Database Management Solution Software
For greater insight and smarter decisions: Microsoft Dynamics NAV and SQL Server 2005—together
Updated: January 16, 2006
Your business is growing, and expansion is smooth. Or maybe not. To relieve growing pains, you might be searching for integrated, streamlined access to data sources for your employees and decision makers. How about access to security-enhanced information with reliable backup processes, streamlined database management, and low total cost of ownership? Is that too much to ask?
Microsoft doesn't think so. Microsoft Dynamics NAV (now part of Microsoft Dynamics) and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 are a superior pair of integrated financial and data-management solutions. These solutions together are capable of helping you deliver fast, valuable, and customizable information. So you get the tools you need to help you sail through the growing pains smoothly.
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Use Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and Microsoft Dynamics NAV together
Project managers and decision makers don't have to struggle with inflexible reporting tools. Employees don't need to dig through files, drawers, and trash cans to find the invoices they need. And no more walking the length of the building to the accounting department or warehouse to make sure customers get what they want when they want it. Who needs it? The Microsoft SQL Server option for Microsoft Dynamics NAV helps companies turn business data into smart decisions, fast.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV provides financial, customer relationship, and supply chain management solutions. These integrated, adaptable business solutions work like (and with) familiar Microsoft software such as Microsoft SQL Server 2005 to streamline processes across an entire business.
Integration with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is key to delivering adaptable business solutions. Microsoft Dynamics business software, including Microsoft Dynamics NAV, is (and will continue to be) designed to take advantage of the business intelligence, data management, enhanced performance, and high-availability features of SQL Server 2005. Integration can mean the difference of looking at receivables once a month or the instant you need them.
Gain better insight and make smarter decisions
Together, Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 give companies a solid data management and analysis platform to build on for future growth. As an option for Microsoft Dynamics NAV, MicrosoftSQL Server 2005 makes it easier for your employees to access, extract, and analyze business data and information to improve business decisions. Employees can unlock the value of business data and share relevant information across the organization in a security-enhanced environment. They can access and work concurrently with accurate data and configure Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) cubes easily by using a set of forms within Microsoft Dynamics NAV.
Both offerings enable deeper understanding of information generated from Microsoft Dynamics NAV. And both help to ensure that everyone in your organization has easy access to the same accurate, current data. So employees can focus on spotting trends, problems, and opportunities and can generate reports that fuel smart strategic and operational decisions.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV and SQL Server 2005 together enable the following analytical functions:
| • | Structuring Microsoft Dynamics NAV tables and fields into multidimensional cubes so the information can be reviewed in the format and context most useful to each user |
| • | Building and analyzing data warehouses of any size |
| • | Structuring data and tables from Microsoft Dynamics NAV into multidimensional cubes for easier viewing using SQL Server Analysis Services |
| • | More memory, speed, and capabilities for organizing and using data efficiently and to aid in decision making |
The new SQL Server Reporting Services functionality enables users to combine data from Microsoft Dynamics NAV and other applications into custom reports. Without this automated report building tool, your organization might have to endure a painstaking and error-prone manual process such as transferring data from multiple applications into a data warehouse and/or cutting and pasting data from different reports into an application such as the Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheet software to create the report. Business Analytics for Microsoft Dynamics NAVhelps you gain business insight, make faster smarter decisions, and equip your employees to contribute to your growth. For an overview of SQL Server 2005 benefits, see Microsoft SQL Server 2005 features at a glance.
Streamline your business operations and grow
The Microsoft Dynamics NAV intuitive, task-based design is similar to other Microsoft products. As a result, employees can work faster and more efficiently because they feel at home with the application. Companies can improve employee productivity because data and information is centralized within the solution. Security-enhanced and tight integration with other systems and applications enable all areas of the organization to access and share accurate information.
Because Microsoft SQL 2005 is an industry standard database, it can help you reduce the costs of integrating to other systems and applications. Microsoft SQL Server integrates easily with third-party products and applications and other Microsoft products, making it easier to adapt your solution as your business grows.
And with extended OLAP functionality, it is possible to build and analyze data warehouses of any size. The information you need to attract more customers, expand your marketing strategies, and form successful business partnerships is easily stored and accessible to your organization.
Empower your employees to manage data
Instead of adding IT professionals to your payroll to accommodate growth, why not empower your IT department to manage your company's data more efficiently? Microsoft SQL Server 2005 helps you save time and money by managing memory and the size of your data files automatically. By using SQL Server 2005 and Microsoft Dynamics NAV together, you can automate the administrative tasks you do daily, weekly, and monthly. Program jobs and alerts using wizards. Create jobs for backing up and restoring data—and execute without any disruption to your work. Program alerts to monitor backup procedures and the database, warning the system administrator when problems arise.
SQL Server 2005 provides the following:
| • | Real-time backup and restore |
| • | Administrators can anticipate problems before they happen |
| • | Administrators can work more efficiently and help to ensure security-enhanced data management |
Get substantial value for your investment
What type of value can you get for your investment? SQL Server 2005 offers a compelling, total cost of ownership for Microsoft Dynamics business software implementations. SQL Server 2005 is licensed per processor, not per core, reducing the database cost by a factor of three or more. Also, Microsoft Dynamics with integration tools such as Microsoft BizTalk Server offers a choice in deployment strategies forsubsidiaries, divisions, and branches of global enterprise. This enables global enterprises to choose a lower cost solution for their subsidiaries and divisions while still achieving integration with corporate systems. To learn more, read Microsoft SQL Server 2005 total cost of ownership and cost comparisons.
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