| Q. | Why did Microsoft and GXS form an alliance? |
| A. | Microsoft and GXS have formed a strategic alliance to market innovative solutions to improve integration between trading partners worldwide. The alliance focuses on enabling B2B integration initiatives across organizations’ global supply chains, through a combination of software and services that includes Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006, Microsoft SQL Server 2005, 2007 Microsoft Office system, and GXS Trading Grid. Through the relationship, the companies will jointly market their leading B2B solutions to help ensure that organizations of all sizes, in any geography, can build real-time, collaborative B2B networks that connect their trading partners across supply chains. |
| Q. | What are the details of the alliance? |
| A. | Key details of the alliance are: | • | GXS will employ Microsoft technology in the GXS Trading Grid to speed and simplify integration between businesses. GXS is employing Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 and SQL Server 2005 technology within the GXS Trading Grid. By using Microsoft technology with the GXS Trading Grid, customers can extend existing internal investments on Microsoft .NET Framework-based technologies outside their enterprise through seamless integration with business partners. | | • | GXS has developed a solution to use BizTalk Server 2006 within its ”Grid-Ready” solution available to businesses worldwide. The use of Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 with the GXS Trading Grid offers businesses a unique platform spanning the desktop, server, and services software that businesses can use in all B2B scenarios to drive business success. A BizTalk Server 2006-based “Grid-Ready” solution will be made available to the GXS customer base of more than 40,000 customers worldwide, providing customers with a simplified way to integrate a single or hundreds of business partners simultaneously. | | • | Microsoft names the GXS Trading Grid the recommended global B2B network for BizTalk Server 2006. Microsoft is recommending the GXS Trading Grid due to the seamless operation with BizTalk Server 2006 and GXS’ unique global reach that spans more than 150,000 trading partners and 40,000 customers. | | • | Microsoft and GXS will consider collaborating to enable and improve integration between the desktop and the supply chain. Together, the companies plan to revolutionize the way information workers participate in B2B processes with their trading partners. GXS plans to simplify the integration of diverse standards and protocols enabling users of 2007 Microsoft Office system and Microsoft Dynamics to rapidly and easily automate their business processes with their customers and suppliers. |
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| Q. | What is the GXS Trading Grid? |
| A. | The GXS Trading Grid is GXS’ unique global integration platform that enables and streamlines cross-enterprise business processes. The Trading Grid is the world’s largest electronic business community, used by more than 40,000 customers to exchange goods and services. As a service-oriented architecture B2B platform, Trading Grid helps customers automate global trading communities by shielding complexity from rapidly changing standards, eliminating manual and duplicative efforts and enabling a new level of process integration and business intelligence. |
| Q. | What does this alliance mean for customers? |
| A. | In today’s fast-paced business environment, all companies need an easy, efficient, low-cost way to streamline business processes and collaborate with partners and suppliers around the world, but traditional integration solutions can be too complex and expensive for many midsize businesses to adopt. With BizTalk Server 2006 and the GXS Trading Grid, companies now have an affordable, simplified B2B solution to help improve operational productivity, reduce costs, and react quickly to changing conditions. |
| Q. | What are the key BizTalk Server-based “Grid-Ready” solution benefits? |
| A. | The top three key benefits can be summed up as follows: 1. | Efficiency – The solution allows companies to bring together all members of the external value chain quickly and efficiently. They will be able to connect and collaborate with suppliers and customers (over 40,000 via Trading Grid) to maximize the efficiency of their supply chain for reduced costs and improved performance. | 2. | Simplicity – This solution easily fits into existing environments, allowing companies to easily and affordably install, configure, and customize the solution. The Microsoft and GXS solution is simple to deploy and use. | 3. | Best Value – By enabling companies to dramatically reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) of supply chain integration, this solution increases overall organizational agility. |
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| Q. | In addition to connecting with global trading partners, how can companies leverage this combined solution? |
| A. | In addition to easily connecting to diverse global trading partners, companies will benefit from this solution with the ability to: | • | Maximize ERP Investments – When companies leverage integration technology to expand their automation initiatives and improve customer and supplier interactions, they reduce cost by streamlining manual or error ridden process. | | • | Improve Customer Service – By connecting customers to internal systems electronically, a company makes it simple for trading partners to place and track an order and manage shipments. | | • | Enhance Business Integration Platform – By consolidating internal and external integration into a single global platform, companies reduce the cost and complexity of current integration projects. |
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| Q. | How can I purchase this solution? |
| A. | To purchase this solution, please contact GXS directly at 1-800-560-4347, visit the company’s Web site for more information at www.gxs.com, or contact your Microsoft representative. |
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