Dynamics to change face of ERP for SME manufacturers

It’s finally happening: Microsoft’s promise three years ago that it would broaden the footprint of core ERP, and leave partners to offer specialist industry-specific configuration and services is coming to pass. Last month, the software giant launched its Dynamics suite of business applications, expanding the core scope of its ERP and CRM (customer relationship management) software. It also claimed new price levels, tools, infrastructure and accessibility for SMEs, effectively challenging its software partners to get on board and focus their activities on ‘value add’. Dynamics brings together Great Plains (as Dynamics GP), Microsoft CRM (Dynamics CRM) and Axapta, Navision and Solomon ERP (Dynamics AX, NAV and SL). While transition is underway, all applications are being supported to 2013 at the earliest. They’re all built on technologies from Microsoft’s R&D under ‘Project Green’, and will include 50 roles based on job functions within SMEs. Migration will happen over the next year, and will include a new server infrastructure (dubbed Centro, and harnessing Windows Server ‘Longhorn’, next generation Exchange and Security technologies) and further development of the Office productivity suite. Microsoft says that, integrated with Microsoft Office, SharePoint, SQL Server Reporting Services and the overall Microsoft platform, the Dynamics range will deliver new “affordability and adaptability” for midsize businesses. It adds that there will also be a Windows Server System Assessment and Deployment Solution, which includes tools and prescriptive guidance for each phase of a customer’s project (evaluation, planning, building, deploying and operating). Microsoft claims that will “significantly reduce the cost and risk associated with assessment, migration and deployment.” Paul White, director of Microsoft Business Solutions Product Group, says: “We’re on the verge of a series of product launches. Very shortly, all products will share common components, with Outlook interfaces, report writers, Biztalk for integration and Sharepoint for deploying and sharing data across audiences. “Wave Two will be a single tool based on Visual Studio – for designing out of the box business processes much more flexibly. We will bring all the suites together using a common core. “What we’re doing is building in capability at a core level so it’s quicker for partners to add their value. Value is then service and insight into their customers’ needs. “Our hope is that partners will use more and more of our technology. There are lots of successful ISVs that have their own CRM or ERP as components. We’re unclear whether it makes sense for them to continue to invest their R&D dollars in that when, as an option, they could integrate with ours.”