IT Singapore
December, 2000

Taking account of accounting and financial software

Some 130,000 businesses worldwide are said to be using US-based Great Plains' e-business applications for financials, distribution, enterprise reporting, project accounting, electronic commerce, human resources and payroll, manufacturing, sales and marketing management, and customer service and support. This suite of e-business software is designed to meet the broad spectrum of business application needs of the mid-market, which generally consists of businesses with $1 million to $500 million in annual revenues. The software programs are designed to be scalable and are easy to implement, customize and use. They are optimized for Microsoft-based computing platforms.

The US company in November 1999 released its Siebel Front Office, a customer relationship management system it developed jointly with Siebel Systems. This system automates all sales, marketing, service and e-business processes across the enterprise.

In June 2000, Great Plains acquired Solomon Software, a provider of business management and e-business system for the mid-market. Solomon's products are targeted at the lower and mid-tiers of the mid-market. Solomon IV, released in December 1996, runs on the Microsoft SQL Server database. Great Plains' Siebel Front Office will be integrated to Solomon IV in early 2001.

The Solomon software offers SMEs a fast way to start using e-business applications for financials, project accounting, distribution, service management and manufacturing. The software runs on Windows NT 2000. Some 20,000 companies worldwide use Solomon software.

Companies in Singapore using the software include Philip Morris, Wieland Metals and Singapore Power. Solomon IV is available in modules, each costing $2,000 to $4,000. The software can also be "rented" via ASP-mode at monthly subscription rates of $800 or more. The desktop version which can support up to 100 named users is priced from $1,400 for Select Edition.