| As you probably heard, in September 2005 Microsoft | | | | Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico - these are probably |
| strategically renamed its ERP applications: Microsoft | | | | smaller clusters of offshore & BPO companies, |
| Great Plains into Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft | | | | but the advantage of time zone is obvious |
| Navision into Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft | | | | - Pure Offshore vs. Local Consulting. Again - the |
| Axapta into Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft CRM | | | | choice is yours - in our opinion pure offshore is not the |
| into Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Solomon into | | | | best option - offshore consultants and developers |
| Microsoft Dynamics SL. | | | | should be also experienced in serving clients |
| As so-called Project Green is rolling out - you should | | | | face-to-face, this means - they should have local |
| expect more logic to be transferred into Microsoft | | | | consulting practice in their local countries. |
| Business Portal, and into Microsoft Outlook (currently | | | | - Dexterity, VBA, Web Services. Here we are coming |
| Microsoft CRM has outlook client and Microsoft Small | | | | down to IT people - in our opinion the best offshore |
| Business Accounting allows you to generate invoices | | | | project is Microsoft Dexterity (or Great Plain Dexterity) |
| in Outlook directly, plus promote contacts from Outlook | | | | software development |
| to SBA). | | | | - Lovely Islands. If you are in Bermuda, Bahamas, |
| As we see and expect new high-tech and business | | | | Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Palau, Fiji, Tahiti - you are |
| systems market trends - remote and offshore support | | | | probably underserved and have to overpay to |
| will be taking substantial market share in 2006-2010. | | | | consultants flying from Miami, Manila, Paris, Chicago, |
| Microsoft event plans to have special partnership | | | | NY, LA. The same should be told about USA/Canada |
| models for BPO (Business Processes Outsourcing) | | | | rural communities |
| partners, who will enter your AP/AR documents into | | | | - ERP Historical Trend. Well, if you stake on Microsoft |
| the system and prepare reporting for you. | | | | Business Solutions - you still might have legacy of |
| In this small article we'll consider the alternatives and | | | | products: IBM Lotus Notes Domino, Oracle Financials |
| directions of Microsoft Great Plains offshore remote | | | | Applications/E-Business Suite, SAP, PeopleSoft, |
| support: | | | | JDEdwards, Accpac, Siebel, SalesLogix. You might |
| - Technical Feasibility. As we are watching the parade | | | | need integration, data conversion, customization and |
| of remote internet-based technologies: Terminal | | | | heterogeneous reporting. Again - in our opinion you |
| Services, Citrix, Web Sessions, Skype, PCAnywhere, | | | | should consider budget offshore solution for these |
| Vonage/VOIP (with US based phone numbers, | | | | developers-time consuming projects |
| physically located offshore), we think that this is just a | | | | - Brazil - rising star of offshore software development. |
| matter of time (let's give it five years - up to 2010) | | | | Usually offshore development is attributed to India - in |
| when consultant driving to the client physical location | | | | our opinion Brazil has equal or better chances - in Brazil |
| office will go to history | | | | we have Microsoft Navision, CRM and Axapta |
| - Time Zones. Well - yes - you are right. Other | | | | clientele. From Brazil we can serve you Portuguese |
| countries are located in different time zones, especially | | | | (mainland Portugal) and Spanish |
| Great Plains gurus in Philippines (remember Match | | | | (Spain-Madrid-Barcelona-Malaga-Bilbao, Mexico, Peru, |
| Data Great Plains Project Accounting?). Philippines and | | | | Bolivia, Chili, Argentina, Costa Rica, Salvador, Nicaragua, |
| India are almost 12 hours away from USA. However | | | | Guatemala, Panama, Beliz) |
| South America is about at the same time belt - Brazil, | | | | - BPO. Currently we offer these services from India. |