When it comes to sales force automation (SFA) and customer relationship management software (CRM), most offices will find the Microsoft Dynamics CRM a superior product to the SalesForce.com CRM. Why? Take a look below to understand why most offices will prefer Microsoft Dynamics over SalesForce.
Microsoft Integration
The vast majority of modern offices use Microsoft products already. For sales teams already accustomed to using Microsoft Outlook for email and scheduling, Microsoft Dynamics CRM integrates smoothly with Outlook. SalesForce, on the other hand, offers no native Outlook interface. When a long learning curve can slow your team’s productivity – and thus your sales – Microsoft Dynamics CRM offers a familiar Microsoft interface which your team will already be used to.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Pricing vs. SalesForce.com Pricing
Furthermore, despite the fact that Microsoft matches SalesForce point-for-point on every feature, and in certain ways is more customizable than SalesForce, SalesForce is nevertheless far more expensive than Microsoft Dynamics CRM. The SalesForce.com Group Edition for five users is a whopping $1,200 per year, while the comparable Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Professional Plus costs only $708 per year. Given the comparable features but the far more expensive price, it’s no wonder that Nucleus Research reports that 38% of SalesForce.com customers are planning to or would consider moving to a different CRM solution.
Features of Microsoft Dynamics CRM
Microsoft Dynamics CRM includes the following features:
- Your choice of a hosted CRM, on-premise CRM, or hybrid xRM deployment model
- Web browser interface
- Unlimited users (compare to only five users allowed in the SalesForce.com Group Edition)
- Mass email tools
- Microsoft Excel integration (not available in any of the SalesForce.com editions)
- Microsoft Word integration
- Offline data access (Online Professional Plus edition only)
Summary: SalesForce.com Isn’t All Bad, But Microsoft Dynamics CRM is Better
Without doubt, the SalesForce.com applications are good tools for any sales team. With strong partner relationship management capabilities, sound customer service support, and deep SFA tools, SalesForce.com is certainly better than many CRM and SFA applications available in the market today. SalesForce.com’s applications are scalable, reliable, and easy to connect to other applications.
However, SalesForce.com has many limitations that make Microsoft Dynamics CRM a better value for most offices. SalesForce.com only allows for the SaaS deployment model, so hosting SalesForce.com locally is not an option. SalesForce.com is also weak in the areas of marketing, field service, customer analytics, and eCommerce.
Additionally, SalesForce.com is more difficult to integrate with the Microsoft tools you’re already using. With no integration of Microsoft Excel, and integration with Microsoft Outlook only with the plugin, SalesForce.com is understandably less compatible with Mircosoft Office than Microsoft’s own product. Given these limitations, along with the aforementioned higher price, most offices will find Microsoft Dynamics CRM to be the preferable solution for their CRM needs.
Recognized as a top ten Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner in the US, Streamsol was selected to Microsoft’s President’s Club in 2010. Streamsol has truly embraced the Microsoft “Power of Choice” messaging. Our CRM practice revolves around three models; Microsoft CRM on-premise, Hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM, and hybrid (xRM).
by Streamsol, a Nevada Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner
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- Salesforce.com Troubles with Microsoft Outlook
- Why Microsoft Dynamics CRM Beats Salesforce.com For Outlook To CRM Integration – Reason # 1, Synchronization
- Microsoft CRMs Competitive Advantage vs. SalesForce.com
- Industrial Services Company Finds Reliable Success “Living” in Outlook with Microsoft Dynamics CRM vs. Salesforce.com
[...] the rest here: Microsoft Dynamics CRM vs. SalesForce.com « CRM Software Blog By admin | category: crm software | tags: crm, edge, look-below, microsoft, [...]
I see where you are coming from with Dynamics being more “user friendly” than Salesforce as it is more compatible with Microsoft users. However, when it comes to price and availability I think they had it all wrong. There are many other options out there that are not as expensive. Also, there are those available that are online programs so you can access them anywhere anytime. That is the program I would be interested in using. But I do agree with the pro on using Dynamics.
This is not the first time that i came accross of a wrong assumption in terms of accessibility for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 On premise. It is not true to say that an on premise solution is not accessible outside your intranet. All you need to do is create a static IP which will allow you to pull your Dynamics CRM(On-premise) at any browser in parts of the world. Creating a static IP will only cost you 20-40 bucks per month for the whole organization.
Salesforce did not fit our company and they would not allow us to leave even though it was not a good fit. They keep saying you got a contract and such and say there is nothing they can do except have you pay out the contract. Do not work with them! Plus if you want your data they charge for it! Stay away! Here was the rep we had that is doing his best to not help at all. Was nice in the beginning but now we see what he really is!
Doug Baudler
dbaudler@salesforce.com
Account Executive
Salesforce.com
T: 415-836-2210
F: 650-376-9859
Great articles & Nice a site
Sad to read your story, Andrew. I understand you are displeased with the lock-in contract which prevents you to leave despite that you are not anymore happy with the service. That’s what I checked first before I subscribed our 90 staff to Worketc; according to their site http://www.worketc.com customers can leave whenever they want. I actually first tested it with its full features 14 day free trial, when our people say it works pretty well, then we subscribed. We are on our 5th month now.
[...] The issue – once again – is Salesforce.com’s inability to integrate their service with Outlook 2010 in a timely manner. [...]
[...] The issue – once again – is Salesforce.com’s inability to integrate their service with Outlook 2010 in a timely manner. [...]
Take the guess work out of it. If you’re a small company without complex requirements try setting up Salesforce and Microsoft CRM before you buy. Salesforce will let you keep your work if you buy and I’m assuming Microsoft will do the same.
If you’re a large company do a proof of concept on a difficult component. Not only to make sure it can be handled, but to see how long it takes and how easy it is to use and learn.
When trying the tools be sure to test normal day to day functions like entering a client, contact, opportunity. Review a full client record, search for records, try the Outlook integration, create custom fields, install the mobile application, build a report, build a dashboard. To save time watch the training videos on YouTube and/or inside the applications.
If you really test them the differences will jump out at you and the skills you learn will help with a successful roll out.
For sure the two largest CRM software providers, but not always the best. The most important question to ask about CRM software is: does this CRM packages fits my business? An internal analysis should answer this question.