Microsoft spices up battle for SME market
Software giant Microsoft this week revealed plans to launch new SME business software in the UK by the end of the year - setting up the prospect of a battle with leading companies, including UK giant Sage.
The move by Microsoft follows its £747m acquisition of accounting software supplier Great Plains in December 2000 as revealed by Accountancy Age, and will see the company release a customer relationship management package.
UK accounting software companies have been making moves into the CRM arena in recent times, but Microsoft’s foray into this market will stiffen competition considerably.
The launch comes as the company prepares to embark on a campaign to boost its presence in the accountancy software market, and will shortly begin talking directly to accountants.
And Microsoft Great Plains has declared its intent to become the UK’s largest accountancy software provider.
Doug Burgum, senior vice president of Microsoft, said: ‘Microsoft CRM represents a substantial business opportunity to deliver an entirely new category of solutions specifically designed to our SME customers.’
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Microsoft, this week confirmed the US Securities & Exchange Commission is investigating the Software giant’s company disclosures, amid concerns of ‘conservative’ accounting.