This means it’s time to accept mobility into your current customer service management, if you haven’t already. Your employees are probably already using their smart phones in order to conduct business more efficiently and effectively; it’s somewhat crucial to staying ahead of the competition these days. The question you want to ask is can you and should you connect those devices with your CRM software? We say, “Yes!”

Mobile Express for Microsoft Dynamics® CRM brings mobile functionality to a whole new level for businesses. Your sales force can have access to real-time account information from any web enabled mobile device. With this valuable information at hand, they can effectively meet the needs of your customers and even optimize on up-sell and cross-sell opportunities. Even when they’re on the road, they can quickly respond to customer requests or questions, ensuring enhanced customer support throughout your organization. Notifications and alerts can even help remind sales and customer service reps of important appointments or service calls. All this information is available through a customized, easy to read and manage mobile format.

Mobile technology trends have brought about a new way of doing business - a new and improved way, in our opinion. Microsoft Dynamics CRM enables businesses like yours to take advantage of this trend and contributes to the success of your business. And things just keep getting better. Microsoft just announced in their next service update of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, a new cloud-based, cross-platform native mobile client for Windows Phone 7.5, iPad, iPhone, Android, and Blackberry devices called Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile. Contact us at Sikich to learn more about the groundbreaking mobility functionality in Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

By Jim Drumm with Sikich, Chicago IL Microsoft Dynamics CRM partner serving IL and MO

What Mobile Technology Trends Mean for Your CRM Software is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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So how do you get the most out of your CRM reporting? The first step is knowing you have the access to the information you need. In Microsoft Dynamics® CRM, it’s incredibly easy to get the knowledge out of your system and it’s also the first step to making better business decisions.

You may have previously relied on your IT department to receive sales reports. Now, you can directly access built in sales reporting features in Microsoft Dynamics CRM, making it easier to align goals with company objectives.

There is also an intuitive report wizard that helps anyone on your team set up ad-hoc reports. You know that one report doesn’t cover the knowledge base needed by everyone in your organization. This feature in Microsoft Dynamics CRM makes it possible for each of your employees to access the information relevant to their role, without having to dig through a bunch of irrelevant information.

Dashboard and key performance indicators also make it easier to get the most out of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Once these are set up to meet the needs of each department, productivity can soar. The information streaming through these easy-to-read and understand charts paves the way for employees to be the best they can be.

In conclusion, CRM software should produce information that’s relevant to each team member so a company can make better decisions and become more productive. We hope these quick tips about Microsoft Dynamics CRM help you see just how great reporting features can be. If you have any questions, please contact us at Cargas Systems.

By Memie Whiteside with Cargas Systems, Pennsylvania Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner

Get the Most Out of Your Microsoft Dynamics CRM Reporting is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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Here are a few best practice steps to completing this chore:

1. Involve the CEO and CFO: CRM software will have a huge effect on the big picture of your business. Involving the CEO and CFO of a company will ensure your objectives align accordingly, and most times speed up the implementation process once that gets rolling. This will set the stage from the get-go.
2. Define software budget: There are a lot of factors that come up in regard to budget. In addition to implementing CRM, you need to allocate budget for maintenance, updates, and training. Don’t forget these essential components when deciding on what will work for you. A CRM solution is not a one-time only purchase; it needs to grow and scale with you as your business changes.
3. Ask around: CRM software should be relevant to everyone at your organization. If only one department can understand or leverage what you’ve put in place, then your ROI will not be as high as expected. Ask all departments what they wish a CRM solution could do and add it to an all-up list.

Even though this chore can seem like an overwhelming one, it may make or break your business. We would rather it made your business. Contact us at Cargas if you have any questions about Microsoft Dynamics® CRM and how it may just be the right CRM software for you.

By Memie Whiteside with Cargas Systems, Pennsylvania Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner

Determining the Right CRM Software Can Be a Chore: One Your Company Depends On is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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But to make your solution succeed, you need to focus on the right business needs, and the right software features – work flows, entities, roles, tasks, reports, and more.  No small task!

Join Microsoft CRM blogger Richard Knudson (Dynamics CRM Trick Bag), CRM 2011 Administration Bible author Matt Wittemann and ClickDimensions CEO John Gravely as they outline and demonstrate real life examples of enabling business process and reporting using Microsoft CRM workflow and ClickDimensions marketing automation.  In this live webinar Richard, Matt and John will take you through real scenarios that they have implemented in their businesses to use Microsoft CRM more effectively for sales, marketing and even service.  The webcast will be given both at 8 am EST (GMT -5) and 11 am EST (GMT -5) on Thursday, January 26.  We hope to see you there.  Click here or on the image below to sign up for the webinar.

CRM MVPs Reveal Best Practices: What works in CRM and Marketing Automation is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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Here are just a few benefits you will realize when combining CRM to your BI Software:

-        Sales Effectiveness: Sales can leverage CRM for their account and opportunity management while also having insight into the company’s revenue goals.

-        Better Leads: Importing leads and background into CRM arms your sales department with the right information to close the deal. Lead assignment can also be enhanced when companies have insight into both customer relationships and business information.

-        Cross Selling: With access to complete buying history, sales departments can take advantage of cross selling opportunities in a timely and effective manner.

-        Speedy Invoicing and Increased Cash Flow: when customers are past due with their payments, it can slow down business. By connecting CRM with BI software, you can be proactive in letting your customers know what’s due, when, and how many days they have to get the payment to you.

-        Accurate Predictions: When you know what to expect, it makes business a little easier to manage and ultimately more successful. If there are trends you can prepare for ahead of time, you will benefit from more sales and happier customers. Combining CRM with BI gives you this knowledge so you’re always better prepared.

If these benefits sound like something your company is in desperate need of, it may be time to combine the powerful forces of CRM and BI software for your business. Contact us for more information about Microsoft Dynamics® CRM and how this advanced solution can help.

By Memie Whiteside with Cargas Systems, Pennsylvania Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner

When is it Time to Add CRM to Business Intelligence Software? is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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CRM for Associations is a new concept that’s taking hold within the NFP marketplace.  It’s CRM, but CRM that is tailored to meet the requirements and speak the language of today’s associations.  As a membership-based organization, you have members, events, campaigns, sponsors, and other sources of revenue.  Your challenge is to manage and interact with all of your constituencies and audiences more effectively.   A CRM for Associations solution helps you do that while also boosting revenue.

Most AMS systems are lacking in sales, marketing, and service automation.  They do just fine with operational management such as event registrations and dues management, but many of the sales and marketing features and functions they offer are either afterthoughts, bolt-ons, or poorly integrated into the overall AMS system.  They fall well short for organizations with more sophisticated requirements.

With a CRM system that is designed and built for associations, you can break out of the limitations imposed by traditional AMS.  A CRM solution offers many sales, marketing, and service best practices:

• Constructing your membership team more like a traditional sales team.
• Developing ongoing nurture marketing programs to capture new revenue.
• Establishing a measureable lead management process.
• Utilizing integrated case management to establish a high-end membership service program.

Where a CRM for Associations solution shines is in centralizing your sales, marketing, and service efforts for your membership.  You can manage the details of recruiting and retaining sponsors, donors, supporters, and members.  Plan and manage marketing campaigns of any size and complexity including direct mail and email marketing.  When a revenue opportunity is identified, you can track and manage it through the revenue capture process.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is the foundation for our CRM for Associations offering.  We have taken the base functionality and customized it to meet the specific needs of membership-based organizations.  It retains all of the extensive features found in the base product but is extended and tailored to work for associations.   Here is just a brief list of its features:

• Access the system from within Microsoft Outlook or use it from a web-browser.
• Use the solution as a stand-alone application or as an integrated component to your current AMS solution.
• Create and automate marketing campaigns.
• Deliver personalized campaigns for specific members.
• Develop nurture email marketing campaigns for training, newsletters, and events.
• Track and report on marketing and revenue generation activities.
• Manage comprehensive buying and demographic profiles for all important constituencies.
• Provide top-flight service to members through integrated case management.
• Easily deploy the solution either on premise or “in the cloud”.

A CRM for Associations solution is a great alternative for any membership-based organization looking to grow its revenue. This new concept is being adopted by many leading organizations today and forms the foundation for better, more effective sales, marketing, and service management.  And the best part is that organizations are seeing improved success in generating non-dues revenue.  You can too.

Contact Steve Kane (skane@broadpoint.net and 301-634-2404) at BroadPoint Technologies, the mid-Atlantic’s largest Dynamics reseller, for more information on our CRM offerings.

by BroadPoint

CRM for Associations: A New Era in Member Engagement and Revenue Generation is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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Growth is a great thing to undergo as a business, but it’s also a scary and uneasy time if you’re not prepared and even worse, if you have no idea what to expect in the coming weeks, months, or years. Microsoft Dynamics® CRM helps you prepare as well as predict upcoming trends and market shifts so you’re never caught off guard when it really counts.

Here’s a look at a few of the features that help you effectively observe industry growth and then proactively meet the demands of the changing market:

1. Predictive Analytics: This intuitive tool within Microsoft Dynamics CRM helps you predict what will sell the best at any time of year. The metrics available will help you frame out a succinct plan so you’re well prepared for both busy as well as slower times.
2. Planning Activity: You can coordinate internal tasks to prepare and complete marketing campaigns and follow through with campaign responses, gauge interest or even follow up with contacts.
3. Roll up and Regional Dashboards: You can easily drill down into regional sales information with detail into revenue and specific opportunities that are aligned with quarterly and yearly goals. Sales teams find it much more possible to stay productive and keep on the right track for quarter and year-end goals.
4. Familiar User Interface: You can work on your CRM opportunities and activity right from Microsoft Outlook, so it’s easy to understand and employees get ramped up quickly. Streamlining communication this way helps keep all in your company on the same page as you look for areas of growth and optimize on those growth opportunities.

By Julie Fuller with Cargas Systems, Pennsylvania Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner

Observing Industry Growth with Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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The results of these findings make it clear that better business insight through analytical CRM software improves the bottom line. With business intelligent CRM software, businesses can make strategic business decisions that benefit their businesses in multiple ways. Having this type of software in place also puts companies at a competitive advantage. The companies that opt out of using business intelligent CRM software put their businesses at risk.

Microsoft Dynamics® CRM is extremely intelligent software that gives your company a competitive as well as productive edge. You get more for your money with the solution’s amazing benefits. Let’s take a look at a few of the business intelligence features within Microsoft Dynamics CRM:

• You can build business insight throughout your organization with easy-to-read dashboards and in-line visualizations.
• You can create predictive analytics to identify key sales and marketing scenarios.
• You can create ad-hoc reports through the Report Wizard so you always have access to exactly what you need.
• You can view key performance indicators in real-time through pre- built dashboards.

Business Intelligent CRM software gives you more bang for your buck and Microsoft Dynamics CRM falls into this category with flying colors. If you have any questions about Microsoft Dynamics CRM and how it can help improve your bottom line, please contact us at Sikich for more information.

By Jim Drumm with Sikich, Chicago IL Microsoft Dynamics CRM partner serving IL and MO

More Bang for Your Buck: CRM Software Return on Investment Scores High is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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 Take time to look at your business and determine the following:

1. What are your requirements of the system?
2. What improvements do you want to see with a new system? 

 Once you have a clear understanding of what you need and want in a new system, it’ll make it much easier to decide which CRM system is a fit.   At DFC Consultants, we like to sit down with each prospective customer and conduct a business analysis meeting to understand your requirements and processes and discuss desired outcomes for your system.   Then we can provide a customized demo to show you how  Microsoft Dynamics CRM can meet those needs and improve your processes thus making your business more effective and efficient.   If you would like to schedule a free business analysis meeting, contact DFC Consultants at 800-277-5561 or email sales@dfcconsultants.com

DFC Consultants is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner specializing in Microsoft Dynamics CRM and GP. Since 1989, DFC has been providing accounting software solutions, training, and support in our offices in Fargo, Bismarck, and Dickinson, North Dakota.  Our passion is to assist clients in meeting their goals with professional services and powerful business solutions.

By Vanessa Veflin, DFC Consultants,  North Dakota CRM Partner

Am I ready for a CRM Demo? is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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That’s why Microsoft created the CRM 360 Virtual Summit. This virtual summit is an on demand tradeshow where you can compare a wide variety of solutions available to you without all the hassle and expense required to travel to a traditional Expo.

Five more great reasons to attend:

1. It’s free, and registration is easy! Just go to the CRM 360 Virtual Summit registration page and fill out a short form. After that, you will have instant access to a host of useful information focused on helping you choose the CRM system that’s right for your business.
2. Keynote speeches from CRM and industry experts offer insight on the true value of CRM, current trends, industry specific implementation tips and so much more.
3. Meet with experts and peers in a virtual Expo Hall to discuss CRM one-on-one and to network.
4. See how the right CRM solution can empower you to nurture your existing customer relationships by improving internal processes, reducing administrative tasks, and freeing up employees to spend more time with your customers.
5. Explore CRM providers and a wide array of expert advice on your own schedule. This Summit is open 24-7, no appointment necessary.

After attending this virtual event we’re confident that you will see why so many organizations choose Microsoft Dynamics CRM to manage their customer information. If you would like to learn more, or are ready to get started with your own custom implementation, contact us today! We look forward to hearing from you.

By: Laura Heinbockel, Intelligent Technologies, Inc., A North Carolina Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner

Do You Have Questions about CRM Software? Attend the CRM 360 Virtual Summit & Find the Answers You’ve Been Searching for. is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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