Microsoft Updates Dynamics ERP Financial Reporting Tool

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Microsoft said it has begun shipping Management Reporter for its Dynamics ERP packages, a replacement for its existing Microsoft FRx financial analysis and reporting application for medium-sized businesses.

The updated application is part of a multiyear investment to broaden corporate performance management capabilities in Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Dynamics ERP line of products, the company said.

“Management Reporter retains many elements of the Microsoft FRx product but is built on a completely updated architecture that will provide a new level of scalability and reliability for customers,” Crispin Read, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics ERP, said in the statement.

Originally codenamed Management Reporter 2.0, the application is designed to let finance personnel create reports, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports, without requiring the assistance of the IT department.

“Management Reporter will include direct integration with the general ledger (GL) in your Microsoft Dynamics ERP solution, so there is no need to create a custom connection to your primary data source,” Microsoft said.

Additionally, Management Reporter provides support for satisfying regulatory requirements such as GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) as well as international reporting standards.

Among the new features that Management Reporter offers over its FRx predecessor are integration with Dynamics ERP general ledger functions, and “reusable building blocks” such as report, row, column and tree definitions for quickly creating a range of financial reports.

A new report library feature lets users secure, store, and view reports.

Management Reporter, which is available immediately to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010customers, will also come with other Dynamics ERP packages as they are updated. The application does not cost extra. The “GP” in Dynamics GP refers to the old Great Plains accounting software Microsoft acquired a decade ago and has since enhanced as an ERP platform.

Microsoft has posted a migration tool online, along with further information, in order to help customers make the transition from Microsoft FRx to Management Reporter.

Stuart J. Johnston is a contributing writer at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.