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CRM for Associations: A New Era in Member Engagement and Revenue Generation

Don Carnevale — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:57:48 +0000

Associations of all sizes are struggling to find new revenue streams and better connect with their members. In fact, many associations are looking beyond the traditional AMS (Association Membership Management) systems for sales, marketing, and service management and in favor of a “CRM for Associations” solution to centralize their marketing, lead, opportunity, and service management efforts.

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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3 Ways to Feel Secure Taking CRM to the Cloud

Frank Nisenboum, Socius — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:44:52 +0000

While there is a strong movement toward deploying business management solutions, like CRM systems, in the cloud, we know that there is still some apprehension. If you are considering a cloud CRM solution, there are a few ways to gain some confidence in your choice:

Choose a Proven Vendor:

When it comes to Software as a Service(SaaS) or cloud solutions, it is important to know and trust and the creator of the software solution. Therefore, selecting a tool like Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, which is an industry leading crm system being offered in the cloud by an organization with proven cloud capabilities. I think Satya Nadella, president of the Servers and Tools Business at Microsoft, put it well in a recent interview when he said, “I think it’s also about the business relationship our customers have with Microsoft … So as we move to the cloud we are working both as trusted advisors on the technology and trusted business partners to our customers.”

Choose a Trusted Partner:

If you are at all on the fence about whether or not a cloud CRM system is the right choice for your business, working with a trusted partner to assess your needs and provide you with an objective opinion can help you ensure you are making the best possible decision. By choosing a solution like Microsoft Dynamics CRM, you can choose whether you want to deploy it in the cloud or on premise, and you have the flexibility to change deployment methods down the road if your needs change. However, not all Microsoft Dynamics CRM partners can offer you this choice. Select a partner, like Socius, who offers both deployment types and has experience helping clients transition between them to feel truly confident that your needs will be supported for the entire time you are using the solution.

Choose Predictable Services:

One of the great benefits of having your CRM deployed in the cloud is that you don’t have to worry about routine maintenance and software updates – those are all handled automatically and included in your subscription plan. However, you still need to take into consideration your initial implementation and training. In order for your system to be effective and adopted by your users, you need solid implementation services to get you up and running right. Socius offers rapid implementation services with predictable, packaged pricing so that you know up front what you’ll need to spend to start using Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. Get an instant quote for your cloud software and services for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online with Socius!

By Socius, a Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner in Ohio, Kansas City, and California

3 Ways to Feel Secure Taking CRM to the Cloud is a post from: CRM Software Blog

Cloud, Cloud, Cloud – Cloud CRM is NOT New – And How Does This Relate to Star Trek?

Marcia Doron, Altico Advisors — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:38:32 +0000

Given all the hoopla about software in THE CLOUD, you might think it was a new phenomenon. Not so. Salesforce.com was founded in 1999. Yes, you read that correctly. That’s 12 almost 13 years ago. And it was never an on premises solution, it was cloud-based. Call it SaaS (Software as a Service), or call it cloud-based software, it’s not running on a server in your office. It’s IN THE CLOUD.

Then there’s NetSuite, founded in 1998. Hardly a new company. NetSuite runs both CRM and ERP software in the cloud.

So what’s the buzz all about?

Well, I‘m only guessing here, but somehow Software as a Service was kind of an esoteric name that few people fully understood. And I’m not saying that people actually understand what the cloud means either, but it’s a name that generates an image. It’s catchier. It’s the opposite of terrestrial. It means “up there somewhere,” or conversely, not down here, not in my office.

In some ways, as a Microsoft partner, we’re glad that Microsoft wasn’t the first to enter the race to the cloud. Microsoft was able to learn from the experience of those who came before.

Who doesn’t recognize the complete introductory sequence, narrated by William Shatner at the beginning of every episode of Star Trek: “Space: The final frontier. There are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.”

That makes for great television, but not necessarily for a great business plan. New technologies tend to be buggy and risky. Of course, Microsoft has often been an innovator and a risk taker. Being on the leading edge has been part of what makes Microsoft great. Still, I for one am okay with Microsoft taking a more cautious approach to cloud-based software.

Now that the cloud is well-established, the problems are better understood, the issues of uptime and security have been ironed out, now is a great time for Microsoft to offer its CRM and ERP product lines in the cloud. And here at Altico, we’ve jumped on that now tried and true platform too.

We invite you to read more about it on several key pages of our Web site: Deployment Options, Microsoft Dynamics CRM in the Cloud, and Microsoft Dynamics GP in the Cloud.

You can also follow us on Twitter @AlticoAdvisors.

By Dan Smith, Altico Advisors,Microsoft CRM partner serving Massachusetts (MA)

Cloud, Cloud, Cloud – Cloud CRM is NOT New – And How Does This Relate to Star Trek? is a post from: CRM Software Blog

Get Connected – Microsoft CRM Online & Office 365 Integrate!

James R. Bowman,SBS Group — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:18:08 +0000

Microsoft recently announced that the November 2011 service update for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online will include a close integration with Office 365. In addition to this integration, other enhancements will include added social features, activity feeds, duplication processing, billing, identity federation.

The Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online integration with Office 365 enables users to:

Track email, appointments, tasks, and contacts from CRM Online through Exchange Online;
Utilize the presence indicators and the ability to collaborate through CRM Online and Lync Online;
Connect contextual information into CRM records through SharePoint Online;
Monitor activity feeds within Outlook;
And more!

This integration provides users a single sign-on experience with both hosted and on-premises versions of SharePoint, Office, and Lync. Interested in learning more? Contact Microsoft Gold CRM Partner, SBS Group, and determine if Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Office 365 are a good fit for you.

By: SBS Group – Pennsylvania Microsoft Dynamics CRM, AX, GP & SL Gold Partner & Master VAR

Get Connected – Microsoft CRM Online & Office 365 Integrate! is a post from: CRM Software Blog

Microsoft Dynamics CRM: The Environmentally-Friendly Application

Don Carnevale — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:40:55 +0000

When people think of CRM systems, the first thoughts that usually pop into their minds might revolve around customer relationships, cost savings, or technological capabilities. However, there is another benefit that is often overlooked, and that involves caring for the environment.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM preserves one of nature’s most precious commodities: trees. It does so by providing alternatives to the traditional business application paper by-products such as training manuals and memos. For instance, instead of shipping large quantities of paper training manuals to users, CRM has the same information embedded within the system. The always useful “Help” feature in Dynamics CRM is its own comprehensive training manual. Additionally, Dynamics CRM has the added benefit of being a resourceful search tool. If you’re more of a visual learner, you should look into the Dynamics CRM 2011 ‘Getting Started’ videos that show you step-by-step how to get moving in the right direction.

Moreover, Dynamics CRM will significantly reduce the number of printed reports that you’ll need. Typically, reports are generated to provide a visual representation of the data in ways that the structured application normally couldn’t do. Typical database applications are limited in the number of relationships that can be displayed. That is why reports have been a staple for companies over the past few decades.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM applications allow its users to create relationships between the different areas of your company’s database. In CRM, you can utilize the Advanced Find tool. This tool will make it much easier for users to create their own, reusable reports that meet their company’s specific requirements. Dynamics CRM and Excel are well-integrated, allowing your staff to easily store data that can be manipulated in Excel.

Another option for reporting in Dynamics CRM is user defined dashboards. Dashboards let the user view important data in charts and graphs to suit their specific needs. These dashboards provide a quick overview of key performance indicators, saving you from printing out and reviewing several related reports. Again, less printing means less paper.

With there now being so many eco-friendly ways to do reporting, the need for static, printed reports has significantly decreased. This is just one more way Dynamics CRM is helping our environment. Contact Steve Kane at 301-634-2404 or skane@broadpoint.net to find out how BroadPoint Technologies, with extensive experience implementing Microsoft Dynamics CRM, can help your organization reap all the benefits of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, including being more friendly to the environment.

by BroadPoint Technologies, Virginia/Maryland/DC Microsoft CRM Partner

Microsoft Dynamics CRM: The Environmentally-Friendly Application is a post from: CRM Software Blog

Can You Trust the Microsoft Data Center for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online in the Cloud?

Donna Krizik, Feterick & Associates — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:45:31 +0000

If there is any complaint one can level against cloud computing, it is that you must trust your most precious business operations and data to a service provider who may or may not have the infrastructure to keep it all running. Perhaps the term “cloud” does not help ease minds since real clouds eventually precipitate all of their contents and break apart. For a business that needs software as a service (SaaS) that is always available, fast, and reliable, that is a scary analogy.

Some SaaS providers operate single data centers under less than ideal conditions. Some are even located on fault lines where a single earthquake could leave thousands of customers without service. For them there is not Plan B, only the flimsy hope that such a disaster will not strike.

In order to meet growing customer demand for reliable cloud infrastructure, Microsoft has spent the past decade rolling out massive global data centers and content deliver networks (CDN) that provide reliable access to hundreds of Microsoft cloud products, from Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online to Xbox Live.

These data centers go far and beyond industry standards, bringing innovative power-saving techniques, rapid deployment for increased scalability, a thorough fiber optic network for interconnectivity, and large scale power and data redundancy to ensure your business stays connected, even when nature hands you the worst working conditions.

Microsoft recently published a 10-minute video on YouTube that highlights many of the remarkable features of its cloud system, from its data center technology to its extensive security and network monitoring system. After watching the video, you may still be uneasy about the cloud in general, but you should be able to rest at ease knowing Microsoft’s cloud will keep your business systems running safely and efficiently.

Watch the Microsoft GFS Datacenter Tour video.

By Feterick, Illinois Microsoft Dynamics CRM Experts

Can You Trust the Microsoft Data Center for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online in the Cloud? is a post from: CRM Software Blog

What Happens if You Want to Switch Cloud Providers?

Jonathan Taub, Rimrock Corporation — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:45:03 +0000

You made the transition to the cloud and everything is going great. But what if your service provider unexpectedly goes out of business or is not as trustworthy as you once thought? How can you move your cloud to another provider?

First things first. You need to get your data from your current provider. Sometimes your new provider will be able to seamlessly transfer your data from your old provider, or you may need to get it back yourself. Most providers are good about making this as easy as possible, but it’s not a bad idea to ask your potential provider what the process is in case you need to move your data. It’s always good to have a backup plan, especially in the cloud. More and more providers are offering a migration path for your data, but just make sure of it at the beginning of your relationship so it’s not a huge hassle later on.

As with most technologies, cloud computing operates under a number of regulations to ensure that your privacy and rights stay intact. Cloud providers should follow a set of protocols and processes during migration of your data. Make sure these guidelines meet your requirements before the migration begins and you should be set.

Whatever your reason for switching cloud providers, just make sure you have the process laid out so you know what to expect. One of the perks of the cloud is its scalability and flexibility so migration really shouldn’t be a harrowing task. We here at Rimrock Corporation are a Microsoft Dynamics® CRM Partner and specialize in cloud implementations. Contact us for more information about our cloud optionsn

By Jonathan Taub of Rimrock Corporation, Ontario Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner

The 20 years of experience that we here at Rimrock Corporation can provide ensures that your implementation will be a success.
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What Happens if You Want to Switch Cloud Providers? is a post from: CRM Software Blog

Need a Lift Getting Your Organization to the Cloud? Consider a CRM Online Starter Package

Nicole Kirkpatrick, FMT Consultants — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 06:32:04 +0000

Are you a small business owner who needs sales force automation but are not sure how to get started? Maybe you experimented with the Dynamics CRM Online Free Trial, but realized you need some help understanding the basics of CRM and applying them to your organization’s needs? Well now you have affordable packages available to you.

FMT Consultants, a Microsoft gold Certified Partner, is now offering 3 Dynamics CRM Online starter packages. Each package varies in cost and services so you can choose the plan that best fits your needs and budget.

The 1-Day CRM Online Starter Package
The 1-Day CRM Online Starter Package includes a full day with one of our experienced CRM Consultants, they will visit you onsite and help you conquer the basics of Dynamics CRM Online. Beginning with Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online 2011 Sign-Up, a consultant will assist you as you access your new system and provide you with CRM Administration Training including: User Set-Up, System Configuration, Security, Outlook Client Installation, and Reporting Functionalities.

The 3-Day CRM Online Starter Package
The 3-Day CRM Online Starter Package is a great option for companies with slightly more complex CRM needs or data they need to migrate. With this Starter Package you will spend 3 full days with an experienced CRM consultant as they train you on each CRM Module (Sales, Service, and Marketing), provide you with Data Migration Planning and Training, Custom Entity Design Planning and Training, as well as everything included in the 1-Day Starter Package.

The 5-Day CRM Online Starter Package
The 5-Day CRM Online Starter Package is a great option for organizations implementing a large-scale CRM project or having a complex data structure. During these 5 days with an experienced CRM consultant you will get everything from the 3-Day Starter Package plus a Phased Roadmap Design and a Detailed Scoping Workshop.

Click Here to View Pricing Details

Learn More about Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 by registering for one of FMT’s FREE reoccurring webinars!
View Complete Webinar Schedule

About FMT Consultants, LLC
FMT Consultants, LLC is Microsoft’s leading Southern California provider of integrated business solutions and information technology services. Since 1995, its experienced team of consultants has leveraged the Microsoft technology platform, including Microsoft Dynamics GP, Dynamics CRM, SharePoint, Exchange, Office and Microsoft SQL, to provide companies with innovative solutions to their most challenging issues.

FMT serves its clients nationwide with a regional focus on Southern California including San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange Counties.

by FMT Consultants, California Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner

Need a Lift Getting Your Organization to the Cloud? Consider a CRM Online Starter Package is a post from: CRM Software Blog

Microsoft’s Aggressive Cloud CRM Strategy Pays Off for Adopters

Frank Nisenboum, Socius — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:23:27 +0000

Unlike other cloud solutions vendors, Microsoft has taken a broad approach to their cloud development, focusing on a strategy that reflects real business needs by including infrastructure, platform, and application layers. Because of this, Microsoft’s cloud CRM solution, Dynamics CRM Online, extends beyond itself to seamlessly interoperate with Outlook, Office, SharePoint and Lync, as well as cloud services such as Windows Azure and Office 365.

These capabilities, combined with the proven ROI of Dynamics CRM Online, have given Microsoft the differentiation it needs to take an aggressive cloud message to the marketplace. Part of that plan includes financially assisting companies interested switching cloud CRM vendors to begin using Dynamics CRM Online.

“There are some hard costs associated for customers that decide to move vendors. As customers are evaluating their options, we want to make it easier for them to make a move should they choose to do so,” said Michael Park, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Business Solutions Sales, Marketing, and Operations.

That is why Microsoft is offering $150 (USD) cash for each Dynamics CRM Online user license purchased between now and March 31, 2012. Each user license costs only $44 per month! With the cash incentive, an organization that buys 50 seats, gets $7,500; one that buys 500 seats, gets $75,000!

Learn more and take advantage of this great offer today!

According to Park, this offer is just one aspect of Microsoft’s strategy to “enable our customers to build a cloud on their terms that will deliver improved agility and responsiveness, increased business alignment, and higher ROI for the long term.”

By Socius, a Cloud CRM Partner in Ohio, Kansas City, and California

Microsoft’s Aggressive Cloud CRM Strategy Pays Off for Adopters is a post from: CRM Software Blog

xRM: Your Guidebook to Finding the Right CRM Solution

Don Carnevale — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:39:11 +0000

Figuring out whether to purchase or build from scratch an enterprise business application is a decision that many companies have faced. Thankfully, that decision has been made easier with the introduction of the Microsoft xRM application platform. With the xRm application platform, your company will now get to enjoy the best of both options.

When deciding which of the two approaches to proceed with, it’s important to understand the terminology and pros and cons of each strategy. Below, I’ve laid out the pros and cons of the traditional options and the unique strategy behind the xRM platform.

Pros:

Solution will promote business process reengineering
No customization makes for easier upgrade path
Timeline and budget won’t fluctuate dramatically due to xRM being out of the box

Cons:

Requires modification of business processes in order to meet your desired goals
Significant initial software investment, in addition to software maintenance costs
If the out of the box functionality doesn’t meet the evolving needs, organizations are faced with product maintenance and expensive customization to meet the requirements

COTS solutions work well for departmental applications like accounting, human resources etc. Yet, their use and effectiveness can diminish as it is spread across your entire company apparatus. Enterprise applications that utilize COTS typically will require organizations to adjust their business processes to meet the confines of the solution. Purchasing a solution with complex capabilities that your company won’t utilize will just increase your financial cost in both the near and long term.

Additionally, if the out of the box functionality isn’t up to par for your organization, you’ll have a product that will require ongoing maintenance and expensive customization. This can significantly increase the project budget and/or limit the organization’s strategic initiatives.

Custom Development:

Companies that identify their unique characteristics often see the value in custom development. It’s meant to foster the organization’s strategic advantage and conform to the business processes, not vice versa as is required with COTS.

In theory, custom development will align your strategic objectives with your newfound technological capabilities. Unfortunately, the unpredictable nature of the timeline and budget, limited upgrade path, and reliance on specific programmers creates a level of uncertainty that few organizations are willing to undertake. Custom development has proven to be such a painful process for so many organizations that the word ’custom’ has become a four letter word.

Microsoft xRM:

Microsoft xRM is not a product; rather it is a strategy or concept. The ‘x’ denotes that you can utilize this strategy to develop anything-any relationship, process or data element. xRM is an application platform that offers the best of both worlds between commercial off the shelf solutions such as Microsoft Dynamics CRM and custom development. The xRM platform provides core business features, security, authentication, business process modeling and business intelligence based on both on-premise and in the cloud offerings. This platform is an excellent foundation for organizations to facilitate business their way without the risk and cost of custom development. Organizations realize the benefits of an out of the box portfolio toolkit that can be supported by non-technical staff and maintained through a consistent upgrade path. xRM provides low upfront costs, low maintenance and ultimately a more strategic solution to drive the business.

Contact Steve Kane at 301-634-2404 or skane@broadpoint.net to find out how BroadPoint Technologies, the mid-Atlantic’s largest Microsoft Dynamics CRM partner, can help you determine the best solution for your organization.

by BroadPoint Technologies, Virginia, Maryland, DC Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner

xRM: Your Guidebook to Finding the Right CRM Solution is a post from: CRM Software Blog

CRM Software Blog» Hosted CRM

CRM for Associations: A New Era in Member Engagement and Revenue Generation

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