Microsoft Dynamics AX Positioned as a Leader in Midmarket and Tier-2-Oriented ERP Magic Quadrant

REDMOND, Wash. — June 11, 2009 — Microsoft Dynamics AX has been positioned in the Leaders quadrant of the Gartner Inc. Magic Quadrant for Midmarket and Tier-2 Oriented ERP for Product-Centric Companies,1 a research report that evaluates global enterprise resource planning (ERP) products and that is specifically tailored for product-centric, midmarket companies with 100 to 1,000 employees.

“We hear stories daily about how our customers are getting real value from our ERP solutions, which is particularly important in today’s business environment,” said Crispin Read, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics ERP at Microsoft. “Our placement in this Magic Quadrant is further confirmation that Microsoft has a compelling vision and is able to execute on its long-term strategy of delivering ERP to midsized businesses.”

Microsoft Dynamics AX provides midsize and larger businesses with industry-enabling features to help them thrive in a competitive global marketplace by helping control costs, managing risk and increasing employee productivity.

According to Gartner’s report, “Leaders demonstrate vision and the ability to execute. Midmarket ERP leaders have deep and robust functionality that address a range of core user requirements. Not necessarily the largest vendors in terms of revenue, these vendors do have proven products, as well as track records of customer success and demonstrated momentum in growing their market presence. Leading vendors have offerings that appeal to the specific process needs of midmarket customers, are straightforward and simple to use, and are designed for low TCO, while being available in multiple regions. Leaders are well-prepared to evolve their products to model-driven applications to allow for high flexibility, with tools for embedded analytics and UIs that allow for easy adoption by different types of users.”

The report stated, “Although some see this market as large and mature, Gartner sees this market as undergoing a ‘changing of the guard,’ with older, established systems with deep functionality being displaced by more modern and agile systems.”

In addition, Microsoft Dynamics NAV has been positioned in the Niche Players quadrant in the same report. Microsoft Dynamics NAV helps midsize organizations with specific industry needs simplify and streamline their business processes by rapidly adapting to the unique way they do business, enabling their people to be effective and their business to be competitive. Examples of customers experiencing real value from their Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 and Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 solutions include these:

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009

• California-based Network Equipment Technologies Inc. has been able to lower its annual ERP maintenance costs, improve GSA compliance, optimize employee collaboration, expedite order entry, eliminate manual error-prone tasks, and streamline many inefficient workflows and day-to-day activities.

• Belgium-based Picanol Group has cut operating costs by 15 percent, reduced its built-to-order MRP processes from 50 hours to three hours, and has increased transparency across the global organization through standardization of its business.

• Headquartered in the Czech Republic, Meopta now has the foundation it needs to help achieve a five-year, 300 percent growth rate, supported by improved employee productivity and international compliance support.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009

• Denmark-based Hurup now enjoys increased efficiency, greater customer satisfaction and an enhanced platform that supports future growth.

• Atlanta, Ga.-based Exhausto Inc. has seen increased productivity, better customer service delivery, and greater agility and stronger growth potential.

• Denmark-based NaviCom A/S, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, is better prepared to offer the solution to its clients, works more effectively with an interface tailored to users roles, and drives more value from ERP with the three-tier architecture and Web services.