Enhanced Microsoft Business Solutions CRM 1.2 Available in North America
Microsoft Business Solutions Enhances Microsoft CRM to Help Businesses Retain Competitive Edge in an Increasingly Customer-Centric Marketplace
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MISSISSAUGA, ON, December 8, 2003 — Microsoft Business Solutions today announced the general availability in North America of Microsoft® Customer Relationship Management (CRM) 1.2, the first scheduled release to Microsoft's flagship CRM offering since it was launched in January 2003. Microsoft CRM 1.2 builds on the existing business productivity functionality available in Microsoft CRM 1.0 and enhances both usability and performance for customers using the new version. This release also marks the global expansion of Microsoft CRM, which will be available in nine languages and more than 47 geographies around the world.
By offering quick and easy access to current customer-based information, Microsoft CRM 1.2 empowers employees across a business to build and maintain the lasting, profitable relationships required to succeed in today's competitive marketplace. Microsoft CRM 1.2 supports Microsoft Windows Server System™ 2003, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, Microsoft Office 2003 and, for small businesses, Microsoft Small Business Server. These technologies offer the security enhancements, availability, scalability and reliability businesses need from their operating system, servers and productivity tools. And with easy setup, customization and use, Microsoft CRM delivers a lower cost of ownership, providing a positive impact on the customer's bottom line.
"I was hoping to achieve a positive ROI in six to 12 months, but it wasn't even close," said Sam Lloyd, president of AAA Mortgage. "Microsoft CRM paid for itself in less than a month, when you consider increased productivity, increased profitability per transaction and reduced turn times."
Microsoft Business Solutions has made functionality enhancements to Microsoft CRM 1.2, enabling businesses to more efficiently develop relationships with new customers and strengthen relationships with existing customers. Enhancements, including additional data evaluation capabilities and further support for lead tracking and sales territory effectiveness, were incorporated into the solution's workflow capabilities. Enhancements to the user interface will improve usability and increase flexibility. Improvements have been made to simplify the setup and installation of Microsoft CRM. In addition, developers now have greater ability to customize Microsoft CRM Sales for Outlook®.
"Microsoft CRM has what it takes to succeed in today's highly competitive CRM segment - adoption by an expanding customer base, distribution through a worldwide reseller channel, and support from the largest software provider today," said Karen Smith, research director with the Aberdeen Group Inc. "In the space of just a year, Microsoft CRM 1.0 has won 1,000 CRM customers. There is no escaping the fact that Microsoft CRM is a growing tsunami in the CRM space."
Microsoft CRM 1.2 was designed specifically for small and midsized businesses and divisions and departments of large organizations and is accessible from Microsoft Outlook and the Web. It is easy to use, customize and maintain; it integrates with other business systems, which helps drive return on investment; and it scales to grow along with the needs of the customer's business.
Availability
Microsoft CRM 1.2 is available in North America and has been released to manufacturing in eight additional languages. It will be generally available worldwide in the first quarter of calendar year 2004.
About Microsoft Business Solutions
Microsoft Business Solutions, a business group of Microsoft, offers a wide range of integrated, end-to-end business applications and services designed to help small, midmarket segment and corporate businesses become more connected with customers, employees, partners and suppliers. Microsoft Business Solutions' applications optimize strategic business processes across financial management, analytics, human resources management, project management, customer relationship management, field service management, supply chain management, e commerce, manufacturing and retail management. The applications are designed to provide insight to help customers achieve business success. More information about Microsoft Business Solutions can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/businesssolutions/.
About Microsoft Canada Co.
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT"), the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada Co. has 10 regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Visit Microsoft Canada's Web site at www.microsoft.ca.
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