Certified for Microsoft Dynamics is Microsoft Corp.’s highest standard for partner-developed software. This certification represents a significant step in elevating the standard for partner-developed software solutions for industry-specific business applications. Solutions with a successful software test have demonstrated development quality and compatibility with the Microsoft Dynamics product. VeriTest, a service of Lionbridge, performed independent and rigorous testing on the solution’s integration with Microsoft Dynamics. Flintfox earlier gained recognition for their solutions by obtaining Microsoft Gold Certified Partner designation with ISV and BI (Independent Software Vendor and Business Intelligence) Competencies.

“By requiring the software solution to meet our highest standards, Microsoft is assuring customers that these certified solutions work with their investments in Microsoft Dynamics,” said Doug Kennedy, vice president, Microsoft Dynamics Partners. “Microsoft congratulates Flintfox on the software test results and wishes it success in earning the Certified for Microsoft Dynamics designation.”

“As our Microsoft Partner Program extends to meet the growing demand for Trade Promotions Management within the Dynamics community our commitment to the Certified for AX program will help give Customers and Resellers alike the confidence to use and recommend our solutions for those with Pricing or Trade Management challenges” said Mike Ridgway, CEO at Flintfox.

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Daisy Brand worked with the Flintfox team to identify key opportunities for performance improvements; and developing a rollout plan to address technology upgrades across the enterprise. “We chose Dynamics AX and Flintfox’s Trade Promotion Suite as our preferred enterprise solution” said Kevin Brown, Daisy Brand’s IT Director. “We’re thrilled to include an integrated world class Trade Promotion Management Solution as part of our overall strategy. The combination of Dynamics AX and Flintfox was right-on for our business” .

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Hands is a Microsoft Business Solutions Gold Certified partner and the largest reseller of Microsoft Dynamics solutions in Norway. They develop complete solutions based on standard software that is optimally adapted to the needs of individual industries, working with partners who are among the strongest in the market, and combine these strengths with their own development and industry knowledge.

“The extension of our product portfolio with Flintfox’s award winning solution for managing complex pricing and trade promotional activities allows us to offer much deeper functionality, particularly for customers manufacturing and distributing consumer goods”, said Terje Gårdsmoen, Director of Trade & Logistics with Hands. “With the complexities of pricing arrangements in the modern supply chain, and the spend on the trade channel now at an all time high for consumer goods companies, the business area of Trade Promotions can now be much better managed than in the past. Customers around the world using Flintfox solutions offer everyday proof that improving the effectiveness of promotional activities with good planning, combined with increasing the efficiency of the processes to manage the activities do contribute substantially to an organization’s profitability.”

Mike Ridgway, Flintfox CEO, says “We’re thrilled to see that management of trade spend is increasingly seen as a critical component to effective financial management.”

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“We are very pleased to be ranked as a top provider in trade promotions management by the readers of Consumer Goods Technology,” said Mike Ridgway, President and CEO, Flintfox. “Flintfox’s highest priority has always been to provide our customers with innovative TPM solutions and superior customer support, so that they are better prepared to tackle trade and promotion challenges. We are proud of the achievements that our customers in the consumer goods industry continue to realize and are honored to be recognized as a valued partner contributing to their success.”

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CGT Readers Choice 2010

Crimsonwing is a Microsoft Dynamics Gold Partner offering Microsoft Dynamics AX and NAV solutions to customers in the Consumer Goods and Media & Entertainment industry segments in the UK, The Netherlands and Malta.

“In our effort to focus on solving business issues for our customers, the extension of our product portfolio with Flintfox’s award winning solution for Trade Promotion and Price Management was a logical next step”, said Aad de Jonge, Crimsonwing’s Microsoft Dynamics practice leader. “With spend on the trade channel now at an all time high for consumer goods companies distributing their goods through retail chains, the business areas of Trade Promotion and Advanced Pricing management deserve much more attention than in the past. The wide use of Flintfox solutions offer everyday proof that improving the effectiveness of Promotions with good planning, combined with increasing the efficiency of the processes of managing these promotions and prices contributes substantially to an organization’s profitability.”

Mike Ridgway, Flintfox CEO, says “It has been extraordinary to see the enthusiasm with which our Trade Promotions Management software is being received internationally by the Microsoft eco-system and there is no doubt our future success will be dependent on the Microsoft partners with whom we are forging great relationships. To be able to now focus our attention on the European market, this is another mile stone for us and will represent a beachhead for our expansion across Europe.”

Ridgway added that “Trade Promotions Management has proved a headache for consumer products companies in mature markets around the world and we’re delighted to be providing the aspirin.”

Crimsonwing Contact:
Aad de Jonge
Office: +31 (35) 655 44 80
Cell: +31 616033993
Email: adjonge@crimsonwing.com
Website: http://www.crimsonwing.com/

The Distribution Partner Advisory Group has been formed by Microsoft and select partners primarily to develop and sell solutions that fit distribution industry challenges, and design strategic initiatives and partnerships within the Distribution industry to ensure relevance and value is provided to Microsoft Dynamics customers. The Group will help to shape technology best practices across food, durable and non-durable distribution channels by the sharing of best practices and the willingness of members to mentor other Channel Partners and provide domain expertise.

“Flintfox have been providing solutions to this market for over 20 years so we are thrilled to be able to share our experience in Supply Chain Planning and Execution, and Trade Promotion Management”, said Brian Timberlake. The opportunity to work with other domain leaders as part of the Advisory Board will ensure Microsoft Dynamics customers will not only enjoy Microsoft’s leading edge ERP platform but ensure they have access to complete solutions for the industry vertical.

To engage with Microsoft in this way is an exciting opportunity for Flintfox and we are thrilled to be able to participate.

If you are going to Austin, do call Brian on ph 404.245.5116 to catch up on how Flintfox can make your clients and prospects Trade Spend dollars work better.

Ridgway says they also expect to unlock further opportunities for Flintfox TPM software solutions in the wider Australian FMCG arena. “Having such a seasoned operator as Nick Gray to head Flintfox in Australia is great for us, our customers and for manufacturers struggling to contain their spend on the trade channel”, said Ridgway, adding that “Australian consumer goods manufacturers are often forced to spend way over 20% of their revenue on Trade Promotions within their sales channels, considerably more than their counterparts in the US and Europe have to, and we want to help them get the best possible return on this ongoing investment”

Nick Gray, who has for many years helped customers solve complex business issues with advanced software says that “Trade Promotion Management is a part of business that has been largely ignored by both ERP and niche solution providers in Australia, so this area presents a fantastic opportunity for us to demonstrate a unique value proposition. Our offerings deliver solutions that enable companies to finally get a handle on their trade spend, at the same time providing a great return on investment.”

Gray also made clear he was delighted to represent the Trade+ solution as it provides tools to manage the entire trade promotions lifecycle, and he sees a huge need for a solution like this in Australia. He says that “Flintfox’s Trade+ for Dynamics in particular, is a version fully integrated with Microsoft’s flagship ERP business system, Dynamics AX. Combined, these provide a very comprehensive solution for FMCG and other companies who make extensive use of trade promotions.” Gray is looking forward to helping resellers of Microsoft Dynamics provide a more complete solution to such companies.

Flintfox has joined the Microsoft Technology Adoption Program (TAP) for Dynamics AX, which will ensure that by the time the next version of Dynamics AX is released, the Flintfox Trade+ solution for managing trade promotions will be fully tested and functional with the new release of Dynamics.

To accomplish this Flintfox become one of the selected ISVs who participates in Microsoft’s private beta program, allowing very early feedback between the two companies so that any issues regarding interoperability are uncovered, and able to be addressed in a timely fashion, prior to release of the upgraded solution to new and existing customers.
This will allow Trade+ customers to upgrade to new versions of Dynamics and gain immediate benefit from improvements made to other areas of business covered by Dynamics, all without the delays typically encountered by users of third party integrated solutions.