Mid-Market ERP Vendors Doing CRM & SCM In A DIY Fashion
Part 1: Recent Announcements
P.J. Jakovljevic - April 19, 2002

Event Summary

<b>Microsoft</b>'s acquisition of <b>Great Plains</b>, MAPICS' acquisition of Pivotpoint, and the merger of former <b>Navision Software</b> and <b>Damgaard</b> in 2000, combined with the anxiety of the then only looming economic slowdown, triggered the spate of mergers & acquisitions throughout 2001 (see <a href="http://www.technologyevaluation.com/Payment/Private/Payment_Part1.asp?p=AR.83.5.11.2001.1362&desc=The Mid-Market Is Consolidating, Lo And Behold" target="_blank"><b>The Mid-Market Is Consolidating, Lo And Behold</b></a>). As the ground seems to be settling down from quakes and tremors of these mergers, some renown, still independent mid-market ERP vendors seem to be on the course to natively deliver some 'must have' functionality beyond core ERP. These Tier2/Tier 3 vendors are prepared to endure the onslaught of the likes of <b>SAP</b>, <b>Oracle</b>, and <b>PeopleSoft</b>, as well as of proverbial mid-market leaders such as <b>J.D. Edwards</b>, <b>Baan</b>, <b>Intentia</b>, <b>QAD</b>, <b>IFS</b> and <b>Epicor</b>, and newly formed mid-market juggernauts like Microsoft Great Plains, Best Software (formerly Sage Software), and Navision, to name some.<br>&nbsp; <br> These vendors include: <ul> <li>Frontstep with Frontstep Capacity Promiser</li> <li>Frontstep CRM</li> <li>Syspro Group with IMPACT CRM and IMPACT eCRM</li> </ul> <br> <font color="#336699">This is <b>Part 1</b> of a two-part analysis of recent news from Tier 2 and Tier 3 ERP vendors.<br>&nbsp; <br><b>Part 2</b> will discuss the market Impact and makes User Recommendations.</font>..