New Microsoft ERP Plan

By Sheila Shanker
Updated: May 01, 2012

New Microsoft ERP Plan

In April, 2011, Microsoft announced its plans to offer an ERP system based in the cloud at the Convergence 2011 event in Atlanta. According to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, “It’s ERP for everyone.” The company is committed to providing cloud solutions for customers,  The CEO specifically mentioned cloud-based products currently offered or in the works, such as Dynamics CRM Online, Office 365 and Windows Azure. Microsoft wants to build on the success of its online CRM system to create products for the cloud, which customers could move in based on their own terms. The idea is to offer the same functionalities of ERP products online and on-premises.

The next version of Dynamics NAV, due in 2012 will be developed to run on Windows Azure, the Microsoft cloud development platform already available in the market. Future major releases of Dynamics AX, GP, NAV, SL will also be based on Windows Azure as well.

To assist partners and developers in using its online environment, Microsoft released a “Microsoft Dynamics Cloud Profitability Guide,” which was well received in the tech-community as a starting point for building good, reliable cloud-business applications.

Note that independent vendors and Microsoft partners will be able to advertise cloud vertical solutions, add-ons and services on the Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace.

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