Epicor counted among top finalists for the 2007 Microsoft Partner of the Year Award in Global ISV

Epicor Software Corporation, a leading provider of enterprise business software solutions for the midmarket and divisions of the Global 1000, has announced it has been selected as a finalist for Microsoft Corp.s Partner of the Year Award in Global ISV. 

Winners for the 2007 Microsoft Partner Program Awards, which recognize top Microsoft Partners delivering market-leading, Microsoft-based solutions, will be announced July 11 in Denver, Colorado at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference.

Were truly honored to be named a finalist for Global ISV Partner of the Year, said George Klaus, chairman and chief executive officer of Epicor.  Today our innovative enterprise business solutions empower 20,000 of the worlds best companies to achieve success. Leveraging technology like Microsoft .NET, Windows Vista, Office System 2007, SharePoint 2007, and SQL Server 2005, we continue to deliver award-winning solutions that enable our customers to automate their entire organisations and better serve their customersfrom the point of sale, to inventory or production, to distribution and financial recognitionour solutions are transforming these businesses, enabling them to achieve greater business agility, lower total cost of ownership and a faster return on investment.

Klaus continued, For over 20 years weve aligned with Microsoft, quickly adopting the technology they invest in to deliver innovative solutions to market that are about helping our customers increase revenues, reduce costs, and build lasting, profitable business relationships.  Being named a Microsoft Global ISV finalist is testament to our success in meeting these objectives and serving the unique needs of the global midmarket."

Awards will be presented in a number of categories, with winners chosen from a pool of more than 1,800 entrants worldwide. The Microsoft Global ISV Partner of the Year Award is given to the global ISV partner that has demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in partnering with Microsoft and our customers.  Unlike the other award categories in which any partner may submit a nomination, the Global ISV award nominations are selected by Microsofts Developer and Platform Evangelism team.  Selected partners are then asked complete a detailed nomination form that includes accomplishments in technology, marketing and sales.

We have a diverse and talented partner ecosystem that each year raises the bar in the design and deployment of customer solutions built on Microsoft technologies, said Allison L. Watson, corporate vice president, Microsoft Worldwide Partner Group.  We are pleased to recognize Epicor as one of our partners leading the field in this category.

Epicor is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner worldwide in over 25 countriesMicrosoft platforms, technologies and toolsets have been key components within Epicor service-oriented architecture (SOA) applications.  Epicor views connectivity to the Microsoft Office platform to be a key decision-driver for customers in the future and released Epicor Information Worker (IW) in 2006built using service-oriented principles with Microsoft .NET-based technologiesEpicor IW utilizes the Microsoft Office system to enhance the user experience of an Epicor application with familiar desktop productivity tools. 

Epicor participates in numerous Microsoft technology adoption programs (TAPs) and is currently engaged in the Pinta and Longhorn TAPs, as well as helping to direct the next-generation of Office through Office 14 Developer Advisory Council and chairing the W3C Web services standards committee.  Epicor also participates on partner advisor councils (PACs) including the EPM, Portals and Collaboration, and Retail and Hospitality PACs.

The Microsoft Partner Program Awards recognize Microsoft Partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions over the past year.

About Epicor Software Corporation

Epicor, named one of FORTUNE magazines 100 Fastest-Growing Companies in 2006, is a global leader dedicated to providing integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM) and professional services automation (PSA) software solutions to midmarket companies and divisions of the Global 1000.  Founded in 1984, Epicor serves over 20,000 customers in more than 140 countries, providing solutions in over 30 languages.  Employing innovative service-oriented architecture (SOA) and Web services technology, Epicor delivers end-to-end, industry-specific solutions for manufacturing, distribution, retail, hospitality and services that enable companies to drive increased efficiency, improve performance and build competitive advantage.  Epicor solutions provide the scalability and flexibility to meet today's business challenges, while empowering enterprises for even greater success tomorrow.  Epicor offers a comprehensive range of services with its solutions, providing a single point of accountability to promote rapid return on investment and low total cost of ownership.  Epicors worldwide headquarters are located in Irvine, California with offices and affiliates around the world.