FARGO, N.D. April 30, 2003 Microsoft Business Solutions today announced the availability of Microsoft® Business Solutions Business Portal. The solution provides an organization’s employees, suppliers and customers with easy access to information and processes that are critical to maximizing efficiency and profitability, all from a single, Web-based portal.
Microsoft Business Solutions developed Microsoft Business Portal to help businesses realize benefits in several key areas, including reduced information technology (IT) and support costs, increased availability of business information, and extended access to business applications.
“Microsoft Business Portal gives employees, customers and suppliers the power to serve themselves, which helps increase productivity, efficiency and, ultimately, profitability,”
said Mark Jensen, group product manager for new solutions at Microsoft Business Solutions.
By drawing on the strengths of the Microsoft .NET Framework, Microsoft Business Portal allows organizations to deploy a portal that is role-based and builds upon their network security schema. Full integration with the Microsoft Business SolutionsGreat Plains® and Microsoft Business SolutionsSolomon business applications delivers out-of-the-box access to business information pages and standard reports, as well as ad hoc information queries. Microsoft Business Portal can be extended to external data sources and Web-delivered applications, creating a true single-source site for information and business processes.
Microsoft Business Portal benefits businesses in several ways:
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Role-based model. Businesses can pinpoint the types of information and processes they offer individual employees; salespeople can review quotas, query customer data and enter orders; and executives can review reports online or look up critical business information.
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Browser-based delivery. Business information and processes can be delivered to employees and other business constituents via a Web browser with access to the company’s network. Users also can access Microsoft Business SolutionsGreat Plains and Microsoft Business SolutionsSolomon applications through Microsoft Business Portal via Windows® Terminal Server.
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Configurability. Microsoft Business Portal includes predefined roles with related processes and access to business information related to those roles. Companies can easily add and change roles, and include access to additional data sources and applications to fit business practices.
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.NET architecture. Built on the Microsoft .NET Framework, Microsoft Business Portal enables companies to deliver security-enhanced, role-based access to information and applications, with integrated workflow management for increased productivity.
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Security. Microsoft Business Portal’s .NET foundation helps protect data and code against unauthorized access or tampering, and the role-based security subsystem helps companies ensure that the right information and processes are given to the right people in the organization.
Availability and Pricing
Microsoft Business Portal is available immediately in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand through Microsoft Certified Business Solutions reselling partners. It is planned for release in the United Kingdom, Middle East, Africa and Asia/Pacific in the third calendar quarter of 2003.
Microsoft Business Portal is backed by the award-winning support and training of Microsoft Business Solutions. As part of the solution’s Foundation Layer, Microsoft Business Portal is available to customers of Microsoft Business SolutionsGreat Plains 7.0 or higher or Microsoft Business SolutionsSolomon 5.0 or higher that have a current enhancement plan. User access licenses are priced at $45 to $65 (U.S.) per user, based on the number of licenses purchased. Other applications will be available for an additional fee. For example, the Human Resource Management Self Service Suite, expected to be available mid-2003, can be purchased as a suite for $5,000 (U.S.), or as individual modules ranging from $500 to $2,500.
Portal Solutions From Microsoft
In addition to Microsoft Business Portal, Microsoft also offers Office SharePoint™ Portal Server 2003, an enterprise portal that provides a central place to access, manage, share and interact with relevant information, documents, applications and people for quicker and better decisions, effective teaming and streamlined business processes through a familiar, integrated user experience and mainstream platform. Microsoft Business Portal, along with SharePoint Portal Server, Content Management Server, BizTalk® Server and Commerce Server (which are built on the combination of the Windows Server System™
, the Microsoft Office System and the .NET Framework) offer a comprehensive and integrated suite of portal capabilities that enable companies to increase employee productivity and create more-effective connections with customers and partners.
About Microsoft Business Solutions
Microsoft Business Solutions, a business group of Microsoft, offers a wide range of integrated, end-to-end business applications and services designed to help small, midmarket and corporate businesses become more connected with customers, employees, partners and suppliers. Microsoft Business Solutions’ applications optimize strategic business processes across financial management, analytics, human resources management, project management, customer relationship management, field service management, supply chain management, e-commerce,
manufacturing and retail management. The applications are designed to provide insight to help customers achieve business success. More information about Microsoft Business Solutions can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/businesssolutions/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, Great Plains, Windows, SharePoint, BizTalk and Windows Server System are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp., Great Plains Software Inc. or their affiliates in the United States and/or other countries.
Great Plains Software Inc. is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corp.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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