CRM Blog

Microsoft Dynamics CRM: The Edge

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is more than a management tool, it is a database at its very core. It is where a user can enter relevant data about his customers, a company’s employees, their roles, their contact persons, what they purchased, their issues, their contact details, and more. Microsoft Dynamics CRM goes above and beyond traditional databases because of the various built-in tools that assist any business in the management of its relationship with its customers. With the density of the CRM competition in the market, it is always best to look at the potential CRM integration at hand. Microsoft Dynamics CRM is the only CRM solutions that can conveniently integrate into the widely used Microsoft Office Outlook. That’s already a lot to consider.

Sales Automation

With Microsoft Dynamics CRM, a business can automatically add accounts and track associated contacts. It can also conveniently add leads and track them as they go through the sales process. While these are being done, it adds more value to the operations by entering opportunities and associate them with accounts, contacts, or leads. This is very important as it will reduce the stress that comes with the process by almost a radical percentage. Furthermore, this CRM solution is also capable of maintaining a central list of products and create price lists with or without discount codes that can effectively manage pricing. Other functions include the easy generation of quotes, orders, and invoices for sales, tracking competitor information, and automated correspondence with direct integration into Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Word.

Marketing Automation

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is highly effective in creating marketing lists of leads, accounts, and contacts that will be very useful in establishing and managing marketing campaigns. This will elevate the processes of the business operation to a higher level, as it will automatically track the effectiveness of its marketing efforts.

CRM Customer Service Feature

Customers are the most important assets for every business. That is why the maintenance of the business’ relationship with its current and potential customer base is highly essential for every company. This concept is not left out by Microsoft Dynamics CRM. In a systematic configuration, it ensures to manage customer support contracts, track support cases filed during a customer contact, and maintain a knowledge base of information for internal staff working on service requests. This will guarantee that all customer concerns are addressed by the company.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Evaluation

Click here to access and download our Free Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Analysis.

Topics addressed include:

1. Salesforce.com vs Microsoft CRM
2. Pros and Cons of SaaS vs On-premise CRM
3. Crucial User Adoption Factors
4. Total Cost of Ownership of Microsoft CRM

Sage ACT! 2011 Evaluation and Feature Review

Click here to access and download our Free Sage ACT! 2011 Feature Evaluation and Review.

With this document, you will be able to identify the key improvements within ACT! 2011 as well as ACT! 2010.

Items addressed include:

1. User interface enhancements
2. Social Media
3. E-Marketing, Mail-Merge and Online Surveys
4. Sales Opportunity redesign
5. Flexible Reporting, Dashboard and OLEDB interface
6. Advanced Outlook Integration and Invitations
7. Advanced Outlook Sync for Contacts and Calendar
8. Simplified Importing design
9. Smart Tasks (Workflow)
10. Advanced Lead Management and Importing
11. Administrative improvements
12. and much more.

Download TCO Calculator for CRM Projects

Click here to access and download our Free CRM TCO Calculator Tool.

With this tool, you will be able to identify the key TCO line items that are relevant for any CRM implementation. We have also included data for comparing CRM software systems such as Microsoft CRM, Salesforce.com, SugarCRM, Sage CRM, Sage SalesLogix and more. You will be able to view the 3 Year and 5 Year Total Cost of Ownership for both SaaS (Online/On-Demand) and Licensed (On-premise) pricing models.

TCO line items include:

1. Annual License/User price
2. Support
3. Hardware (incl. Server and Users)
4. Implementation
5. Staff
6. Network
7. Mobile
8. and much more.

Nationwide CRM Consulting and Training

With locations throughout the United States, Accent Gold Solutions is able to provide CRM training, consulting and implementation service whereever you are. Please contact us to find out the best way to get your CRM project underway. Remember, step 1 is to figure out what your business requirements are, and step 2 is to select the proper CRM system for your individual needs.

Being certified in various CRM systems such as Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Sage SalesLogix CRM, Sage ACT!, SAP CRM and more, we are confident we can advise you as to the proper CRM software to fit your business.

Whether you are in Rochester, New York or Akron, Ohio, we can get your CRM solution designed, implemented and trained so that your users will love it and use it. We define our success by your CRM adoption rate. So call us to get started!

Microsoft CRM 2011 Review Webinars

Join us for our webinar series as we explore the points outlined below – and hope to provide you valuable insight about this top-rated CRM solution. We hope that our comparison with Salesforce.com will help you on in your CRM evaluation.

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Microsoft Dynamics: Consistent Performance Ratings

Last June 30, Microsoft Dynamics operation closed out the year with a bang, reporting an impressive revenue in the software business that is 19 percent higher than what is yielded in the last quarter of the fiscal year of 2010. This truly deserves applause because of its consistency to be at the top of its game, as shown by its top performance of being 10 percent higher every year. These are all being highlighted in the company’s earnings report for 2011.

Microsoft Business Division

Despite all these numbers, a select few still choose to be the skeptics. But that’s understandable, in a world that’s tight in competition. But the fact is, those numbers support the spreading whispers and acclamations that June with Microsoft Dynamics was one of the best months ever. Conventional practice had taught us that the percentage changes are the only numbers released about Microsoft Business Solutions and Dynamics. Actual results are being kept safe by its parent Microsoft Business Division.

Microsoft Dynamics Expectations

Nevertheless, this growth had outranked the expected rise of projects in the Microsoft Business Division. Hard facts will reveal that the division yielded fourth quarter revenue of $5.78 Billion. That’s a 7 percent jump from revenue of $5.38 Billion in 2010. Exciting things are even being broadcasted to arrive, especially with the addition of Exchange, Sharepoint, and Link to the multi-year agreements. We are surely being prepped up for brighter things with Microsoft Dynamics.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Evaluation

Click here to access and download our Free Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Analysis.

Topics addressed include:

1. Salesforce.com vs Microsoft CRM
2. Pros and Cons of SaaS vs On-premise CRM
3. Crucial User Adoption Factors
4. Total Cost of Ownership of Microsoft CRM

Free SugarCRM 6 Assessment PDF

Click here to access and download our Free Sugar CRM 6 Evaluation PDF.

With this document, you will be able to identify the key enhancements within Sugar CRM.

Topics addressed include:

1. Calculated Fields
2. Favorites and Favorites Dashlet
3. Twitter and Social Media integration
4. Reporting (filtering, scheduling)
5. User interface improvements (there are many!)
6. Sugar Mobile 1.0 details
7. and much more.

Free ACT! 2011 Evaluation and Feature Review

Click here to access and download our Free Sage ACT! 2011 Feature Evaluation and Review.

With this document, you will be able to identify the key improvements within ACT! 2011 as well as ACT! 2010.

Items addressed include:

1. User interface enhancements
2. Social Media
3. E-Marketing, Mail-Merge and Online Surveys
4. Sales Opportunity redesign
5. Flexible Reporting, Dashboard and OLEDB interface
6. Advanced Outlook Integration and Invitations
7. Advanced Outlook Sync for Contacts and Calendar
8. Simplified Importing design
9. Smart Tasks (Workflow)
10. Advanced Lead Management and Importing
11. Administrative improvements
12. and much more.

Nationwide CRM Consulting and Training

With locations throughout the United States, Accent Gold Solutions is able to provide CRM training, consulting and implementation service whereever you are. Please contact us to find out the best way to get your CRM project underway. Remember, step 1 is to figure out what your business requirements are, and step 2 is to select the proper CRM system for your individual needs.

Being certified in various CRM systems such as Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Sage SalesLogix CRM, Sage ACT!, SAP CRM and more, we are confident we can advise you as to the proper CRM software to fit your business.

Whether you are in Los Angeles, California or New York, New York, we can get your CRM solution designed, implemented and trained so that your users will love it and use it. We define our success by your CRM adoption rate. So call us to get started!

Microsoft CRM 2011 Review Webinars

Join us for our webinar series as we explore the points outlined below – and hope to provide you valuable insight about this top-rated CRM solution. We hope that our comparison with Salesforce.com will help you on in your CRM evaluation.

Microsoft CRM 2011 Outlook Integration

Majority of users at companies work with Microsoft Office Outlook, and therefore its not uncommon to hear CRM users always requesting more functionality for CRM in Outlook. Well we believe Microsoft CRM heard those requests.

One of the greatest benefits of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 is the native integration with Microsoft Outlook. This new CRM Outlook client has been fully rewritten. This means that not only will there be synchronization between CRM and Outlook but now you can have full CRM functionality and visibility from within Outlook. Unlike all other CRM systems that only integrates with Outlook to some extend, Microsoft CRM 2011 fully Integrates with Outlook and they are basically one product.

This will be a next-generation Microsoft Outlook experience giving the user familiar Microsoft Office functionality. A new contextual CRM Ribbon delivers consistent Microsoft Office navigation and increase user productivity. Your CRM information can now also take full advantage of native Outlook functionality including previews and conditional formatting.

Now CRM can work the way your users work, all in Outlook. This will make it a lot easier for the users to learn how to use the CRM system and will assist in maximizing your CRM user adoption.

Join us for our webinar on the Microsoft CRM system in Outlook as we look why we believe the new CRM for Outlook will increase user adoption:

• - CRM Inside your Outlook
• - Your CRM views in Outlook
• - Converting Emails to Leads/Opportunities
• - Tracking emails in CRM
• - Conditional Formatting of data

Webinar Series (each Wednesday at 11am PST)

Accent Gold is excited to be hosting a webinar series over the next two months underlining the much talked about new release of the Microsoft CRM system. Please register below.

The next version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, officially named Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, is being eagerly awaited by business partners and end-users alike. It will offer a whole range of more than 500 new features, changes, additions, add-ons and enhancements that promise to strengthen Microsoft CRM’s position as a frontrunner in the CRM market.

Join us for our webinar series as we explore the above points and hope to provide you valuable insight about this much anticipated CRM solution. We hope that our Microsoft CRM system review will help you on in your CRM evaluation. We will be hosting this series every Wednesday at 11:00 am December – February. See below dates for upcomming Webinars.

Whether you need CRM training in Austin, Texas or a CRM Implementation in Las Vegas, Nevada, please don’t hesitate to call us! We would love to help you find the best CRM software system for your company.

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Microsoft CRM 2011 Outlook Integration

Most companies are looking  for a simple CRM. Yet CRM is often complex and poorly adopted by the user. In order to have maximum  CRM User Adoption you need a intuitive CRM system that is easy to navigate and use but also “liked” by the users. But many CRM rollouts have failed due to inadequate CRM user adoption.

One of the greatest benefits of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 is the native integration with Microsoft Outlook. This new CRM Outlook client has been fully rewritten. This means that not only will there be synchronization between CRM and Outlook but now you can have full CRM functionality and visibility from within Outlook.

This will be a next-generation Microsoft Outlook experience giving the user familiar Microsoft Office functionality. A new contextual CRM Ribbon delivers consistent Microsoft Office navigation and increase user productivity. Your CRM information can now also take full advantage of native Outlook functionality including previews and conditional formatting.

Now CRM can work the way your users work, all in Outlook. This will make it a lot easier for the users to learn how to use the CRM system and will assist in maximizing your CRM user adoption.

Join us for our webinar on the Microsoft CRM system in Outlook as we look why we believe the new CRM for Outlook will increase user adoption:

• - CRM Inside your Outlook
• - Your CRM views in Outlook
• - Converting Emails to Leads/Opportunities
• - Tracking emails in CRM
• - Conditional Formatting of data

Webinar Series (each Wednesday at 11am PST)

Accent Gold is excited to be hosting a webinar series over the next two months underlining the much talked about new release of the Microsoft CRM system. Please register below.

The next version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, officially named Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, is being eagerly awaited by business partners and end-users alike. It will offer a whole range of more than 500 new features, changes, additions, add-ons and enhancements that promise to strengthen Microsoft CRM’s position as a frontrunner in the CRM market.

Join us for our webinar series as we explore the above points and hope to provide you valuable insight about this much anticipated CRM solution. We hope that our Microsoft CRM system review will help you on in your CRM evaluation. We will be hosting this series every Wednesday at 11:00 am December – February. See below dates for upcomming Webinars.

Whether you need CRM training in Austin, Texas or a CRM Implementation in Las Vegas, Nevada, please don’t hesitate to call us! We would love to help you find the best CRM software system for your company.

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CRM Outlook Integration

ACT by Sage has been consistently improving their Outlook Integration over the years. Due to customer frustration, a number of Add ons have hit the market to improve Outlook Integration. The top 2 Add ons have been (a) Companion Link (syncing contacts and calendar with Outlook) and (b) ACT E-Mail Connect (using Outlook E-mail with ACT – loaded with very useful features).

But ACT! 2011 has heard the cries and responded! The new Outlook Integration with Sage ACT! 2011 includes 3 key components: Contact Syncing, Calendar Syncing, Consolidated Setup

Outlook Contacts Syncing with CRM

1. Create new Outlook Contacts from ACT!
2. Create new ACT! Contacts from Outlook
3. Control which ACT! Contacts are synced to Outlook
4. Contacts are always up to date regardless of where they were created or changed
5. If a contact is added to Outlook, it will resolve on the email address in ACT! and link them, or create a new Contact in ACT!
6. Contact syncing requires that an address book be set up in ACT!
7. Contact Sync Sets. Please note that only Admins can create contact sync sets. There are also several default sync sets (All Contacts, Last Added, Last Edited, Customers, Friends/Family). Also, Sync sets only apply to ACT! contacts (not Outlook contacts).

Outlook Calendar Syncing with CRM

1. Calendars are always up-to-date, regardless of where events were created or modified
2. Users can select which ACT! Activity types to sync to Outlook
3. There are no duplicate entries. Woo Hoo!!
4. Sync runs even with Outlook and/or ACT! closed!!
5. Same features are available for users of ACT for Web.
6. Users choose which system alarms display in (Do I want to see Alarms in ACT or Outlook or both?)
7. There is a New activity type in ACT! 2011: “Appointment”. This is the Outlook activity type when no other contacts are invited. This may not sound like a big deal, but this is Huge! If users make an ACT! appointment and invite other contacts, Outlook will change it from “Appointment” to “Meeting” after syncing.

Consolidated Setup of CRM Outlook Sync

1. ACT! by Sage 2011 allows you to configure an Auto-Sync! These can be scheduled as frequently as one minute, although we would advise against this – for performance purposes. To limit performance impact, 10 minute scheduling interval is recommended
2. Users can setup all Outlook integration features at one time – in one place – in Preferences window.
3. Users can also restrict email integration to avoid adding sensitive histories to internal contacts

Do you need more information or a CRM demo? Do you need to understand the differences between the different versions of ACT or the differences between ACT! and other CRM solutions such as SugarCRM, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Sage SalesLogix or Salesforce.com? Please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Whether you need CRM training in Chicago, Illinois or Seattle, Washington, we would gladly assist you.We would love to help you properly compare so that you are empowered to choose the best CRM Business Software system for your organization.

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