Video: Insight into the Microsoft ERP Mix

Where does Microsoft Dynamics AX stand in the Microsoft ERP Mix?

Don Fornes, CEO of our partner Software Advice, interviewed the Microsoft ERP Director of Marketing, Guy Weismantel, about the latest updates to the Microsoft ERP product line. In this segment he provides some clues to release dates of Microsoft products and their fit to the market place.

Providing some interesting insight into the Microsoft Dynamics product line, Mr. Weismantel discusses the release plan for the various MS Dynamics products. Interestingly enough, he talks about how they go to market with the different products based on geography and customer buying behaviors. In the video, he talks about the following:

Dynamics AX and its niche for high end, multi-channel, multi-country/language strengths
Dynamics GP and how they play to its strengths (and even mentions a few weaknesses)
Dynamics NV which is a highly customizable solution for vertical markets
Dynamics SL which provides a good fit for project accounting clients

This is the fourth in a series of 7 videos that we will be posting.

Is Microsoft ERP Dynamics AX the Favorite Child?

Getting More Microsoft ERP Information

If you are interested in exploring Microsoft ERP for your company, please select one of the two links below:

For information on other ERP software products, please see our ERP Software Directory for many more vendors.

Microsoft ERP Channel Partners

For information on the Microsoft ERP Channel Partner Program, please see http://partner.microsoft.com
Insight into the Microsoft ERP Mix

Video: Microsoft Dynamics CRM and the Current Trend in CRM

Microsoft Dynamics CRM and the Current Trend in CRM

Don Fornes, CEO of our partner Software Advice, sat down with Brad Wilson, General Manager of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, to discuss the state of the CRM software market. Over the next two weeks, we are publishing 7 videos, each centered on one question about the Microsoft offerings.

Brad makes some interesting observations about the Customer Relationship Management software marketplace. Including the fact that customer relationships are what drive the value of a business. He remarks that the drive for multi-channel customer relationships are quickly becoming part of the customer demand for CRM software. He goes on to talk about the four things that are required for a CRM to be successful.

After watching the video, we would be interested in your feedback on what you think. Do you concur with Brad?

This is the second of a series of 7 videos that we will be posting.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM – Video 2

Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Getting More Microsoft Dynamics CRM Information

If you are interested in exploring Microsoft Dynamics CRM for your company, please select one of the two links below:

For information on other CRM or ERP software products, please see our ERP Software Directory for many more vendors.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM

ERP Outlook by Microsoft

In reading this article on MS and ERP, the question came up “Is Microsoft really going after the smaller companies with their Dynamics ERP offerings?” So far all of the indications are that they are targeting SAP and Oracle as their competition. Is this a little arrogant of Microsoft, trying to compete against the established Tier 1 vendors in ERP? Oh… Yeah… they’re Microsoft. The same company that went after Lotus 123, Netscape, Word Perfect, and others. Find a niche that uses software, exploit it with the fact that MS software runs well on MS Windows, it has a familiar look and feel to it, and give it away for free or market the hell out of it.

So far that is not what has happened with Dynamics, but it is still early. What has happened so far is that they have completed wave 1 of their project Green integration. They have built a common user interface for all the Dynamics products (AX-Axapta, NV-Navision, GP-Great Plains, SL-Solomon). They have also built common database tools. Now Mr. Gates is outlining a future with CRM and Dynamics that integrates to the “Live” tools on the web, including MS CRM integration to the Live website for targeted advertising. Add to that that 2007 Office is going to have intimate linkages into and from Dynamics. The user interface is MS Outlook. Based on MS CRM, which essentially now plugs into Outlook, Dynamics will soon do the same. So you will have a single, familiar Desktop tool for managing Email, Customer Relationships, and Enterprise Data. All with the familiar Microsoft look and feel plus links into Microsoft Live.

Sounds irresistable for a midsized company who wants simplicity and flexibility. However, now your entire enterprise is dependent upon a single vendor for the Back Office (servers and database), Front Office tools (MS Office), and your enterprise data.

Further, as it stands right now, Microsoft is taking a familiar approach of providing a development platform for partners to extend. In Dynamics, the code is flexible with many MS partners building niche add-ins to the products. As we understand it, the core product of Dynamics works fine, but doesn’t drill to deep into any industry. The Microsoft Industry Builder addresses that by having MS VARS (Value Added Resellers) become specialists into certain industries and then developing the vertical software necessary on top of the Dynamics product. Yes, it is integrated and native, being built with the Dynamics tool set. Yes, it is supported. If anything happens to the VAR, then as long as it is a Microsoft certified Industry Builder solution, you get the Microsoft support for that vertical extension.

So is SAP and Oracle out of reach? Based on history, no they are not. And based on history, they should be preparing for a real fight.