Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home IT Management
    • IT Management

    Microsoft Announces New Global ISVs

    By
    Darryl K. Taft
    -
    July 11, 2013
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      HOUSTON—At its Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC), Microsoft announced new partner agreements with four leading global independent software vendors (GISVs).

      Microsoft’s GISV program offers special partner agreements between select solution providers and Microsoft that help companies with deep industry expertise tailor software solutions to provide the right fit for customers. This also provides customers with specialized industry software built on a platform that has a proven success record in different industries.

      The continued evolution of technology is creating more opportunities for solution providers than ever, said Neil Holloway, corporate vice president of Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) Sales and Operations. “As technology marches on and business needs evolve, the demand for software with specialized functionality is an ever-growing industry,” Holloway said in a statement. “We’re here this week to show how Microsoft is investing in its partners, how focused we are on helping deliver the best experiences to enterprise customers, and how the biggest, best opportunities for ISVs still lie ahead.”

      Against that backdrop, the Microsoft Dynamics group announced that it would bring aboard four new GISVs that have signed deals to participate in the exclusive program: distribution and manufacturing provider I.B.I.S., automotive software maker Incadea, food supply-chain consultancy Anglia Business Solutions and retail automation vendor Escher Group.

      Andy Vabulas, chief executive of I.B.I.S., said becoming a Microsoft GISV is a game-changer that enabled his company to build direct relationships within Microsoft and throughout its network of more than 600,000 partner companies to greatly expand I.B.I.S.’s reach and creating opportunities for new business that would not otherwise be possible.

      “It’s probably the best business opportunity that we’ve ever been presented from any partner, including Microsoft,” Vabulas said in a statement. “I can see where we will double or triple our business over the next five years.”

      Indeed, Vabulas said the distribution and manufacturing world in which I.B.I.S. operates has not been heavily addressed on the Microsoft platform, thus there is a major opportunity to bring the power of Microsoft’s unified technology stack to an industry that lacks diverse offerings.

      “There are 6,500-plus distributors in the industrial distribution market in the U.S. alone that will need to change ERP systems in the next five years,” Vabulas said. “With Microsoft Dynamics AX providing a modern and powerful ERP system, we felt if we did some work in revenue management, order management, inventory and procurement, we could really tailor AX to fit the sophisticated needs of those companies.”

      To tackle that challenge, I.B.I.S. developed a software layer on top of Microsoft Dynamics AX that handles complex issues facing distributors such as advanced pricing, commissions, optimized order entry, lost sales tracking, consignment and vendor-managed inventory, all wrapped with industry-specific key performance indicators.

      Microsoft Announces New Global ISVs

      Though I.B.I.S. has enjoyed a close relationship with Microsoft for more than a decade, Vabulas said the opportunity to enter into a GISV relationship adds a deeper dimension that will benefit both companies. For I.B.I.S., it means getting global business exposure and the chance to work directly with Microsoft’s R&D teams. The I.B.I.S. solution allows Microsoft Dynamics to better serve the manufacturing and distribution industries, bringing modern business applications to compete with legacy technologies such as SAP and Oracle.

      “Advanced Distribution Software is the missing link in Dynamics AX distribution functionality,” Vabulas said in a statement. “We’ve got that last mile of functionality that is so key to the needs of these clients. We’re helping distributors increase their margins with a real, provable return on their investment.”

      Moreover, Holloway said with GISVs serving a wide range of vertical industries such as automotive, retail, manufacturing, finance, public sector and professional services, Holloway said they need to use their expertise to benefit customers and provide the kind of advantage that is key to staying ahead over the long run.

      “Since GISV partners are able to dial in to Microsoft’s internal development groups, they know far in advance what’s coming and the opportunities that might be available,” Holloway said. “That kind of advantage is only possible by building these close relationships with vendors.”

      For its part, Ferranti Computer Systems, a GISV that has served the utilities (electricity, gas, water and thermal) market since 1976, and a GISV program member for more than two years, has worked with Microsoft to align product development and certification for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. In the age of big data, Ferranti has used its relationships in Microsoft’s R&D department to optimize their MECOMS solution using Microsoft SQL Server as a data engine, aiming to tame the huge volumes of data generated by massive utilities and turn it into a useful business asset.

      “We are really spearheading the movement toward a big data solution and handling that sort of volume, so the alignment with Microsoft in terms of R&D is important for us,” said Dirk Michiels, CEO of Ferranti. “Given Microsoft’s huge effort toward development every year, when we make our own investments in R&D, we don’t have to focus on the technology anymore—we focus on the business value.”

      Ferranti joined the Microsoft Dynamics GISV program in 2011 and has experienced significant success as a result of the partnership. The company connected with partners such as Avanade, Accenture and CGI, greatly strengthening its global deployment muscle.

      “Since becoming a GISV, we’ve grown dramatically in terms of execution,” Michiels said in a statement. “There is real value in our relationship with Microsoft—it helped us form our footprint in the market and develop a powerful solution that is making a difference. We deliver solutions that can change with the requirements of governments, cultures and geographies, and do so in a very cost-effective way.”

      Darryl K. Taft
      Darryl K. Taft covers the development tools and developer-related issues beat from his office in Baltimore. He has more than 10 years of experience in the business and is always looking for the next scoop. Taft is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and was named 'one of the most active middleware reporters in the world' by The Middleware Co. He also has his own card in the 'Who's Who in Enterprise Java' deck.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×