Microsoft Business Solutions - Microsoft Differences
Safe
Bet. With Microsoft, there is not the worry that the vendor will go
out of business or be sold. Many accounting and ERP systems have been
recently sold, which can potentially lead to problems when the purchaser
intends to convert clients to their system.
Deep
Pockets. It takes deep pockets to invest in technology that is
continually changing. A product's success depends not just on
functionality and technology. It also takes a significant investment in
marketing to compete in today's competitive marketplace. It also takes
deep pockets to weather downturns in the economy.
Microsoft Capital. Microsoft Capital has been created in the US to
finance the purchase of not only the Microsoft Business Solutions'
software, but also the costs of implementation services and hardware.
Microsoft Capital should be available in Canada before the end of 2003
pending regulatory issues.
.NET.
Microsoft is making a huge R&D investment in their .NET strategy, which is
Microsoft's technology to implement Web Services. Web Services has the
potential to let different systems communicate with each other easily over
the internet. .NET systems will be entirely web based and all you will
need is a browser on your computer or any device connected to the
internet. In a few years, if a system is not Web Services/.NET compliant,
it will suffer the same fate as many DOS based systems that did not
convert to Windows. If any company can succeed with Web Services/.NET,
it's Microsoft.
CRM.
Microsoft launched Microsoft Business Solutions CRM system on January 21,
2003. The new product supports and automates the CRM strategies of
mid-market organizations, helping them build lasting and profitable
relationships with their most important constituency: their customers. CRM
is Microsoft's first .NET product so that you can bet it will be under a
lot of pressure to get it right. In the past, CRM was mostly implemented
by large companies. Microsoft will likely make CRM popular with mid-market
companies too. In order for CRM to be effective, it must be integrated
tightly with an accounting or ERP system. Microsoft will first integrate
CRM with Great Plains followed by the other Microsoft Business Solutions.
Upgrade Protection. Microsoft will guarantee that clients’ investment
in Microsoft Business Solutions' technology will be protected. There will
be no charge to update to the next generation of product as long as the
customer keeps current with the upgrades and there is functional
equivalence between the existing and new product.
Strength in Numbers. Microsoft Business Solutions includes
3,800 team members worldwide, 4,500 business partners, and 250,000
customers.
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