FRx had a good run. Released as an MS-DOS application in 1991 and a Windows product in 1993, the product changed the way that companies completed reporting, offering powerful functionality at the time and much-needed intelligence. Acquired by Great Plains Software, who was in turn acquired by Microsoft, this reporting tool spent decades in the spotlight as the go-to application for reporting.
However, time passed and the competitive market evolved; by the end of the 2000s, FRx was no longer atop the reporting world and Microsoft announced that it would no longer offer new licenses for the product. Dynamics GP 2010 saw Management Reporter introduced as a replacement for FRx, a powerful alternative to an aging product. The beginning of the end for FRx was announced in 2010 and by December 2012, FRx sold its last license.
15 Minutes of Fame for Management Reporter
On December 31, 2012, Microsoft terminated support for FRx, marking the official transition to Management Reporter. The switch from the familiar FRx to the new MR platform was cause for concern at some organizations—long-time users of FRx lost the familiar Excel interface for a proprietary one and lost some small-but-unique features. In GP 2013, 2015, and 2016, MR was the stock application for reporting, but this all changed in 2016. Announced privately at Amplify 2016 and publicly a week later, Microsoft informed the world that there would be “no major enhancements” to Management Reporter.
While still supported until 2026 and available to integrate with Dynamics GP 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2018 (along with other Dynamics products), eight years is a long time to go without an improvement.
What’s Next? Modern Planning and Budgeting with Jet Global: October 30, 2018
With six years having passed since the last FRx license was sold and two since the last major Management Reporter update, many users are wondering what’s next for their budgeting and planning.
If you’re asking this exact question as you enter planning season, join Innovative Cloud Solutions and Jet Global Data Technologies for a brief one-hour webinar on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at 11:00 AM EST. Click here to register or read more below.
In this webinar, technology experts will discuss the challenges of working with the no-longer supported Microsoft FRx reporting tool and no-longer updated Management Reporter, introducing two powerful budgeting and reporting solutions— Jet Reports and Jet Budgets.
Jet Reports
Imagine a familiar Excel-based interface, but smarter. If you miss the “good old days” of FRx (or are still using it) but are looking for a reporting platform that’s not only more powerful but provides continued support and updates, Jet Reports Professional provides both. With Jet Reports Professional, you receive fast, flexible financial and business reporting within Excel, giving team members access to advanced, accurate, and automated reporting data in a familiar interface.
The October 30 webinar will discuss Jet Reports functionality as the ideal replacement for FRx—providing a Dynamics-friendly reporting tool used by more than 14,000 companies.
Jet Budgets
Budgeting has always been a blind spot in ERP software. This isn’t a Dynamics-exclusive issue; few ERP platforms have the budgeting functionality needed by today’s business. Between design, collaboration, approvals and execution – there are numerous moving parts to the budgeting process that are often impossible to control. Unfortunately, this results in a chaotic, time consuming, and inaccurate approach to budgeting filled with email chains, inconsistencies, and animosity across the company.
Jet Budgets was designed specifically for Microsoft Dynamics and gives companies the power to control and streamline the budgeting process with a simple, adaptable, and easy-to-use fiscal planning solution. With automated workflows and an intuitive design, Jet Budgets allows organizations to cut their budgeting time in half, ensure consistency in the planning process, and fit an organization’s unique processes.
Take Control of Reporting and Budgeting: Join Us on October 30, 2018
From Excel-based reporting to GP-friendly budgeting, companies like yours are considering their next steps as they look to take control of their financial planning and analysis in 2019 and beyond. Join Innovative Cloud Solutions and Jet Global Data Technologies on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at 11:00 AM EST to learn how Jet Reports Professional and Jet Budgets can be the perfect tool for your reporting and budgeting needs. Click here to Register.
