LEVERAGING the capabilities of Microsoft Corp.'s SQL Server 7.0 database, Platinum Software Corp. has launched in the Philippines an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution for the mid-market--Platinum ERA (Enterprise Ready Applications) 7.0.

Unlike traditional ERP solutions, Platinum ERA was designed from the ground up for mid-sized companies. In the wake of the regional crisis, price and rapid deployment of enterprise solutions have become even more important factors behind a company's purchasing decisions. This reality gives Platinum ERA better competitive advantage, as it was developed with lower total cost of ownership (TCO) in mind, according to Paul Han, regional manager for Asia of Platinum Asia Pte Ltd. Also, deployment of the complete suite of applications reportedly takes only between six and nine months.

Central to Platinum's lower TCO strategy is the decision, since 1990, to build its solutions solidly upon Microsoft technologies. In fact, Platinum ERA only supports Microsoft SQL Server and BackOffice. Han stressed that this standardization allows Platinum ERA to become optimized for Microsoft's advanced technologies, taking advantage, for example, of the innovations of SQL Server 7.0. This includes Microsoft's tighter integration between the front office and the back-end, which is the same strategy behind Platinum ERA.

Han also pointed out that by leveraging on Microsoft technologies, Platinum Software has ensured optimization and interoperability of its solutions, while claiming that Microsoft's platforms are "open" solutions that are rapidly becoming industry standards.

"We feel confident in betting on Microsoft technology," Han said.

Due to its roots in manufacturing, traditional ERP is still largely concerned with optimizing a company's internal business processes, Han pointed out. Instead, Platinum ERA is designed to be a "customer-centric" solution. By offering seamless integration between Platinum Software's front office tools and the back-end, Platinum ERA aims to give companies the ability to rapidly respond to market changes and customer demands. This is part of Platinum's strategy of offering complete ERP solutions, since mid-sized companies will supposedly be better served by relying on a single-vendor, customizable solution rather than trying to integrate "best-of-breed" solutions.

"We recognize that customer service is the biggest competitive advantage of companies," Han said.

He maintained that the goal of ERP should not be the storage of information in databases, but the transformation of data into business intelligence readily accessible to the front-end. To achieve this goal, Platinum ERA also incorporates supply chain management functionality in its manufacturing and distribution suites, as well as business intelligence tools like Platinum Explorer.

In the age of cyberspace, an ERP solution wouldn't be complete if it doesn't address the Web. Platinum ERA features an additional suite of Internet-enabled applications called ERA.net. This is reportedly a cost-effective solution for providing mid-sized companies with e-commerce and online self-service applications.

While stressing that Platinum Software is not competing against the ERP giants such as SAP, The Baan Co. and Oracle, Han acknowledged that these companies are now also moving into the mid-market.