Updated · Originally published
Good Dynamics GP support is expensive, because it is provided by software experts who have spent years working with the product and their time is valuable.
A little known secret is that these same Dynamics GP support experts regularly volunteer their time for free. All you have to do is make an appointment at the Medic Desk at GPUG Summit.
I asked three GPUG Summit experts to explain why the Medic stations are so valuable:
of Dynamic Communities says, “The best example I can give is our Business Solutions MVP, , who signed to help for one hour at the Medics desk hour last year in Tampa at GPUG Summit 2016 and stayed at the desk for half a day. Leslie, and a lot of the other MVPs and GPUG All-Stars, are willing to keep working with any Dynamics GP user who has a problem, to get it solved. Leslie is probably the posterchild for that attitude. If she isn’t presenting a session, she will sit at a Medic Desk the entire day if needed and not complain. At GPUG Summit you can get access to MVP Medics, GPUG All-Star Medics, plus other subject matter experts that volunteer. There are plenty of people to help you during the event, at no charge.”
of Training Dynamo says, “I think it is amazing that the people who volunteer to be Medics are usually really senior resources, owners of their companies, people who have worked with Dynamics GP forever. You get experienced people helping you, people that are enthusiastic about the Dynamics GP product that can think about your issue in creative ways. I've seen Medics connect to the customers' system when they are given access, so they can actually fix problems right away.
And they're in a really good mood because they're enjoying themselves at the conference!
I've been a Medic myself several times and the best users to work with are the ones that have thought about their issues in advance because they know that the Medics are going to be there. I've had people come up to me and say, "These are the five things I want to have someone help me with. I've worked with my partner, but we've just kind of hit a wall. None of us can think of a solution." Or “"I did this report and it doesn't work." If you can, bring a copy of the report or a screenshot. The more prepared you are, the more value you will get. If you ask vague questions you are going to get vague answers because that is the best we can do.
Many of the Medics know each other. At Summit in Reno, , another Medic, was working with a user. I walked by and was pulled into the conversation and we ended up doing the support piece together. The customer paid nothing, but he had two really good Dynamics GP people kind of battling it out to decide together the best solution for him. Where else can you get that? Especially for free.
Sometimes when I am helping someone with an issue I know there are ISV or add-on products that would be a good fit. They can pull out their expo map and I can point out the booths they should visit. A couple times I have taken them over to the booth and made an introduction and told the ISV partner exactly what they needed to see. This was possible because we are all at GPUG Summit together.”
from Briware Solutions says, “At one point during GPUG Summit conference, sent a tweet asking for help at the Medic desk as there were more customers than Medics and she was worried that users were standing unaided. Though we were attending sessions at the time, myself and both came to the desk and were able to help “stem the tide”. This is the level of support that comes from these conferences. That just doesn’t happen anywhere else.”
Will you be at GPUG Summit?
When you are budgeting the cost of a trip to GPUG Summit, make sure you factor in the money you will save with some free Microsoft Dynamics GP support from the Medic Desk.
When you arrive at Summit, ask when and where you can find the GP Medic “office hours” and then just show up. There is no need to sign up ahead of time. You will get some great Dynamics GP support, for free, plus meet some exceptional people.
By ERP Software Blog Editor, www.erpsoftwareblog.com