Software to up manufacturing business efficiency

Software solution captures a Microsoft Office look and delivers rich enhancements to help users increase efficiency and streamline business processes.

Microsoft Business Solutions has announced the availability of MicrosoftR Business Solutions-Great PlainsR 8.0, a cross-industry financial management solution for midmarket segment businesses.

Microsoft Great Plains 8.0 will deliver improved usability; richer functionality for distribution, manufacturing and project accounting; greater capabilities through integrations with Microsoft Business Solutions Business Portal 2.5 and Microsoft Office 2003; and improved analytics.

"With over 120 enhancements, customers will realize enormous value from Microsoft Great Plains 8.0," said Karen Engel, group product manager with Microsoft Business Solutions.

"We continue to deliver on our promise to meet customer needs today and in the future, helping streamline processes and improve overall business visibility.

Microsoft Great Plains 8.0 is a prime example of how we incorporate customers' feedback to innovate, support and grow the best possible solution for their business." Key improvements for Microsoft Great Plains 8.0 include the new look and feel that provide customers with a familiar, easy-to-use environment similar to Microsoft Office OutlookR 2003, which can help boost employee productivity and minimize training costs.

A more comprehensive view of inventory will help give customers tighter control over distribution and manufacturing processes.

Time and effort spent on key accounting tasks will be reduced with the ability to use existing transactions as the basis for new ones, as well as to quickly void, delete, correct or change journal entries while maintaining full audit control.

"We recommend businesses sign up for Microsoft Great Plains 8.0 as soon as possible," said Juli Richardson, director of business operations for Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana.

"The new solution is more intuitive and puts information immediately at your fingertips.

Microsoft Great Plains 8.0 will have an impact on our organization in terms of businesswide visibility, and the changes in manufacturing functionality have made employees more enthusiastic than ever about the system." Enhanced integration with other Microsoft applications such as Microsoft Business Solutions Business Portal and Microsoft Office is an additional key feature of Microsoft Great Plains 8.0.

Microsoft Business Portal 2.5, used with Microsoft Great Plains 8.0, will further empower employees with new modules for online requisition management, expense entry and approval, and electronic delivery of sales documents to customers.

Microsoft Great Plains 8.0 also builds on the Microsoft Office productivity foundation, enabling users to build template-based communications in Microsoft Word or easily attach maps and directions for sales, delivery and service call routes with Microsoft MapPointR.

New reporting options provide businesses with greater control of the financial reporting process and better financial visibility through Microsoft Business Solutions for Analytics-FRxR 6.7.

The improved analytics functionality gives customers four major enhancements: a new FRx Report Manager module, improvements to the FRx Currency Translation module, tighter integration with Microsoft Office Excel 2003, and upgraded support for the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) 2.0 taxonomy.

Availability and Pricing - Microsoft Great Plains 8.0 is available immediately in the United States and Canada through Microsoft Business Solutions reselling partners with Microsoft Business Portal 2.5 scheduled for availability later this year.

Microsoft Great Plains 8.0 will be released in select countries in the United Kingdom, Latin America and Africa, as well as in Australia and New Zealand.

Microsoft Great Plains Standard edition, targeted at smaller midmarket organizations, starts at $4,500 (U.S.) for a single-user financial solution.

Microsoft Great Plains Professional edition starts at $6,500 for a single-user financial solution and is the choice for midmarket customers or divisions of larger organizations.

About Microsoft Business Solutions - Microsoft Business Solutions offers integrated business applications and services that allow small and midsize organizations and divisions of large enterprises to connect employees, customers and suppliers for improved efficiency.

The financial management, customer relationship management, supply chain management and analytics applications work with Microsoft products such as Office and WindowsR to streamline processes across an entire organization, giving businesses insight to respond rapidly, plan strategically and execute quickly.

Microsoft Business Solutions applications are delivered through a worldwide network of channel partners that provide specialized services and local support tailored to a company's needs.

About Microsoft - founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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