Customer Spotlight: Microsoft Dynamics CRM Task Management Solution Helps U.S. Government Achieve Significant Process Improvements

REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp., in collaboration with its Public Sector Gold Partner Avanade, today announced new federal government customers using its Microsoft Dynamics CRM Task Management Tracker (TMT).  The scalable and flexible commercial-off-the-shelf solution provides a simple interface for responding to task and process management challenges, such as personnel evaluations, logistics processes, requests for information, and awards and decorations within the military and federal government communities.

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The Microsoft Dynamics CRM Task Management Tracker has already enabled efficiencies across the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE).The USAFE mission to support American and multinational soldiers involves a tremendous volume of tasks that need to be tracked, acted upon and resolved: anything from a request for status on a construction project to the feasibility of airlifts to provide humanitarian relief.  Before Task Management Tracker, directorates lacked cross-organization or cross-directorate transparency, using excessive time to coordinate tasks.

"What was once completed by using signal flags on the battlefield and messengers on horseback now demands the most up-to-date software allowing worldwide, synchronized, 'same page' collaboration where six generals can agree on an action within 24 hours," said Kevin Levija, with U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM).  "Tasking is not just important, but tasking at the speed of light, in this age, is paramount."

Microsoft, Avanade and USAFE initially made TMT available to 1,800 USAFE users, which immediately allowed them to store task information in one security-enhanced, central location, as well as assignments to be made and tracked, resolving huge management issues that impacted organizations across the entire Air Force.  Now fully implemented, TMT is helping Air Force users dramatically reduce user training costs and "tool" confusion, which has resulted in USAFE experiencing a 60 percent reduction in associated contractor support.  Also, because TMT's central document repository helps reduce the amount of e-mail attachments being sent through the network, USAFE has seen a 90 percent reduction in data storage requirements and a nearly 24-fold increase in task visibility.

This functionality helps address critical issues with government-related tasks. Because multiple people and organizations are often added to these tasks, it is important that the originator's thoughts be conveyed precisely to help achieve a common organizational goal.  In the military, where tasks have traditionally been managed using paper-based mechanisms, warfighters now operate in a highly evolved, synchronized environment where multiple senior leaders must agree on an action within hours or minutes. Tasking, therefore, has increased exponentially in importance.

"TMT provides a familiar and easy-to-use environment, integrating commonly used software tools such as Microsoft Office Outlook and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server," said Radu Burducea, federal director of Dynamics CRM at Microsoft.  "From executive staff to action personnel, the solution improves communication and collaboration using a simple and more security-enhanced e-mail mechanism, which is already serving to maximize resources and could also help answer Secretary Gates' call to increase efficiency."

More information on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Task Management Tracker can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/industry/government/solutions/task_management/default.aspx.

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 your 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.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.