Microsoft has announced plans to bundle a version of Crystal
Decisions Crystal Enterprise business intelligence application with
its forthcoming Microsoft CRM software.
Crystal Enterprise will be the only third-party software included
in Microsoft CRM, according to a Microsoft spokeswoman.
Scheduled for release later this year, Microsoft CRM is intended to
improve the sales and customer service operations of small and
midsized businesses.
Crystal Enterprise includes data reporting and analysis features.
The bundled version of the software will offer users 125 predefined
reports; an enhanced version allows customisation of existing
reports and provides tools to create new ones.
Microsoft will sell the enhanced version of the software, along
with other Crystal Decisions products and services, through its
reseller channel.
Crystal Decisions is a developer of several reporting, analytics
and information management applications. Its Crystal Enterprise
software works in conjunction with software from vendors including
Oracle, Siebel Systems, PeopleSoft and SAP.