Over 170 new features and enhancements provide improved business performance

Dubai, January 30, 2008: Al-Futtaim Technologies, one of the region's leading systems integrators and a member of the Al-Futtaim Group, today announced a successful upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics GP version 9 for Fujairah National Group (FNG), a leading business conglomerate in the Northern Emirates operating in diverse fields including trading, distribution, transportation, construction and contracting amongst others.

Microsoft Dynamics GP is a business management solution that provides growing and midsize organizations with complete and scalable financial and operational functionality.

The new version offers rich integration with Microsoft products and enhanced business intelligence capabilities that enable users from the CEO to business managers insight into the areas of the business for which they have responsibility. 

The upgrade provides all 22 companies within the Fujairah National Group the full length and breadth of the Microsoft Dynamics GP business suite including financial, distribution, project accounting and analytical reporting.

With over 170 new features and enhancements, the upgrade supplies new business functionalities such as personalised role pages by mapping processes and information to individualised tasks and roles as well as access to information, improved efficiency, effective integration and easy set-up for administrators that significantly reduce administrative costs and minimise end-user work disruption. 

The complexity of the task required the constant supervision of the Al Futtaim Technologies project management team. Working closely with FNG, the team ensured the upgrade implementation and intricate customization of the software worked smoothly with minimal disruption to the Group.

"We are really pleased to have worked with Fujairah National Group on this upgrade. It is gratifying to see businesses strengthen through the effective use of technology," said Harvey Klyce, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Technologies. "With our proven methodologies, reliable delivery model and solid project management expertise, our team of professionals were able to deliver a complex upgrade within the timeline established by our customer and fulfill all their key objectives."

Mr. Klyce added: "The ERP software market in the Middle East is still in catch-up phase. The market in the UAE is changing rapidly with increased competition and IT corporate governance now becoming serious topics. We see a number of companies, especially the small to medium segment continue to drive double-digit growth. Our ERP business has witnessed top-line growth of 30% year-on-year over the last three years and we expect to exceed that for 2008." 

Syed Anisuddin, IT Manager, Fujairah National Group said: "Al-Futtaim Technologies was committed to understanding FNG's unique business requirements and the experienced project management team allowed us to upgrade the ERP solution quickly and realise the true business benefits and value from our investment."

Al-Futtaim Technologies completed the entire upgrade for Fujairah National Group over a period of two months.

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About Al-Futtaim Technologies
Al-Futtaim Technologies, one of the leading regional systems integrators and a member of the Al-Futtaim Group, provides complete business solutions to large, medium and small customers. These include information communication and related technologies including telephony, contact centre solutions, next-generation networks equipment and business applications.

Al-Futtaim Technologies provides a comprehensive range of solutions by working with best-in-class brands such as Toshiba, Alcatel-Lucent and Microsoft Business Solutions amongst others to deliver a full spectrum of business solutions to customers.   

For more information, please contact: 
Geoffrey Watson
Head of Corporate Communications
Al-Futtaim Group
Tel: +971 4 228 2101 Ext.214
Fax: +971 4 227 9801
Email: victoria.jacks@gmasco.com 
Web: www.al-futtaim.com

© Press Release 2008