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Microsoft Business Solutions: ERP, CRM, RMS for small and mid-size company - overview for Consultant

by Andrew Karasev

Microsoft Business Solutions has good combination of ERP, CRM, Retail Management applications to cover all the needs for small, mid-size and even large company. These are ERP: Microsoft Great Plains, Navision, Axapta, Solomon, Small Business Manager; CRM: Microsoft CRM and Navision CRM; Retail Management: Microsoft RMS and Navision Retail module.

You should know that these products were not initially developed by Microsoft (except Microsoft CRM), but purchased from leading mid-market software development companies: Great Plains Software, SMS, Navision Software. This means that Microsoft is on the way to align all its products and make them be granular (so-called Microsoft Business Suites: Financial, Manufacturing, Logistics, Project Accounting, etc.)

Also please know that Microsoft is trying to create integration packages between it's products - as far as they come from different vendors - these products were not initially designed to be cross-integrated. Microsoft however covered long way to prepare such integrations - it has Microsoft Biztalk server.

Next point for you - Microsoft is now on the way to move all its products to its database platform - Microsoft SQL Server. Good example is Great Plains - now it is available on MS SQL Server or MSDE, no Ctree or Pervasive SQL 2000 (with new version - Microsoft Great Plains 8.0). Also Microsoft is trying to enable other technologies for its ERP, CRM and RMS - the best example is Microsoft CRM: MS SQL Server, MS Exchange, Active Directory, Replication, Message Queue, Text Indexing to name a few. This means for you, consultant, that your client's IT group will love these solutions from technical side, if they are Microsoft-oriented and vise versa - they will be more than reserved if they are coming from Java/Oracle/IBM world.


ERP. If you are in USA, UK, Canada, Latin America, South Africa, Australia or New Zeeland - you should first consider Microsoft Great Plains. In the very complex Project oriented business case (large consulting, construction/project management) - you should take a look at Solomon, or if you have light manufacturing - you may turn to Navision. If you are in Europe, Russia or the rest of the World - first consider Navision.

CRM. Microsoft CRM is the solution worldwide

Retail Management. If you are outside of Navision realm (most of continental Europe) - you should look at Microsoft RMS (Store Operations and Headquarters - if you need stores consolidation). If you are in Continental Europe - look at Navision Retail module or check with Microsoft in your country.


Happy selecting! if you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-630-961-5918 or 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com

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