…it’s about time. It’s about time Microsoft started to seriously challenge the SaaS “establishment” with our combination of better value, a more complete solution and more deployment options for our customers. It’s like CRM Online has been the “best kept secret” for over a year now and – finally – we are taking the gloves off and competing for real. I could not be more stoked about the new pricing for CRM Online and BPOS and the great new capabilities we are releasing for CRM Online. Check out the link below to an article in Information Week:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/services/saas/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=221600135&subSection=News
So for all you CRM-curious partners out there, it’s time to get serious about Dynamics CRM and you better start running fast because we are going to keep this train running full speed for the foreseeable future. If you’ll pardon the grammar – and with apologies to Bachman-Turner Overdrive - You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet!
And for those of you already on board – hang on it’s going to be a helluva ride!
So for all of you Dynamics users, partners and especially CRM customers in the Greater Atlanta Area who yearn to learn, mark your calendars for Thursday, November 12th, 2009 for what promises to be a great event. The Microsoft Dynamics Customer Reference program team is offering a free one-year User Group membership to the Dynamics User Group of your choice:
“How do I get this wonderful gift?” you may ask…simply sign up to become a reference customer for Dynamics – especially Dynamics CRM (he said with shameless self-promotion!)
And if you really want to help Ben Vollmer win a free meal, go here to his website and read HIS shameless self-promotion! :)
- The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead - 4:30 to 6:30 pm
· 3434 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30326
- Mingle with Dynamics User Group Executive, Microsoft Dynamics Mgmt and Microsoft Dynamics peers
- Community outreach Toys for Tots collection – donate an unwrapped toy and receive a free copy of Office 2007 Professional as our thanks!
We hope to see you on Nov. 12th!
Event ID: 1032430024
www.msevents.microsoft.com
OR # 1-877.673.8368
Great news for Microsoft CRM partners and customers; from November 1st, 2009 through January 2nd, 2010 you can take advantage of one of our most popular promotions ever. Applicable to Open, Open Value and Open Value Subscription license types, both Corporate and Government customers are provided with partner subsidy funds to help with the implementation of their Microsoft solution. The following product groups are included:
The Big Easy Offer 3.0 Product Groups:
- Developer and Designer Tools
- Dynamics CRM
- Exchange Server
- Forefront
- Office Communications Server
- Office System
- Project and Visio
- SharePoint Server
- SQL Server
- System Center
- Windows Server System
- Windows Server Solutions
Get more details here: https://partner.microsoft.com/US/bigeasyoffer A Windows Live ID linked to your partner organization is required.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=a4893988-7804-4e23-ab58-740441cc696e
As with previous rollups, this one includes all previous update rollups and adds fixes from interim knowledgebase articles. This rollup also resolves a number of issues that had not been previously documented in the knowledgebase. And...as if that weren't enough...Update Rollup 7 adds support for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 and SQL Server 2008 R2.
After months of hard work, a very successful Partner TAP (Technology Adoption Program) as well as a Customer BETA program, this adapter has released and is generally available for US installs of Dynamics GP 10.0 and CRM 4.0.
This is an entirely new adapter redesigned from the ground up to utilize web services and eConnect and provides “…an out of the box, lightly extensible data integration tool.” The adapter will be offered to registered Microsoft Dynamics GP Partners at no charge, though it must be ordered through the standard Microsoft Dynamics GP ordering process so we can keep track of who is using the adapter and will therefore want any updates and additional information.
Here are the main points:
Easy to Implement
· Wizard driven installation
· System Preparation Tool
· Lightweight footprint that utilizes web services and eConnect
-Web Service to web service integration
Easy to Use
· Eight out-of-the-box CRM to ERP Mappings
Easy to Customize
· Wizard driven custom mapping
Additional Information Regarding the Adapter:
For Partners and Microsoft Team Members (Information will be updated as it is available):
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/partneressentials/partnerreadiness/resourcing/MDCRMGPAdapter.htm
For Existing Customers (Information will be updated as it is available):
https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/worldwide/us/productinformation/factsheets/MDCRMGPAdapter
The first Partner Readiness training class is tomorrow; register at the link below:
https://training.partner.microsoft.com/learning/app/management/LMS_ActDetails.aspx?UserMode=0&ActivityId=551516
Those folks on the product team have been doing a great job of releasing regular updates ever since we launched Dynamics CRM 4.0. And for the past year or so they’ve been packaging updates, hot fixes and the like into convenient and more easily consumed “roll-ups” (no relation to the delicious snacks from General Mills) which have greatly simplified life for many of our partners and customers.
In case you have missed it, I wanted to make sure you, dear reader, were aware we have released Roll-ups # 5 and # 6 over the past couple months for your pure chewing satisfaction. Enjoy!
Hot off the presses we now have access to the freshest information on Dynamics CRM, Mobile Express, CRM Accelerators, the CRM Adapter for GP, xRM and the highly anticipated release of CRM “V.next.”
What an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride! Sure to be a best-seller – OK, it’s free – but I couldn’t put it down! Make sure to get your copy today at these fine outlets:
PartnerSource:
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/marketing/statementofdirection/MD_CRM_SOD.htm
CustomerSource:
https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/documentation/whitepapers/MSD_CRM4StatementOfDirection.htm
If you’ve been a Dynamics CRM or GP partner for a while you have most likely heard of, and probably even used, Scribe Software’s Insight tool for data migration or integration. They’ve been the go-to solution for many long-time Dynamics partners and for good reason – they really know their stuff! And, in addition, they are now and have long been very committed to the Microsoft Dynamics market and partner community. So it should come as no surprise that they have made a further commitment in an effort to become your “one-stop-shop” for all flavors of Dynamics CRM to ERP integrations. They have recently partnered with Celenia Software to offer CRM integrations for AX and NAV as well as the GP integration they’ve offered for quite some time. Read more about it by following the links below:
http://www.scribesoft.com/PR023.asp
http://msdynamicsworld.com/story/accounting/peek-future-scribe-and-celenia-combine-product-offerings-seeking-integration-across
Much as it pains me to say it, there are actually people in this crazy world of ours who prefer the Apple iPhone to Windows Mobile devices. I KNOW, RIGHT!?!?! Hard to believe! Probably all “creative types” and such or maybe they work in K-12 education…I don’t know. Anyway since this device has been released I’ve had one or two people ask about using it for actual business purposes. [sarcasm off]
So while I was at WPC 2009 I ran into Erik Van Hoof, CEO of CWR Mobility, and he was catching me up on all the great stuff they’ve been working on. Things like making their excellent Windows Mobile CRM client work on a Blackberry and, in an effort to keep these iPhone whackos (note the sarcasm, Apple fanboys!) happily engaged with their CRM systems, the fine people over at CWR Mobility have developed an alpha version of an iPhone client. So while these things are still under development, they’re coming – along with a lot of other great capabilities for Dynamics CRM. While you’re waiting you might take a look over here and check out CWR’s blog for Jerry Seinfeld’s take on Blackberries and iPhones.
I know it’s been out a while now but for my faithful readers (both of you) I will herein link the location of the download for the CRM 4.0 compatible version of the free mobile client:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=f592ec6c-f412-4fd5-9a80-cd3bcbd26d8b
As Emeril would say – BAM! But that’s not the only news on the mobile front…stay tuned for the next post in the series…
There has been so much information coming out over the past couple of months it seemed like not a day went by that I didn’t say to myself, “I really ought to post something on that!” and yet with my travel schedule and sincere desire to try out this thing they call “work/life balance” and actually take a little summer vacation, I have yet to post much of anything. SO…fair warning – watch this space as I will be posting at a more brisk pace for the balance of August to try an catch all you East Region CRM fans up on what’s new for CRM customers and partners and who in the ISV community has been bringing the VALUE!! Stay tuned…!!
Previously, Microsoft Dynamics partners that were not enrolled in a Partner Service Plan for Microsoft Dynamics could not access Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step. This proved to be a barrier for new and smaller partners because they did not have access to the guidance – selling and implementing Microsoft Dynamics solutions – they needed to improve their services delivery efficiency and profitability. Sure Step is now available to all Microsoft Dynamics partners starting July 13, 2009 to help drive increased partner productivity, better partner collaboration and improved customer satisfaction! I encourage all you Certified Microsoft CRM partners out there to adopt and use Sure Step to document and improve your implementation process and best practices! Here's the PartnerSource link to get you started (login required): https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/partneressentials/serviceplans/surestep/
Looking for some cool data integration and migration tools? Pervasive has some pretty nice products and is deep into the Certified for Dynamics process. Definitely worth a look …
From the Pervasive Software e-newsletter:
Pervasive Data Integrator recently passed the Software Solution Test for Microsoft Dynamics, a major requirement for “Certified for Microsoft Dynamics” status. “Certified for Microsoft Dynamics” is Microsoft Corp.’s highest standard for partner-developed software and represents a significant step in elevating the standard for partner-developed software solutions for industry-specific business applications. VeriTest, a service of Lionbridge, performed independent and rigorous testing on Pervasive Data Integrator capabilities with Microsoft Dynamics. Pervasive Software has also earned the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner designation with the ISV Competency. Read more >
I’ve been meaning to post about the oft-asked questions surrounding audit trail capabilities using CRM 4.0. Low and behold, once again Menno has beat me to it. As is so often the case with the powerful development platform that is Dynamics CRM, there are several options available to address the audit trail requirement. Menno does a great job of discussing three of them in the blog post below. Enjoy!
http://www.tekoppele.com/Blog/post/2009/05/22/3-FREE-Ways-to-Audit-Data-in-Microsoft-Dynamics-CRM.aspx
