Microsoft converges its ERP portfolio - Will the grass be Greener on the other side?

This publication has been discontinued on July 19, 2011.

Introduction

Overview

Introduction

Up against ERP veterans SAP and Oracle, among others, Microsoft is battling to establish itself as the volume-based SMB ERP market leader. A vertical partner enablement strategy is its first step to secure customers demanding more industry aligned solutions in a market where price can make or break a deal.

Scope

• Microsofts current ERP strategy: Partner network is crucial to its success.
• Microsofts future ERP strategy: Strong focus on vertically aligned solutions.
• Project Green: Microsofts ERP convergence strategy.

Highlights

In Datamonitors view, it is unlikely that Microsoft will establish a footprint in the enterprise space through its hub-and-spoke approach. While Microsoft may be able to win subsidiary contracts, transforming them into enterprise wide implementations is a far harder task to achieve and requires substantial know-how to carry out.

Due to the vast incidence of the Microsoft Windows operating system & Microsoft Office, and their high level of day to day usage, integration with both suites of applications is a key requirement for ERP vendors. Microsofts ability to integrate its ERP products with Office & various Server platforms will distinguish it to many in the SMB market.

Reasons to Purchase

• Learn the facts behind Mircosofts current and future ERP strategy.
• Discover the need of integration for ERP products and how Microsoft is going to deal with integration issues.
• Find out all about scalability as a must-have for solutions in the mid-market space.

Table of Contents

ABOUT DATAMONITOR

AN INTRODUCTION TO ERP FOR SMBS

• ERP is mature at the enterprise level, however the mid-market holds significant opportunity
• The SMB market for ERP will reach $10bn in 2005

MICROSOFTS CURRENT ERP STRATEGY

• Axapta is targeted at the high-end of the mid-market
• Great Plains has a strong focus on analytics
• Navision is popular in EMEA
• Solomon has had limited success
• Microsofts partner network is crucial to its success
• Microsofts present strategy needs work
  • All four ERP products are facing strong competition from the likes of SAP and Oracle
  • Datamonitor believes Microsoft is well positioned to make a name for itself in the ERP mid-market

MICROSOFTS FUTURE ERP STRATEGY

• Microsoft is focussing strongly on vertically aligned solutions
  • Why focus on the vertical?
  • Microsoft is enabling its partners to target 14 key industries
• Project Green is Microsofts ERP convergence strategy
  • Support for existing products will continue until 2013
  • The transition to Project Green will come in two waves

THE FUTURE DECODED

• Integration is integral to a good SMB focused ERP product
• The price of an ERP product could be its key differentiator
• Scalability is a must-have for solutions in the mid-market

APPENDIX

• Future readings
• Relevant links
• SPP writing team
• How to contact experts in your industry

List of Tables

• Table 1: Microsofts definition of the SMB market
• Table 2: Oracle breaks down its SMB definition

List of Figures

• Figure 1: The global SMB market for ERP will pass $13bn by 2010 ($m, employees)
• Figure 2: MBS is struggling to post a positive profit
• Figure 3: An overview of Microsoft Axapta
• Figure 4: An overview of Microsoft Solomon
• Figure 5: Microsoft is targeting 14 key industries with its ERP solutions
• Figure 6: Project Green combines all four ERP products into one
• Figure 7: Microsoft will grow greener in two waves

Related Reports