• Improvements to mobility through the launch of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile
• Accessibility from additional browsers
• Extended social features and additional developments to the activity feeds
• Out-of-the box industry templates
• Performance improvements due to SQL Server 2012
• Product certifications to keep your business compliant

Let’s take a deeper look at what each of these elements means for your business.

Dynamics CRM Mobile Launched

This online service is available for an additional per user monthly subscription to users of either Dynamics CRM on-premise or CRM Online. Each Dynamics CRM Mobile user can roll out the solution on up to 3 devices and leverage 10 different languages.  Each user has administrative tools to personalize their own experience to see the most relevant data on their devices.  Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile will adopt the native capabilities of the device it is deployed on, meaning that it is optimized for touch and includes capabilities that you are accustomed to on your mobile devices, like auto-calling and one-click access to maps.  Let us know if you want to purchase Dynamics CRM Mobile users!

Additional Browsers Supported

All Microsoft Dynamics solutions are developed to work the way that people work so that the users are empowered.  Microsoft Dynamics CRM is no exception.  With the Q2 2012 Update, you will be able to access the web client of Dynamics CRM on the following browsers:

Social Features Enhanced

Building off of the social advancements made in the November release, Dynamics CRM will now include “Like/Dislike” buttons on Activity Feeds.  Additionally, Microsoft will be launching Social Customer Care within Dynamics CRM by the end of 2012.  Learn more about the social features in Dynamics CRM and the affect they can have on the productivity of your sales people!

Industry Templates Available

Continuing the theme of working the way you work, Dynamics CRM now provides out-of-the-box support of industry specific processes for the following niches:  Life Annuity Insurance Sales, Non-Profit, Health Plan Sales, and Wealth Management.  These templates will be available in the Microsoft MarketPlace which is accessible from within Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.

Leveraging SQL Server 2012

This update is developed on the emerging SQL Server 2012 technology, which will provide performance improvements and give users the ability to further leverage the Microsoft stack to get next generation business intelligence.

Certifications Acquired

By the time the Q2 2012 Update rolls out, Microsoft Dynamics CRM will be certified in the following areas:

• ISO 27001
• SAS70 Type II
• Sarbanes-Oxley

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Service

• Safe Harbor
• ISO 27001
• SSAE 16 SOCI (Type II)
• Data Processing Agreement (DPA)
• EU Model Clauses
• Business Associates Agreement – enables a company to be Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant

This means that if your organization is required to comply with any of these regulations, your technical requirements have been met and you are free to focus on the business process elements of your certification.

There is an additional benefit to having a CRM solution like Sage CRM which contains social integration.  According to a Market Focus Survey by Nucleus Research, sales people are 11.8% more productive when social features are added to their CRM solution.

So let’s take a look at the social media features in Sage CRM – a major component of MAS 90 and 200 that can help you connect with your customers and prospects while increasing the productivity of your sales people.

Emergence of Social CRM

Born from the popularity of both social media and CRM, “Social CRM” is about using your CRM system to connect with customers and prospects that are participating in online conversations, groups and forums.  By actively listening and participating, you have an opportunity to build online relationships that can lead to new customers.  But you have to find them first, and that’s where Sage CRM can help.

Sage CRM and LinkedIn

The newest version of Sage CRM integrates with LinkedIn right out-of-the-box.  With over 75 million registered users, it’s is the largest online network catering exclusively to business professionals.  You can access LinkedIn directly from your Sage CRM Interactive Dashboard.  From there, you can identify potential LinkedIn connections that might lead to new partnerships, new prospects, and a wealth of information on your customers, industry, and competitors.

Sage CRM and Twitter

Sage CRM also offers an optional integration with Twitter which has been described as the new “online water cooler” where people (your customers, prospects and colleagues) come to connect and chat with like-minded users.  This add-on allows you to post or reply to tweets directly from within Sage CRM.  You can even save the contents of a Twitter conversation to a note in your Sage CRM database so you have access to an archive of online conversations with customers and prospects.  The Twitter add-on can be downloaded for free from the Sage CRM Online Community under the Apps & Extras section.

Contact us today to learn more about Sage CRM and how you can get more connected and more productive with its social features.

So what does this mean for Microsoft Dynamics CRM users?

It means that you can expect more from your sales people because they are being equipped with ever increasing social features in the CRM solution they use every day.

In November, Dynamics CRM 2011 added Activity Feeds that allow you to “Follow” records of interest to you and see a timeline of the changes to those records on multiple “walls” in CRM, just like you would in Facebook.

Those Activity Feeds are becoming even more relevant and easier to use in the Dynamics CRM Q2 2012 Update coming this spring.  You can expect to see:

• The ability to “Like” and “Unlike” posts like you would in Facebook
• An @me filter that shows a timeline of all posts that mention you like you would use in Twitter
• The ability to set up filters so that you can see all posts that mention any record in a particular view, regardless of whether you follow all of the records in that view or not
• An update to the Mobile Activity Feeds application for Windows Phone 7.5

In addition, Microsoft has committed to continually improving the social features of Dynamics CRM and therefore supporting the productivity of sales people using the system well into the future.

If you want to increase your sales people’s productivity by equipping them with social tools like those in Dynamics CRM, get started with a free trial today!

Before when you were collaborating with an external party, you had to establish an email address for them on your domain to give them access to your documents in SharePoint Online.  Now, an external user can use their own business email address to access one of your site collections (by invitation only, of course).

Here’s how it works:

• The external user needs to associate their business email address with the Windows LiveID system.  (Have them go to https://idsignup.live.com, select “Use existing email address:” and follow the instructions)
• Then, you, as the SPO user, invite the external user to your external sharing site by using their primary email account.
• The external user can then sign in with their primary user name and associated password.

In addition to simplifying external access, the SharePoint Online update includes increased scalability for enterprise organizations, recycle bin enhancements, and the ability to open PDFs from within SPO without downloading the documents.  Learn more about these SPO enhancements here.

Jon Schriebfeder, president of Effective Inventory Management, Inc., lays out four key ways to ensure that your stock balances are accurate and stay that way:

1. Record Any & ALL Movement of your Material

People are good at finding excuses to go around a system put in place to guide them.  Many times, when a material transaction is not properly recorded, it is because an individual found a reason to go around the system.  However slight, any material-related transaction needs to be properly documented in order to keep your stock balances up-to-date.  Schriebfeder recommends working with all of your people to develop a manual or guide that describes step-by-step how each inventory-related transaction MUST be documented.  Once the manual is in place, make sure it is enforced with strict penalties!

2. Put the Right People in the Right Roles

Do not underestimate the importance of the individuals handling receiving and stocking!  Receivers must be able to identify products, differentiate between similar looking products, and ensure that the amount and quality of the products received are suitable.  Therefore, that task should only be given to experienced personnel who have an intricate knowledge of your inventory.  The same goes for the individuals who stock your warehouse.  It is also imperative that your warehouse managers are capable of delegating responsibility and ensuring that the tasks that they delegate are completed to your exact specifications.  Filling these three positions with experienced and knowledgeable personnel will help to ensure that your policies are upheld and your stock balances are accurate.

3. Consider a Bar Coding Solution

By implementing a bar coding solution, you can verify that the correct items are being picked and put away.  Bar coding also enables instant updating of your distribution management software solution while eliminating manual errors that can result from “keying” in information.

4. Replace Your Annual Physical Inventory with a Regular Cycle Count

Conducting an annual physical inventory is not nearly as efficient or effective as counting a few products each day of the year (also known as cycle counting).  You can select the items you are going to cycle-count randomly or based on their geographic location in your warehouse, but the most effective way to maintain accurate stock balances is to rank your products based on which are sold most often and count them the most frequently.  This means that slow-moving and dead-stock items would still only be counted once annually.  While implementing a regular cycle-count can be challenging, it is well worth the effort to know exactly how much of your most profitable products your have on hand each day of the year.

For more advice on effectively managing your inventory, download all 6 of Jon Schreibfeder’s whitepapers.

Giving leaders the tools and information to run the business easier with more insight gives the business more potential to grow. Microsoft Dynamics GP Light User gives leaders more insight while helping them maintain control over the business. Watch this webcast to learn how CXOs can use Microsoft Dynamics GP Light User most effectively.

Many people believe that Microsoft SharePoint is only for large corporations and that SharePoint projects are giant undertakings.  That is a complete myth. SharePoint has a lot to offer and nothing to fear!

Attend this webinar to get a better understanding of what SharePoint is and how it can be a manageable and beneficial tool for businesses of all sizes.

Make connections with your financial data.  Attend this one-hour webinar to learn valuable tips to create a simple journal entry integration in your Microsoft Dynamics GP solution.

Join us for the premier Microsoft Dynamics^® event of the year! Convergence^® 2012 is bringing together customers and partners from around the globe, offering you the opportunity to be part of the international Microsoft Dynamics community. We at Socius are excited to be your host and to show you innovative ways to make the most of your Microsoft Dynamics investment.

Attending Convergence delivers real business value to your company through:

Solution optimization.
Discover how you can maximize the capabilities of your Microsoft Dynamics solutions across all areas of your business.

Active learning.
Get a first look at the latest Microsoft Dynamics products and technologies, and explore strategy and future plans for your Microsoft Dynamics solutions.

Networking opportunities.
Build key business connections with peers, industry experts, and Microsoft representatives.

Register now and save.
You’re eligible for the early-registration discount. Register before January 25, 2012, and take advantage of a US$300-per-person savings off the regular registration fee!

Find out more about Convergence now and take advantage of the early-registration discount!