When Embarcadero set out to deliver Delphi Prism, a tool for building .NET Framework 3.5 applications using the Delphi pro-gramming language, the company wanted to optimize its use of development resources. Embarcadero used the Visual Studio® Shell, a “container” for custom tools and programming languages, which enabled the company to shift several developer-years of effort from building a custom IDE for Microsoft® .NET Framework 3.5 to deliver-ing high-value features. Building on the Visual Studio platform also enabled Embarcadero to deliver a product that provides access to the broad .NET ecosystem, and leaves the company well positioned to add value on top of future Microsoft .NET technologies.

Before the installation of the new server solution the firm had problems with network operating speed and difficulty using network resources. Operation of rendering service on the server was too slow for the company's needs, and waiting time for database application reaction was no longer acceptable. The major goal of installation was to increase network services operating speed and improving network and resource safety. The firm decided to install Microsoft Windows Server 2008, which replaced the previously used Windows Server 2000.

The internal network of CNS Solutions was previously based on Windows Server 2000, MS SQL 2000 (server1), and electronic post, web page and ftp worked on Windows Serwer 2003. This solution became inadequate. The company suffered from not connecting branches and field workers with the head office. A further difficulty was not having a unified IT environment. An obsolete mail service system could not update and didn't have an anti-spam mechanism. The foundation of the new IT structure became Windows Server 2008.

The previous IT structure of Dabex Bydgoszcz was no longer adequate. In the head office of the firm, was an office computer which played the role of server. On this computer, was installed database software, SQL with sales program data. The computers in headquarters, were connected to this database with the help of a local network. Branch computers were connected with the help of DSL connections and VPN tunnels. It was decided that a security increase was needed by moving the database to a separate computer which only service could access. The new solution works on Windows Server 2008 Standard.

Client Profiles saw an opportunity to develop legal practice management software that was easier to use than established solutions from Lexis-Nexis and Thomson Reuters. The company built a solution that takes advantage of the integration between Microsoft Dynamics® CRM and Microsoft® Office Outlook® to automate common tasks, such as retrieving new contacts for archival in a shared marketing database. To meet project goals, including rapid time-to-market, Client Profiles capitalized on the flexibility of xRM, the business application framework that underpins Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Developers accessed prebuilt workflow components and reporting services available through xRM to quickly infuse CRM4Legal with features that benefit multiple roles within any law firm. With xRM, Client Profiles dramatically reduced development time and achieved an estimated cost savings of U.S.$2 million.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate wanted to expand the ways in which customers start down the home-buying path. Building on its belief in using technological innovations to their fullest, the company decided to pursue a solution using the Microsoft® Surface® touch-computing platform. Early in the solution’s research-and-development stage, the company’s digital media partner, FD Kinesis, attended an Architecture Design Session at a Microsoft Technology Center. There, FD Kinesis validated its ideas and gained access to resources that would help the firm complete the project in time for Coldwell Banker to unveil it at its annual conference. Although not yet available for purchase by the company’s franchisees, the solution has attracted considerable attention from agents and homebuyers alike, revitalizing the home-buying process and providing a competitive edge for Coldwell Banker and its agents.

Many municipal and regional governments lack the resources needed to build and maintain e-government portals. To help these organizations, Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner Spenta Consulting built the Citizen Service Platform (CSP) core framework, now available as open-source software, by using the xRM business application framework. Spenta Consulting also created the full-featured CSP Citizen Portal Extended Edition solution, which takes advantage of xRM to meet unique public sector requirements like citizen case management, accessibility compliance, and secure e-forms. By taking advantage of xRM resources, Spenta Consulting was able to save 50 percent of the development effort required for relationship management aspects of the project.

Peak 15 Systems sells operational software to help tour operators reduce labor costs and increase profitability. When Peak 15 sought a development platform on which to build a software-as-a-service version (SaaS) of its offering, it evaluated solutions from Microsoft and Salesforce.com based on scalability, flexibility, and customer relationship management capabilities. Peak 15 chose the xRM business application framework that underlies Microsoft Dynamics® CRM because of its superior technical flexibility and solutions-focused business model. The company was able to build more functionality into its SaaS solution faster by using xRM resources. Now, Peak 15 customers have an excellent hosted solution that can easily be customized to fit their unique integration and business process requirements.

CSSI specializes in creating software to help companies with an insurance business model streamline and automate core business processes. The company sought to infuse its existing VUE Compensation Management application with relational capabilities. After researching several packaged customer relationship management solutions and evaluating the cost of building the solution in-house, CSSI opted to take advantage of xRM, the application development platform that underpins Microsoft Dynamics® CRM. Capitalizing on the built-in components and native extensibility offered through the xRM platform, CSSI built its VUE IncentivePoint solution in four months—70 percent faster than originally projected.

TDC is the largest telecommuncations company In Denmark. The company plays a leadership role in utilizing the latest technologies to deliver telecommunication services. TDC needed to decrease inbound sales staff overhead, reduce call handling times, and enable more cross- and up-selling opportunities. TDC implemented the Microsoft Customer Care Framework, and was able to reduce sales overhead, handle customer calls more efficiently, and enable more opportunities for cross- and up-selling of services.