Microsoft Project Green: Dynamics GP, AX, NAV, SL, CRM: preliminary review

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, Navision, Axapta, Solomon and CRM are strategically renamed into Microsoft Dynamics GP. NAV, AX, SL, CRM respectively.  We had huge number of calls from current and potential customers who needed to know the answers on a set of very obvious and logical questions.  In this small article we’ll try to communicate our opinion and what we know from Microsoft channel.  As an example we will be focusing on Microsoft Dynamics GP and CRM.

• Versioning.  You should not expect version nullification (or coming back to version 1.0).  All the products will be released with their expected versions: Great Plains 9.0, Microsoft CRM 3.0, etc.  So – you should not expect revolution – it will be evolution as it should be.
• Pricing.  This is more delicate questions, and we need to wait a bit with Microsoft to confirm the price schema for the Microsoft Dynamics products.  As we know Microsoft SQL Server Standard and Enterprise price list will increase in average 25% in December with the release of MS SQL Server 2005. So if you plan to optimize the cost – you should purchase MS SQL 2000 or if you have it – be sure that you have (or purchase) software insurance – in this case you will have upgrade to MS SQL 2005 and you should do it before December.
• Customization.  The paradigm shift is toward Microsoft Business Portal, especially for Great Plains and Solomon, where you will see employee self service functionality, plus Fixed Assets (GP).  Also BP is Microsoft Sharepoint application and so it is ready for your developers (compare to IBM Lotus Notes Domono – now you can go ahead with Workflow and document approval cycle design).  Also applications will be exposed to XML web services – GP through eConnect or Object Integration manager
• Upgrade.  Great Plains is strong in its upgrade path.  You should expect Microsoft Great Plains Utilities to do upgrade – we will confirm the versions path in the future releases.  Microsoft CRM 1.2 will have direct upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0

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