Industry pundits have forecasted that there will be major consolidation in the number of software vendors delivering products for the small to mid market segments (5 to 250 M in revenue) in the next five years. The shear cost of developing new ERP software from scratch to meet the current web focused orientation of ERP software. Microsoft with its deep cash reserves is clearly committed to gain a major market share.
There are few software companies in the world who can boast that their R&D expenditures exceed over $7 Billion in 2006. Our customers can expect to see major improvements in all key software products in the Microsoft world.
WHY FOCUS ON MICROSOFT OFFICE TOOLS
All of the Microsoft Dynamics ERP products are part of the same division who makes Microsoft Office. It takes like to envision that the tools from the Microsoft Office will merge rapidly with the tools for Dynamics software. We are already seeing convergence in these areas: 1)Dynamics user interface is becoming more role based and looking like a typical Outlook user interface 2) Reporting tools are shifting towards MS Sql Reporter, and 3) Share Point Services are becoming more closely integrated into the web portals for Dynamic SL and GP products.
Convergence of Office tools with key Microsoft technology stacks, will lead undoubtedly to improved competitive advantages for our customers as compared to their competitors.
WHY USE MICROSOFT SQL
Building great ERP software requires robust data management. All of the Dynamics software solutions from Microsoft utilize the Ms Sql database. The capabilities and the scalability of this database, makes Ms Sql the dominant provider of relationship databases to all ERP software for the mid to middle market.
Speed and scalability have been key design criteria for recent releases for MS Sql. The version 2005 Ms SQL has set new standards in both these areas.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WEB BASED ACCESS
Accessing key management data on a 24 hour/ 7 days /week basis has been the mantra for ERP end users for years. Microsoft Dynamics SL and GP products recognized that providing secure access to ERP data via the web is imperative. The Business Portal software is such a solution. We are seeing more capabilities for the web access points through Business portal. Similarly, we are seeing a merging of technologies for web based access via Business Portal and the core Microsoft Share Point Services technologies.
Providing secure role based access to ERP data via the web will continue to be growth area for the Dynamics product lines.
