Microsoft's Latest Release of Dynamics CRM Online - The Last Chink in the Armour Filled

I've been selling Microsoft Dynamics CRM for a long time.  There were always value points for Microsoft Dynamics CRM over the competition such as the Microsoft Outlook Integration, the Price and the ability to customize the solution in a easy and quick way (often referred to as Extended CRM or xRM) but there were also weak points in the Dynamics CRM solution that the competition would pick on as well. 

Microsoft filled a lot of those weak points when they first released Dynamics CRM Online some two years back but there were two things that still came up again and again.  Clearly the competition was trying to take advantage of Dynamics CRM's weak points.  These were...

1. Cross Browser Support (including Support for iPad); and
2. Providing a Simplified User Interface.

... neither of which Dynamics CRM was good at.  Well in the latest release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM both of those problems have been "largely" solved. 

Dynamics CRM Cross Browser Support

The problem with a lot of customers was that they had already made investments in non-Microsoft technologies such as iPad and Android Tablets.  They weren't willing to give up on those investments and it took a while for Microsoft to realise that the Desktop and Laptop were tools of the past and the Tablet was the tool of the future and that for the time being Microsoft was not the dominant player in the Tablet.  Well with the latest release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Microsoft have corrected that oversight.  Below is a list of the browsers and platforms that Microsoft Dynamics CRM now supports.  So if you are an avid Apple Desktop or iPad user your investments in those tools can be maintained and you can have Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online too!

 

 

 

With the Multi-Browser Support Microsoft has also provided a limited iPad Client a screen shot of which is shown here...

 

 



 

Providing a Simplified User Interface

When doing demo's of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online often customers would complain that Dynamics CRM looked too complex and they liked the simplified user interface of the competition.  As a sales person we would go to great lengths to configure CRM simplify the UI to counteract that conclusion.   Well with the latest release of CRM Online Microsoft have started moving to a simpler "Process Based User Interface".   The idea is that the UI changes depend on what stage you are at in terms of your business process and that the business process is built into the system. That same business process is largely user configurable to your own specific needs.   An example of the new User Interface is show here...

 

 

So now when I walk into customers I can tell them that the solution works across all platforms and is simple to use.  Two additional value points which most of my customer appreciate.  Add to this the lower price than the competition and the traditional strength of the CRM to Outlook Integration and really you have an unbeatable combination. 

Now when customers ask me how I position CRM against the competition I simply say " we can do everything they can do... but just cheaper."    This is a story that all my customers understand and appreciate.

David Goad is the Managing Director for eSavvy – Microsoft Dynamics CRM Gold Certified Partner. eSavvy is an award winning Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner staffed by some of the most experienced solution and technical architects in the Microsoft partner channel. We build and deliver relationship management solutions based on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM platform for large enterprises as well small and midsize businesses in Australia.