Microsoft Great Plains solution rewarded for delivering measurable benefits for regional companies
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Microsoft Business Solutions today announced that its Great Plains solution has been named “best small and medium ERP solution” in the influential Middle East IT Awards, an annual ceremony celebrating achievement in the information technology industry. In a ceremony attended by senior figures from government and business sectors, the product was recognized for its effectiveness, user-friendliness and value to companies in the Middle East.
“Our solution was expressly designed to help businesses achieve better results through enhanced productivity and efficiency in such areas as project accounting, distribution, financials, payroll, human resources and enterprise reporting,” said Venkat Raman, channel director - Middle East, Microsoft Business Solutions, who attended the event. “We’re delighted that the Middle East IT Awards committee has recognized Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains’ performance as a critical tool for enterprises in the region.”
Microsoft Business Solutions was nominated for the award in an online poll of business people, IT specialists and academics in the Middle East, making the final shortlist of enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions providers because of its popularity and high profile in the region.
Solutions on this shortlist were then evaluated by an independent panel, who examined their performance across a range of criteria, including impact on existing business models, range of benefits for small and medium enterprises, functionality and key features, and level of customer support. Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains emerged as the clear winner in this highly-competitive category.
“Microsoft Business Solutions has earned an excellent reputation for the strength of its technology and services, and its Great Plains solution has helped many small and medium businesses win significant strategic advantages in their respective markets,” said Ali Kamali, chairman of the organizing committee for the awards.
“In recognizing this solution’s effectiveness in supporting business processes in the fastest time and at the lowest overall cost, the judges were pleased to name Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains as the best small and medium ERP solution of the year,” he added.
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains has been adopted by a large number of leading enterprises in the Middle East. The solution’s popularity has been enhanced by the fact that, as well as providing an integrated set of e-business applications to enable better information management and enhanced collaboration, it also supports companies as they move transactions onto the Internet to exploit e-commerce opportunities.
“Our solutions help companies become leaner, more effective and customer-focused businesses,” said Raman. “Microsoft Business Solutions has ambitious plans for growth in the Middle East in 2003, and we’re delighted that we’ve started the year with this recognition from the Middle East IT Awards.”
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About the Middle East IT Awards
The Awards are a non-profit industry development program that promotes the development and growth of the information technology industry in the Middle East region. Awards are given in various categories to recognize and reward the outstanding achievements of the IT industry and provide small-to-medium enterprises that are developing cutting-edge technologies with an ideal platform for exposure in an international arena. The Awards are application-based to encourage involvement across a spectrum of industries that IT supports.
About Microsoft Business Solutions
Microsoft Business Solutions, which comprises the Great Plains®, Microsoft bCentral™ and Navision a/s businesses, offers a wide range of business applications designed to help small and midmarket businesses become more connected with customers, employees, partners and suppliers. Microsoft Business Solutions’ business applications automate end-to-end business processes across financials, distribution, project accounting, electronic commerce, human resources and payroll, manufacturing, supply chain management, business intelligence, sales and marketing management, and customer service and support. More information about Microsoft Business Solutions can be found at http://www.greatplains.com/, http://www.navision.com/ or http://www.microsoft.com/businesssolutions/.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Great Plains is a registered trademark of Great Plains Software Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Great Plains Software Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
© Press Release 2003
