Microsoft has released the latest version of their SQL Server software, SQL Server 2012, to manufacturers, the company announced today. The software includes a number of improvements to help customers manage large amounts of data easily. Today’s release signals the beginning of SQL Server 2012’s full-scale release.

Ted Kummert, corporate vice president at Microsoft, pointed out that “[d]ata is being generated faster than ever before, and organizations need a way to process and analyze all that date.” SQL Server 2012, he said, “delivers the platform and familiar tools to manage data, generate actionable insights and help drive business impact.” David Mariani, vice president of engineering for Klout, one of the businesses that has implemented the software already, said that the SQL Server 2012 allows his Klout to deal with “massive volumes of data queries in near-real time.”

In addition to the basic software, Microsoft will also release several new data warehousing solutions. SQL Server 2012 has already been deployed by a selection of business customers, including Volvo, Revlon, HSN, Klout and others. SQL Server 2012 is scheduled for general release on April 1st.