Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Insights

Would love to hear your feedback on Office 365 + Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online

2012-02-10T11:15:00.001-08:00

If you are planning to attend Convergence 2012, I would love to have your participation in a roundtable to hear your feedback on Office 365 + Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. This is open to partners and customers to understand what you would like to see from an integrated cloud experience including your perception on the value you would gain from using both.

If you would like to receive an invitation to this roundtable on Tuesday, March 20th from 10am to 11am CST send an e-mail to o365crm@microsoft.com with your contact information (company and title/role).

In return for your valuable feedback, you’ll receive a laptop sticker to display your support for Microsoft Dynamics CRM!

Installing the CRM Online List Component for SharePoint Online

2011-11-03T12:37:00.001-07:00

With the latest SharePoint Online Service Update (SU1), SharePoint Online can now support the CRM List Component allowing for automatic creation of SharePoint folders within admin defined entities for CRM Online.

Please note that the Office365 team is still rolling out the updates so your instance may not have the update applied.

Step 1: Download the List Component

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displayLang=en&id=5283

Step 2: Extract it locally

Step 3: Navigate to you SharePoint Online Team Site and to the Site Settings. Galleries –> Solutions

Step 4: Upload the List Component you extracted in Step 2

Select the “crmlistcomponent.wsp”

Activate the component

Step 5: Login to your CRM Online instance (Settings->Document Management->Document Management Settings)

Select the entities you want SharePoint Online integration enabled and enter the applicable SharePoint Online site where you installed the list component.

In your IE settings, also add “*.sharepoint.com” to your Trusted Sites.

Extending Salesforce with non-industry standard tools

2011-08-09T10:55:00.001-07:00

As a Salesforce user, did you know that their solution relies on technologies used nowhere else (VisualForce, APEX, SOQL), requiring developers to learn its unique environment. How many APEX developers do you know compared to developers who know .NET.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM, provides familiar, widely used technologies (.NET, SQL, ASP.NET and Visual Studio) for developers. Relying on standard, widely used development technologies has important advantages. With Microsoft Dynamics CRM, current .NET developers need minimal retraining, and the knowledge they acquire is applicable to the Windows world in general. With Salesforce, however, developers must be specifically trained for the environment. This can make it harder both to attract and to retain developers.

Using Force.com–complexity with application specific security profiles

2011-08-07T16:10:00.001-07:00

Are you considering or using Force.com for custom applications? Unfortunately salesforce administrators find that DIFFERENT users need DIFFERENT sets of permissions in DIFFERENT apps. This could become unmanageable depending on the number of unique profiles your organization would need to create.

With Microsoft Dynamics CRM, you can assign multiple profiles to your users to allow them access to the applicable areas of your CRM system and provide administrators flexibility in setting security roles as mentioned in a previous post. If you are considering Force.com and Microsoft Dynamics CRM, check out this whitepaper providing a comparison of the frameworks.

Impact to administrator productivity-Salesforce Security Profiles

2011-08-06T16:18:00.001-07:00

Productivity not only begins with users of your CRM solution but also the people/administrators who have to manage the system. Unfortunately, Salesforce doesn’t allow multiple profiles for users so administrators must create multiple group profiles for users w/in groups that need different rights. How many combinations of profiles do you want to manage?

With Microsoft Dynamics CRM, you can assign multiple profiles to your users to allow them access to the applicable areas of your CRM system and provide administrators flexibility in setting security roles. Here is a great overview video providing a summary of how this works within Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Handling of attachments in Salesforce

2011-08-05T11:57:00.001-07:00

If a user wanted the ability to create an e-mail with an attachment within Salesforce he/she unfortunately can’t have the attachment automatically created in the history for the record once they send the e-mail. If the user wants to save the attachment with the email, they would have to manually go and actually attach the file in notes or attachments. One may argue why would I want to add all attachments from e-mail and the counterpoint would be why wouldn’t you be given a productivity choice to from your CRM solution.

With Microsoft Dynamics CRM, users can easily have their e-mails tracked in CRM even if they include an attachment. If you choose later not to track the attachment, you can delete the attachment from the e-mail history but not delete the e-mail itself.

Salesforce dependency on Chatter to use Global Search

2011-08-04T12:09:00.001-07:00

Did you know that users cannot use global search in Salesforce without enabling Chatter! What happens if you need this capability but can’t use Chatter (e.g. company policy)?

For customers needing this capability in Microsoft Dynamics CRM, global search is available through our Dynamics Marketplace. Here are global search examples that customers currently use.

Productivity Loss of Salesforce.com-Duplicate Record Detection

2011-08-03T09:48:00.001-07:00

Did you know that Salesforce.com doesn’t offer automated duplicate record detection functionality? This creates manual tasks and productivity loss to your end users that may impact adoption.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM provides this capability as standard feature.

You can view this video to see a high level view of this valuable capability to enhance user productivity.

Hidden Costs of Salesforce.com–Offline access

2011-08-02T12:53:00.001-07:00

Did you know that Salesforce.com charges you extra per user for taking your data offline, unless you pay for the premium offering at $125/user?

With Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, you get the ability to use your data how you want (online or offline) without being charged extra ($44/user). The Outlook client provides full access to all data elements, workflows, and other entities, so users can be productive when offline just as they are when online.

What Salesforce.com Doesn’t Want You to Know

2011-08-01T09:25:00.001-07:00

Check out the recent post by Brad Wilson (General Manager of Microsoft Dynamics CRM).

Over the month of August, we’ll be sharing via @MSDynamicsCRM and #SFDCrevealed some of the pain points about Salesforce.com that we hear from customers every day that they really don’t want you to know. We call it “Salesforce.com, Revealed.”

We’ll start with the obvious, Microsoft Dynamics CRM offers a single, unified, multi-tenant code base for both public cloud deployments (via Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online) and on-premises deployments (Cloud on your terms). Salesforce forces you to a single deployment model.

Transform your partner business with Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online

2011-07-30T20:36:00.001-07:00

Are you a Microsoft platform partner interested in building a Dynamics CRM practice? Take a look at the Microsoft Dynamics CRM MPN site to learn more about how to transform your business to take advantage of the Cloud opportunity for CRM.

Cloud Partner Profitability Guide: Learn more about the market perception for cloud services and how to establish implementation roadmaps by business function, optimize business processes and investments, and apply profitability models to create financial plans.

Sign-up for your Internal Use Rights Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online instance

Sign-up for your 12-month Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online partner demo instance

Watch this video to hear how existing partners have been successful with their Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online practice.

Before you purchase or renew your Salesforce.com subscription

2011-07-29T13:15:00.001-07:00

If you are evaluating Salesforce.com or contemplating renewing your subscription, I encourage you to take the time to evaluate Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Here are some sites to get your started.

Don’t Get Forced | Why Microsoft | Price Comparison

In addition, hear from a former customer (Magma) and a prospect (BioMedix) as to the realized value Microsoft Dynamics CRM has provided to their businesses.

Magma:

View this video as a WMV

BioMedix:

View this video as a WMV

Can your CRM solution do this with Outlook?

2011-07-28T09:26:00.001-07:00

As you evaluate CRM vendors, not all vendors are the same when it comes to integration to Outlook. One of the big benefits of Microsoft Dynamics CRM is the ability to provide a familiar experience to your users. Effective deployments begin with adoption and the best way to get users to adopt your solution is to provide an easy to use interface that they are already familiar with.

One in the same (CRM and Outlook) including the ability to take all your data offline. No more “ALT+TAB” to switch between Outlook and your CRM solution

Tight integration with key Outlook capabilities (preview pane)

Visualizations and Charts available in real-time based on the data you are looking at

Conditional formatting to highlight critical records to users

Ability to create records (e.g. opportunity) from e-mails

Great video from one of the Microsoft Program Managers who worked on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Outlook client

Great video from one of the Program Managers who worked on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Outlook client

Release history of Microsoft Dynamics CRM

2011-07-27T11:57:00.001-07:00

Microsoft Dynamics CRM has come a long way since the original release back on January 2003. In case you were wondering, there was no 2.0 version as the product went from 1.2 to 3.0. The Dynamics brand was also introduced in the 3.0 release.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 (Released Jan 2011)

Microsoft Dynamics 4.0 (Released Dec 2007)

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 (Released Dec 2005)

Microsoft CRM 1.2 (Released Dec 2003)

Microsoft CRM 1.0 (Released Jan 2003)

History of recent analyst research of CRM vendors

2011-07-26T15:40:00.000-07:00

Note the placement of Microsoft Dynamics CRM in these reports. We've come a long way in the past several years.
Magic Quadrant for Sales Force Automation, July 2011

Nucleus Research, June 2011

Magic Quadrant for CRM Customer Service Contact Centers, April 2011

The Forrester Wave™: CRM Suites Customer Service Solutions, July 2010

The Forrester Wave™: CRM Suites For Midsized Organizations, June 2010

The Forrester Wave™: CRM Suites for Large Organizations, June 2010

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Case Studies

2011-07-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

Here is a handful of case studies that shows the value of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online to customers in various industries. Note the specific CRM solution that some of them migrated from.

Magma Design Automation
http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Microsoft-Dynamics-CRM-Online/Magma-Design-Automation/Software-Provider-Adopts-CRM-in-the-Cloud-to-Simplify-and-Accelerate-the-Business/4000010752

BioMedix

http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Microsoft-Dynamics-CRM-Online/BioMedix-Vascular-Solutions/Medical-Device-and-Software-Firm-Supports-Rapid-Growth-by-Moving-to-Online-Services/4000008645

Century Payments

http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Microsoft-Dynamics-CRM-Online/Century-Payments/Fast-Growing-Payments-Processor-Meets-New-Needs-Saves-Money-with-Hosted-CRM/4000007658

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada
http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?CaseStudyID=4000010880

High Five Sportswear

http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Microsoft-Dynamics-CRM-Online/High-Five-Sportswear/Athletic-Apparel-Manufacturer-Sees-Success-Across-the-Board-with-CRM-Solution/4000007492

Trion

http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Microsoft-Dynamics-CRM-Online/Trion/Benefits-Consultant-Doubles-Efficiency-with-Online-CRM-Solution/4000007082

Unico

http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Microsoft-Dynamics-CRM-Online/Unico/HVAC-Firm-Empowers-Outside-Sales-Team-with-Easy-to-Use-Lead-Management-System/4000004663

History of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online

2011-07-24T08:05:00.000-07:00

Below are the various press releases denoting the past releases of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. As you can see, service updates occur twice a year with the next one targeted for Q4 of calendar year 2011.

Initial launch - Release in US and Canada (Apr 2008):
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/apr08/04-22DynamicsCRMOnlinePR.mspx

1st service update (Sep 2008):
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/sep08/09-08CRMOnlineServicePR.mspx

2nd service update (Mar 2009):
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/mar09/03-10CRMConvergence09PR.mspx

3rd service update (Nov 2009):
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/nov09/11-03serviceupdatepr.mspx

4th service update (May 2010):
http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2010/apr10/04-25ConvergenceCRMPR.mspx?

Beta release of CRM Online v2011 (Sep 2010):
http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2010/sep10/09-09MSCRM2011BetaPR.mspx

5th service update - release of CRM Online in 40 markets and 41 languages (Jan 2011):
http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2011/jan11/1-17MSCRMOnlinePR.mspx

Upcoming service update (Q4 calendar year 2011)
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/crm/archive/2011/07/13/microsoft-dynamics-crm-at-the-2011-worldwide-partner-conference.aspx

Windows Phone 7 app to track Microsoft Dynamics CRM twitter feeds

2011-07-23T16:38:00.000-07:00

For those partners who have a Windows Phone 7, there is a partner app that allows you to track various Microsoft Dynamics CRM twitter feeds.

Simply click the “Marketplace” button on your Windows Phone and do a search for, “Microsoft Partner Info” in the Marketplace. You can install it directly from there. Otherwise you can click here to get it from the Zune marketplace.

If you have a Apple iPhone, Blackberry or Android, you should consider getting a Windows Phone 7.

CRM sessions from WPC11

2011-07-22T21:04:00.000-07:00

Many useful CRM sessions from WPC11 were recently published and posted on microsoft.com/showcase

Kirill Tatarinov Keynote

http://www.microsoft.com/showcase/en/us/details/e460d69b-76b1-408b-8d46-9000819172ed

DYN01 - Microsoft Online Services: the Total Package (CRM Online and Office 365)

http://www.microsoft.com/showcase/en/us/details/ab47bb79-0033-452a-bf71-d793ab7e794c

DYN07 - Growing Your Microsoft Dynamics CRM Business in the Enterprise

http://www.microsoft.com/showcase/en/US/details/23107691-4ffe-44cc-9c0c-c94532b22f8f

DYN14 -Social Media Strategies with Microsoft Dynamics

http://www.microsoft.com/showcase/en/US/details/dc5da6aa-852b-49ab-af84-0a20a30c2926

DYN20 - Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online – Ready, Set, Go http://www.microsoft.com/showcase/en/US/details/b426c1ae-69fa-4464-9843-8215bfec1a0f