• 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 a company using Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Mobility

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.

Additional Browsers

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

Building off of the social advancements made in the last 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.

Industry Templates

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.

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

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.

Be poised to take advantage of all of these improvements by getting started with Microsoft Dynamics CRM today!  Start a free 30-day trial now and your business will be ready to start using these new features and functionality as soon as they are available!

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

What’s Next for Microsoft Dynamics CRM? is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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The graphic shows that while Microsoft Dynamics is the clear winner as the most usable CRM solution available, Salesforce.com and Oracle edge it out on functionality.  However, the picture doesn’t tell the whole story.

Just below the image, Nucleus Researchers note that Dynamics CRM’s functional position will improve in future Matrices in light of the addition of new social collaboration tools including support for:

• Activity feeds
• Microblogging
• Conversations
• Automated activity updates

However, these new functional developments are NOT forthcoming for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, they are already available!  They were included in the recent service update, but they were not taken into consideration for placement on this Technology Value Matrix.  That means that Microsoft Dynamics CRM users are taking advantage of the most user-friendly and highly functional CRM solution available today.

Try it out for yourself free for 30 days!

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

Usability and Functionality – How Does Microsoft Dynamics CRM Measure Up? is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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Microsoft Dynamics CRM is an industry leader in Sales Force Automation because it powers the productivity of sales people, enabling them to spend more time selling and less time on administrative tasks.  Dynamics CRM allows you to take advantage of embedded Microsoft Office capabilities, full visibility to your leads from first contact to final sale, guided sales processes, and actionable analytics so that you can optimize your sales efforts.  Microsoft Dynamics CRM is:

• Familiar to users with sales tools that are intuitive and personalized to each role, giving your sales people better access to the data they need to do their jobs effectively.
• Intelligent so that your users have access to insightful information and the ability to take action on it.
• A connection builder, enabling your sales organization to collaborate and operate in a more unified manner with the help of the insightful Connections feature and others.

Craig Lutsi, an Account Manager at The Shepherd Chemical Company, explains what needs their sales organization was trying to fill when selecting a CRM solution and how Microsoft Dynamics CRM fit those needs and helped them focus on selling instead of administrative tasks in this quick video:

See firsthand what Microsoft Dynamics CRM can do for your sales force by trying it free for 30 days!

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

Back to Basics: Dynamics CRM for Sales Force Automation is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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However, critics of Dynamics CRM have perennially passed it over in discussions of leading enterprise level CRM solutions, focusing instead on the traditional players, like Oracle Siebel CRM.  These critics have failed to see how Dynamics CRM addresses enterprise specific business and IT requirements through its:

• Role-tailored user experience
• Easy configuration of screens, workflow, and data model
• Web services integration
• Flexible SOA platform
• Enterprise scalability

Microsoft has hundreds of enterprise customers world-wide using Dynamics CRM to enhance their relationship-driven business processes.  However, there is one that they are particularly excited about.  This organization is a global enterprise, with more than 40,000 sales, marketing and service professionals in more than 100 countries around the world managing relationships with more than 145,000 business customers and partners.  They were running an outdated Siebel solution that was difficult to use, required excessive time to input information, allowed data to get lost and, because users disliked the system, adoption was dismal, leading to overall lost productivity for the company.

Like most organizations considering a new business management solution, this company wanted a CRM system that could be used enterprise-wide, provide flexibility to customize to the needs of various business groups, be easy to deploy and, most of all, would deliver measurable value.  They used traditional criteria to assess their options and decided to implement Microsoft Dynamics CRM.  Now that the implementation is complete and they are free of Siebel CRM, user satisfaction is at an all-time high with 90 percent adoption in the first 30 business days. Additionally, the company has saved $10 million a year in reduced operations and support costs and has realized more than $80 million in sales productivity gains.

So who is this satisfied Dynamics CRM customer?

It’s Microsoft.

Read more about how Microsoft Dynamics CRM stacks up against Oracle Siebel CRM to see if it is a better fit for your enterprise organization.

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

Dynamics CRM for the Enterprise? Guess Who is Proving This Really Works! is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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With the support of your CRM partner, your CRM Online users and administrators can benefit from having some clear-cut information that will help you have the best possible experience with your new solution, even before you start using it.

To help your organization prepare for a successful implementation of CRM Online and maintain a positive functional experience with your solution, Microsoft has prepared a “Go-Live Checklist.”  This document features a compilation of common configuration settings and tasks along with important online resources that your entire business can leverage over and over again.

This is a great resource, especially for organizations interested in taking advantage of the complimentary 30-day trial of Dynamics CRM Online.  Go through the checklist before you kick off your trial to get the most out of the solution and to get a better understanding of how it will truly work for your organization.

Download the Dynamics CRM Online Go-Live Checklist now!

By Socius, a Dynamics CRM Online partner in Ohio, Kansas City, and California

Ensure the Success of Your CRM Online Go-Live: Check! is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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In my opinion…

While her assessment of the benefits of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online covered the highlights of what makes it a competitive hosted CRM solution, she failed to mention one thing that I think is a key difference between Dynamics CRM and SalesForce.com.  That difference would be the deployment flexibility that the Microsoft solution offers.  With Dynamics CRM, you own your data; so if you start out with the hosted CRM Online solution and down the road, your business needs change and an on-premise deployment would be preferable, you can switch quickly and easily.  On the other hand, if you start out with SalesForce.com and eventually want your data stored on your own servers, you will have to find a new CRM solution, which can result in a tremendous increase in time and cost, a learning curve for your employees, the challenge of promoting user adoption of a new solution, and the potential for data loss or corruption.

Aside from this omission, I think that Lauren Carlson does a good job of highlighting the strengths of Microsoft Dynamics CRM as an alternative to SFDC without glossing over some issues that would affect potential users’ choices.

Below is the Microsoft Dynamics CRM portion of her post:

Salesforce Alternatives | 5 Cloud CRM Systems to Consider

Salesforce.com is the recognized leader in cloud CRM solutions — and for good reason. One of the first SaaS-based customer relationship management (CRM) products on the market, Salesforce offers an easy-to-use tool with deep sales force automation (SFA) functionality. It’s a great solution for many companies, but buyers like options. So what other systems should you add to your CRM shortlist?

Here I recommend five alternative cloud CRM products that are worth testing out.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Analysts and end-users alike consistently rank Dynamics CRM among the top products available on the market. With the latest release of Dynamics CRM 2011, Microsoft has made a credible move onto Salesforce’s turf.

Dynamics CRM is a flexible system built on the .Net platform. It’s great for companies already committed to the Microsoft stack. The system has a familiar Outlook-like interface and can be easily customized to fit the needs of your organization. Also, Microsoft has an extensive network of partners, resellers and ISVs with expertise in developing customized and vertical solutions for specific industries.

Dynamics CRM 2011 makes some notable improvements over previous versions. My favorites include the improved UI and customizable dashboards. Users can navigate the system with fewer clicks and can personalize their view based on their role. The update also includes the built-in Dynamics Marketplace, a network of vendors that provides more than 1,400 add-on products and services.

One concern with Dynamics CRM used to be that updates only came out every three years. No longer. Microsoft recently announced bi-annual updates.

Read more: http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/crm/salesforce-alternatives-5-systems-to-consider-1052011/#ixzz1TX2yMxPb

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

Software Advice Talks SalesForce.com Alternatives is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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Gartner cites the global reach and availability of the product, the user interface compatibility with Microsoft Outlook, the ability to create custom interfaces, the multitenant architecture, the vast partner network, and the integration with the Microsoft stack as reasons that Microsoft Dynamics CRM on-premise is a leader in the sales force automation software industry.  The report does caution potential users not to trust that Microsoft has vetted partners or third-party solution providers.  However, this statement does not do justice to Microsoft’s extensive certification process for their partners and independent software vendors (ISVs).  To be sure you are working with a trusted Microsoft Dynamics CRM resource, select a partner that is silver or gold certified in customer relationship management in the Microsoft Partner Network or a solution that is “Certified for Microsoft Dynamics”, which you can find in the Microsoft Marketplace.

For the first time, Gartner assessed the cloud deployment of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online as a separate product.  It placed the software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution in the visionaries category because it combines committed service levels, contract flexibility and a low price.  Like its on-premise counterpart, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online also provides interoperability with other Microsoft solutions, web or Outlook access, simplified customization, and global availability and language support (40 markets and 41 languages).  Most of the cautions that Gartner made about the product were related to advanced features that will be added in the next few months or will be expanded into all markets in the near future.

On the whole, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is an innovative solution that responds to and directs emerging sales needs while Microsoft Dynamics CRM has demonstrated a market-defining vision of how technology can help the top sales executives achieve business objectives in the form of revenue and earnings.  While Gartner sees them as separate products, they have the same user interface and benefits.  To explore that interface and begin realizing those benefits for yourself, try Microsoft Dynamics CRM free today!

By Socius, a Gold Certified Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner

For SFA –Dynamics CRM is a Leader and Visionary is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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So why do the two go hand-in-hand so well?  Primarily because the mobile channel enables organizations to build a direct connection with their customers.  Mobile technology allows for more immediate and personal interaction with customers, and surely improves response rates as mobile devices are nearly always within arm’s reach of customers who are accustomed to monitoring the device and responding in real-time.   In addition, because of strict regulations and best practices governing the use of mobile technologies, it has developed into an ‘opt-in’ channel which requires recipients to request to be communicated with.  What could be better than this?  Your customers and prospects telling you how to contact them!  Talk about accessibility and responsiveness…

Once you’ve made the decision to utilize a CRM mobile solution in your organization, how do you go about evaluating the breadth of offerings available to you?  Here we break it down into five simple points to consider when evaluating a CRM mobile solution:

1. Always On Connection vs. Offline  Consider how available you want your customer information to be across your organization.  A comprehensive CRM mobile solution enables organizations to guarantee their sales, marketing, and customer service associates have fast, up-to-date access to vital customer information.  With an offline CRM solution, whenever users disconnect from the Internet, vital customer information is still within reach.  Users can then later synchronize with the central server ensuring all customer data is consistent and up-to-date. 
2. Ability to Support CRM Customizations  Does your business require customized forms, views, business logic or systems integration with third-party systems?  Before settling on a CRM mobile solution, it’s important to consider the level of customization you’ll require in order to be successful and which mobile solutions meet those needs.  Ideally, you’ll want your CRM mobile solution to be equally as robust as the on premise version so as not to compromise productivity of your sales and marketing associates. 
3. On Premise vs. Cloud Service  Undoubtedly there is significant hype surrounding cloud-based applications; while many are intrigued, not all are making the move to the cloud.  However, more businesses are turning to a hosted CRM service, using CRM software provided by a service provider.  With a hosted CRM service, you don’t have to worry about large upfront capital investment in software and hardware, expensive software management resources, and continuous licensing costs.  What’s more, you can free-up storage for applications that you choose to keep on site. 
4. Pricing Models – User vs. Server Licensing  CRM software doesn’t always fit into an organization’s budget, and the cost of ownership must be weighed with the return on investment (ROI) it will yield.  When evaluating a CRM mobile solution, it’s important to evaluate not only the server model that will be utilized but also the estimated number of users and type of users so that the appropriate model can be applied. 
5. Platforms  One key advantage of implementing a CRM mobile solution using a solid mobile platform, or what is often called a wireless application gateway, is that it will be easier to adapt to changes down the road.  Changes can include adding functionality, adapting to business process changes or back office application changes, and ensuring consistency across multiple applications – all made easier when a solid mobile platform is in place from the onset. 

The mobile channel is a hugely powerful tool, especially in today’s volatile market.  It’s a channel that nurtures loyalty and perhaps most importantly, creates a conversation between organizations and their consumers  – which of course is what CRM is all about – building, improving and hanging on to valuable relationships. 

With that being said, and considering all the factors mentioned above, no single solution fits the needs of all.  Rather, success will depend largely on the ability of the mobile application to effectively support your organization, your goals, and the mobile workforce. 

If you’re considering a CRM mobile solution, which factors above are of utmost importance to you during your decision making process?  We’d like to hear from you.

by BCG Systems, an Ohio Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner

Five Points to Consider When Evaluating a CRM Mobile Solution is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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In order to give you a big picture idea of how Microsoft Dynamics CRM compares with the CRM products from Oracle, let’s look at how each product stacked up in each of these market segments:

Sales Force Automation: (Based on the Gartner Magic Quadrant released August 2010)

Oracle’s Siebel CRM and Oracle CRM On Demand both ranked just below Microsoft Dynamics CRM on their “ability to execute”, which means that with Dynamics CRM the overall product is stronger, the strategy is more viable, the pricing is more competitive, and the customers are more satisfied.  Whereas both Oracle products were ranked slightly higher than Dynamics on “completeness of vision” for innovative product and business strategy.  Keep in mind, however, that this Magic Quadrant was published before full details about the then forthcoming release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 were made public. 

Customer Service: (Based on the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Customer Service Contact Centers from April 2011 and the Forrester Wave™: CRM Suites Customer Service Solutions, Q3 ’10)

While both analyst agencies agree that Oracle’s Siebel CRM currently offers stronger functionality for customer service organizations than does Dynamics CRM, they differ on their perspective of the products’ vision and strategy.  Gartner ranks them about even on completeness of vision while Forrester puts Microsoft ahead of Oracle’s Siebel CRM in terms of their customer service strategy.  Forrester alone ranked Oracle CRM On Demand in this category, placing them on pace with Microsoft’s strategy, but far below them in terms of current product functionality.  Forrester ranked Oracle E-Business Suite CRM and Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise CRM in their “strong performers” category, while Gartner placed the E-Business Suite in their “niche players” quadrant, giving them the lowest ranking on “completeness of vision” of any product included in the study. 

For Midsized Organizations: (Based on the Forrester Wave™: CRM Suites For Midsized Organizations, Q2 ’10)

For midsized organizations, Microsoft Dynamics CRM and its SaaS version, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, were the obvious leaders in all areas, thanks to their advanced functionality while retaining an ease of use, rapid deployment and time-to-value, competitive pricing structure, native integration with Microsoft Outlook and inter-operability within the Microsoft stack.  As an affordable SaaS solution, Oracle CRM On Demand was close behind Microsoft and the only Oracle owned CRM product that was deemed a “leader” in this market segment.  Oracle’s Siebel CRM is functionally adequate for midsized businesses but is often too costly to be deployed.  Oracle’s E-Business Suite CRM and PeopleSoft Enterprise CRM were only deemed “strong performers” for organizations already using the corresponding ERP solutions. 

For Large Organizations: (Based on the Forrester Wave™: CRM Suites For Large Organizations, Q2 ’10)

While Oracle’s Siebel CRM narrowly beat out Microsoft’s current offer usability, Dynamics CRM’s strategy was ranked significantly more suited for large organizations than Oracle’s.   Oracle CRM On Demand lagged behind Microsoft in both areas, but also beat out its Siebel counterpart in terms of product strategy.  While E-Business Suite CRM and PeopleSoft Enterprise CRM were both considered to have strategies better suited for large organizations than midsized, they both still only ranked as “strong performers” recommended only to organizations currently using the appropriate Oracle ERP suites.

To read the in-depth reports that correspond with each of these comparative analyses, view each of these Forrester Wave and Gartner Magic Quadrants today!

If you are currently using an Oracle CRM product and are considering a switch to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, do so before June 30, 2011 to pay only $34 per user per month and also receive a $200 per user pay-out for each Dynamics CRM Online user purchased (regardless of how many Oracle user licenses you own). 

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

Microsoft Dynamics CRM vs. Oracle: According to the Analysts is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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As you can probably guess, the two CRM software solutions that ended up in the leader’s quadrant of the matrix are Microsoft Dynamics CRM and SalesForce.com.  While both solutions’ functionality outranked the rest of the CRM software marketplace, Microsoft Dynamics CRM beat-out SalesForce.com in usability. 

Microsoft Dynamics CRM proves to be more user friendly than any other CRM solution on the market, including SalesForce.com, because of its:

• Integration with familiar Microsoft Office products
• Functional environment being integrated with and available within Microsoft Outlook
• Role-based views that streamline data so each individual user sees the information most relevant to him/her
• Familiar Office-like user interface with extensive personalization options

The recent release of Dynamics CRM 2011 helped support Nucleus’ ranking of the Microsoft product as a Leader by extending its functionality and making it a truly globally accessible CRM application. 

To see how other CRM solutions rank compared to Microsoft Dynamics CRM on the Technology Value Matrix, download the complete “Research Note” from Nucleus. 

By Socius, a CRM solutions partner in Ohio, Kansas City, and California

Dynamics CRM More User Friendly than SalesForce.com – Independent Research Study is a post from: CRM Software Blog

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