Introduction
 
Up against ERP veterans SAP and Oracle, among others, Microsoft is battling to establish itself as the volume-based SMB ERP market leader. A vertical partner enablement strategy is its first step to secure customers demanding more industry aligned solutions in a market where price can make or break a deal.
 

 
Scope
 
Microsoft's current ERP strategy: Partner network is crucial to its success.
 
Microsoft's future ERP strategy: Strong focus on vertically aligned solutions.
 
Project Green: Microsoft's ERP convergence strategy.
 
Highlights
 
In Datamonitor's view, it is unlikely that Microsoft will establish a footprint in the enterprise space through its hub-and-spoke approach. While Microsoft may be able to win subsidiary contracts, transforming them into enterprise wide implementations is a far harder task to achieve and requires substantial know-how to carry out.
 

 
Due to the vast incidence of the Microsoft Windows operating system & Microsoft Office, and their high level of day to day usage, integration with both suites of applications is a key requirement for ERP vendors. Microsoft's ability to integrate its ERP products with Office & various Server platforms will distinguish it to many in the SMB market.
 

 
Reasons to Purchase
 
Learn the facts behind Mircosoft's current and future ERP strategy.
 
Discover the need of integration for ERP products and how Microsoft is going to deal with integration issues.
 
Find out all about scalability as a must-have for solutions in the mid-market space.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
ABOUT DATAMONITOR 2
 
AN INTRODUCTION TO ERP FOR SMBS 5
 
ERP is mature at the enterprise level, however the mid-market holds significant opportunity 5
 
The SMB market for ERP will reach $10bn in 2005 5
 
MICROSOFT’S CURRENT ERP STRATEGY 6
 
Axapta is targeted at the high-end of the mid-market 8
 
Great Plains has a strong focus on analytics 9
 
Navision is popular in EMEA 9
 
Solomon has had limited success 10
 
Microsoft’s partner network is crucial to its success 11
 
Microsoft’s present strategy needs work 11
 
All four ERP products are facing strong competition from the likes of SAP and Oracle 12
 
Datamonitor believes Microsoft is well positioned to make a name for itself in the ERP mid-market 13
 
MICROSOFT’S FUTURE ERP STRATEGY 14
 
Microsoft is focussing strongly on vertically aligned solutions 14
 
Why focus on the vertical? 14
 
Microsoft is enabling its partners to target 14 key industries 15
 
Project Green is Microsoft’s ERP convergence strategy 16
 
Support for existing products will continue until 2013 17
 
The transition to Project Green will come in two waves 17
 
THE FUTURE DECODED 18
 
Integration is integral to a good SMB focused ERP product 19
 
The price of an ERP product could be its key differentiator 19
 
Scalability is a must-have for solutions in the mid-market 19
 
APPENDIX 20
 
Future readings 20
 
Relevant links 22
 
SPP writing team 22
 
How to contact experts in your industry 22