Microsoft partners with Siemens for services

It’s happening already: Microsoft no sooner adds the Navision manufacturing ERP suites to its 18 month old Great Plains acquisition, than it starts rolling out an enlarged route to implementations, consulting and professional support services by partnering with Siemens Business Services. The agreement covers what was the Navision Axapta ERP suite for the higher end of manufacturing SMEs wanting flexible, scaleable ERP. There will be more. Microsoft makes no bones about it: “this partnership is part of a planned channel development programme to enhance the ability to deliver Microsoft Business Solutions’ Axapta Edition.” Axapta covers a wide spread of manufacturing business IT requirements, including out to some supply chain management and CRM (customer relationship management), and has seen development for rapid implementation and scalability to multiple sites. It’s also international, with multi-currency and multi-language, and runs on Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle databases. Chris Jordan, business applications practice manager, Siemens Business Services says: “Siemens’ experience with larger enterprises in the international market will, with Axapta, provide improved value-for-money not just to the UK SME market, but also for international customers looking for improved cost of ownership from ERP implementations.” Dean Carroll, business development director UK and Ireland, Microsoft Business Solutions adds: “Our mutual customers will benefit greatly from the combination.”