CDC China launches cloud ERP on Microsoft Azure

CDC software CEO Peter Yip explains that the launch of e-M-Power On Demand is the latest move in the company's plan to expand its cloud-based solutions and increase recurring SaaS (software-as-a-service) revenue. He also says that, as a Microsoft partner, CDC plans to develop additional cloud applications on the Windows Azure platform. He cites the firm's complaint management solution, CDC Respond, which will be launched on the Azure platform early next year. "Just six months ago, I participated at Microsoft's press event with Steve Ballmer in Delhi, where I proclaimed our commitment to developing cloud applications on Windows Azure. Now, we have delivered the first ERP manufacturing SaaS solution utilising Windows Azure for the China market," comments Yip. "Soon, we expect to deliver our cloud-based CDC Respond solution on Windows Azure. These deliverables not only confirm our commitment to Windows Azure, but the strength of our partnership with Microsoft," he adds. Yip suggests that by developing applications using Azure and harnessing what he describes as an agile development methodology, "we will be able to launch flexible, reliable and scalable cloud applications quickly to the market. And Hilton Law, managing director, China for CDC Software, states: "By utilising Azure, CDC Software has the ability to develop SOA-based, multi-tenant architectures with the tools we are already using, and deploy them to a robust platform with staged production, failure-resilience, elastic scalability and self-service provisioning." Analysts seem impressed. "Access to affordable and scalable ERP solutions … is a key contributor to success when it comes to driving to a more efficient business," comments Dan Miklovic, chief of research for the research firm, Sustainable Collaborations Group. "On demand access is giving SMEs access to ERP capabilities previously only available to the largest enterprises. SaaS also opens the door to better sustainability for any firm in China. Business efficiency is key to small to medium-sized businesses in China as they strive to become greener and operate in a sustainable way."