Microsoft Business Solutions Crm

Andrew Karasev asked:


Microsoft CRM, also referred as Microsoft Dynamics CRM has for now pretty long career path since 1999. So far MS CRM proved to be excellent solution for companies with the offices located in various business metros and needing web based coordination. MS CRM is MS Internet Explorer application, which could give your access to your customers, leads, prospects, services. It also opens good connection to Great Plains Microsoft Dynamics GP in the form of integration. In short future we also expect Microsoft to integrate CRM with other leading ERP applications, such as Axapta

1. ISV extensions pool for MS CRM. Before you go to implement your company custom solution, you should probably check if the product is available from third party ISV vendor for Microsoft Dynamics CRM

2. Generic CRM custom development and programming. Microsoft CRM implementation model allows web customization publishing and remote support, meaning such technologies as VPN, remote desktop connection, web sessions, this means, that if you can not find talent to modify your CRM around the corner or across the street, not a big problem, try Nationwide talent search

3. MS CRM Integration with SAP Business One. This is now becoming classical integrating routine. SAP B1 has SB1 SDK, which enables MS Visual Studio C# or VB developer to manipulate SB1 business objects, such as Sales Order or Invoice

4. CRM Integration with legacy systems, such as Lotus Notes Domino. Lotus to some extent is ODBC compliant DB platform, and Microsoft SQL Server is very robust to treat IBM Lotus as ODBC linked server to give you initial hint

5. MS CRM implementation 2 pennies advice. Microsoft Dynamics CRM is often picked by Microsoft oriented companies, where they are comfortable to support such technologies, as Exchange, IIS, SQL Server, Active Directory, BizTalk, Message Queue. Considering said above means that MS CRM is often self implemented in its technical and installation component, leaving really something like really black side of the moon integration side to external consultants

6. Data Massage and initial conversion. Implementing MS CRM is often about switching from your existing contact management system, such as ACT!, Gold Mine and similar. Data conversion in the form of initial master records import and balances could be done by various tools, such as Scribe or native MS CRM integration utility

7. Microsoft CRM SDK Programming. This is the only right way to do CRM customizations at this time, and we strictly discourage you from doing direct SQL Server update statements. If you can succeed your customization to work, more likely it will be erased by MS CRM version upgrade logic and scripts

8. eCommerce scenarios and MS CRM. This is where we expect such new technologies as eConnect, XML web services to be considered first. CRM can certainly enable some gateways, however it requires technology familiarity.

Sayed Ally asked:


There are several good customer relationship management software programs on the market but Microsoft CRM is by far your best choice because of the benefits it has to offer.

The biggest benefit is that it integrates with Microsoft Business Solutions for Financial Management, Microsoft Office, and other systems to that you get a complete picture of your customer.

It’s important to note just how easy it is to integrate Microsoft CRM with Microsoft Office. Because it is so easy it enables your employees to access Microsoft Dynamics CRM right from their Microsoft Office Outlook whether they are working online or offline. It’s a great tool for your sales department and it takes little training to make it happen.

In fact here are just a few of the benefits that are a result of this integration:

1. Increased Sales

Implement Microsoft CRM and watch the success of your sales department blossom before your eyes. You can quickly shorten the sales cycle but you can also close more leads with fewer missed opportunities. Your sales system is now automated including your order management and your quotes.

2. Efficient Customer Service

You are about to take your customer service up a notch or two offering efficient state of the art service with a knowledgebase that’s shared and an automated routing and queuing system. It makes it easier for staff and it also makes for much happier customers.

3. Informed Decisions

No more shooting in the dark. Now you will be able to make informed decision by using the comprehensive reports. You can look at current sales and forecast future sales, measure performance, business activity, and evaluate sales, and the service department. You can also identify trends.

4. Work With Outlook

You can integrate Microsoft CRM with your Microsoft Outlook seamlessly and with your sales functionality right at your fingertips. Work either online or offline.

5. Share Information

Information is power and the quicker and easier you can share information across departments the better the value to the entire company. You have updated information right at your fingertips anytime and anywhere.

6. Ease of Use

Microsoft CRM is designed to be easy to use for the sales teams and other staff with very little training required. After all you’ve got more important things to do then spend time in training right?

7. Customize It

The software works with your company rather than you trying to work within the software. That means you can customize it to meet your business needs and workflow process. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.

8. Powerful & Integrated

Here’s a software package that is so powerful because it is so integrated with other Microsoft products.

Microsoft CRM makes is easy and quick for employees to share data among themselves. So whether you are in sales, marketing, or accounting with just a couple of mouse clicks everything is at your fingertip. Use it for a little while and the benefits of Microsoft CRM will quickly become clear!

Amaury H. Aguila asked:


 

CRM software has become a necessary implementation for every business. Companies have understood the importance of studying and managing their relationships between their customers, and even other vital groups like their employees, their providers, their vendors, etc., and that’s why the hunger for better CRM software is increasing over time. Large, medium or small companies; no business is excusable for missing this enormous subject that is the relationship’s management.

Customer relationship management software has existed since a relatively long time, but it seems that it has become more popular (and necessary) in the last years. Long before CRM, there existed what was called PIM, or Personal Information Manager. These electronic devices had limited databases for storing important dates or information, most likely addresses and telephone numbers. But these basic functions weren’t enough for storing all the necessary information. That’s why these devices and its software kept evolving, reaching different stages, like CMS, or Contact Management System; SFA, or Sales Force Automation - actually, CRM was heavily based on SFA -, etc.

When these management systems finally evolved into what CRM is now, different software companies developed their own CRM applications - SAP and Siebel Systems being the market leaders at the beginning of the CRM race. At this time, CRM wasn’t a popular implementation for business, as it wasn’t well known (at least, not as well as now) and many companies had only horror stories to tell about their CRM implementation. But this is slowly changing…

We’re facing a new age for CRM, where companies are becoming aware of how to implement correctly a CRM solution, different software companies are offering different approaches to management, and managers and directors are realizing about the need for customer relationship management. Even now, these new ideas are reaching new perspectives, like the xRM concept, where relationship management isn’t just for a company’s customers anymore, but its software developers, its administrators, its vendors, its providers… in a word, everything. And this new age has attracted new companies to enter the CRM race, being the most notable Microsoft.

Microsoft owned some CRM territory with Microsoft Outlook, but it wasn’t truly a CRM solution as it lacked several features other software offered, like Oracle’s Siebel CRM or SAP’s CRM. Microsoft was just a watcher, waiting for its opportunity to invade this territory. 

While Microsoft began its plan for dominating the CRM industry long ago, with its Axapta 1.0 in March 1998, it wasn’t until the release of Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 in March 2006 when they reached a dangerous stage for its competitors. What makes Dynamics so powerful is its capability for integration with several other Microsoft technologies, like Microsoft Office, SQL Server and the .NET platform, being this latter one of the most important aspects of version 4.0. Dynamics being in a fully integrated environment with the .NET platform, customization of the software became easier, turning Dynamics plug-ins development a perfect solution for satiating a company’s need.

This characteristic will become a salvation for many companies, as the implementation of the new xRM concept, for example, is becoming an achievable feat. Companies will be able to customize Microsoft Dynamics to fit only its demands, eliminating the idea of treating with a general purpose software; it won’t fit any need anymore, but your need. This customization will diminish many software problems, like employees’ software training and the lack of software features.

Without doubt, CRM software, gadgets, theories and techniques are evolving in a very interesting (and beneficial) way. Customer relationship management is becoming a high necessity for every business, where the company’s size or interests won’t matter.