Microsoft Dynamics 365

2016. Microsoft Dynamics 365 became generally available


Microsoft announced the general availability of Dynamics 365 - the cloud solution combining its ERP and CRM that will compete with Salesforce. It costs from $70/user/month and provides web interface and mobile app, or can be used inside the familiar Outlook apps. Microsoft has also built in a couple of intelligence features into the release designed specifically for sales and service personnel. First, there is Customer Insights, a stand-alone cloud service, which enables users to bring in a variety of internal and external data sources (like Facebook and Trip Advisor). The second piece is called Relationship Insights, which as the name suggests gives sales people information about the status of their customer relationships at any given moment. It’s built on the on the Cortana Intelligence Suite, which Microsoft introduced in 2015 and uses tools like sentiment analysis to check on the likelihood of the deal closing and the next best action to take. So, Microsoft has consolidated its artificial intelligence tools into a single, coherent division and just about every vendor - not just those selling CRM - is trying to build some level of intelligence into its products.


2016. Microsoft to merge CRM and ERP into integrated cloud platform Dynamics 365



Microsoft announced its intention to combine the Dynamics CRM and ERP products into an integrated platform Dynamics 365 on top of which it is hoping third parties will build applications. It will also have deep connections with the cloud office suite, as well as to Cortana voice intelligence and PowerBI data visualization. In order to break down this rather elaborate system into more manageable chunks, the company is offering discrete applications on top of the platform including specific apps for finance, field service, sales, operations, marketing, project service automation and customer service. In addition, the company announced it’s launching the obligatory app store it’s calling Microsoft AppSource where developers can build and distribute their own apps, giving them a complete solution. The store will open with over 200 apps developed by early adopters.


2013. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online adds iPad, Yammer support



Recently Terrasoft released mobile (iOS and Android) apps for its BPMonline CRM, and may be it remembered to Microsoft that the users of its CRM system also want to have a normal mobile access to customer data. Microsoft promised to release the mobile client for Microsoft Dynamics CRM back in May 2012, then at the end of the last year, then by February 2013. It's now March and Microsoft has really launched something. But it's not a full-fledged mobile app, but just a web interface for the iPad browser, which of course, can't work offline and has many limitations. When the normal mobile CRM app will appear? Microsoft promises "in the first half of this year." ***


2011. Vibe - social layer for MS Dynamics CRM


Microsoft's own enterprise Twitter clone called OfficeTalk is rumored to appear soon. But rumors are rumors, and meanwhile MS Dynamics CRM users look with envy at Salesforce users who have the free Chatter. However, now they also get an option. Sonoma Partners (Microsoft's implementation partner) today announced the availability of the free (Community) version of Vibe - the social network for MS Dynamics CRM. Vibe, like most similar solutions is based on microblogs that are created either by users or automatically by the system when some event occurs (for example, new order is entered). Users can subscribe to activity feeds of their colleagues, work-groups, particular topic and system alerts in order to keep abreast of everything that is happening and collaborate on tasks. User can insert in the message files, pictures, videos, links to the customer's page and other objects in the CRM system (e.g. invoice or opportunity). Interestingly, the discussions about a specific CRM object is automatically attached to it. For example, if you have discussed a customer with your colleague, this discussion will be visible in the customer page in MS Dynamics CRM.