Contract Administration in Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0

Course 8537: One day; Instructor-led

Introduction
The one day Microsoft DynamicsT GP Contract Administration course explores the windows and functions used to process Contracts. This course also teaches about the underlying master tables used throughout the Field Service Series (FSS) modules. Additional features such as transfers, renewals, and cancellations are covered as well.

A thorough understanding of these topics allows you to handle all necessary functions regarding processing relating to service level contracts. You learn how to set up contract type and price books; and how to enter, maintain, and renew contracts. This course also shows you how to define default values that automatically populate data fields and gather the information you need to make better business decisions by exploring powerful inquiry and reporting options.

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Audience
Customers wanting to learn the basic features and to develop a working knowledge of the typical day-to-day procedures required to effectively use Contract Administration.

The class is targeted toward data entry clerks, administrators, office managers, CEOs, and consultants who need to understand the technical aspects of Microsoft Great Plains Contract Administration and gain foundational knowledge of the application functionality.

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At Course Completion
After completing this course, students should be able to:

• Enter and maintain different types of contracts.

• Process billing and revenue recognition for Contracts.

• Create contracts from Sales Order Processing.

• Handle transfers from quotes to live documents.

• Process renewal letters.

• Process auto-renewals and evergreen contracts.

• Perform analysis regarding contract profitability.

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Prerequisites
Before attending this course, students must have:

• General knowledge of Microsoft Windows.

• Basic knowledge of Inventory and Sales Order Processing.

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Microsoft Certified Professional Exams
No Microsoft Certified Professional exams are associated with this course currently.

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Course Materials
The student materials include a comprehensive workbook and other necessary items for this class.

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Course Outline
Chapter 1: Overview

This chapter provides a general overview of the features and benefits of using the Contract Administration module in an integrated environment. It also focuses on how this module integrates with other modules in the Microsoft Dynamics GP application.

Main Topics

• Contract Administration Features and Benefits

• Contract Administration Overview

• Integration

• Contract Administration Roadmap

After completing this chapter, students should be able to:

• Identify the features and benefits available when using Contract Administration.

• Discuss integration that takes place between Contract Administration and other modules within the application.

• Identify the navigation used to access the windows for transactions, reports, utilities, routines, and inquiries in Contract Administration.

Chapter 2: Setup Procedures

This chapter focuses on the setup procedures for the Contract Administration module. We will examine the pre-requisite setup and overlapping windows to make Contracts operate smoothly. Contract Administration setup reports are also discussed briefly.

Main Topics

• Contract Administration Setup Checklist

• Setup Procedures for Other Modules

• Item maintenance

• Contract Type Maintenance

• Contract Pricing Maintenance

• Contract Setup

Labs

• Setup precursor data for Returns

• Create Customer and Item extensions

• Create RMA Types

• Update RMA Types for Ready Close status

• Create RTV Types

Labs

• Contract Setup

• Contract Price Books

After completing this chapter, students should be able to:

• Customize settings for the Contract Administration module.

• Setup extended data for customers and items.

• Create Contract types.

• Create Contract price books.

Chapter 3: Equipment Maintenance

This chapter helps the student to understand the equipment master and it's relationship to inventory and customers and how it is used in the Contracts module.

Main Topics

• Inventory vs. Equipment

• Equipment maintenance

• System Configuration maintenance

• Equipment meter readings

Labs

• Create Equipment Maintenance records manually

• Create Equipment records from SOP

• Create Equipment records from PO Receiving

• Test your knowledge - Equipment maintenance

After completing this chapter, students should be able to:

• Enter and edit equipment records.

• Perform actions related to equipment.

Chapter 4: Contract Entry

This chapter describes how to enter contracts and reviews available features for billing and revenue recognition variations.

Main Topics

• Quick Start - Contract Entry

• Contract Record Types

• Contract Header

• Contract Renewal options

• Contract Sites

• Contract Lines

• Sales Contract Entry

• Contract Transfer

Labs

• Basic Contract Entry

• Contract Entry - discounts

• Sales Contract Entry

• Contract Entry - Quote

• Contract Transfer

• Test Your knowledge

After completing this chapter, students should be able to:

• Enter all types of contracts - quotes, templates, contracts.

• Set up additional features for renewal and revenue recognition.

Chapter 5: Contract Daily Procedures

This chapter discusses where to locate information about the contract to understand profitability and remaining invoices or revenue. The student will learn the process for billing and recognizing revenue. A review of the various ways to cancel contracts is discussed.

Main Topics

• Locating billing & revenue information

• Post contract invoices

• Revenue Recognition

• Cancelling contracts

Labs

• Canceling Contracts

• Contract Billing

• Revenue Recognition

After completing this chapter, students should be able to:

• Know how to analyze a live contract.

• Post contract invoices.

• Post revenue recognition.

Chapter 6: Contract Maintenance

This chapter discusses additional routines and utilities for the contract administration module

Main Topics

• Renewing Contracts

• Deleting & Purging contracts

• Inquiry and Reports

Labs

• Test Your Knowledge

After completing this chapter, students should be able to:

• Print contract renewal letters.

• Renew contracts individually or en masse via several different methods.

• Know the available inquiries and reports.

Chapter 7: Meters

This chapter discusses the concepts of meter billing.

Main Topics

• Contract Type Meters

• Equipment Meter readings

• Posting Meters

After completing this chapter, students should be able to:

• Setup metered equipment.

• Post meter readings.

• Setup and bill for meter overages.

Appendix A: SmartList

This appendix discusses the use of SmartList to access financial data. There are also optional exercises that can be completed by students if time permits.

Main Topics

• Using SmartLists

• Creating Objects

• Using the Search Button

• Saving New Objects as Favorites

Labs

• Contract Administration SmartList

After completing this appendix, students should be able to:

• Use SmartLists to access valuable returns data.

• Create new SmartList objects.

• Use the Search button to manage the information in a view.

• Explain the various options that are available when using SmartLists.

Appendix B: Glossary

This appendix presents a glossary of terms used in the Field Service industry. If time permits, review the terms with the class.

Appendix C: Case Study

This case study is a comprehensive lab that can be used to reinforce the learning that has occurred throughout the Contract Administration class.

After completing this chapter, students should be able to:

• Understand the necessary processes to set up and manage Contract Administration.

• Have more confidence in their ability to use Contract Administration in their company.

Appendix D: Answers

This section includes the answers to all the labs that appear through out the manual.