Mirae Asset wanted a device capable of providing full and extensive asset management services to customers as if they are in the office, rather than a simple mobile device for outdoor sales. However, the tablet PCs available in the market tend to focus primarily on mobility and convenience, which were insufficient bases on which to provide the full services Mirae Asset wanted and, more pragmatically, need from a business point-of-view when consulting customers in the field, rather than being confined to desktop-based interactions in the office. It was in the process of driving sales force empowerment and greater customer interaction that Mirae Asset learned about Windows 8. It soon realized that, with Windows 8, it would be able to ensure business continuity regardless of location or device type, with a seamless tablet PC experience akin to that of a desktop.

The Windows 8 version of Glory KORAIL, the essential app for busy people, was officially released on February 5, 2013. First released in 2010, Glory KORAIL gained sensational popularity among smartphone users. As a result, the percentage of ticketing through mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, reached 32.5% in January 2013. While receiving enthusiastic responses from customers, KORAIL had prepared to support a new platform just in time for the launch of Windows 8, so as to speed up the era of paperless tickets. The objective was to allow more users to conveniently use the Glory KORAIL app through a wider variety of devices including desktops and notebooks, as well as smartphones and tablets.

Holland America Line, one of the world’s leading cruise-ship companies, is using Microsoft business intelligence (BI) software to increase revenues and give guests a more memorable experience. By using Microsoft SQL Server 2012 and Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, employees can mine data more deeply without help from the IT staff, giving the IT staff more time to improve IT solutions. The company has also eliminated expensive third-party licensing fees.

The Charles Machine Works (CMW) depends heavily on SAP data to run its business, but found it difficult to create business intelligence (BI) reports, let alone make broader use of SAP data. Rather than use SAP products, including SAP HANA, CMW chose Microsoft technology and Simplement Data Liberator. With this solution, CMW has broadened its use of SAP data, simplified and sped up SAP reporting, gained more time for IT to better support the business, and avoided huge cost increases.

Ithaca Agway and True Value managed their business with Epicor Eagle POS Software and struggled with high costs associated with that system. They were also bogged down with paper orders and didn’t have real-time insight on whether they could make a sale and couldn’t predict when items were available. With their Epicor solution, they were not able to price compare products across their multiple suppliers and were never really sure if they were getting the best price. Ithaca Agway and True Value worked with System Solutions LLC to implement Microsoft Dynamics RMS and is now realizing a 20-25% increase in efficiency with mobile devices in receiving, improving profitability with the use of suggested orders, enhancing customer service with real-time insight into inventory and a streamlined check out process, and making way for growth with plans for a new store in Lansing, New York.

Sitro Group Australia Pty Ltd (SGA) was expanding fast and needed to streamline its sales order processing, financial reporting, and inventory management. SGA deployed and extended an enterprise resource planning platform using successive versions of Microsoft Dynamics GP. Now, sales orders are processed faster and more reliably. With immediate access to comprehensive data, the finance team can ensure debtors are diligently pursued and creditors are paid on time. Product despatch occurs faster with fewer errors, while logistics and sales staff receive specially configured reports that enable them to work more efficiently and deliver a higher level of customer service.

Shinola is a design and manufacturing company that needed the most efficient solution to streamline its processes and reduce manufacturing costs to gain a competitive advantage. In April 2012, three Shinola employees began using tablets running the Windows 8 Pro operating system. The company plans to use the tablets for shipping and receiving, inventory control, point-of-sales discussions, and monitoring plant security cameras. Shinola benefits from an intuitive interface, robust functionality, and near-seamless mobility.

Specialty manufacturer Kureha America Inc. needed a platform on which to manage business processes and intercompany transactions among its five operating units. As it evaluated ERP solutions, a primary criterion was that the solution be in the cloud, enabling Kureha to minimize its investment in hardware, software, and staff required to deploy and maintain its IT infrastructure. With help from Microsoft Certified Partner Bestborn Business Solutions, Kureha implemented Microsoft Dynamics NAV, hosted in the cloud by SaaSplaza.

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc., a specialty retailer of beauty supply products based in Denton, Texas, faced a tangled mess in dealing with international product and service management. CIO Chad Ehmke discusses this competitive environment and how Microsoft Dynamics helps the company manage their business operations, which last year generated $3.3 billion in sales across more than 16,000 SKUs.

Speedy Hire is the largest provider of equipment for rent and for sale, and supporting services, in the United Kingdom. At Speedy Hire, using technology strategically and efficiently is part of the company’s vision for success. The company recently implemented Microsoft Dynamics CRM, replacing Salesforce.com. Deployment of Microsoft Dynamics CRM took 9 months and required minimal retraining compared to other systems. The company has used Microsoft Dynamics AX for ERP since 2005, and is currently upgrading to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.