Invensys Operations Management is out to make it easier and less expensive for small electric utilities in the United States to participate in smart grid, an energy modernization program supported by the U.S. government. Utilities need a high-performance, low-cost way to distribute real-time pricing data to customers so that they can make smarter consumption decisions. Invensys responded by creating a smart grid communications platform using The Service Bus and Access Control Service, both part of the Windows Azure™ platform. The resulting platform enables utilities to immediately embrace smart grid services at affordable prices. Such services will help utility customers save money by using energy more wisely. Invensys developed its pilot solution in just three months as part of a plan to realize increased revenues from selling smart grid–compliant products and services.

BMI Defense Systems designs and manufactures protective equipment with patented energy-absorbing designs for the U.S. military. In 2008, the company won a multimillion-dollar contract to ship a gunner platform and restraint system in direct support of the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan under the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle program. Faced with a need to exponentially scale up its operations, BMI Defense worked with Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner SIS to implement Microsoft Dynamics® SL for accounting, supply chain, and manufacturing. The solution helped BMI Defense better demonstrate to the government its direct and indirect costs for the new contract, thereby saving the company more than the amount it cost to implement the system. In addition, BMI Defense now tracks inventory with greater accuracy and is better able to meet shipment schedules.

Large Russian Retail Chain "Okay" successfully automates and integrates all business processes, from cash terminals to back office operations, into one unified information system. To create this system, the only one of its kind in Russia, "Okay" relied on Microsoft Dynamics AX.

WILO RUS creates an integrated business information space with Microsoft Dynamics NAV to improve collaboration between its headquarters and 18 branch offices.

One company that has actually seen business increase during an economic downturn is supply-chain services firm PCH International. The company quickly realized, however, that its current enterprise resource planning system could no longer keep up with its growth. PCH began looking for a system that could automate tasks that employees had to perform manually and integrate and unify company data for faster, more efficient storage and retrieval. Working closely with Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner ePartners, PCH implemented Microsoft Dynamics® AX 2009 at its headquarters. Soon after, the company deployed the solution to six other locations. Now, the company benefits from border-free data access and management; faster, more cost-efficient transactions; and improved compliance with local tax codes and financial regulations.

Until recently, Dr. Vojtech Alexander’s Hospital in Kezmarok, in the Slovak Republic, managed its supply chain, patient statistics, personnel, and finances with separate applications that weren’t compatible. This meant employees often duplicated their efforts capturing and searching for data. Working with Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner WBI, the hospital deployed Microsoft Dynamics® NAV, helping employees access and share information quickly and easily.

For years, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) depended on paper-based work orders to manage its many responsibilities in central Texas, which include delivering electricity, managing the water supply and environment of the lower Colorado River basin, and supporting community and economic development. Manual data entry processes were causing bottlenecks and inaccuracies, and the LCRA needed a mobile solution that offered versatility and configurability to meet the company’s data management requirements. Windows Mobile-based solutions from Microsoft® partner Syclo enabled the LCRA to move, capture, and manage complete and accurate data, which helped improve management, compliance reports, regulatory compliance, and service delivery, streamlined data flow, and improved customer service.

The Supreme Group—which provides food, fuel, logistics, and other services to military and commercial groups operating in areas of conflict—had an enterprise resource planning (ERP) application that was intended for a small organization. After exponential growth, Supreme sought a more integrated, extensible ERP solution. It deployed Microsoft Dynamics® AX and is expanding its implementation to include greater functionality in more countries. Supreme has improved process management with its new solution, leading to better visibility into its warehouse status. As a result, the organization has reduced food waste by 15 to 20 percent because it can efficiently manage stock according to expiration dates. Supreme also increased its information accuracy, resulting in more consistent service to customers, less time spent correcting information, and reduced risk of food or fuel shortages.

Helzberg Diamond’s divisional and regional vice presidents travel frequently and visit many stores each day. Previously, to access key performance data about the stores they were visiting, the executives spent extra time working with a laptop and Internet connection, or they did a lot of faxing. To improve productivity, Helzberg worked with Webalo, a Microsoft® Partner, to deploy the Webalo Mobile Dashboard on Helzberg executives’ existing handheld devices. The resulting "anywhere, any time, on-demand" data availability helps Helzberg’s mobile executives be more productive. Executives can now easily and quickly access the numbers they need, automatically get updated metrics, and even review information offline.

Russian computer manufacturer, "Imango," saves money and streamlines IT resources with Microsoft's Hyper-V virtualization solution, Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager, and Microsoft Windows Server 2008.