Columbus IT solution for Industrial Equipment Manufacturing is a part of the Microsoft standard offering

Copenhagen – Columbus IT together with its ISV Division To-Increase today announced availability of their solution for the vertical industry segment Industrial Equipment Manufacturing as part of the Microsoft Industry Builder initiative.

Microsoft Corp. announced last week general availability of five industry-specific solutions developed in close alliance with selected independent software vendors (ISVs) participating in the Microsoft Industry Builder initiative. One of these announced solutions is Manufacturing industry solution from Columbus IT/To-Increase. The solutions, scheduled to be available Dec. 1, 2005, are designed for businesses that specialize in industrial equipment manufacturing, retail, distribution, process manufacturing, professional services, and field service management. The solutions announced have been developed for Microsoft® Business Solutions–Axapta®, now part of Microsoft Dynamics™. Additional solutions will be released over the next few months.

“Columbus IT is the only Microsoft Partner in Europe responsible for two global industry solutions development as a part of Microsoft Industry Builder Initiative: one for Retail and another for Industrial Equipment Manufacturing segments. And we are happy that today the Manufacturing Solution is already certified by Microsoft and available to Microsoft customers and certified partners around the globe,” – says Vladislav Martynov, CEO of Columbus IT.

The "Industry Builder Initiative" is a structured program in which Microsoft with selected independent software vendors (ISVs) will deliver complete, top-quality solutions that meet the needs of specific industries. Microsoft Axapta industry solutions developed through the Industry Builder Initiative meet Microsoft's strict quality standards and are packaged with a Microsoft customer support offering.

“Participating in this initiative has already proven valuable for our business, and for partners that sell our solutions,” said Joop van Voorthuijsen, CEO of To-Increase. “It's an unprecedented opportunity for us to extend our partner and customer base and meet the demands of today's businesses with a solution that has the depth of industry-specific functionality, based on our domain expertise built up through hundreds of projects and the quality and support associated with Microsoft.”

Craig McCollum, Vice President of Sales Strategy for Microsoft Business Solutions at Microsoft, said that the Industry Builder initiative offers proof of Microsoft's commitment to working closely with its worldwide network of partners to deliver innovative business applications. “By combining the incredibly deep industry expertise of our solution partners with Microsoft's innovative business applications, support plans, and research and development capabilities, we are delivering a winning group of solutions for our mutual customers,” McCollum said. “We've listened closely to our customers, identified unmet needs and delivered solutions that meet them.”

One of the additional IBI solutions that will be released over the next few months is the Retail Solution. Columbus IT together with To-Increase is the only Industry Builder in Europe and the only one responsible for two global industry solutions as a part of Industry Builder Initiative.

Building on its success within the initiative and its new business alliance with To-Increase, the joint company has significantly improved its offering to partners and customers.

More information can be found at www.columbusit.com