Microsoft Forecaster
Encyclopedia
Microsoft Forecaster is a software product used for organizational budgeting and planning. It is licensed as part of the Microsoft Dynamics
product family. Microsoft Forecaster helps organizations replace spreadsheet
based budgeting and planning by providing a database-centric approach that allows for audit capabilities, workflow, and increased data security
. Microsoft Forecaster also provides “detail modules” to help budget and plan for human resources, capital and revenue/expenses. While not dependent on Microsoft Dynamics ERP packages, Microsoft Forecaster is most often positioned and sold as an add-on to Microsoft Dynamics general ledgers (Microsoft Dynamics AX
, Microsoft Dynamics GP
, Microsoft Dynamics NAV
and Microsoft Dynamics SL
).
, and a product called eBudgets.com, which was developed to eventually provide a web based replacement to Helmsman. eBudgets.com was primarily offered in a hosted Application Service Provider
(ASP) environment. Following the acquisition, the eBudgets.com offering was renamed to FRx Forecaster, while Helmsman was rebranded to FRx Helmsman.
Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management software applications developed by Microsoft. Microsoft Dynamics applications are delivered through a network of reselling partners who provide specialized services...
product family. Microsoft Forecaster helps organizations replace spreadsheet
Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
based budgeting and planning by providing a database-centric approach that allows for audit capabilities, workflow, and increased data security
Data security
Data security is the means of ensuring that data is kept safe from corruption and that access to it is suitably controlled. Thus data security helps to ensure privacy. It also helps in protecting personal data. Data security is part of the larger practice of Information security.- Disk Encryption...
. Microsoft Forecaster also provides “detail modules” to help budget and plan for human resources, capital and revenue/expenses. While not dependent on Microsoft Dynamics ERP packages, Microsoft Forecaster is most often positioned and sold as an add-on to Microsoft Dynamics general ledgers (Microsoft Dynamics AX
Microsoft Dynamics AX
is one of Microsoft’s enterprise resource planning software products. It is part of the Microsoft Dynamics family.-History:Microsoft Dynamics AX was originally developed as a collaboration between IBM and Damgaard as IBM Axapta. IBM returned all rights in the product to Damgaard shortly after the...
, Microsoft Dynamics GP
Microsoft Dynamics GP
Microsoft Dynamics GP is a mid-market business accounting software or ERP Software package marketed in North and South America, UK and Ireland, the Middle East, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. It is used in many additional countries with partner supported localisations. It uses either...
, Microsoft Dynamics NAV
Microsoft Dynamics NAV
Microsoft Dynamics NAV is an enterprise resource planning software product from Microsoft.The product is part of the Microsoft Dynamics family, and intended to assist with finance, manufacturing, customer relationship management, supply chains, analytics and electronic commerce for small and...
and Microsoft Dynamics SL
Microsoft Dynamics SL
Microsoft Dynamics SL is one of Microsoft’s enterprise resource planning software products for project-driven small- and medium-sized enterprises. It is part of the Microsoft Dynamics product family....
).
History
Microsoft Forecaster originated from a company called eBudgets.com, based in Plainsboro, New Jersey. eBudgets.com was acquired by FRx Software Corporation in 2001. Owned by Great Plains Software, FRx expanded its product offerings into budgeting and forecasting. Subsequently Great Plains (FRx and eBudgets) was purchased by Microsoft, where it was run as a wholly owned subsidiary. At the time eBudgets.com was purchased by FRx Software, it had two separate offerings; Helmsman, a client-server offering written in C++C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
, and a product called eBudgets.com, which was developed to eventually provide a web based replacement to Helmsman. eBudgets.com was primarily offered in a hosted Application Service Provider
Application service provider
An application service provider is a business that provides computer-based services to customers over a network. Software offered using an ASP model is also sometimes called On-demand software or software as a service ....
(ASP) environment. Following the acquisition, the eBudgets.com offering was renamed to FRx Forecaster, while Helmsman was rebranded to FRx Helmsman.