Canadian Software Developers Turn to SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005 to Help Create New Business Opportunities
Developers use Microsoft's next-generation application platform to help create innovative solutions for enterprise customers
MISSISSAUGA, ON. - November 7, 2005 - Canada's leading independent software vendors (ISVs) are expressing their strong support for the next-generation Microsoft-based application platform, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by The Strategic Counsel. The platform, consisting of Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2005, Visual Studio® 2005 development system and BizTalk® Server 2006, is designed to help businesses realize unprecedented value and faster results by connecting staff and business processes, and gain better insight into their mission-critical data.
Sixty-eight per cent of the 200 Canadian independent software vendors (ISVs) surveyed agree that SQL Server 2005 provides them with better future business opportunities versus competing software from Oracle and IBM. Furthermore, 87 per cent believe that Visual Studio 2005 provides them with better future business opportunities over Java/Eclipse.
Other survey findings include:
| • | 61.5 per cent of ISVs plan to upgrade or migrate to Visual Studio 2005; 78 per cent of those within the next 12 months. |
| • | 58.3 per cent of ISVs said their customers use SQL Server as their primary database for running applications versus 11 per cent for Oracle and 3.4 per cent for IBM DB2. |
| • | ISVs point to "Using IT as a business enabler" as a key focus for customers, over "Managing IT". |
| • | Data and application integration ranked as the top IT challenge Canadian organizations ask ISVs to address with their product solutions. |
| • | 74 per cent of ISV revenues have grown year-over-year for the past three years, and on average, ISVs expect revenue to double over the next three years. |
"SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005 and BizTalk Server 2006 help address the concerns of Canadian businesses by providing them with a platform that leads to faster decision-making data and helps increase productivity. It's clear that Canada's software developers are fully committed to this next-generation Microsoft-based platform," said Warren Shiau, lead analyst - IT Research, The Strategic Counsel.
"SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005 provide organizations with the basis for an enterprise application platform," said Andrew Coulson, director of enterprise partners, Microsoft Canada Co. "We're pleased to recognize the efforts of the community of resellers, systems integrators and ISVs in extending the reach and power of these tools, and for their ongoing effort to deliver innovative, Microsoft-based solutions that help address key business challenges."
Independent software vendors play a critical role in the Canadian market, enabling Microsoft to successfully deliver and deploy its technology to customers. The following businesses have already started working with SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005 through early adopter programs, and are ready to meet the needs of their customers and partners.
Squirrel Systems Inc.
Based in Vancouver, Squirrel Systems Inc. is the premier supplier of point-of-sale (POS) applications for the foodservice industry. Squirrel is migrating its Restaurant Management System to SQL Server 2005 so that real-time business intelligence is put within easy reach of busy restaurant operators, who need to make key business decisions on the fly. Squirrel's developers are also using the Visual Studio Tools for Office component within Visual Studio 2005 to help deliver applications that go beyond customers' point-of-sale needs, integrating with applications such as Excel, Word and Publisher.
"We have been working with SQL Server for some time, but SQL Server 2005 will open new opportunities for us," said David Atkinson, vice-president, marketing, Squirrel Systems. "Many small and medium-sized customers do not have the infrastructure for Web-based reporting. Squirrel will be able to provide this as a subscription service to customers with its products based on SQL Server 2005. Using this technology, restaurant owners will be able to launch a browser from anywhere with an Internet connection, and bring up the set of reports for their operations. This will help them make faster, more informed decisions."
The Keg Restaurants Ltd. of Vancouver is among one of the first companies slated to take advantage of the new solution from Squirrel.
Active Community Solutions Ltd.
Burnaby, B.C. based Active Community Solutions Ltd., (www.activecommunities.com), a division of The Active Network Inc., delivers business-critical solutions globally to a range of public sector and non-profit organizations. With a product line that includes ActiveNet™, Class™ and RecWare™, the company offers Windows and Internet-based solutions that automate registrations, membership management, point-of-sale and financials. Active decided to take advantage of SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005 to continue its commitment to providing leading edge technology opportunities to its customers.
"Our customers will definitely benefit from the power of these great new products from Microsoft," said Matthew Cox, product development manager, Active Community Solutions. "We have been working with pre-release versions of the SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005 for some time and our development team just loves it, especially ASP.NET 2.0. There are substantial productivity gains working with these tools and they have opened up leading-edge technology solutions that our customers will see in future products. For current products, almost immediately we are supporting SQL Server 2005, including the Express edition, which will see our customers benefit from performance increases and enhanced maintenance tools."
Flowfinity Wireless Inc.
Flowfinity Wireless Inc. of Vancouver delivers products for wireless applications. The Microsoft Certified Partner has a growing base of enterprise customers in North America and Europe looking to enhance mobile workforce productivity. Flowfinity relies on the Microsoft .NET-based platform and Visual Studio 2005 development system to help build its applications, including its Flowfinity Actions software, which helps mobile workers to perform assigned tasks while accessing critical workplace data anytime, anywhere. Incorporating SQL Server™ 2005 into Flowfinity Actions helps enterprise customers take advantage of business intelligence and analytics tools, empowering managers to make better decisions. These enhancements will enable Flowfinity to provide a unique dual value proposition of improving performance of both mobile personnel in the field and their managers in the office.
"Visual Studio 2005 has helped us develop an innovative application in a short amount of time," said Dmitry Mikhailov, president and CEO, Flowfinity Wireless. "And SQL Server 2005 will also give our enterprise customers, including Fortune 500 companies, the tools they need to gain new insight into their data to make better decisions. The combination of these tools has given us a competitive advantage over other wireless software companies."
Upside Software Inc.
Upside Software Inc. of Edmonton develops and markets Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) software and related solutions to enterprise customers around the world. Enterprise customers require quick turnaround on their software investments, as well as better insight into the large amounts of data they collect. To address these needs, Upside is leveraging Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005 to enhance the functionality of its UpsideContract software. The XML support and advanced business intelligence features of SQL Server 2005 provide faster and more detailed insight into data, while Visual Studio 2005 is helping Upside cut development times.
"With SQL Server 2005, we're able to help our enterprise customers store data and get to it a lot more quickly and effectively, which we're very excited about," said Ashif Mawji, president and CEO, Upside "Our development team has also benefited from Visual Studio 2005. Enabling our developers to more quickly compile code has dramatically shorted our time-to-market cycle. Together, SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005 are helping to boost our competitive position."
About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has 10 regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit www.microsoft.ca
©2005 Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft, SQL Server, Visual Studio and BizTalk are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation 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.
