Wizard Productivity Systems, LP
 
by Paul

I believe that we are at an inflection point today in how enterprise software is being distributed and implemented. Over the course of the past ten years we have seen the emergence of new models for how software is sold (business model) and delivered (implementation). This change has been most dramatic at the lower end of the market (1-10 users). One need look no further than SalesForce.com for a perfect example. And I believe that if Microsoft has their way, their Dynamics GP product (formerly Great Plains) could be next.

Here is why:

    1. Ubiquity and commoditization. Through their simplified BRL licensing, Microsoft is making the   product more affordable and thus increasing the potential user base.
    2. Simplified installation. Microsoft is striving to streamline the implementation process through tools and processes.
    3. Searching for tools to ease implementation.
    4. Expanding the reseller base. Microsoft is striving to find ways to leverage its much larger system VAR channel to increase unit sales.

But to do this, Microsoft has one significant challenge. Their Dynamics GP product continues to be time consuming to implement. This is evidenced by the relatively high ratio of implementation costs to licensing costs when compared with other enterprise products that are focused on the 1-10 seat market.

Our core mission at Wizard Productivity Systems is to be the catalyst for accelerating that change. We are employing best practices from previous professional careers in order to facilitate that change.

These practices include:

    1. Internet based lead acquisition. Users in the 1-10 seat market are increasingly using the web to research new products.
    2. Offshore software development. By off shoring our software development to countries with lower cost, highly educated markets such as India and Argentina, we can provide better products at lower costs.
    3. Remote consulting resources. With the emergence of high quality, internet-based, remote access tools, we can now effectively deliver consulting and implementation prices without setting foot on the customer premises.
    4. Smart implementation tools. Over the last 10 years, based on our extensive experience as Solomon and Great Plains resellers, we have developed a stable of tools (iConsultant, ConvertMSTR, Config-TRKR) that dramatically ease and thus speed the implementation process, thus reducing the delivered cost and increasing the delivered value to the end user.

With these and other practices we believe that we are going to be able be a catalyst for change and have a great bit of fun in doing it.

 
 
 

Leave a Reply