EDS announced it will offer Microsoft Dynamics CRM as an EDS enterprise application solution to its clients globally. With this announcement, EDS becomes Microsoft's enterprise partner to deliver Microsoft Dynamics CRM consulting and solutions. EDS' services, which include consulting, implementation, integration, management hosting, contact center outsourcing and managed services, will allow clients to purchase and deploy Microsoft Dynamics CRM in enterprise scenarios, such as contact centers and sales force automation.

"The expanded Microsoft-EDS alliance will provide clients with the ability to deploy Microsoft Dynamics CRM in whatever model best meets their business requirements, whether on-premise, hosted or by outsourcing the entire business process and solution," said Sean Finnan, EDS global vice president of CRM Services. "We expect that this strengthened relationship with an EDS Agility Alliance partner will bring together best-practice processes, models and techniques to our leading enterprise clients globally."

EDS and Microsoft Dynamics CRM were selected by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), for a 6,500 diary management solution for its Jobcentre Plus system, when the UK-based client sought a more efficient system to prioritize and manage its call backs for proportion of its 5 million First Contact calls per year. Jobcentre Plus supports people of working age from welfare into work and helps employers fill their vacancies.

EDS and Microsoft provided DWP with a joint solution which supported virtualization to 22 First Contact Centers, improving the effectiveness of the handling of calls of customer service agents. Some 30 percent of contact center locations have now rolled out, with full roll out due by the end of June 2008.

As part of its expanded alliance, Microsoft and EDS will collaborate in developing and delivering new, innovative industry solutions to address customers' most critical business needs. Anticipated benefits to clients also include a reduced total cost of ownership and improved return on investment of EDS-delivered Microsoft Dynamics CRM deployment.

"Working with a global enterprise partner like EDS provides tremendous growth opportunities for Microsoft Dynamics CRM," stated Kirill Tatarinov, corporate vice president of Microsoft Business Solutions. "Together Microsoft and EDS have the opportunity to provide clients with a CRM solution that offers striking innovation combined with world-class delivery."

Gartner estimates that the CRM services market will exceed $31.5 billion in 2008. At EDS, more than 26,000 contact center professionals deliver CRM services in 48 languages on behalf of more than 450 clients from 155 locations in 26 countries.

As a member of the EDS Agility Alliance, Microsoft provides the standard platform for EDS' desktop and server operating systems, and integrated development environments. EDS clients turn to the alliance for development, management and modernization of their mission-critical applications and infrastructure, including the next generation of .NET, workplace and mobility solutions.