Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Customization, Reporting Integration Highlights

Microsoft Business Solutions CRM has now new name, Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Microsoft Dynamics product series also include Microsoft GP (Great Plains),

Microsoft NAV (Navision), Microsoft AX (Axapta), Microsoft SL (Solomon). However

version number was not changed, Microsoft just mentioned that MS CRM 1.2 was

actually version 2, due to large number of new features, comparing to first

version Microsoft CRM 1.0. In this small article we would like to share our

impression and as we see Microsoft messages to potential and existing customers

with this new version of Microsoft CRM.

o Buyers are tired with complex and expensive traditional CRM solutions, MS CRM

brings to the customers very attractive price and is very easy, we would say

intuitive to use

o Users should spend most of their computer time, working with MS Outlook. Both

- customer and Microsoft could capitalize on the large number of experienced MS

Office / Outlook users. Microsoft made its CRM with Outlook client. In version

3.0 you can be assured that majority of the functionality is available in

Outlook and only specific tasks would still require MS CRM web client interface.

Technical directions:

o Reporting. From Crystal Reports to Microsoft SQL Server Reporting

Services. You can still deploy Crystal, if you purchase Crystal Report viewer or

designer license. If you do not have report you need in SRS reports set (and you

do not want to create new report in Visual Studio.Net), you can export one of

CRM views to MS Excel Pivoting Table and use it as report generator and data

analysis tool. Both SRS reports and Excel Pivoting work in MS CRM security

realm. The reason why? - MS CRM views have security restriction check in where

SQL clause - you can check it by looking at the views definitions.

o Customizations. Before we dive to MS CRM SDK level we should mention

that you can now store your Javascript and MS CRM SDK C# or VB code in Pre/Post

callouts (to check for duplicate records, when you save new contact, for

example). Plus end user can create custom MS CRM entities (stored in tables) and

relate these custom entities to MS CRM objects. Imagine you need to create bank

accounts table, which will store multiple accounts per account-customer. Bank

account is custom entity and it might be made available for synchronized

off-line Outlook client.

o Messaging. In version 1.2 messaging was tracked and automatically moved

to MS CRM by adding and checking GUID in the message header. Antispam filters

were blocking such messages under certain conditions. Now in 3.0 instead of GUID

we have tracking token: CRM:0001001 or like this. Please, note, if you have

custom messaging Exchange connector, based on GUID - you should consider redo

this custom connector for version 3.0, based on tracking token or simply

contact, account, lead email scan (matching with sender email address)

o Integration. IFrame will allow you to integrate all the types of URL

with your CRM . Also Sharepoint is the future of advanced workflows and

collaboration of your CRM and domain users

o Data Migration. The tool was improved substantially, however if you

need history integration plus certain logic on checking duplicates, you still

should consider third party solutions.

Happy implementing, customizing and modifying! If you want us to do the job -

give us a call 1-866-528-0577!

help@albaspectrum.com 

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer at Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ) ? Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, Navision, Axapta MS CRM, Oracle Financials, SAP Business One and IBM Lotus Domino Partner, serving corporate customers in the following industries: Aerospace & Defense, Medical & Healthcare, Distribution & Logistics, Hospitality, Banking & Finance, Wholesale & Retail, Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Placement & Recruiting, Advertising & Publishing, Textile, Pharmaceutical, Non-Profit, Beverages, Conglomerates, Apparels, Durables, Manufacturing and having locations in multiple states and internationally.
We are serving USA Nationwide: CA, IL, NY, FL, AZ, CO, TX, WI, WA, MI, MA, MO, LA, NM, MN, Europe: Germany, France, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Middle East (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, OAE, Bahrain), Asia: China, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, South & Central America: Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Chili, Paraguay, Uruguay

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 - Preliminary Highlights

Microsoft is currently on the way to release Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0. Current version is MS CRM 1.2. Why Microsoft Business Solutions skipped one version (2.0 or the like)? One of the Microsoft answers was - version 1.2 had too many new features (as developers we may guess - MS CRM SDK redesign - some functionality was deprecated - joke - of course MS CRM 1.2 is very impressive progress comparing to the pioneer - 1.0), so 1.2 was playing the role of skipped 2.0. This article is targeted to IT departments who do self-implementation and self-customization and we'll try to give you the info on new release, which is expected in December, 2005.

o Migration Tool. There will be migration path from MS CRM 1.2 to 3.0. According to Microsoft it should be relatively straightforward upgrade

o Pre-Callouts. N MS CRM 1.2 as you probably know - you can use post call-outs to place your custom logic. In 3.0 you can deploy he possibility to call your custom code before the commitment and so if needed roll-back the change

o Duplicates merge. Well - you probably noticed the fact that in 1.2 you can't clean up duplicate records with one or another automation tool. In 3.0 - duplicates merge is finally realized and you can merge activities and decide which phone number, or address to pick for the consolidated record.

o Marketing Module. Now you should be able to do marketing campaigns and place criteria to pick the targeted audience.

o Scheduling. You will see more features, available in MS Outlook to facilitate your work. Now you should be able to schedule "field service" type of appointments with your customers

o MS Outlook-like interface. Microsoft Outlook users worldwide count is probably something astonishing and it is logical marketing idea to capitalize on this. If you make your products to use intuitive (or trained in your alma mater university) Microsoft Office Outlook interface - clients may expect their users to speed up with the learning curve

o Installation, Administration, Support. These should be a way more simple. It is hard to believe, because MS CRM uses MS Exchange, Active Directory, etc. - but this is what it is.

o Technical Highlights. One of the most astonishing should be the possibility to integrate one-to-many custom table relationship, including MS Outlook client synchronization. Imagine - you have cargo tracking system and you use MS CRM order as shipment object. Then you can have multiple shipment one-to-many relationships, such as shipment statuses, shipment items, etc.

o MS CRM Suite. With 3.0 you do not have to purchase MS CRM Sales or Professional to get, say service module. Now you have the option to add modules in the future. However if you purchase MS CRM Professional before December 2005 - you will get full set of MS Dynamics CRM 3.0 modules

Please, do not hesitate to call us: 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, help@albaspectrum.com

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer at Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ) - Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, Navision, Axapta MS CRM, Oracle Financials and IBM Lotus Domino Partner, serving corporate customers in the following industries: Aerospace & Defense, Medical & Healthcare, Distribution & Logistics, Hospitality, Banking & Finance, Wholesale & Retail, Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Placement & Recruiting, Advertising & Publishing, Textile, Pharmaceutical, Non-Profit, Beverages, Conglomerates, Apparels, Durables, Manufacturing and having locations in multiple states and internationally.

We are serving USA Nationwide: CA, IL, NY, FL, AZ, CO, TX, WI, WA, MI, MA, MO, LA, NM, MN, Europe: Germany, France, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Middle East (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, OAE, Bahrain), Asia: China, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, South & Central America: Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Chili, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico