Microsoft CRM Consulting, CRM Integration with SQL Report and SharePoint - Houston, Texas
Microsoft CRM installation, customization and implementation services in Houston, Texas
Microsoft CRM (aka Dynamics CRM) is a powerful Customer Relationship Management tool used by all sizes of corporations to track customer oriented activities within the organization. MS CRM manages complete customer interaction log begining from initial inquiry till the end of actual sales execution. Microsoft CRM 3.0 provides extensive features for an organization to manage complete customer database along with multiple location and contact information. Microsoft CRM has several built-in modules such as Contact Management, Opportunity Management, Accounts Management, Customer Management, Marketing Lists, Competitors Management, Products Management, Sales Literature Management, Quotes Management, Order Management, and Invoices & Campaigns Management. You can extend the CRM application by creating custom modules called "CRM Extensions" as per your requirements. There are endless options to extend and customize Microsoft CRM tool as it's even based call out feature is very well integrated with Microsoft.NET Framework based languages such as C# (C-Sharp) and Visual Basic.NET (VB.NET). Microsoft CRM extensions are generally developed using .NET Framework 1.1 and Visual Studio.NET 2003 IDE. Microsoft CRM also offers setup of Web Services that helps developer writing custom web applications to manipulate CRM data and integrate with other enterprise applications such as ERP modules such as Accounting & Finance (FIC), Sales & Distribution (SAP SD), Plant Maintenance (SAP PM), QuickBooks Accounting Application. It offers excellent flexibility by linking all these business entities in one-to-many, many-to-one and many-to-many relationship to implement complex business entity relationship and generate comprehensive reports out of it. Microsoft CRM can also be integrated with SharePoint Solution (MOSS 2007 / WSS 3.0) to offer collaborative features to CRM information. MS CRM 3.0 is also integarted with Project Server. SRG Networks can provide Microsoft CRM Demo to provide a proof of concept before moving forward with Microsoft CRM implementation. However initial Microsoft CRM 3.0 Professional Product Demo and Microsoft CRM Small Business Edition Product Demo can be found on this link. There are lot of factors that determines the pricing (cost) for Microsoft CRM implementation. Microsoft CRM comes into multiple edition viz. Microsoft CRM professional editions, Microsoft CRM Small Business Edition (SBE), Microsoft CRM external Connector Edition. You can find out for more details about individual edition pricing here. Click here for specific details on Microsoft CRM Small Business Edition (SBE) pricing. In order to unleash the capabilities of Microsoft CRM applications, it is required to have jumpstart training that helps your business users understand all basic, advanced and administrative features offered by the CRM application. Microsoft CRM Features: 1. Seamless integration with Microsoft Outlook using Outlook Client version 2. Web Service based Software Development Kit (SDK) for developers 3. User-Friendly Workflow configuration tool for business process automation 4. Built-in Opportunity, Contract, Sales, Competitor, Campaign, Order, Quote Management Module 5. Easy integration with SQL 2005 Reporting Services to generate graphical and drilldown reports 6. SQL Server database support to offer scalable, multi-farm/clustered installation in enterprise environment 7. Easy integration with Active Directory and Exchange Server and provide seamless authentication for to corporate network users 8. Extensive enhancements and extension development using Microsoft .NET Framework using CRM SDK Difference between Microsoft CRM and SalesForce CRM (Microsoft CRM vs Sales Force) Difference between Microsoft CRM and ACT CRM (Microsoft CRM vs ACT) 1. Microsoft CRM setup is quite expensive and advisable to address long term objectives within an organization. Salesforce.com or ACT is in-expensive solution based on SAAS (Software-as-a-Service) concept. Initial investment is more in Microsoft CRM implementation. For salesforce.com or ACT, one can get started rapidly with paying small monthly subscription fee (per user). 2. Microsoft CRM works seamlessly with other range of products such as Microsoft Outlook, MS Office, MS SharePoint, and MS Projects and can be customized to work with almost ANY enterprise applications (ERP, SCM) within your organization. It is required to do more research about salesforce.com or ACT for such features. Since it's merely web-based application, it is highly recommended to assess if this is feasible within SalesForce or ACT. These services might offer export/import features but it requires a technical work to integrate that with your application when used on a frequent basis. 3. As an organization, you own software and data stored within the application when you buy Microsoft CRM licenses. You can play with user data after simply exporting it from SQL Server CRM Database to other SQL Server database using built-in SQL Wizards and Tools. But it is recommended to evaluate licensing and data ownership with SalesForce and ACT application. This becomes very critical point when an organizational dependability increases on these applications over a period of time. 4. It requires decent amount of strategic planning and implement/customization effort to implement Microsoft CRM products vs. SalesForce or ACT offers various features typically required by small to medium size businesses. Microsoft CRM can be customized by hiring low cost technical resources where it requires heavy sum of money to implement any customization on SalesForce or ACT CRM. Medium to large size businesses are advisable to go for long lasting enterprise solution using Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 or similar application. MS Dynamics CRM also has workflow feature that acts upon built-in as well as custom entities to implement common human as well as system workflows. Microsoft Dynamics CRM workflows are capable of sending alerts such as emails, generate logs to monitor the processes. It also has custom scripting feature to write some complex code to achieve critical and complex business processes. Microsoft CRM is part of Microsoft Dynamics offered for Retail, Manufacturing, Service, Wholesale, distributor industry. Some of the popular Microsoft Dynamics products are Dynamics Financial Management, Dynamics Supply Chain Management and Dynamics Customer Relationship Management. It also has other products for Project Management, Point of Sale, Human Resource Management, Collaborative Workspaces management processes. Microsoft Great Plains (Accounting/ERP system) is also part of Dynamics suites of products. Microsoft CRM is web based tool that can also be integrated with Microsoft Outlook that offers familiar user interface to existing business users. Microsoft CRM acts like an embedded Outlook tab, which avoids extensive learning curve and saves time on users gaining comfort level with the new tool. Microsoft CRM can also be integrated with Outlook to share your contacts, calendar. Desktop version of Microsoft CRM (MS CRM) allows your sales people work at remote location in a disconnect mode and still access customer specific information stored on his laptop. Web version is similar to any web application that interacts with Microsoft CRM Server supported by Microsoft SQL Server database to store all information. User interface provided in Microsoft CRM is very similar to Microsoft Outlook client in order to provide ease of use and familiar usage experience. Microsoft CRM is also seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Outlook client for your sales staff to manage their day to day business information on fingertips such as emails, calendar, contacts and CRM activities of the day. Microsoft CRM is available with its on Software Development Kit (SDK) and event based Callouts capability that can leverage upon software programming platforms such as Microsoft.NET for integration. This helps CRM application integrated with virtually any desktop, web or mobile applications. Microsoft CRM data can be easily imported and exported into other application with leveraging upon custom applications that can be developed in Microsoft.NET, JavaScript and other similar technologies. Microsoft CRM is also integrated with Microsoft Exchange Server to consolidate all client email records into a legitimate email tracking and logging application. Custom Reporting is most important aspect of any enterprise system such as Microsoft CRM. Various custom reports can be developed using Microsoft SQL Reporting Services and integrated with Microsoft CRM. Microsoft CRM can Microsoft SQL Server database is used as a backbone for Microsoft CRM application. It opens up horizon for very large size Microsoft CRM database, which is typically required in enterprise environment. Combination of multiple application servers and database servers can be implemented on a server farm to efficiently run Microsoft CRM for hundreds or users. Thus, complete suites of Microsoft products viz. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Microsoft SQL Reporting Services 2005 can provide complete customer relationship management system for your enterprise to manage customer relevant activities and data effectively. SRG Network offers CRM implementation consulting along with following enterprise application integration services Just like many other Microsoft enterprise and small business applications, Microsoft CRM is not a straight forward implementation process. It requires adequate technical expertise and experience to follow correct Microsoft CRM implementation guide and determine appropriate strategy to move forward. Lot of companies prefer to install Microsoft CRM Application on Microsoft Virtual Server (Virtual Machine - VM) rather than on a physical box. This deployment strategy addresses short term goal for quick start but it is required to assess long term goals before deciding upon the Microsoft CRM installation and implementation architecture. There are few companies offering Microsoft CRM add-ons (add on) or plug-in to cater a specific requirements. But it is important to evaluate these third party (3rd party) softwares before installing them on your Microsoft CRM application software. More information about Microsoft Dynamics CRM can be obtained from Microsoft's website. |
