Great Plains Earns STAR Award from Software Support Professionals Association

CustomerSource provides customers with 24x7 access to self-help technical solutions, the ability to submit electronic support requests to Great Plains at their convenience, and the opportunity to review and update support cases online. Additionally, product downloads, online training and discussion forums available at CustomerSource allow customers to enhance productivity. Last year, Great Plains integrated its electronic and telephone support systems, resulting in improved guaranteed response times on electronic support requests and greater convenience for customers.

“We’re honored to earn this award as a recognition for our continued commitment to customer service excellence, especially in the area of delivering electronic support,” said Tom Ableidinger, vice president of support services at Great Plains. “This STAR award reflects our accomplishments with the first phase of our next-generation support system, eSupport, which has helped drive customer satisfaction to an all-time high. As we expand eSupport, customers will realize even greater convenience, productivity and cost savings.”

Introduced by the SSPA in 1990, the STAR Awards give official recognition to those companies that put forth the exceptional effort necessary to deliver world-class support. SSPA’s Advisory Board members select STAR Award recipients. Competing organizations must submit lengthy applications that include performance metrics and customer satisfaction metrics over a 12-month period.

Great Plains has earned previous STAR awards in the categories of quality support enhancement and sustained performance in technical support.

"Great Plains provides world-class electronic support to its growing base of customers," said Bill Rose, SSPA founder/executive director. "The SSPA STAR Award is an industry validation of the exceptional job Great Plains does in providing customer service via the Web."

About SSPA
Founded in 1989, SSPA represents more than 11,000 service executives in more than 500 member companies worldwide. SSPA gives software service professionals opportunities to share ideas, discuss developing trends and network with their peers. SSPA offers its members conferences, seminars, specialized training, executive forums and a variety of publications. For more information regarding the SSPA and other related divisions, log on to www.supportgate.com building Internet service communities, or send an email to info@supportgate.com.

About Great Plains
Great Plains (Nasdaq: GPSI) offers e-business solutions that interconnect business communities. These e-business solutions automate processes among financials, distribution, enterprise reporting, project accounting, electronic commerce, human resources and payroll, manufacturing, sales and marketing management, and customer service and support functions. Great Plains’ solutions are sold and implemented by a unique worldwide network of independent partner organizations that share the company’s commitment to lasting customer relationships. Named four times to the “Top 100 Companies to Work for in America” list, Great Plains has more than 2,000 team members worldwide. More information about Great Plains can be found at www.greatplains.com.