Business 2 Community published a column this week from Craig Such, the director of Azzure IT, a British-based Microsoft partner and developer of rapidNAV. In the column, Such highlights five benefits of cloud-based, small business-oriented enterprise resource planning (ERP) software like Microsoft Dynamics NAV. They are:

• Affordability: Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can save money on hardware and storage, which is handled by the provider. The host is also responsible for maintenance.
• Mobility: Mobile access is essential for companies whose employees work from home or that have salespeople in the field. Cloud ERP allows them to access or update information on a mobile device, regardless of their physical location.
• Reliability and security: Cloud ERP hosting facilities are secure and have backup systems in place to ensure an uninterrupted power flow.
• Scalability: SMBs need their ERP system to be flexible, so that it can adapt as the company itself changes and grows.
• Speedy implementation: Traditional ERP implementation can be a lengthy process, but cloud software is much faster to put in place, so downtime is minimal.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV is an ideal solution for SMBs because it is customizable and it provides key insights into a company's entire operation. According to a Forbes article, Microsoft is positioning itself as a major player in the adoption of cloud ERP software. Since taking over as CEO in February, Satya Nadella has emphasized the development of the company's enterprise solutions, and cloud computing has been a large part of that.

Like Azzure, Accent Software is a Microsoft Certified Partner, providing Dynamics NAV implementation to small businesses in Indiana and surrounding states. Microsoft's business management software can become a vital part of a company's day-to-day operations, automating and simplifying essential tasks to free up manpower for other duties.