Microsoft launches package for managing small businesses

Mumbai: Microsoft Business Solutions has brought to market the Microsoft Business Solutions Small Business Manager 7.0, developed specifically to help small businesses manage a broad range of business functions.

The product helps small businesses streamline their sales and purchasing, tighten fiscal and inventory control, and enhance integration.

Ruth Mondragon, chief financial officer of a LaMar’s Donuts International franchise in Pueblo, who recently upgraded to Small Business Manager 7.0, said: “The product is very cost-effective for a small company. And it is so easy to use. I can just look at financials and know exactly where we’re at in each store. With 42 employees and two stores, Mondragon needed technology that was affordable and easy to use and provided a consolidated view across her company’s multiple locations and systems.”

The package allows ensured protection of business information, and incorporates support and training.

Features
Streamlined sales and purchasing, allowing for integrated quotes, sales orders, invoices, statements and payments that let small businesses manage the complete customer life cycle. To manage the vendor life cycle, it offers integrated purchase orders, item receipts and payment processes.

Tight inventory control, integrating with sales, purchasing and financial tasks. Businesses can choose from multiple cost methods, assign multiple price levels to an item, track serial and lot numbers, manage kits, run physical inventory checklists, track costs and quantities, and perform adjustments.

Tight fiscal control, allowing small businesses to track and forecast cash flow, control fiscal closing periods, post transactions to the correct fiscal year, and electronically file payroll information with the government.

Integration capabilities make it easy for small businesses to import records and transactions with a wizard-based tool and to export data and reports to Microsoft Excel and other applications. Additional capabilities for integrating industry-specific software created by authorised solution developers also are available.

In addition, it includes integrated modules that allow small businesses to more efficiently manage financial, banking, inventory, sales, purchasing, US payroll, and reporting and analysis functions. It works hand in hand with Microsoft Office, Microsoft bCentral (TM) Web services and other business applications.

The software is available immediately through Microsoft Business Solutions reseller partners and consultant partners. Retail prices begin at $995 (US) for single users and $2,495 for multiple (up to five concurrent) users. A US payroll add-on suite is available for $500. A services plan, providing training, support, access to CustomerSource and free product upgrades, is available starting at $275 per year.