Microsoft simplifies ERP licensing for partners

Microsoft has announced a range of changes to its ERP business in a bid to simplify ERP licensing agreements for channel partners.

The changes, first unveiled at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Boston, include the launch of a new Business Ready Licensing model.

A Business Ready Enhancement Plan for its Microsoft Dynamics business (formerly known as Micorosoft Business Solutions) has also been launched.

Both are aimed at simplifying, and improving the value of, Microsoft's licensing and maintenance programs.

Pieter Reede, Microsoft Australia’s ERP product manager Dynamics, said changes followed feedback from two–year Microsoft ERP partner survey.

“One of the big outcomes that came out of the survey was a need for us to simplify our ERP licensing model for channel partners,” he said. “Previously, pricing was based on a customer’s selection of modules from the hundreds of modules and granules available.”

Available worldwide from 1 August, Business Ready Licensing streamlines pricing for Microsoft Dynamics enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions with prices now being based on the number of concurrent users who actually use the software, Reede said.

The new model has three tiers including Microsoft Dynamics Business Essentials; Microsoft Dynamics Advanced Management and Microsoft Dynamics Advanced Management Enterprise.

“At the Essentials level, partners can sell the core functionality. With Advanced management they can offer manufacturing and process accounting. The Enterprise level extends the last offer and allows partners to offer rented field services and gives customers the ability to adapt the software to suit their company,” said Reede.