| tomization and support - overview | | | | America. It is partially related to recession and |
| Microsoft Business Solutions is successor of former | | | | economy slow down. Small consulting companies have |
| Great Plains Software marketing presence in Latin | | | | to merge with large multi-directional service firms |
| America, especially marketing efforts in Mexico, | | | | (usually we see auditing, tax services, assets |
| Central America, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Columbia, | | | | management) who are willing to purchase small |
| Chili, Uruguay. | | | | technology consulting businesses and have them work |
| Microsoft Business Solutions is successor of former | | | | for their clientele. |
| Great Plains Software marketing presence in Latin | | | | - Consulting Rates Increase — well, this is |
| America, especially marketing efforts in Mexico, | | | | indirect effect of market consolidation, larger |
| Central America, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Columbia, | | | | companies are willing to deal with larger clients and |
| Chili, Uruguay. We see reasonably large number of | | | | move consulting rates up. And as number of small |
| Great Plains Dynamics / eEnterprise 5.5 and 6.0 and | | | | consulting firms shrinks — there are no balancing |
| currently Great Plains Standard and full version of | | | | forces to push rates down. This is a little bit |
| Great Plains versions 7.5 and 8.0 across Latin America. | | | | paradoxical, because Microsoft Business Solutions |
| Due to economical issues in late 1990th and US | | | | products historically were targeted to middle market |
| recession and its reflection in South America large | | | | and even small companies |
| number of Great Plains clients were left without | | | | Possible Solutions: |
| support (so-called orphans — term widely used | | | | - Hold on for new implementation - stick to existing |
| by Microsoft Great Plains Partners). Currently we see | | | | legacy accounting system, do not plan Great Plains |
| recovery symptoms on the market and certain trend | | | | modification, integration and tune up. This is usual way |
| to get support back from orphanage clientele. On the | | | | for recession time |
| other side — due to the fact of past weakening | | | | - Cross-national remote support — we see the |
| market — number of Microsoft Business | | | | trend of going nation-wide and cross-nations for MBS |
| Solutions VARs is shrank and it is not that easy for | | | | Partners in large business metros such as Sao Paulo, |
| the GP Reseller to serve one business mega polis | | | | Brazil. Plus MBS itself is encouraging cross-national |
| (Caracas, Bogota or Buenos Aires for example) | | | | partners to establish small presence in smaller business |
| Below we list the trends in consulting industry: | | | | metros in Mexico and Central America |
| - Consulting Companies Consolidation — this | | | | Good luck with implementation, customizing and reports |
| process is pretty much over in the USA and is almost | | | | design and if you have issues or concerns — |
| completed in Europe. Now it is on the way in Latin | | | | we are here to help! |