| With all these attributes in place, I remain baffled why | | | | motivates users to do more and to learn more." |
| Microsoft has been as quiet as a mouse in the ERP | | | | Microsoft Dynamics SL: "Microsoft Dynamics SL for |
| arena. I remember when Oracle (the big bad wolf) | | | | financial management delivers accounting applications |
| was knocking on PeopleSoft's door and we all thought | | | | that can easily be customized for your specific needs. |
| IBM or some other white knight would come to the | | | | Deployed in single or multiple company scenarios, |
| rescue. | | | | Microsoft Financial Management enables your users to |
| Back then, we also thought that it would be a | | | | easily retrieve the comprehensive business information |
| PERFECT opportunity for the folks at Redmond to | | | | they need, the way they need it." |
| get into the ERP game. | | | | Microsoft Small Business Financials: "For companies |
| Oh just think if Microsoft had bought PeopleSoft. To | | | | that have outgrown basic accounting applications, this |
| me, the pros would have far outweighed the cons. | | | | business solution offers functionality to better manage |
| Stability: Customers wouldn't have to worry about the | | | | financials, sales, purchasing, inventory, payroll, reporting, |
| stability of the acquiring company. MSFT is as stable | | | | and more. With Microsoft Small Business Financials, |
| as it gets | | | | you can process transactions more efficiently;" |
| Database Integration: They could have fully integrated | | | | ?????? |
| SQL SERVER into PeopleSoft products. | | | | Now maybe it's just me but it sounds like they just said |
| A full suite: By purchasing PeopleSoft, they would have | | | | the same thing five times in five different ways. |
| acquired HR, Financials, Manufacturing and CRM in one | | | | Now I don't really want to go into detail and nit pick the |
| fell swoop. One stop shopping baby. | | | | site because quite frankly, that's another thing |
| Office Integration: Oh just think of the tools Microsoft | | | | altogether. It's very dull but whatever. It's also very |
| could have woven seamlessly into the PeopleSoft | | | | confusing and the I found it interesting that they don't |
| suite. From Excel to Word to PowerPoint to Visio to | | | | provide an HR solution but that's just me.? The |
| Project, a software architect's wet dream. | | | | problem is their strategy ( or lack thereof ) is just |
| O.S. Integration: I can see it now, Windows Vista: ERP | | | | totally confusing. I am trying to figure out what their |
| edition. Fully integrated with PeopleSoft/Office tools. | | | | next step is. |
| Hosted ERP: With the new live push from Microsoft, | | | | Are they building an exciting set of tools that we don't |
| hosted ERP apps would have been a natural fit. | | | | know about? Do they plan to acquire more |
| That was my fun, alternate universe. Let's see what | | | | companies? Is Project Green over or when's that |
| reality holds instead. | | | | going to happen? The ERP sector would love a new |
| You go the Dynamics site ad you are greeted with | | | | exciting player. |
| Supply Chain, CRM and Financials options. | | | | I spoke to a bunch of analysts (off the record) who |
| You delve deeper and you see that there are a whole | | | | cover this sector and they were unable to articulate |
| bunch of module names and descriptions that border | | | | where the company is going with their different efforts |
| on brand confusion.. | | | | to consolidate/redesign ERP applications. |
| Some of the nuggets of gold on the site.. | | | | One of the analysts told me that Enterprise Apps |
| Microsoft Dynamics AX: "provides you and your | | | | wasn't Microsoft's core competency and as such they |
| people with fast, reliable, and comprehensive | | | | were not making a major push into the arena. I |
| accounting, financial reporting, and analysis capabilities." | | | | countered that neither was video gaming when they |
| Microsoft Dynamics GP: "Microsoft Dynamics GP | | | | jumped right into the X-Box arena (with no track |
| (formerly Microsoft Great Plains) provides financial | | | | record) and now, they're standing toe to toe with Sony. |
| management software that gives you the integrated | | | | It's crazy to me that Oracle, not know for it's innovation |
| tools you need to master your financial data and | | | | in the applications sector has dominated not only in |
| processes, taking full advantage of the information | | | | ERP acquisitions but in setting direction (FUSION, |
| your financial system contains." | | | | MIDDLEWARE etc) for the ERP industry. |
| Microsoft Dynamics NAV: "Microsoft Dynamics NAV | | | | Sometimes, I think of what could have been. |
| (formerly Microsoft Navision) adapts and evolves to | | | | Then I have another drink.. |
| match the way in which your business operates. It | | | | Till next time... |
| helps you discover financial opportunities, and | | | | |