Microsoft
Company Overview
From operating systems to the applications found on almost every office and home PC, Microsoft Corp. keeps its research and development and mergers and acquisitions teams busy. In addition to general office applications -- familiar tools such as Word, Excel and Internet Explorer, as well as more sophisticated back-office and development products such as SQL Server and Visual Studio -- Microsoft has written or acquired software specifically designed for construction professionals. These include Dynamics GP, Dynamics AX Construction and Dynamics NAV.
Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates, Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft now employs more than 91,000 people and generated more than $60 billion in revenue at the close of fiscal year 2008 in June. Microsoft offers a range of software and services both directly and through a vast network of partners authorized to customize, implement, support and train users on the vendor’s myriad menu of technologies.
Redmond, WA
Web: microsoft.com
According to the latest CFMA technology survey, 14% of construction contractors tap the capabilities of Microsoft Excel, a component of the popular Microsoft Office business suite, to create, manage and communicate construction estimates. Since so many companies already use Excel and the full Office suite as part of their day-to-day operations, startup and training costs are minimal when compared to custom construction estimating programs.
Microsoft has leveraged its expertise in business software to create Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007. This project management software application can be operated as a standalone program or as part of an organization's Office Project Server 2007, which delivers enterprise-level project management capabilities.
Set up is eased with a customizable tool that walks users through project creation, including assigning of tasks and resources, tracking and analyzing data, and reporting results. The program also includes toolbars, menus and other features designed to make even project-management neophytes productive quickly. Using its data, Project can create charts and graphs and output data to multiple file formats for reports or presentations, according to Microsoft.
Microsoft Dynamics SL, formerly known as Microsoft Dynamics Solomon, is designed for any business that revolves around projects and wants to automate processes and improve operations. The main features of Microsoft Dynamics SL for construction include project management, collaboration, financial management, analysis and business intelligence, contract management and customer relationship management (or CRM).
Overall, this improves communication within the company, with clients and with architects and engineers; this, the vendor said, lends itself to clear tracking of costs, labor and schedules.
Microsoft Dynamics SL runs on SQL Server and integrates with programs in the Microsoft Office suite. This makes it easy to open and read documents in almost any format, the vendor said.