Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Is Well Worth the Wait

Users say the long-awaited new version of Microsoft’s customer relationship management (CRM) software fixes a host of problems.

Microsoft CRM 3.0 finally hit the streets in December 2005, and users couldn't be happier. The new version fixes several problems that dogged the previous release (it jumped from 1.2 to 3.0) and makes Microsoft CRM a formidable competitor in the customer relationship management space.

Microsoft made its first foray into the marketplace in January 2003 with CRM 1.0. It followed that with a slightly updated version the following December. The release date for the next generation of the product slipped time and time again, so much that Microsoft eventually decided to skip the 2.0 release altogether. So after a full two years of waiting for the next significant upgrade, users finally have Microsoft Dynamics CRM version 3.0 -- its full, official name -- in their hands.

Read more (RedmondMag.Com)

First try, then buy?

Microsoft CRM 3.0 is available as a 90-day trial version in each language in which Microsoft CRM is available. Each trial version can be converted to full use by applying a commercial license key in Microsoft CRM License Manager. A re-install is not required.

When you decide which trial version to use, remember:
The Small Business Edition trial version can be converted to a commercial Small Business Edition or Professional Edition.
The Professional Edition trial version cannot be converted to a commercial Small Business Edition.

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The ability to hide/expose certain fields on forms

Nice article by MSCRM Guy describing the ability to hide/expose certain fields on forms according to the current user permissions and/or ID.

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The beginning of an important product cycle ...

Microsoft Reports Record Revenue:

Microsoft Corp. today announced revenue of $11.84 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2005, a 9% increase over the same period of the prior year, marking the highest quarterly revenue in the company’s history.

“The growth in our core businesses was healthy during the quarter driven by strength in Server and Tools and the success of our Windows® Client products in a robust PC market,” said Chris Liddell, chief financial officer of Microsoft. “The quarter also marked the beginning of an important product cycle for Microsoft with the launches of Xbox 360™, SQL Server™ 2005, Visual Studio® 2005 and Microsoft Dynamics™ CRM 3.0, all of which were extremely successful and well received by our customers.”

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CRM 3.0 Report Scheduling Wizard!!!

Microsoft just released the Microsoft CRM 3.0 Report Scheduling Wizard which helps you create report snapshots more easily. With this tool it's possible to schedule report snapshots.

After you install the Wizard on the server, you'll see a new option in the report menu. From there you can launch the Wizard which will guide you through the steps to schedule your reports or create report snapshots.

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The Windows SharePoint Services Foundation

2005 was a big year for Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services as a platform for business solutions – and 2006 looks even brighter.

Heading into a new year, it’s always good for companies to reflect on what worked well in the past year, so they can build on that success. For Microsoft in 2005, one of the biggest winners was SharePoint Products & Technologies.
Today more than 600 systems integrators (SIs) and independent software vendors (ISVs) are building portal and collaboration solutions which utilize Microsoft SharePoint Products and Technologies, and more than 350 partners are extending the functionality of Windows SharePoint Services specifically for their solutions. Popular solutions include collaborative applications to help automate business processes, business intelligence and performance management solutions, search and workflow software, and vertical or industry specific solutions. The solutions demonstrate Microsoft’s commitment to meeting customer and market needs for more interoperable software that benefits customers and the IT ecosystem.

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Use Sharepoint as the Microsoft CRM Document store

This lab by MSCRM Guy takes the user through the process of setting up Microsoft CRM to use Sharepoint to store documents. Full source code is provided however the code is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Source

CRM 3.0 eCourses now available

Four Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 eCourses are now available for purchase. eCourses are designed to cover detailed concepts on specific topic areas, for example a module. They are based on a “just-in-time” model so you can enroll and start learning at any time and at your own pace.

The following Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 eCourses are available (Partner Learning Center):
-Sales Management
-Marketing Automation
-Service Management
-Service Scheduling

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Flash Demos

Two new demos, one showcasing the Professional edition and one showcasing the Small Business edition, highlight the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 software. Each demo includes 4 sections - Overview, Sales, Service, and Marketing.

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Outlook client connecting from other domain...

Of course it's possible that there are Microsoft CRM 3.0 users that are not from the same domain as the Microsoft CRM server. By default the CRM Outlook Client will not connect to the CRM Server.

The following steps are a workaround provided by Microsoft Support that allow the Outlook users to connect to the CRM server even though the user was not in the same domain as the server.

***To create a managed password.***
1. On the client computer open the control panel.
2. Open the User Accounts icon.
3. Click the Advanced tab.
4. Click Manage Passwords.
5. Click Add.
6. Enter the server name of the CRM server
7. Enter the username as domain\username
8. Enter the password.
9. Click OK, then click Close and then click OK.
NOTE: These steps will only work for client physically connected to the LAN or over a VPN connection.

***Add the CRM server site to the Local Intranet trusted sites***
1. On the client open IE, click the Tools menu and then click Internet Options.
2. Click the Security tab.
3. Click the Local Intranet icon.
4. Click the Sites button.
5. Click the Advanced button.
6. Enter the website for access Microsoft CRM and then click the Add button.
7. Click OK 3 times.
8. Close any open IE sessions
NOTE: Performing the above instructions will allow the user to no longer be prompted for a password when accessing CRM from a domain that the CRM server is not part of.

Microsoft CRM 3.0 Default Values Wizard

This update for Microsoft CRM 3.0 is on Microsoft Downloads

Microsoft CRM 3.0 includes improved handling of Boolean and picklist (drop-down list) fields. In Microsoft CRM 1.2, when a Boolean or picklist field value in the database was a null value, the system-wide default for the field was displayed in the user interface. In Microsoft CRM 3.0, the displayed value will reflect the value that is actually in the database.

If you have used bulk import, data migration, workflow, or custom software to add data to Microsoft CRM 1.2 you might have null values in your database for Boolean and picklist fields.

CRM 3.0 Mobile Service by CWR Mobility

Nice upcoming mobile application called CRM Mobile Service by CWR Mobility

More details on this new product will follow in the first week of February 2006

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Running Microsoft CRM 3.0 without Exchange Server

"The Best User Experience and Tested Solution for Microsoft CRM involves using a Microsoft Exchange Server, either standalone or utilizing Small Business Server. That is the environment our development was done in, our testing was done in and our support folks have the most amount of knowledge around.”

Microsoft CRM does NOT REQUIRE Exchange Server to run. However, if you do not have an Exchange server, you will not have some functionality available to you. You will still have a CRM system with functionality that rocks, a killer user interface, awesome reporting and a ton of customization ability.

Read more (Mid Atlantic Microsoft CRM)