Software delivers key performance indicators via Web portal.
Press Release Summary:
Microsoft® Business Portal v1.2 includes Human Resource Management (HRM) Self Service Suite that consists of 5 modules, Key Performance Indicators module, and ability to deliver reports created with Microsoft Business Solutions for Analytics-FRx® to portal users. It may be used to provide business intelligence and processes to all employees, providing access to information and aiding users to complete common tasks.
Original Press Release:
Microsoft Business Solutions Announces New Functionality for Microsoft Business Portal
New Release Extends ERP Applications to Deliver New Employee and Manager Self-Service, Key Performance Indicators Via Web Portal
FARGO, N.D. - Aug. 18, 2003 - Microsoft Business Solutions today announced availability of an enhanced release of the Microsoft® Business Solutions Business Portal (Microsoft Business Portal), its Web-based portal application for two of its enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, Microsoft Business Solutions-Great Plains® and Microsoft Business Solutions-Solomon. Major enhancements to Microsoft Business Portal in release 1.2 include a new Human Resource Management (HRM) Self Service Suite, a Key Performance Indicators (KPI) module, and the ability to deliver reports created with Microsoft Business Solutions for Analytics-FRx® to portal users.
Microsoft Business Portal can extend an organization's ERP solution to provide business intelligence and processes to all employees, helping companies reduce information support costs, providing greater access to information and enabling users to complete common tasks more easily.
"In the past, the systems needed to deliver centralized, browser-based access to employee processes and key decision information were too expensive and complex for all but the largest businesses to cost-justify," said Karen Engel, group product manager at Microsoft Business Solutions. "Microsoft Business Portal 1.2 is a prime example of how we are delivering tremendous new value through our ERP solutions, helping our customers achieve new efficiencies and drive their business success."
New functionality in Microsoft Business Portal 1.2 helps businesses take their ERP applications to the next level by streamlining human resource processes and delivering at-a-glance views of key business metrics to employees, managers and key decision-makers across the organization.
The new HRM Self Service Suite for Microsoft Business Portal 1.2 is designed to help employees review their HR and payroll information and complete common tasks, such as filling out and approving timecards, submitting requests for time off, reviewing paycheck and benefit information, and more easily changing their employee profile information. The suite helps employees work more efficiently, helps managers lead teams more effectively, and frees HR professionals to focus on higher priorities - all key benefits in any organization. The HRM Self Service Suite consists of five modules: Employee Profile, Employee Pay, Time and Attendance, Recruitment, and Skills and Training. It works with Microsoft Great Plains U.S. payroll and human resource applications.
The new KPI module offers executives and other decision-makers at-a-glance access to the key business metrics they need to help them quickly assess the health of an organization and take action when conditions change. KPIs can be expressed in graph or chart form and can include green, yellow and red alert conditions to identify critical areas of concern. The KPI module enables executives to drill down into the underlying data for further analysis. The KPI module is available for both Microsoft Great Plains and Microsoft Solomon.
Microsoft Business Portal 1.2 also includes the ability to deliver reports created with Microsoft FRx through the portal, so users can easily access the financial and business reports they need to accurately gauge financial conditions and make better-informed decisions.
Availability and Pricing
Microsoft Business Portal is available as part of Microsoft Great Plains and Microsoft Solomon in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Microsoft Business Portal user access licenses are priced at $45 (U.S.) to $65 (U.S.) per user, based on the number of licenses purchased.
The KPI module is available as part of Microsoft Business Portal for Microsoft Great Plains and Microsoft Solomon in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Pricing for the KPI module is $3,000 (U.S).
The HRM Self Service Suite is available as part of Microsoft Business Portal for Microsoft Great Plains only, and only in the United States. Modules in the HRM Self Service Suite are priced starting at $500 (U.S.).
Microsoft Business Portal is available through Microsoft Certified Business Solutions reselling partners and is backed by the award-winning support and training of Microsoft Business Solutions.
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.
