Microsoft Great Plains in Latin America: implementation, customization and support - overview for consultant
 by: Arthur Ferretti

Microsoft Business Solutions is successor of former Great Plains Software marketing presence in Latin America, especially marketing efforts in Mexico, Central America, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Columbia, Chili, Uruguay. We see reasonably large number of Great Plains Dynamics / eEnterprise 5.5 and 6.0 and currently Great Plains Standard and full version of Great Plains versions 7.5 and 8.0 across Latin America. Due to economical issues in late 1990th and US recession and its reflection in South America large number of Great Plains clients were left without support (so-called orphans – term widely used by Microsoft Great Plains Partners). Currently we see recovery symptoms on the market and certain trend to get support back from orphanage clientele. On the other side – due to the fact of past weakening market – number of Microsoft Business Solutions VARs is shrank and it is not that easy for the GP Reseller to serve one business mega polis (Caracas, Bogota or Buenos Aires for example)

Below we list the trends in consulting industry:

    * Consulting Companies Consolidation – this process is pretty much over in the USA and is almost completed in Europe. Now it is on the way in Latin America. It is partially related to recession and economy slow down. Small consulting companies have to merge with large multi-directional service firms (usually we see auditing, tax services, assets management) who are willing to purchase small technology consulting businesses and have them work for their clientele.

    * Consulting Rates Increase – well, this is indirect effect of market consolidation, larger companies are willing to deal with larger clients and move consulting rates up. And as number of small consulting firms shrinks – there are no balancing forces to push rates down. This is a little bit paradoxical, because Microsoft Business Solutions products historically were targeted to middle market and even small companies

Possible Solutions:

    * Hold on for new implementation - stick to existing legacy accounting system, do not plan Great Plains modification, integration and tune up. This is usual way for recession time

    * Cross-national remote support – we see the trend of going nation-wide and cross-nations for MBS Partners in large business metros such as Sao Paulo, Brazil. Plus MBS itself is encouraging cross-national partners to establish small presence in smaller business metros in Mexico and Central America

Good luck with implementation, customizing and reports design and if you have issues or concerns – we are here to help! If you want us to do the job - give us a call São Paulo 55-11-3826-3449, USA 1-630-961-5918, 1-866-528-0577, [email protected]

About The Author

Arthur is Great Plains Specialist in Microsoft Business Solutions Partner Alba Spectrum Technologies – Great Plains, Navision, Microsoft CRM customization company, serving client in Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Santiago, Panama, Mexico city, Quito, Houston ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ).

[email protected]