Microsoft is in for the long haul as far as its business applications are concerned with a 10-year development plan and a new Microsoft Business Framework to support the basket of disparate applications offered under the Microsoft Business Solutions banner.
In an interview with ComputerWire, Simon Edwards UK MD of Microsoft Business Solutions gave further insight into the development plans for the division and revealed that the next generation of applications from the company will be based on a single code base managed via a new platform to be known as the Microsoft Business Framework.
The Business Framework, which will run on top of the .NET platform, will consist of two layers: base level common services covering integration and including workflow and security functionality whose purpose will be to bind together the processes typically run within application software; and a layer consisting of common components and processes used by application software including object entities such as customer or account definitions for example.
Microsoft will then offer another layer of functionality in the form of business applications to provide for CRM, SCM or ERP capability