REDMOND, Wash. — Dec. 15, 2005 — Microsoft Corp. today announced general availability of Microsoft Dynamics™ SL 6.5, formerly Microsoft Business Solutions–Solomon. Microsoft Dynamics SL will be available starting Dec. 19 in Canada and the United States, and will be available in Mexico and other countries by the end of January 2006.
The release includes new Bank Reconciliation and Purchase Requisition modules, expanded out-of-the-box Microsoft® Windows® SharePoint® Services-based portal capabilities including the ability to be deployed in an extranet environment for use with customers and vendors, user-specific scheduling of reports and processes within application server, and more than 100 enhancements for project-driven organizations and distributors. Microsoft Dynamics SL is part of Microsoft’s overall business solutions road map that will deliver next-generation innovation through two waves of upgrades.
“Project-driven organizations and distributors need business management applications that adapt to their unique processes. Microsoft Dynamics SL is easily adaptable and provides the capability to manage workflow and transactions in a reliable and affordable manner,” said Eric de Jager, director of Microsoft Dynamics SL at Microsoft. “The focus for this release was to provide our customers and partners with a set of new modules and numerous enhancements across several industry-specific areas of the solution. Our goal is to empower people by designing enhancements that help customers build stronger businesses and manage business processes more quickly and accurately. For our partners who build their business with Microsoft Dynamics SL, the deeper integration with other Microsoft products is equally important.”
With a target market focus on project-driven organizations and distribution, and as a result of broad existing customer input, Microsoft Dynamics™ SL was developed with a focus on five areas:
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Purchase Requisition module. Businesses can automate the procurement process with the new Purchase Requisition module, a flexible request, bidding and approval system. This new module can be deployed to support purchasing policies by company, department, cost center or even unique projects.
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Bank Reconciliation module. The new Bank Reconciliation module allows staff members to quickly and easily reconcile company bank statements in electronic formats.
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Application server. An enhanced application server module increases efficiency. Reports and processes can now be scheduled to run according to the specific time-frame requirements of individual employees in an organization.
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Expanded Windows SharePoint Services-based portal. Business Portal 3.0 for Microsoft Dynamics SL, built on the Windows SharePoint Services collaboration and document management solution, includes many new features that help increase productivity, including requisition item requests and new ways for employees, customers and vendors to access the solution over the Internet in an extranet environment.
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Project-driven organization and distributor enhancements. Microsoft Dynamics SL includes more than 100 enhancements for existing customers across multiple industries and new customers within the target markets of project-driven organizations and distributors. These enhancements span all aspects of the application, designed with the goal of increasing installation ease, performance scalability, and specific functional capabilities across the broad product lineup of Financials and Payroll, Project Management and Accounting, Distribution, Field Service, and customization tools.
Microsoft Dynamics SL, which was made available in beta form in August, has received rave reviews from a number of customers, including Dorothy Znamiec, information system director with Genica Corp., a technology supplier and distributor based in Oceanside, Calif. Together, Genica’s four divisions have 800,000 customers and process approximately 60,000 transaction per day.
“I’ve worked with the Solomon product line for a long time,” said Znamiec, who plans to upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics™ SL 6.5 in January. Benefits of Microsoft Dynamics SL cited by Znamiec include ease of installation, increased speed, timeliness in processing batches, the ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects, and capabilities that make it possible for her to manage and track inventory that is bought and sold at multiple locations at multiple costs.
Pricing for the Purchase Requisition module is $1,050 with the licensing of Microsoft Dynamics SL Standard, or $1,500 with the Professional edition. Pricing for the Bank Reconciliation module is $350 with the licensing of Microsoft Dynamics SL Standard, or $500 with the Professional edition. All prices are in U.S. dollars and do not include the price of other modules or user licenses that may be required.*
About Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of financial, customer relationship and supply chain management solutions that helps businesses work more effectively. Delivered through a network of channel partners providing specialized services, these integrated, adaptable business management solutions work like and with familiar Microsoft software to streamline processes across an entire business.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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