Dec7Written by:SuperUser Account
12/7/2010 2:31 PM 
By DynamicPoint a California (CA) Microsoft SharePoint Partner
We all know that SharePoint is a collaboration tool but here are some real-life examples of how companies can deploy SharePoint Sites that will increase productivity and increase the value of your current ERP or CRM solution. Here are the 3 activities that will save your company time and money:
1. Company Intranet – Employee Self-Service Portal Websites
Many of you may already be utilizing SharePoint for your company intranet site for document management, however keep in mind this is the perfect platform to give everyone access to the information in databases, reports, and business applications. By tapping into different data sources including SQL and Oracle databases and even your ERP or CRM Solution, you can ensure people across the organization can locate the information they need to make good decisions.
Next, deploy an employee self-service portal that will let employees manage personnel information and streamline administrative tasks. This not only saves the overhead costs associated to additional HR and payroll resources, but most employees prefer the timeliness and privacy of directly viewing and updating their own data.
Integrate your Employee Self Service Portal with your ERP solution; Dynamics GP, AX or NAV and make the following functionality available:
· Time Entry
· Automate Benefits Enrollment
· Review Employee Profile
2. Customer Portals
Your customers will appreciate the no-waiting, 24/7 convenience of a customer self-service portal. Not only are customer portals efficient for your organization, but people often like them better than conventional, more time-consuming, agent-assisted support.
Connect your CRM solution, Dynamics CRM, to your SharePoint Customer Portal and extend crucial data allowing customers access to the following functionality:
· Order Entry and Tracking
· File Management
· Customer Service Activities and Support Tickets
3. Vendor Portal
Create a secure vendor portal and provide a single web interface for your suppliers to log-in and view open orders as well as submit information to you such as electronic invoices, ship notifications, production schedules, delivery acknowledgements and more. These collaboration functions are designed to improve your vendor communications thereby receiving your purchased product or service in a timely manner and to the specifications you requested.
By integrating a Vendor Portal with your Microsoft Dynamics ERP solution, you can provide the data that is critical to serving the needs of you and your vendors with the following available functionality:
· Request for Quotes
· Purchase Order Status
· Accounts Payable Status
Learn more about custom integrated portals at www.dynamicpoint.com. Integrating your portals with your CRM and ERP solutions will allow your organization to provide the data that is critical to serving the needs of the entire organization and its customers.
By DynamicPoint a California (CA) Microsoft SharePoint Partner