Software giant, Microsoft, has released Solomon 6, its newest entry for the enterprise resource planning (ERP) market for midsize project-, service- and distribution-driven organisations.

According to the company, Solomon 6 will feature new customer benefits including improved usability, greater efficiencies and self-service options through Microsoft Business Solutions Business Portal 2.5, as well as enhancements to project management and accounting functionality, and additional analytics and reporting options.

The Microsoft business solutions division, which is the one releasing the new program, says that project management and accounting now function better, with resources that can be assigned to tasks. Other benefits are said to include streamlined payroll and accounting features along with integration into Project 2003.

Other innovations in the new package include specific enhancements to the menu interface that Microsoft says will help facilitate navigation by providing a familiar environment that while reducing training time and costs.

After listening closely to its customers' experiences with their ERP solutions, Solomon 6 was developed to address challenges they face conducting business in an increasingly competitive, complex marketplace, according to Eric de Jager, the group product manager for Microsoft business solutions.

'The program will allow customers to simplify their business management experience with an enhanced product interface and access to integrated, web-based data and functions,' he added.