Vendors enter Microsoft Business Solutions "ecosystem"

Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) isn't quite yet the 800-pound gorilla of the midmarket ERP segment, but already other software vendors are lining up to become part of the "ecosystem" surrounding its ERP offerings, which include Great Plains, Navision, and Axapta.

One of those vendors is CIMNET, provider of the Factelligence manufacturing execution system (MES) solution. CEO John Richardson expects the MBS partnership to expand CIMNET's market reach in several directions.

"Even though midmarket manufacturers recognize that MES will help them get the payback from their ERP solutions, the cost of purchase and integration has long been a barrier," Richardson says. "Through our partnership with MBS, we offer a prewritten interface to the Axapta solution at no charge. Delivering that interface would traditionally cost between $50,000 and $200,000, so we expect to see a lot of interest in the Axapta/Factelligence solution."

Richardson also looks for the partnership to expand the CIMNET footprint into fast-growing process markets such as generic pharmaceuticals, biotech, food & beverage, and consumer packaged goods. Later this year, look for CIMNET to deliver a suite that encompasses Factelligence, business intelligence, and supervisory control functions in a Microsoft .NET environment.

Another member of the growing ecosystem is Preactor International, a provider of scheduling systems. While CEO Mike Novels is anxious to grow Preactor sales in the MBS sphere, he's not pursuing an all-encompassing agreement.

Instead, Preactor is being opportunistic. For example, in North America, the company's master reseller became a Microsoft Independent Solutions Vendor and created a standard link between Great Plains ERP and Preactor. At some point this integration may be extended to the Axapta ERP product.

In Europe, Preactor is a Microsoft-certified partner that will offer a certified integration link to the Navision ERP product via collaboration with MBS' Navision Solution Centers. Says Novels, "I'm optimistic that the MBS seal of approval will mean good things... . From the customer viewpoint, it certainly assures them that the links have all been thoroughly tested."