Case Study: A provider of world-class software development tools uses an innovative approach to expands its business overseas
Infragistics, a world leader in presentation layer technology, wanted to gain a foothold overseas by offering its Microsoft-related software development tools to the Japanese market in a direct and fully-localized fashion.
The challenge
To outdistance thecompetition, Infragistics knew it would have to pioneer a new approach to enterthe Japanese market — integrate the Japanese version of Microsoft Dynamics™ CRMwith the English-based Microsoft Dynamics™ GP.
The primary challenge was toconnect the English-based back office systems of Microsoft Dynamics™ GP with aJapanese-based Web site and Microsoft Dynamics™ CRM system. Faced with thissteep challenge, Infragistics enlisted RSM McGladrey to assist with theintegration of the two systems.
Like most growing companies,Infragistics wanted to effectively leverage its resources. While the engineersat Infragistics had the advanced technological expertise to steer the project,the company needed a partner with more in-depth systems knowledge to helpintegrate the two systems. The technology consultants at RSM McGladrey had theexperience they were looking for — a deep understanding of the sales andaccounting systems and how they work together.
The solution
Working with RSM McGladrey technologybusiness solutions consultants, Infragistics was able to successfully integratethe Japanese version of Microsoft Dynamics™ CRM with the English-basedMicrosoft Dynamics™ GP.
“RSM McGladrey technologyconsultants are very in-tune with the sales and accounting processes. Thiscomprehensive knowledge of business processes and technology systems enabled usto leverage their expertise to engineer the integration of Microsoft Dynamics™CRM and Microsoft Dynamics™ GP,” says Shawn Anderson, director of internalsystems-Infragistics.
RSM McGladrey technologyconsultants worked alongside Infragistics’ software engineers to define theoptimal architecture for the implementation. “They provided us their businessrequirements and we went to work integrating the two systems,” explains KevinDeCoster, RSM McGladrey director of IT consulting services-Des Moines, Iowa. “The key to thisproject was flexibility. Our solutions align to how they need to do businessand are tailored to their specific sales and accounting needs.”
As a result, the sales andaccounting functions are now working in tandem, enabling the sharing ofcustomer product and sales information. “This project was a collaborativeeffort,” says DeCoster. “Since both teams brought different – and equallyimportant – skill sets to the table, we were able to come up with the optimalsolution.”
Integrating these systemshas provided several benefits for customers and employees:
- Self-service for customers
- Automated systems andworkflow to notify customers of status changes
- Increased accuracy in data
- Reduction in redundant dataentry by internal resources
- Real-time view of customerand related data
Because the integration wasso successful, RSM McGladrey technology consultants are already looking at waysto enhance the project’s capabilities, including a transliteration solutionthat would convert the Japanese characters in Microsoft Dynamics™ CRM toEnglish when running through Microsoft Dynamics™ GP.
The results
With the integration ofMicrosoft Dynamics™ CRM and Microsoft Dynamics™ GP, Infragistics has been ableto bolster ahead of the competition. This approach has increased customer focusand improved efficiency throughout all its systems — accounting, sales,e-commerce and marketing.
Infragistics’ efforts havealso garnered national recognition with the company recently receivingMicrosoft’s Pinnacle Award for Excellence in Innovation — a prestigious awardthat recognizes customers whose innovative use of technology in their businessmanagement system delivers measurable benefits to their organization.
This award solidifiesInfragistics’ outstanding success with integrating Microsoft solutions.“Infragistics has an aggressive adoption philosophy of new and innovativetechnologies,” explains Anderson“We believe in embracing new technologies and maximizing their potential forexisting business processes and to support rapid future growth.”
"We are proud tohave partnered with Infragistics to help them deliver this innovative solutionfor their global customers,” says DeCoster.
