We’ve previously set up a comparison between the two leading CRM software solutions, Microsoft Dynamics CRM and SalesForce.com. However, one of the greatest differences between these two CRM systems is the platform that they operate on.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM has naturally been developed on the well established and almost universally established Microsoft platform, which allows Dynamics CRM to operate within and like other Microsoft products, like Outlook. For specific benefits that the Microsoft platform brings to their CRM product, read our previous post: The Microsoft Platform – A Solid Foundation For CRM
SalesForce.com has set itself apart by not only providing a CRM solution but the platform it was developed on. Force.com is a cloud-based development platform that claims to be five times faster in building apps and half the price of .NET or Java. Force.com touts the following benefits:
- Rapid development and instant deployment
- No upfront hardware or software infrastructure costs
- Reduced operational expense by freeing your IT resources from infrastructure administration
- Improved resource productivity by building more apps, more quickly
- Every new app built on the platform is designed for easy Web services integration
You’ll note that most of these benefits point to advantages to your IT staff. But what about organizations without a large IT staff that are looking to leverage technology investments they have already made in hardware and software infrastructure?
For companies that fit this description, offers security from the future risks to support, interoperability, and upgradability. Add to that the fact that there are over 3 million .NET developers worldwide to provide competitively priced development support. The platform ubiquity of Microsoft can also help reduce training costs by leveraging existing resource skills that can be applied to multiple IT needs beyond CRM.
Having the Microsoft platform behind it isn’t only a technical advantage for Dynamics CRM though. The native integration with familiar Microsoft Office applications improves user productivity by providing a transparent CRM experience that minimizes switching between applications.
All of these benefits of the Microsoft platform add up to initial cost savings for organizations and a lower overall total cost of ownership for organizations that select it over the limited functionality of Force.com.
For details about how Microsoft Dynamics CRM and the Microsoft platform work “Better Together”, .
By Socius, an
