken to ensure a higher rate of success?
A. First, follow a results-driven process that is measurable. Companies that follow a project methodology that is proven have a much higher rate of success.

Click here to read the last three steps for a higher rate of success.

Don’t miss Merit Solutions at Microsoft’s 10th annual customer event, Convergence 2006!

Where: Dallas, Texas, USA
Expo Booth: 352
When: Saturday, March 25 - Tuesday, March 28

This annual customer event provides an exceptional agenda of various speakers, detailed product demonstrations, and in-depth learning sessions. Keynote speakers include Bill Gates, Doug Burgum and Jeff Raikes.

You won’t want to miss Merit Solutions President Bill Burke and Microsoft Partner Technical Specialist Michael Crigler present their session Facing Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance with the Assistance of Microsoft Dynamics^TM GP.

At the event, you can meet with us to discuss your Merit Solutions products, learn about Merit Solutions’ future product plans and offerings, plus hear more about our exciting new software development services. Additionally, you can network with other firms using Merit Solutions products. Visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=dgasksbab.0.bw8rrsbab.zurtiqbab.258&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.microsoft.com%2Fconvergence or contact your Merit Solutions representative today!

As in past years, we’ll have a strong presence at Convergence. Merit Solutions will be located in Expo booth number 352; watch for a message from us with the time and location of our Facing Sarbanes-Oxley presentation and other opportunities where you can connect with the Merit Solutions team. We hope to see you in Dallas!

Merit Solutions is pleased to announce that all of its products will integrate with the newest version of Microsoft Business Solutions–Great Plains®, now known as Microsoft Dynamics^TM GP 9.0, by Convergence. (See "Where it All Comes Together".)

Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 brings a new name and even more people-centric design to a proven line of business management software. Coupled with products from Merit Solutions, users have a powerful solution that simplifies the user experience while empowering them to be their most productive and to fulfill their professional potential.

Audit Trails, for example, provides Microsoft Dynamics GP customers with track, trace and reporting capabilities for any changes associated with any data in not only Microsoft Dynamics GP, but also for any data in third-party software or customized software resident within Microsoft Dynamics GP. This includes information related to a change such as time, date, and user, as well as the “before data” and “after data” values associated with a change.

Click here to read more about Audit Trails and what sets it apart from similar solutions.

Corporate Headquarters has moved to larger offices. Please note our new address and phone/fax numbers:

Merit Solutions, Inc.
1749 S. Naperville Rd.,
Suite 200
Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone: 630-614-7133
Fax: 630-614-7141

Click here for contact information for all our locations.

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