In cloud computing, the Internet is used as a source of software applications, computing platforms, and processing, reducing the need for hardware and software investment and improving service quality. Recently, the governments in various countries have begun to utilize cloud computing architectures, platforms, and applications to deliver services and meet the needs of their constituents. Cloud computing systems provide a new paradigm to the distributed processing of digital data.

Infor will release its next-generation of applications running on Microsoft's (News - Alert) Azure cloud platform in 2011. Infor will be selling the Azure applications in multitenant form, where a single instance of the software runs on a server, serving multiple client organizations without their data getting joined. These applications provide upgrades to many customers at the same instance.

Infor chose Windows Azure as its preferred cloud platform because, after extensive research, it determined Microsoft to be the most flexible and robust platform provider across on-premise and cloud-based applications. Soma Somasundaram, the senior vice president of Global Product Development at Infor, stated that “Infor is confident Windows Azure will give Infor and its partners a clear speed and efficiency advantage when bringing solutions to market.”

Following the deal between these two companies, Azure applications will be utilizing Infor's recently released ION framework for data sharing between applications and Business Process Management.

On the other side, Infor will be building a new user interface, which will be known as CompanyOn, employing Microsoft's SharePoint and Silverlight technologies.

CompanyOn will be giving its variety of applications a universal mode. The new user interface will also be the main home for business intelligence reports and dashboards.

Altimeter Group analyst, Ray Wang clarified that the partnership will be beneficial for the two giant Tech Companies, as it is a notable move for both of them taking advantage of a 'vast pool of system integrators, ISVs and developers already working with Microsoft technologies'.