Building on the success of CRM 4.0, the next-generation version promises “The Power of Productivity” and delivers superior levels of flexibility and user personalisation.

The CRM 2011 client builds on the familiar Microsoft Outlook interface, utilising the contextual ribbon to both simplify and enrich the user experience whilst supporting deeper integration with other Office applications such as Word and Excel. Out-of-the box data visualisation functionality, customisable dashboards, goal management and interactive process dialogues are just some of the other game-changing features included as standard in this latest version.  Microsoft will be offering the Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace for the first time, allowing customers to connect directly with Microsoft partners to purchase applications and professional services add-ons for CRM for immediate download.

The CRM Business is proud to be participating in the beta, and looking forward to being able to offer CRM 2011 to more of our customers in the very near future.  We are currently putting the on-premise product through its paces ourselves, and also have customers actively participating in the UK CRM Online beta programme.  So far, customer feedback has been phenomenal – those who have seen the new version to date are particularly impressed by the data visualisation tools and improved user interface and are keen to take advantage of the additional functionality as soon as possible.

There are currently over 1.4 million Microsoft Dynamics CRM users worldwide.  With the introduction of CRM 2011, Microsoft hopes to be able to reach 40 markets in 41 languages with CRM 2011 by the end of this year.

CRM 2011 Online UK Launch – keep up to date.

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In order to remain up to date, we recommend that customers with both on-premise and hosted Microsoft CRM systems apply the CRM rollup updates to their machines periodically. If you are unsure, please contact us to discuss your individual situation.

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This latest research indicates that customers across organisations of all sizes are again investing to improve customer management capabilities which they have neglected during the last 18 months, and are looking to pick the best CRM solution to help their businesses capitalise on the economic upturn.

Forrester evaluated 19 different CRM systems, and gave Dynamics CRM high marks for ease of use and relatively fast deployment times.

The full press release is available on Microsoft’s website: Microsoft Dynamics CRM cited as a Leader by Independent Research Firm.

UK customers can request a free Microsoft Dynamics CRM trial or demonstration by contacting The CRM Business.

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This exciting new functionality for Microsoft CRM works with all deployment models (currently on-premise and partner hosted in the UK) and can be turned on or off to meet customer requirements.

Customers can choose to deploy their portal either in the cloud with Windows Azure, or on their own existing web servers.

Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss how this latest functionality could be added to your existing Microsoft CRM systems.

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Many companies who have been forced to tighten the purse strings to survive the recession are now investigating where best to invest to gain a competitive edge as the economy begins to recover. Customers who may have been struggling financially are beginning to spend again, and organisations looking to capitalise on this need to ensure that their businesses are prepared.

Preparing for success

The key asset at the centre of every business is its customer base. Investing in and nurturing customer relationships is key to developing a sustainable business, and forward-looking companies investing in scalable CRM systems are positioning themselves to thrive as sales activity increases.

Businesses looking to grow during the economic upturn need to ensure that they have reliable, scalable systems in place to manage the additional activity. New social media platforms and technologies are allowing customers to share their opinions more easily and with a wider audience than ever before, making it vital to ensure that every customer has a positive experience. Having the ability to analyse performance and identify which business initiatives are proving most successful can help companies to maximise profitability and address any weak areas.

CRM systems: The tools for the job

CRM is a technology which enables organisations to track every customer interaction and to utilise this information to maximise opportunities and improve customer loyalty. CRM also helps organisations to streamline operations, automating routine administrative tasks and standardising procedures. Ultimately, CRM allows organisations to effectively serve and manage their customers whilst improving operational efficiency.

Compared to setting up a new manufacturing plant or aggressively recruiting additional staff, CRM technology can be implemented rapidly with relatively limited costs.

Correctly implemented, CRM systems can help organisations to:

• Retain valuable existing customers and maximise customer profitability
• Maximise revenue opportunities by optimising marketing campaigns
• Effectively manage and optimise sales resources with dashboards and KPIs
• Streamline business processes
• Improve employee productivity
• Reduce operational costs

Delivering a great CRM solution

It’s important to recognise that however good the technical solution is, effective customer management requires more than just great software. The right values and attitudes underpin customer relationships and without these no software is going to transform a business overnight. With Social Media becoming more pervasive it’s also a challenge to find different ways to engage target markets when looking to find new customers and look after existing ones.

Effective CRM isn’t a simple do it and forget it solution. The most successful projects are delivered as part of a long-term vision but with a series of short-term deliverable stages. Managing people through these deliverables is the single most important factor in achieving a successful project.

When planning a CRM system it is vital to consider change management as well as the technical requirements of the project.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM: An affordable, scalable solution

Microsoft’s CRM system, Dynamics CRM, is flexible and fits with the familiar Microsoft products which many businesses already use including Microsoft Office Outlook. UK customers currently have a choice of hosted or on-premise solutions, with the option to switch between these as their needs change.

Microsoft CRM’s out-of-the-box capabilities include Sales, Marketing and Service Management however the system can be easily customised to meet organisational needs.

Key benefits of Microsoft Dynamics CRM:

• Native Microsoft Outlook CRM experience – easy to use
• Comprehensive Sales, Marketing and Customer Service features
• Choice of on-premise or hosted solutions, with flexibility to switch easily
• Web services integration with existing applications
• Customisable to meet organisational requirements
• Business intelligence, analysis and reporting capabilities
• Business process automation – workflows to streamline routine tasks

Summary

With an economic upturn on the horizon, it is vital that organisations are positioned with a well-considered strategy and the necessary tools to execute it when business does improve. By investing in improving operational efficiency, companies can save money at the same time as providing improved levels of service, strengthening customer relationships and forging a path for sustainable future growth. Microsoft Dynamics CRM provides the right mix of features and flexibility to do just that, with strong corporate viability to help ensure long-term success.

The CRM Business: Request a trial or more information

The CRM Business is a leading UK-based Microsoft Gold Certified CRM partner, with over 5 years experience specialising in Microsoft Dynamics CRM. We work to deliver fixed price – guaranteed success projects to meet client requirements, and have clients ranging from small businesses to large Government agencies.

If you would like more information or a free no-obligation demonstration of Microsoft Dynamics CRM please drop us an e-mail or call us on 0870 766 9875. Alternatively please feel free to sign up for a free 30-day hosted Microsoft Dyanamics CRM trial online.

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As well as containing hotfixes for known issues, this rollup also brings compatibility for Office 2010 beta (32-bit versions) to allow for testing ahead of the Office 2010 public release (currently expected around June 2010).

Full details are available on Microsoft’s website: Update Rollup 8 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 is available.

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Hosted CRM software

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 is available as a SaaS (Software as a Service) product, delivered over the internet as a subscription service.  Customers opting for this solution pay a simple monthly per-user fee for access to the system, and do not have to worry about maintaining servers or performing upgrades as everything is taken care of for them.  A Hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4 system is quick to get up and running as there is no hardware to install / configure.  The data stored within the system is secure in an ISO27001 accredited data centre whilst being accessible from practically anywhere with an internet connection.  This hosted subscription-based model is attractive for many businesses as the up-front cost is generally much lower than with more traditional on-premise solutions, and the time needed to get up and running is minimal.

On the downside, Hosted CRM solutions are reliant on having a working internet connection, though the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Outlook Client does also allow for offline data synchronisation to users’ laptops and workstations.

Hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 solutions do allow for some customisation, however customers with complex software customisation and development requirements may be better suited to an on-premise deployment to allow full server access.

On-Premise CRM software

Delivered as an On-Premise solution, Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 allows the customer complete control.  Companies managing their own CRM solution on their own servers have more options when it comes to customising the software than those using Hosted CRM, and are able to decide themselves whether to apply upgrades.  Some businesses simply prefer their infrastructure to be managed in-house, keeping everything within their control.  It is still possible to allow users to access On-Premise Microsoft Dynamics CRM solutions over the internet if desired.

Installing CRM On-Premise does have a higher up-front cost, as in addition to the CRM licences companies also need to allow for the server hardware purchase, installation and ongoing maintenance as well as the implementation costs.

On-Premise Microsoft Dynamics CRM implementations use Active Directory for user authentication, meaning that users do not need to remember a separate username and password for CRM.

The best of both worlds

The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 software is very flexible, and has been designed to change and grow with organisations over time.  Data and customisations can be migrated from a hosted solution to On-Premise and vice-versa as business needs change, eliminating the need to start again from scratch in the future.

So, which is better?

No two businesses are the same, and neither are two CRM systems.  Whether a hosted or on-premise CRM implementation is a better fit for your business depends upon your requirements, company size, existing in-house skills / resources and existing infrastructure.  On-Premise CRM software and Hosted CRM solutions both have their pros and cons – the key is identifying which option is the best fit for your business and your needs.

Contact us to discuss your needs or request a free trial

The CRM Business has a wealth of experience providing both On-Premise and Hosted CRM solutions for clients across all industry sectors, from small businesses with just a handful of users to large organisations with several hundred.  We understand that a successful CRM solution begins with understanding the people and processes involved and then shaping the technology to suit.

If you would like to discuss your requirements please don’t hesitate to contact us.  Alternatively, sign up for your free 30-day hosted CRM trial on our website.

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