Microsoft Brings Retailers a Complete End-to-End Solution With Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail R2 at EuroShop 2011

DUSSELDORF, Germany, February 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Microsoft and partners demonstrate enhanced connected customer centricity with Microsoft Dynamics CRM solutions for retail.

Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) launched Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail R2 in Germany at the global retail industry trade fair, EuroShop 2011. This solution, the next iteration of Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics/products/ax-retail.aspx), offers midsize and enterprise specialty retailers point-of-sale, store management, supply chain, merchandising and financials capabilities to deliver business productivity, enterprise agility and customer service in a single, integrated end-to-end retail solution. It provides visibility from point-of-sale devices to the supply chain and the business insight needed to enable a real-time response to customer demand and build customer loyalty.

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Microsoft is also showing Microsoft Dynamics CRM extended capabilities specific to this industry with Microsoft Dynamics partner solutions for retail.

Becoming a Dynamic Retailer With Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail R2

Shopping has evolved to become a truly multichannel experience for today's shoppers who are digital, social, mobile, enabled and informed. Faced with these digitally empowered multichannel consumers, retailers are being challenged to operate faster and smarter across their organizations to achieve deeper customer loyalty and maintain a competitive edge. Moving forward, retailers will transform their businesses into more agile enterprises and drive customer centricity as a core value.

The integration, control and role-tailored capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail help retailers address these challenges and become dynamic. Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail R2 offers further value in addressing today's retail needs and includes the following enhancements:

    
    - Insight. Retail Role Centers mean key data can be surfaced quickly and
      easily, helping people make more informed decisions and be productive.
    - Loyalty. Expanded scenarios and centralized management out of the box
      help retailers enhance the customer experience.
    - Simplicity. New interfaces for assortment and item management speed
      workflows and help drive productivity.
    - Global availability. New localizations and translations further support
      the needs of multinational and growing organizations.

"Greater organizational agility is key to the success of today's retailer because consumer dynamics are changing rapidly," said Bill Gonzalez, general manager, Worldwide Distribution and Services Sector, Microsoft. "Our vision is to empower retailers to become connected retailers: connecting people, stores and enterprise operations and providing the business insight and connected experiences retailers need to create customer value and build customer loyalty."

European retailers such as LH Dienstbekleidungs GmbH from Germany, as well as Paul Boulangeries, Au Forum du Batiment, Coviran, Kaubamaja (http://kaubamaja.ee), Groupe Aksal (http://groupeaksal.mtds.com/Fr/Home.aspx), New Look (http://www.newlook.com) and Logitec, have chosen Microsoft Dynamics AX solutions. Other worldwide Microsoft Dynamics AX retail customers include Bailey Banks & Biddle (http://www.baileybanksandbiddle.com/default.aspx), Carol's Daughter (http://www.carolsdaughter.com), Combined Rural Traders Ltd. (http://www.crt.co.nz), J&R Electronics (http://www.jr.com) Inc. and China Horizon Investments Group.

China Horizon, founded in January 2007 by a group of entrepreneurs to capitalize on the rapid growth of domestic Chinese consumption, provides an excellent example of the scalability, flexibility and agility provided by Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail. In a joint venture with China Post, China Horizon will build a chain of Post Mart retail stores across rural China and plans to have 15,000 self-owned community depots, or minimarts, and 200,000 franchise stores in China within five years. A project of this size and scope requires a highly scalable and flexible technology infrastructure to provide visibility across such a widespread retail organization.

"Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail was the ideal choice for our business as it provides a single consolidated system that supports our international requirements in an easy-to-use and familiar format," said William Fields, chairman, China Horizon. "As we embark on a rapid growth trajectory over the next few years, we are confident that Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail will continue to scale with us."

Connected Customer Centricity With Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 was released to market Feb. 16, 2011, and delivers breakthrough productivity by providing familiar, intelligent and connected experiences to users in all areas of customer interface for the retail organization. Partner solutions leverage the extended CRM platform to deliver solutions for retail such as Charisma 1:1 from Retaligent Solutions Inc., which provides a fully integrated retail customer relationship management, clienteling and loyalty solution. An example of Microsoft's commitment to connected customer centricity in retail, Charisma 1:1 gives retailers the ability to personalize the customer experience across multiple channels, build customer loyalty and, as a result, help increase the number and frequency of shopping transactions and their revenue potential.

Built on Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail, Next Generation Retail is an integrated solution from Avanade Inc., a business technology services provider. Next Generation Retail is an end-to-end solution that allows customers to access information at home or away with both desktop and mobile integration. Customers can check the balance of a loyalty card, access past purchases and get proposals for their shopping cart, as well as use the smartphone application to detect when they are approaching the store and automatically open the shopping application. Once inside the store, automatic login enables printing of a shopping list and guides customers through the store with their smartphones. In the offices of the store, management can access all sales data to determine the effectiveness of sales promotions or the store layout, for example, to best service customers.

"Next Generation Retail is focused entirely on creating a better experience for the customer, leveraging smart and integrated technology," said Matthias Hill, senior director and Dynamics AX Service Line Lead, Avanade Germany, Austria and Switzerland. "As a business technology services provider, our top priority at Avanade is to connect insight, innovation and expertise in Microsoft technologies to help customers realize results."

Retailers interested in learning more about Microsoft Dynamics solutions for the retail industry can visit http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/retailsolutions.

About Microsoft Dynamics

Microsoft Dynamics is a line of simple to learn and use ERP and CRM solutions that work with your existing technology and scale as you grow to give you long-term value. By using software and online services that work the way people and organizations work, businesses are better able to make informed decisions and adapt to rapid change. Microsoft Dynamics helps your people be more productive and your investments in existing systems last longer, while enabling your business to derive the insights necessary to respond quickly and have a competitive edge in an ever-changing world of business.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.