dynamicsusers: RIM - Rapid Implementation Methodology

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So I've been asked to investigate the Microsoft SureStep RIM at my day job. We have a certified add-on for NAV in the Food Supply Chain vertical, and although we provide demo data as an .fbk, we are investigating whether we can leverage RIM to assist in providing our data. This also affords the opportunity to look into what RIM can do for us on the implementation front.

The whole premise behind RIM is to provide a more generic standard for implementing NAV. So not only does it include demo data (if required), but also provides generic setup questions (which are then used to directly influence the NAV setup tables), data migration tools, as well as project methodology (suitable for small, medium or large implementations).
RIM Areas:

• Setup Questionnaire
• Industry Specific Setup Data
• Project Schedule
• Master Data Templates
• Master Data Migration

Process:

• Install / Restore a clean Cronus database.
  Create an empty new Company.
  This will automatically trigger the new Company Setup form (which is already in the database).
  It is then possible to select one or more of the company setup templates (XML).

Question Areas are generally used for the Setup tables

It is possible to setup new Question Areas.
A function exists (Update Questions), which then retrieves all fields in the selected table.
Question Answer options and types are automatically retrieved.
It is possible to re-word questions and to add comments to each question.
It is also possible to enter default answers (industry specific).
Questions can be exported in XLS or XML format where answers can be entered, after which they can be imported again, and then ‘applied’.
Questions can be answered directly in NAV.[/list]Details of the XML industry specific data sets available are stored at:C:Program FilesMicrosoft Dynamics NAVCSIDE ClientCompany SettingsConfiguration.xmlThis file points at the relevant XML file, so all that would be required would be to create a LINKFresh entry. It is possible to export data from NAV to XML or XLS files (specifying tables and fields) which can then be used.Master data templates are applied to migration data as they are migrated (it is possible to select separate master templates for individual groups of records – ie. Domestic, EU, Foreign).
So by the looks of things we can quite easily provide a little help in the way of the questions to our consultants. Answers from the customer during the solution modelling phase or slightly later can then be fed straight into NAV to achieve our setup.

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