Manufacturing ERP software can be more than a useful tool for securing the levels of optimization your company is aiming for: it might be all but required by the current business landscape. In fact, the use of software-based initiatives to keep the customer engaged and solve problems may be on the rise, according to a recent study, with Microsoft leading the pack.

ZDNet recently cited a report from Ovum that looked at the top providers of these kinds of software and placed Microsoft high on its list. According to a statement on that company's website, the reason for this stems largely from qualities like versatility that can reportedly be seen in the best examples of its usage. Speed and ease of use can contribute to the success of a management strategy that creates the environment for a Customer Adaptive Enterprise (also known as a CAE) by incorporating these kinds of systems.

Analyst Jeremy Cox explained in the statement that improving customer relationship management (CRM) is all about maintaining a variety of operable systems that work together.

"Any transformational CRM vision, whether focused on the customer experience or CAE, requires a portfolio of applications that work seamlessly together to enable anyone in contact with the customer to deliver context-aware, relevant information," he said.

In an area with as much focus on manufacturing as Indiana, staying on-par with the industry standard can be a point of pride for the choice of software for business solutions that you find most appropriate for your company's particular volume and chosen industry.