Real-time data gathering – the SIFT technology

Sum Index Field Technology (SIFT) is a built-in technology that exists in Dynamics NAV and is used for totaling.

In other ERP systems, totals, subtotals, and balances are calculated and stored somewhere. This calculation has to be redone over and over so that numbers are up-to-date.

In Dynamics NAV, if you're a developer you don't have to worry about calculating subtotals as it is done by SIFT. Creating a new subtotals field is as easy as indicating in the field properties that the field is Flowfield and specifying the formula in the field. After this, you will not have to worry about keeping it up-to-date.

As a user, you know that the balances for your G/L accounts, customers, vendors, or bank accounts are always displaying real-time information, similar to the other calculations done using SIFT. A few examples are quantity on hand of an item or all the customer statistics that are shown on the right-hand side of the screen when looking for or creating sales orders.