Microsoft bolsters Dynamics 365 capabilities with acquisition

Seattle-based Suplari's Spend Intelligence Cloud will be combined with Dynamics 365, Microsoft says

Microsoft has announced the acquisition of Suplari, a company which provides insight solutions to help companies manage supplier spending, in a move it says will bolster the capabilities of Dynamics 365.

Suplari works with mid and large enterprises to "proactively manage supplier spend" by transforming data from multiple sources - such as contracts, purchase orders, invoices and expenses - into "valuable insight", helping them to manage costs and cash flow, according to Microsoft.

Combining the Suplari Spend Intelligence Cloud with Dynamics 365 will help customers to "maximise financial visibility", Microsoft adds, by using AI to "automate the analysis of current data and historical patterns from multiple data sources".

"With many companies facing rising costs and deteriorating margins, access to actionable insights for finance and procurement leaders is critical," Frank Weigel, vice-president of the Dynamics 365 Insights Product group, said in a blog post.

"They want to be able to bring down costs and manage their spend.

"By bringing Suplari's spend intelligence insights together with the existing Microsoft Dynamics 365 capabilities, Microsoft is further helping organisations become insight-driven and enabling business leaders to take strategic action."

The Suplari Spend Intelligence Cloud will remain on the market with no change for existing customers.

It comes after the vendor announced the launch of Windows 365 at its Inspire conference earlier this month, which is due to launch next week.