I Need Coffee - Episode 175 - Weekly BC Review!
1. Personal Updates and Projects: - Security Camera Upgrade: Completed a home project replacing old Hickvision and DOA cameras with Ubiquiti UniFi Protect NVR and cameras. Upgraded to 10 cameras, running on four 4TB hard drives (12TB total, ~25-28 days storage). Highlighted the ease of installation and compact design of Ubiquiti cameras, motivated by urban security needs in Los Angeles County. - Power Bill Reduction: Addressed high electricity costs in Los Angeles (25¢/kWh off-peak, 55¢/kWh on-peak). Reduced projected bill from $484 to $368 by adjusting energy usage (e.g., turning off servers, NAS, and air conditioning). Noted a downside: computer overheating (blue-screened) due to high office temperatures (80°F, 50-70% humidity).2. Business Central and Technology Projects: - Continia Document Capture: Ongoing project with Ronald, drafting procedures and project plans. Customer discussions revealed surprising practices (e.g., no workflow approval for AP invoices, relying on manager emails), highlighting risks like business email compromise. - Business Central (BC) Telemetry: Reviewed telemetry to diagnose performance issues, set up scripts for effective use, and prepared KQL queries for support tickets. Identified ISV-related errors (AL/SQL query timeouts, database lock timeouts) for further investigation. 3. Cybersecurity and VPN Concerns: - SonicWall VPN Zero-Day: Highlighted multiple SonicWall VPN zero-day vulnerabilities bypassing authentication, urging listeners to disable VPN appliances and close ports due to security risks.4. ERP Center of Excellence (Wave Two): - Intern Program: Four full-time interns (Joselyn, David, Ronald, Franklin) advancing in BC expertise. Planning “Wave Two” to nurture new talent through English Academy scholarships (10-month intensive training). - Spanish-Speaking Intern: Experimenting with Fatima, a Spanish-speaking intern with an information systems degree, learning BC and English simultaneously using Spanish/English tenants. - Community Impact: Sponsoring Berlin English Academy and planning the second annual El Coyolar Christmas Festival 2025 for over 100 children in a disadvantaged area, including toys, games, and food.5. AI in ERP: - Industry Trends: Noted marketing claims from NetSuite (AI cloud ERP) and QuickBooks (AI agents). Questioned practical AI use in BC, citing underwhelming Copilot features (e.g., bank reconciliation issues). - Listener Query: Asked audience about AI integration in BC (native features, Copilot in PTEs/AppSource apps). Referenced Navnab’s use of AI Builder in Power Automate and Copilot for AL development in VS Code.6. Dynamics GP Challenges: - On-Prem Issues: Ranted about a Dynamics GP customer facing SQL deadlocks due to poor queries/customizations, not core GP. Highlighted their lack of ERP expertise post-staff turnover, advocating for cloud solutions like BC to avoid such issues.7. Community and Events: - Upcoming Events: Highlighted Summit NA (Oct 20-23, Orlando), Directions EMEA (Nov 4-6, Poland, with visa warnings), and DynamicsCon Regionals (Denver, Dublin, Copenhagen, Dallas). Noted Summit NA roadshows (Madison, Nashville, Charlotte, Houston, Fort Lauderdale). - Berlin, El Salvador Updates: Discussed Fiestas Patronales and Fiesta de San Salvador, featuring parades, classic vehicles8. Q&A and Anecdotes: - Development Challenges: Shared frustrations with missed requirements (e.g., API endpoint limitations) impacting project budgets. Related a colleague’s story of a 120-hour project derailed by undocumented data needs. - Music Trivia: Quizzed listeners on musician Moby, referencing his album Play and its use in the Bourne films.
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