Microsoft Partner Blog

SourceLine Names AbleBridge to List of Top CRM Consultants

2013-07-30T15:05:00.000-07:00

AbleBridge was just named to a list of top CRM consultants by SourceLine, a Washington DC-based IT research firm.

SourceLine’s goal was to put together a list of firms that prospective buyers could be confident would deliver a CRM implementation customized to their particular needs. From the hundreds of firms offering CRM, SourceLine narrowed their list, or Leaders Matrix, to 10 Microsoft Dynamics CRM consultants and 5 SugarCRM consultants by focusing on firms with a solid track record of improving sales and marketing ROI for their clients and building out custom implementations for enterprise customers. Rankings also took into account feedback from clients and vendors as well as firm reputation, previous awards and certifications won and length of experience.

Speaking about importance of a firm to deliver a customized platform for their CRM clients, Sam Pettee, Research Manager at SourcingLine, said, “for an enterprise to realize all the benefits of any CRM system, effective integration with existing sales and marketing processes is critical.”

Massachusetts-based AbleBridge was honored to be included in the list. Though AbleBridge has the been awarded Microsoft Gold Certification and inclusion in the President’s Club, Ryan Plourde, AbleBridge founder and CEO sees their place in the Leaders Matrix as a special distinction, saying “I believe ratings based on feedback from customers, peers, and vendor organizations are more meaningful to a customer.”

Shorten Sales Cycles with Mobile CRM

2013-06-04T13:58:00.004-07:00

Depending on your business, a sales cycle can be quite long when the sales people have to contact the potential buyers several times in order to close the sale. Ideally, businesses want sales people to close sales faster, bring in more revenue, and earn more commissions. For that to happen, they need better information about their inventory and availability and more relevant information about their customers. When the sales people understand and can react to customers' buying processes, they can close sales faster.

An example of an accelerated sales cycle is a company that manufactures sensors for lighting, security, and HVAC. Its customers are primarily hotels, residential housing, and universities.

The company's sales people visit customers and demonstrate their products, and they are armed with mobile devices that receive real-time updates on sales visits from Microsoft Dynamics CRM. They are fully aware of their customer's needs before they arrive and can better serve them when they interact with them. They are able to answer questions about inventory, delivery, and payment more effectively when they have that knowledge in the palms of their hands. As a result, many customers are often ready to close a sale on the first call.

The above example is only one of many ways that integrating CRM into mobile technology can give businesses the edge they need to be more productive and more profitable. For more examples like this and a comprehensive look into mobile CRM, you can download the white paper "Why Go Mobile? Six Strategic Objectives You Can Conquer with Mobile CRM" at www.crmsoftwareblog.com/mobile-crm.

By Anya Ciecierski, CRM Software Blog Editor, www.crmsoftwareblog.com

How Microsoft Dynamics CRM Can Help Boost Your Sales

2013-03-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

Nothing is more crucial to sales than customer relations. Without good customer relationships and service, businesses often flounder and fail. However, maintaining those relationships can be difficult. Enter Microsoft Dynamics Customer Relations Management (CRM), a software solution that can boost sales by giving your business the tools to exceed at customer relations. Here's what Microsoft Dynamics CRM can do for you:

1. Keep better track of your customers. Know who your customers are, what they're buying and what they want from your business. You may just discover a new target market or product idea.

2. Improve marketing techniques. Did your direct sales letter net any new business this year? Did your new door-to-door campaign motivate your customer base? Find out as the software tracks the outcome of your marketing strategies. Use the data to keep the techniques that worked or improve them.

3. Manage your accounts more efficiently. Clearly see your business' income and outflow and develop strategies to increase income. Learn which departments in your company are most productive and which ones need improvement. Know exactly how much that new advertising campaign will cost and how it will translate into sales.

4. Improve customer service. Nothing is more important to your customers than the quality of the service they receive from your business. Microsoft Dynamics CRM allows you to log customer inquiries accurately and to respond to them in a timely manner.

5. Streamline your advertising. Get your ad campaign from concept to production in less time at lower cost. Know where your ads will succeed before placing them. Be able to articulate to your design team who the target audience is and how to get their attention. These are just a few things Microsoft Dynamics CRM can do for your business. The software also allows you to create custom applications for whatever your business needs to increase sales. Whether your business is in retail, manufacturing, healthcare or professional services, Microsoft Dynamics CRM has a solution for you.

If you'd like to learn more about how Microsoft Dynamics CRM can help your business visit aresgrp.com.

Cloud based accounting software at the right price from Intacct -

2013-02-23T07:21:00.000-08:00

Many companies today are evaluating cloud based accounting solutions such as Intacct as they look to save money by migrating software services away from traditional IT environments. Moving to Intacct cloud based accounting can help, but you need to calculate the true cost to your organization. There are many variables in calculating the difference between Intacct pricing and comparable traditional software packages like Microsoft Dynamics GP. Intacct is on a named user basis, whereas Dynamics GP is concurrent user. There also can be significant differences in what functionality is included in the base price of the software. With Intacct, there are significant savings in implementation, and no server costs. On the other hand, Intacct is subscription based, meaning you will be paying for as long as you use the software, whereas with Dynamics GP you own the licenses and pay a maintenance fee. Make sure you do a full Total Cost of ownership analysis before making a decision.

For more information and to compare Intacct and Dynamics GP, please contact Intellitec Solutions at www.intellitecsolutions.com, or 866-504-4357

A ‘Real’ Headline – Does Your Home Page Have One?

2012-09-24T16:40:00.003-07:00

Many technology business websites either don't have a headline on their Home page, or their existing headline does not get their reader’s attention!

What is the purpose of your website home page? It should get a potential clients attention (with

the headline), and then engage them to want to learn more about your services. Your Home page headline is key to achieving improved lead generation results from your website.

A survey of 30 Microsoft Partner sites showed 15 (half of those reviewed!) did not display what could be considered a 'Real' headline (Body text in H1 Tags) on their Home page.

The headline I'm referring to is not the same as the company tag line or motto. Your motto or tag line may appear near the top of your home page by your logo, or in your header graphic. The 'Real' headline should be text which is placed at the top of the page content or wording.

Of those websites which did have a headline, the words either included technical jargon (geek speak), or the words were imbedded in a graphic header area. Words included in graphics are not found in search results. The popular visuals with scrolling graphics, slideshows or flash header graphics are not recognized or compiled by search engines. You need attention getting text headlines in addition to fancy graphics.

These findings lead me to believe technology business are either not intending to use their websites

for lead generation, or they do not want to engage potential customers with information about how their services can help their business. The fact is, it means these businesses are missing opportunities to generate leads from their websites.

If your Home Page does not currently have a headline - Here are 3 tips on how it should be created to get attention and produce more clicks to your interior pages.

1 - Your headline should be benefit oriented. This means your headline copy should not be about your company, your services or your reputation, but ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS.

Here is a typical technology website headline - "Microsoft Dynamics GP & CRM Solutions". You can find this same text on hundreds, if not thousands of technology business sites!
Compare this to an attention getting, benefits oriented headline like -
"Implement MS Dynamics GP Software and Boost Your Business Productivity 30% This Year"
Yes, this is longer, but if you have provided great results for existing customers say this right up front in your Home page headline! The more specific the benefit described, the better. Make the headline

address the goal the customer wants to achieve or the problem your potential client needs solved.

2 - Your headline should contain a keyword phrase your business wants to be found for by search engines like - 'Microsoft Great Plains consultant' or 'MS Dynamics ERP implementation’.
It definitely pays to do some keyword research in advance. Find out what phrases customers look for and the popular terminology they use. These phrases may be quite different than what you might expect based on your technology background and viewpoint.
The keyword phrase 'SharePoint contractor' has high competition in Google and only several thousand monthly searches. The keyword phrases 'about SharePoint' and 'why SharePoint' have over 7 million searches and low competition across related websites. You are more likely to be found online using very simple keyword phrases.

3 - Optimize the rest of the Home page for the keyword phrase in the Headline.
Do this by including the same phrase several times in the body text, in the link text to other pages

(possibly links to pages with more detailed technical information) or in text descriptions of page graphics. In addition, the keyword phrase should be included in the HTML page Meta Data for the Title, Description and Keywords. This will increase the opportunity for your site to show up in search results for this keyword phrase.
I
f you already have a text headline on your home page -
Review the current wording. Can it be improved?
Is it unique and benefit oriented? Is it specific?
Does it get attention and engage your potential customers, and make them want to find out more about what you offer?

Is it actual text in the page content or is it part of a graphic? Double check this by looking at the HTML page source code!
The headline text should appear in the source code or in an Alt Text field which describes the graphic. This makes it much easier for the search engines to understand what your website and page is about, and then display your page correctly related to a specific search criteria.
Is it currently embedded in a 'Flash' header? If it is, it will not appear in most mobile browsers or

smart phones. Most Flash graphics just appears as big black or empty squares on a smart
phone. To see anything on the page a person has to scroll down. People will not scroll down, will think there is something wrong with your page and click away from your website. Make certain the headline text appears at the top of the page content above the Flash component for mobile devices.
For technology companies, all of this information may be preaching to the choir. But, it is amazing how many companies will not do for themselves what they would implement for their clients!
Look for the next post in this series - Call to Action tips
If you would like to learn more about how to create attention getting headlines for website lead generation and increased customer engagement, please give me a call at 925-271-5507 or send me an email at lane@lanesennett.com.

How to Keep Track of Referrals with Microsoft Dynamics CRM

2012-06-26T10:48:00.002-07:00

For businesses referrals are becoming more important than ever. While advertising and even direct marketing have their benefits, nothing brings in the clients like a referral from a respected partner or industry associate. Referrals can also serve as good measuring sticks for a company's marketing strategies, but that requires some form of referral tracking.

When a company does not have the ability to track referrals, its marketing experts have no way of knowing if their marketing programs were really effective. Depending on who you ask, 60, 70, or according to The Referral Engine , as much as 80 percent of new business for most companies comes from referrals. Still, as few as 25 percent of those companies have any effective system for managing and tracking their referrals.

The CRM Software Blog's new white paper has a simple answer to the referral question: Microsoft Dynamics CRM. According to the white paper, "24 Wildly Creative Ways Companies Use Microsoft Dynamics CRM to Drive Revenue and Serve Customers", Microsoft Dynamics CRM makes referral tracking a cinch. When you use Dynamics CRM, "the referral source is populated automatically or entered during the client enrollment process". With this system in place, you can easily keep track of your BFFs (Best Friends of the Firm) and keep those referrals coming.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM gives you the power to keep information about referrals and also track their success rate so that you know where referrals were effective and where they were not. To download more amazing ideas for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, download the white paper from CRM Software Blog at www.crmsoftwareblog.com/creative-crm.

Then check out a cool new infographic which visually shows 12 Great Reasons Companies Use Microsoft Dynamics CRM at www.crmsoftwareblog.com/creative-crm-infographic.

Interested in the price of Microsoft Dynamics CRM? Request an automated Dynamics CRM Quick Quote from the CRM Software Blog at www.crmsoftwareblog.com/quick-quote.

By CRM Software Blog Editors

How to Compare Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Essentials vs Advancement Management Editions

2011-12-06T08:22:00.000-08:00

If you are evaluating new ERP/accounting software and Microsoft Dynamics GP makes your short list, you still have another decision to make. Which edition of Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly Great Plains) do you need? There is the Business Essentials (BE) edition and the Advanced Management (AM) edition.

The cost of Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Essentials edition is a lower price per user that the cost of the Microsoft Dynamics GP Advanced Management edition. Keep in mind this also means the annual maintenance fees will also be lower if you buy Business Essentials. Honestly, 90% of CAL Business Solutions clients start with the Business Essentials edition because you will receive a full investment credit for money spent if you decide to move to the Advanced Management version in the future.

While we always try to recommend ways for our clients to save money sometimes some very valid reasons why a client needs to spend more and purchase the Advanced Management edition. Sometimes there is specific, advanced functionality that you can only get with AM.
I encourage you to read our article on the ERP Software Blog, Compare Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Essentials versus Advanced Management: When Is The Advanced Management Edition Worth the Higher Price? This article is intended to help you compare the two editions by describing the modules that are only available in the Advanced Management edition. If you need these features, and you can’t add the missing functionality with an ISV module, then you need to purchase Microsoft Dynamics GP Advanced Management edition.

Are you interested in getting a cost estimate of Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Essentials? The easiest way is to request a free automated Microsoft Dynamics GP Quick Quote – including software licenses, maintenance fees and implementation. Plus, deployment options and costs.
If you are looking for an honest Microsoft Dynamics GP partner who will give you good advice about buying Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Essentials vs Advanced Management, contact CAL Business Solutions.

By CAL Business Solutions, Connecticut Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

New Microsoft Survey Reveals Top Cloud-Friendly Cities

2011-11-07T07:36:00.000-08:00

The cloud is truly transforming technology industries and paving the way for new innovations, growth, and employment opportunities. But not all U.S. cities are equal in their acceptance of cloud technologies. A recent study by Microsoft (published at Microsoft Survey Highlights Cloud Movement Across the US) peered into the minds of 2,000 IT decision makers across the country and highlighted ten of the top cloud-friendly cities.

Boston, New York, Dallas, San Francisco, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Los Angeles/Orange County, Chicago, and Detroit excel in enterprise and small to midsized business cloud services and perceptions of cloud technology. The survey examined how businesses approach cloud computing, from their choice of cloud vendors for migration to new lines of business based on cloud platforms.

The survey found that as many as two thirds of businesses look to outside vendors to help them deploy cloud solutions, and 21 percent are looking to hire new staff with cloud experience. Many IT consultants have their calendars filled with customers who need help learning about cloud computing and migrating their business technology to the cloud.

For Microsoft, the attitudes about the cloud suggest the company is on the right track with its release of Office 365 and the Windows Azure platform, which is a complete cloud business solution in a virtual box. Furthermore, as ERP customers begin to consider cloud options, many are turning to Microsoft partners for hosted solutions, such as those offered for Microsoft Dynamics GP, SL, NAV and AX. You can find a list of Microsoft partners that offer hosting services on the ERP Software Blog Dynamics ERP Hosting Provider Directory.

Being able to seamlessly integrate cloud solutions with existing on-premise technology is also a valid concern, and Microsoft has taken the initiative to make sure businesses can adapt and thrive in and out of the cloud.

To learn more about the options available for ERP Software in the Cloud download a new white paper 35 Questions Every CFO Needs to Ask about Cloud ERP Software. The 35 jargon-free questions cover topics the CFO needs to understand to make an informed decision including: Cloud Definitions, Potential Benefits of Cloud ERP, Common Concerns of Cloud ERP, Compliance Considerations for Cloud ERP, and Licensing Questions for Cloud ERP. High level answers to each question provide the foundation for CFO cloud knowledge. Download the full white paper today at: www.erpsoftwareblog.com/cloud-erp.

You can also request a free Microsoft Dynamics ERP software quote – including user licenses, annual maintenance, estimated implementation and deployment options and costs.

By ERP Software Blog Editors, Find a Local Microsoft Dynamics ERP Partner

Quick Fix: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 for Microsoft Office Outlook doesn’t load

2011-10-06T16:34:00.000-07:00

When you subscribe to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2011 or Partner-Hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, we recommend that you install the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 for Microsoft Office Outlook add-in. The add-in really helps you get comfortable by presenting CRM Online 2011 inside the Outlook interface, a familiar environment you probably use every day.
The add-in automatically tracks all of your communications that are sent through Microsoft Exchange Server and any contacts you have created, and stores them inside of the CRM Online database. This frees up a huge amount of time for you by removing the need for manual data entry of e-mails and contacts into CRM Online 2011.
While the add-in is processing these automatic functions, it places the items in a temporary location referred to as “the cache” before it synchronizes them with CRM Online 2011.
We all know that computers don’t always work as expected, and the cache is no exception. Sometimes, it can get overloaded or corrupted, and as a result the CRM Online 2011 plug-in will be disabled automatically to prevent further corruption or any database discrepancies. Users generally notice this automatic disabling the next time they launch Outlook, because the Track in CRM button has vanished, and they are no longer able to browse into CRM Online 2011 from within their familiar Microsoft Office Outlook interface.
So how can we fix the cache and get the plug-in working again? Don’t worry; we’ll walk you through a really quick fix that will get your cache reset and the plug-in loading again properly! If you are looking for a more immediate option, we do offer Microsoft Dynamics CRM Emergency Support.

From Microsoft Windows, open the Start menu, select All Programs, select Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, and click on Diagnostics (see below).

A Microsoft Dynamics CRM Diagnostics window opens (see below). Click on the Advanced Troubleshooting tab, click on Delete under Delete Temporary Microsoft Dynamics CRM Client Files, and then click on Enable under Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook Add-in.

Once you have deleted the temporary files and enabled the add-in, click on Save (above), and the diagnostics window will close automatically. Next time you launch Outlook, the CRM Online 2011 for Outlook add-in will be restored to full functionality. Now wasn’t that easy?

You can find more quick and easy tips at xRM.com’s Microsoft Dynamics CRM Blog. Want to learn more about how Microsoft CRM Online can positively affect your business? Check out our CRM Success Portal for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online!

Quick tip: Using InPrivate browsing to sign in with more than one Windows Live ID simultaneously

2011-08-29T13:52:00.000-07:00

Do you find yourself using Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2011 and having to switch between multiple Windows Live IDs to test different security roles? Do you ever need to sign in to multiple CRM Online organizations at the same time using different Windows Live IDs? If so, we have a quick tip that will save you a lot of time!

Here’s a little background: Windows Live ID is a single-sign-on (SSO) service, which means that once you sign in to any of the services or web applications (such as Hotmail) that recognize your ID, you can access any of the other services that recognize your ID without needing to sign in again, until you sign out or get signed out. CRM Online 2011 uses Windows Live ID authentication. Therefore, when you are signed into a CRM Online 2011 organization, opening a new browser window and navigating to the same CRM Online 2011 organization or to another CRM Online 2011 organization where that same Windows Live ID is recognized will leverage your already authorized and cached credentials. It loads your Windows Live ID automatically and you are not required to sign in again. You can visit two CRM Online organizations at the same time using the same Windows Live ID.

Now, to paraphrase Shakespeare, here’s the rub: What if you wanted to open a window that wasn’t automatically signed in, and was treated separately, as if you were a different person on the same computer? You can do that by using Internet Explorer’s InPrivate Browsing mode. Just follow the steps below.

From your current Internet Explorer window, open the Tools menu, and click InPrivate Browsing.

A new Internet Explorer browser window will open using InPrivate Browsing mode.

The new InPrivate Browsing window that opens will use its own independent cache. This allows you to sign in as a different user in this isolated window (and any windows you open from this window). By signing in to the same CRM Online 2011 organization with two IDs that have different security roles in CRM Online 2011, you can proceed immediately to test any recent security role changes you have made, removing the necessity to constantly be signing out of one account and into another to test changes.

xRM.com is a Microsoft Online Cloud Services reseller that also provides xRM.com Partner Hosted Dedicated Environments working out of the xRM.com Tier-IV Data Center. Read about some of our CRM Online Value Added Strategic Partners or our xRM Case Studies to decide if xRM.com is the right fit for your company.

Shaping CRM Online 2011 to fit your unique business needs

2011-07-27T14:53:00.000-07:00

Every company finds itself going about its day-to-day business slightly differently than the next. So how does using the same Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2011 product work so well for so many different business types? Glad you asked! CRM Online 2011 is built upon a very malleable environment, which can be shaped to fit your unique business needs. This environment can grow as you grow and adjust to your ways of doing business. Microsoft has provided CRM Online 2011 customers with the ability to customize and configure CRM Online 2011 to fit their unique business needs. Some common customizations can be performed without hiring a developer to write code, although some of the more complex interactions will likely require an outside expert such as xRM.com. Some of the customizations available include the creation of entirely new functionality, the changing of the user interface, and controlling navigation within CRM Online 2011 (further detailed below).

Customizing entities – Are the provided standard entities not sufficient for the structure of your business? A standard CRM Online 2011 entity (account, contact, lead, etc.) can be entirely modified to fit the needs of your business. You can also have an outside expert create a brand new entity specific to your business with the attributes that you require.

Entity relationships – Want to view all the contracts you have closed with a specific contractor? Entity relationships make this easy. Entity relationships are special configurations that allow for one record (such as a contractor) to be linked with a relationship to another set of records (such as a contract).

Visualizing your data – CRM Online 2011 includes default reports for many common business needs. These reports allow you to visualize your data easily using advanced filtered views that can be generated on demand. However, most organizations will customize the default reports and add custom reports for specific needs.

Solutions – Solutions are prepackaged pieces of software that add functionality to CRM Online. Solutions are new in CRM Online 2011, and are intended to help developers author, package, and maintain units of software for CRM Online 2011. These developers then distribute these solutions to organizations. Using CRM Online 2011, you will be able to install and uninstall the business functionality defined by any of the solutions you choose to utilize.

Integrate external websites with CRM Online – Microsoft has provided three advanced extension features in CRM Online 2011 for integration with other applications. These extensions allow website developers and CRM Online 2011 system customizers to work together to develop an integration solution with an external application such as Internet Explorer. Want to host a feedback form on your website for your customers and then be able to track and report on all of that feedback in CRM Online 2011? Extension features make this possible.

Most companies will choose to work with a developer when extending or customizing CRM Online 2011. Whether you want to begin modifying the basic components of your business, or dive directly into advanced solutions or reporting, a developer will be able to shape your CRM Online 2011 organization until it is a perfect fit for your business.

xRM.com is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner that specializes in Consulting Driven CRM Online Software Implementation. Not a CRM Online 2011 customer yet? By choosing our Gold CRM Online Quickstart Deployment Package you will have access to 22 developer-created and -implemented customizations.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM: Cloud based Service

2011-06-23T15:53:00.001-07:00

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is a cloud offering. What exactly does this mean? And what are its implications?

Cloud Service

Cloud means the Internet and cloud services are provided by software applications that reside on Web servers instead of on the customer’s local server or desktop. Even data might reside on Web servers. In an extremely “cloudy” environment, customers might require only workstation terminals with Internet access.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is a cloud service. The service clients can be Outlook, Web or even offline meaning that data can be stored locally as needed. You can sign in to the service using your Windows Live ID and 5 gigabytes of storage is available.

The CRM provides features that support Marketing, Sales and Service. Features also include the capability for customizing the system and workflow to your requirements and synchronizing offline / online. Up to 200 workflows and 300 custom entities are supported.

Implications of Putting the Service on the Cloud

Putting a service on the cloud has several implications:

The software will always be up-to-date; you don’t have to purchase the latest version when it is released
You can access the application (and the data if it is also on the Web) from anywhere with Internet access; there is no need to work from your office
Application and data can usually be accessed through multiple Web compatible devices such as mobile computing devices and smartphones
Cloud services are usually offered on a monthly subscription basis; Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online comes at $34 per month under a special offer valid until June 30, 2011 (as against the standard price of $44 per month)
Monthly CRM subscriptions eliminate the need to incur substantial initial expenditure that is typically involved in purchasing software outright. Request a quick estimate of Microsoft Dynamics CRM's cost.
Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) ensure guaranteed uptimes so that you can access the service at practically all times

Microsoft Dynamics CRM: Cloud based Service

2011-06-23T15:53:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is a cloud offering. What exactly does this mean? And what are its implications?

Cloud Service

Implications of Putting the Service on the Cloud

Putting a service on the cloud has several implications:

The software will always be up-to-date; you don’t have to purchase the latest version when it is released
You can access the application (and the data if it is also on the Web) from anywhere with Internet access; there is no need to work from your office
Application and data can usually be accessed through multiple Web compatible devices such as mobile computing devices and smartphones
Cloud services are usually offered on a monthly subscription basis; Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online comes at $34 per month under a special offer valid until June 30, 2011 (as against the standard price of $44 per month)
Monthly subscriptions eliminate the need to incur substantial initial expenditure that is typically involved in purchasing software outright. Request a quick estimate of Microsoft Dynamics CRM's cost.
Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) ensure guaranteed uptimes so that you can access the service at practically all times

Looking for the Price of Microsoft Dynamics CRM?

2011-05-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

For a quick quote for the cost of Microsoft Dynamics CRM you can find a great tool at the CRM Software blog. The CRM Software Blog features posts by over 40 of the top CRM VARs in the US and Canada.

The tool on the CRM blog will give you an instant quote based on the number of seats you need and on your implemetation requirements. Click here to get to the tool.

Most Salesforce.com users will find that they will realize a significant cost savings with Dynamics CRM while having much more control over their data. Dynamics CRM is also highly customizable and can talk to your legacy systems.

The blog features up to date information on Microsoft Dynamics CRM updates, plugins and tools. ISVs also provide news and information about Microsoft Dynamcis plugins on the blog. There is a twitter feed as well that shows top tweets from members of the blog. Most of the blog members are Microsoft Gold Partners with years of implementation experience.

Engineering Consulting Firm Improves Profitability

2010-09-10T12:59:00.001-07:00

MacKay and Sposito, a consulting firm that provides civil engineering, planning, land surveying, landscape architecture, and construction management services, couldn't adequately track and report on project performance. Without knowing which projects and segments were profitable, they couldn't make appropriate adjustments in sales and marketing. Neither could their project managers make necessary changes to control costs and utilize resources more efficiently. They needed to align their accounting with their project management.

Enter Synergy Business Solutions.

“Synergy spent the time to understand what information we need and how we use that information to manage our business and then configured Microsoft Dynamics SL to fit those exact needs,” says Marcy McCoy, Controller at MacKay & Sposito. “Today, we can extract the meaningful information we need to make informed business decisions.”

With streamlined accounting, they have significantly reduced time for month-end closing and payroll, have a timely, accurate picture of project and company performance, and have improved cash flow and profitability.

For more details, read the entire MacKay & Sposito-Synergy story.

_________________

10 Features in Microsoft Dynamics® GP 2010 to Increase Productivity

2010-09-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

What are the best reasons to upgrade or install a new ERP system? For most companies the answer is to increase productivity and reduce costs.

The newest release of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 helps businesses do just that. Ten new features that help businesses speed planning and reporting, perform advanced analytics, and improve productivity & ROI include:

1. Dashboard Metric Drill Down
2. Drill Down Builder
3. Business Portal Executive Center
4. Email Messaging Options
5. Electronic Signatures Workflow
6. Drill Down Builder Deep Dive
7. Microsoft Office Word Template Configuration and Maintenance
8. Workflow
9. Advanced Business Intelligence (BI)
10.Excel Report Building

Learn more about how you can benefit from these Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 features....

New Accounting Sotware Blog Launches

2010-08-19T06:21:00.001-07:00

The Accounting Software Blog has been launched and will replace the Accounting Software Review. The group blog like the former blog will cover ERP Software topics. Its members are Microsoft Dynamics Partners from all over the United States and include:

BCG Systems, Inc. http://www.bcgsystems.com/
Brannon Consulting Group, LLC http://www.brannonconsulting.com
CAL Business Solutions http://www.calszone.com
Concentrix Limited http://www.concentrix.co.uk/
EWS Group http://www.ewsgroup.com/solutions/Green/index.html
Finatech http://en.finatech.com/erp
Gilbert & Associates http://www.gilbertassociates.com/
IntelliPoint Technologies, LLC http://www.intellipoint.net/
InterDyn LANAC Technology http://www.lanactech.com/
InterDyn- CFO Consultants http://www.interdyncfo.com/
Internet eBusiness Solutions http://www.iesgp.com/
Njevity http://www.njevity.com/
PDG Consultants http://www.prettydarngood.com/
Sherwood Systems http://www.sherwood.com/
Silverware http://silverw.com/index.html
SSI Consulting http://www.ssiconsulting.com/
T3 Information Systems http://www.t3infosystems.com/
Vertical Solutions http://www.verticalsol.com/
Zeal Solutions, Inc. http://zealsls.com/default.aspx

Auto Insurer Case Study Microsoft - Esurance

2010-08-17T15:49:00.000-07:00

Esurance has been serving the public with on-line auto, homeowners, renters, health, life, and motorcycle insurance products since 1999 when many companies were still trying to figure out if the internet was important. Today, Esurance is available in 30 states, and over 90% of the U.S. population can order their products. There auto insurance rates in NYC and other large cities in the US are among the lowest.

As a leader in internet insurance marketing, Esurance continues to outpace other companies in the use of new technologies. Using the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, two new mobile applications for customers were recently rolled into the services it offers. These changes were implemented in just six weeks, and are based on the Microsoft Visual Studio® Team System 2008 Team Suite for the Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system

Paul Sykes, Development Manager at Esurance, asserted, “We want to be available to our customers however they want to reach us,... and [Visual Studio 2008] is the most complete development environment available.” As a result, text messaging has been added to the methods by which the company will communicate with those who have the appropriate application. Increased electronic communications also reduces the amount of paperwork generated, allowing the company to fulfill another part of its mission, to be environmentally friendly.

In addition an app called AutoWatch has been implemented, with which customers can actually see photographs on their mobile device that show the car being repaired, while still in the body shop.

“We are making good on our anywhere, anytime value proposition,” added Srinivasan. Esurance seeks to enhance customer satisfaction, thus mitigating the high cost of acquiring new customers. When customers stay with one company longer, the cost of maintaining their accounts decreases. Happy customers actually save the company money. Another money-saving feature is that allowing customers to manage their policies through on-line and mobile devices reduces the number of call-center employees needed. These savings can be passed on to customers.

As more and more people become comfortable with using mobile devices, Esurance wants to be recognized as a trusted leader in the field of customer service on such platforms. This will place them in an advantageous position to gain new customers. Esurance plans to evaluate how customers use the new tools, and to extend their functionality. Silverlight, another Microsoft product, is already being tested to provide further options.

Behind the scenes, Esurance has been taking a good look at other ways Microsoft products can help them. Updating to SQL Server data management software has prepared the company for an upgrade of its back-end environment using high-performance computing (HPC) on a Windows HPC Server 2008. Generating new actuarial tables and keeping pace with the ever-changing data of the insurance business, the HPC management capabilities are a perfect fit.

Microsoft products are at the forefront of a general industry shift to a software plus services model. Capabilities, choices, and flexibility are the three big goals the Microsoft intends to provide to their clients.

Wired Office

2010-08-12T21:31:00.000-07:00

Wired Office

How Microsoft Dynamics CRM Dashboards Work

2010-06-28T15:48:00.000-07:00

One of the complaints some users of Microsoft Dynamics CRM software have is the inability to create custom dashboards for individual users. However, this criticism will soon be obsolete. The truth is that a simple add-on to your existing Microsoft Dynamics CRM suite gives you powerful tools to customize your dashboard look and feel. Streamsol, a Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner, can help you customize your Microsoft CRM suite to include the feature of customizable dashboards.

Creating a New Graph is Simple

At the organizational or individual level, tools provided by Streamsol allow users to create custom graphs that will display anywhere they want on their dashboards. Using data from the powerful advanced finds tool, the graph dialog box is intuitive and easy to use. Not unlike creating a chart in Excel, users name the different axes of their chart, choose where it should appear on the dashboard, and choose whether it should appear for everyone or on just one individual's dashboard. Additionally, users can choose to set the height and width of the chart in case they don't want it taking up too much room on the dashboard. Once the new chart is created, the same data will also display right inside Microsoft Outlook.

Other Solutions Provide Even More Customization

Additional Microsoft Dynamics CRM tools enable sales managers and team members to take an in-depth look at the data they need to understand by organizing it into simple or complex charts that display in real-time on the user's dashboard. You can display the chart on the dashboard of just one individual, an entire department, or the entire organization. This not only makes it easier for team members to stay on the same page about sales data, it also prevents prying eyes from gaining access to data they do not need to see.

In summary, there's no shortage of ways to create custom dashboards for Microsoft Dynamics CRM.The truth is that it's easy to create customizable dashboards for your CRM set-up if you have the right tools.

Streamsol is recognized as one of the top ten Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partners in the country, and was named to Microsoft's President's Club in 2009. Streamsol is one of the only partners that has truly embraced the Microsoft "Power of Choice" messaging. Our Microsoft CRM practice revolves around three models; Microsoft CRM on-premise, hosted Microsoft CRM, and hybrid Microsoft CRM, which allow us to service companies of all shapes and sizes located anywhere in the world. Our vision and commitment to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM framework is unrivaled. To learn more please visit xRM.com.

How Staffing Software Solutions Can Help You Keep Your Business Afloat in a Poor Economic Climate

2010-06-28T07:34:00.000-07:00

Every sector of our economy has taken some hard hits in the past 18-24 months, but those of us in the staffing industry have had a particularly tough go of it.

We’ve been challenged, and we’ve learned a lot about ourselves. With persistence and determination, we’ve been able to hang on, maintaining our existing customers and maybe even bring in some new ones. While the forecast for 2010 is looking far sunnier, we would be remiss to forget the survival lessons that these hard times have taught us. Namely, we could all do a better job of following costs to ensure that we’re seeing the profitability we expect. One way to do this is with software designed specifically for the staffing industry.

A CRM software system for staffing can help you by tracking sales activity as it relates to real profitability, looking at not only the invoice amount but the costs spent to generate them. For those in the staffing industry that can mean gross pay, taxes, worker’s compensation, benefits, background checks, drug screenings and other expenses. Tracking the profitability of a job order should begin with first identifying the lead or opportunity and end after the invoice has been sent. Without all these pieces can you really be sure what your margins are?

For more information on staffing agency software, read about Professional Advantage’s recruiting agency CRM software.

Post sponsored by: Professional Advantage, staffing software experts

Focus – Platform for B2B Networking

2010-06-21T17:25:00.000-07:00

Online B2B marketing has evolved dramatically over the past few years and we now have abundant tools and resources available at our disposal. One such resource which provides a common platform where a group of professionals consisting of thought leaders, domain experts and upstart innovators collaborate and reach out to a wide audience is Focus.com.

Professionals who register at Focus are known as Experts and they primarily serve the community by

* posting briefs or whitepapers

* answering the community’s questions

* working on paid consulting projects with Focus’s editors

The Research section at Focus.com houses the experts’ briefs, whitepaper and the consulting projects that experts work on. Consulting projects include Market Guides, Buyer’s Guide, Comparison guides, research briefings, etc. These consulting projects are assigned to experts who have demonstrated high activity levels within the Focus community and to those who have outstanding profiles. A member can get advertised on the ‘Featured Experts’ column by

* Posting briefs regularly

* Taking part in the Q&A section

* Having good profiles (an updated linkedIn profile is important)

As mentioned above, having an updated and complete profile at LinkedIn is crucial to being granted an expert status at Focus.com. Getting noticed by the management and the community at Focus can be very rewarding as it is the best way to soft sell your expertise. Though Focus frowns upon direct, in-your-face marketing (policies dictate the content posted), they do encourage subtle promotions in ways such as answering a question and leaving a gist about yourself and your contact details if the Asker wants further info. Also, your concise profile at the end of a Focus brief/whitepaper has the potential to generate leads.

We at Interactive Limited specialize in helping our clients promote themselves on special avenues such as Focus.com. Contact dave@interactivelimited.com for further information on ongoing training, webinars and exclusive consultation on lead generation by the exploiting the evolving trends in social media networking.

Social Networking for B2B

2010-06-08T14:57:00.000-07:00

Group blogs are a great way for B2B’s to get in on the social networking game.

What are group blogs?

Group blogging sites are shared by multiple firms in an industry.

Here are a couple: CRM Software Reviews, a Microsoft Dynamics Reseller hub and Accounting Software Reviews for ERP vendors.

What are the advantages of group blogging?

By banding together to blog with other companies in your field you get a blog with:

• Frequently updated content an lots of it

• Cost splitting among all of the members

• A place to establish your brand as a thought leader

• Higher search rankings than you could easily achieve if you were blogging on your own.

• Linking building power from a site with a good page rank.

• A place to hype your achievements

• Networking contacts

• A higher likelihood that your work will be read.

For more information about Internet marketing, visit interactivelimited.com.

Hosted Microsoft CRM with Streamsol a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner

2010-06-03T15:59:00.000-07:00

Streamsol offers Hosted Microsoft CRM in a cloud computing model, also known as software-as-a-service (SaaS). You don’t have to purchase anything, instead you simply subscribe for a period of time, and you don’t have to invest in hardware or any additional software.

At Streamsol, we help businesses experience successful Hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM implementations that utilize resources effectively. Our CRM Partner Hosted implementation offer many benefits; these include no sign up costs, no commitment, no minimum users, rapid deployment, low monthly expenses and above all, peace of mind. This solution is extremely flexible.

The advantages of using Hosted Microsoft CRM with Streamsol a Microsoft CRM Consulting Partner can be summarized with the following:

Integration. We support custom code. This is a BIG difference when choosing. We offer the option to integrate Web Services SDK, Custom Development Services, ISV Solutions, Thid Party Plug-in.
Value added tools. Hosted Microsoft CRM will get you all the accelerators released by Microsoft PLUS our value added tools. A great example of our value added tools is our Virtual Earth integration. Streamsol has integrated the Microsoft Virtual Earth applications inside of their hosted Microsoft CRM solution and their subscribers get to take advantage of this integration at no additional cost. If you want to open a contact in your database and quickly see directions from point A to point B; this is indeed a default feature with Hosted Microsoft CRM.
One user one month. We have a one user, one month minimum. Additionally we have a 30 day free trial. You can increase or decrease the number of users anytime.
Dedicated Model. We have the option of Hosting Microsoft CRM in a dedicated model. If you have your own development team and would like to purchase and install custom solutions then this is the best option for you. We offer our dedicated model in two instances; a virtualized instance and a physical instance.

Streamsol is a Microsoft Dynamics Gold Partner, providing Microsoft Dynamics CRM Consulting. We are one of the few partners that have truly embraced the “Power of Choice” messaging and one of the initial evangelizers of xRM. Our CRM practice revolves around three models: Microsoft CRM On premise, Hosted Microsoft CRM and Hybrid Microsoft CRM offering Microsoft Dynamics CRM mobile access in all our deployment models.

Hybrid CRM Deployment with Microsoft Dynamics CRM

2010-06-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

The Hybrid model is the combination of the on-premise and the hosted customer relationship management deployment models. The hybrid model allows companies to create unique deployment models that meet their business requirements. A Hybrid CRM deployment model is the most flexible solution, letting customers enjoy a fully customized Microsoft CRM solution that best suit their needs.
With the Hybrid model businesses can use Microsoft Dynamics CRM at one location, either field offices or with a hosting company, while keeping the rest of the company on an on-premise application or on a “Software as a Service” (SaaS) application.

If you are worried about the security and privacy of your data, but you are looking for the benefits of a Hosted Microsoft CRM solution, then a Hybrid CRM solution is what will best fit your needs.

With a Hybrid CRM deployment model you can:

Manage your own hardware and have it in-house while having your CRM application hosted, this will be the right choice if you want to protect your information and don’t want to be concerned that a hosted provider might have insufficient security.
Own the software licenses and have someone host it for you without the concerns of managing hardware or running the application.
Have Microsoft CRM in a hosted model in an on premise installation.

No two "Hybrid" solutions are exactly the same, just like no two companies are exactly the same. This would be the solution where everyone gets creative, and starts thinking outside of the box. In most cases one would see parts of both the "On Premise" and the "Hosted Solution" (and any permutation in-between) involved here. However, the overall success of a Hybrid deployment really depends on a company’s organizational structure.

In some cases this solution can be the best choice for any company. With a

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Consulting Partner, they will work with you to find the best solution for your company, whether a hybrid CRM solution, an on-premise CRM solution or a hosted CRM solution. And with the “Power of Choice” messaging you can move around any solution. If you want to learn more about Microsoft CRM Power of Choice visit our CRM Software Blog.

Streamsol is a top ten Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner and Reseller in the US and is one of the only partners that have truly embraced the Microsoft “Power of Choice” messaging. Our Microsoft CRM practice revolved around three CRM choice model practices: on premise CRM, hosted CRM and hybrid CRM, which allows us to service companies of all shapes and sized located anywhere in the world. Streamsol is also one of the initial evangelizers of xRM.