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Dynamics CRM 3.0
Selecting the right customer relationship management (CRM) solution is not always an easy process. Requirements for small business can differ greatly from those for large organizations. But there are five simple steps that all companies can follow when evaluating CRM choices for future business planning.
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Microsoft CRM comes in two editions.
This edition is designed to run on the Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition, a complete single-server solution for small businesses that have limited IT staff and resources. The Microsoft CRM Small Business Edition is easy to deploy and maintain, and offers:
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New marketing automation modules for sales, marketing, and customer service that help a business track and record every customer contact. |
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Advanced reporting services that help qualify leads, cross-sell products, and maximize sales opportunities without the need for expensive third-party reporting tools. |
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Improved customization that enables any user to get the information he or she needs without any programming. |
This edition is designed for large organizations that must support extensive sales and marketing staffs. Microsoft CRM Professional builds on the power and ease of use of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Small Business Edition and offers key features such as:
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Powerful data mining and business intelligence tools that help a business build smarter, more effective marketing campaigns. Reporting and analysis tools built on SQL Server Reporting Services that provide precise customer information. |
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A single view of each customer based on every piece of information a company collects, all accessible by sales, marketing, and customer service divisions. |
Both editions work the way a business works, integrating with the Microsoft Office Outlook messaging and collaboration client and other familiar Microsoft Office programs so employees operate within a comfortable environment.
For more information, review the Microsoft CRM edition comparison.
Your business can run Microsoft Dynamics CRM software three different ways:
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Self deployment. A business with an established IT staff might choose to deploy Microsoft CRM and manage it internally. IT people find that Microsoft CRM seamlessly integrates with Microsoft SQL Server 2005. This integration enables an organization to take advantage of SQL Server capabilities to conduct advanced data mining, manage business integration, and conduct business intelligence. Plus, Microsoft CRM Server deployment tools check the operating environment to help ensure that deployment is right the first time. |
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Partner deployment. If your business prefers, First Direct Corp is a Microsoft Certified Partner who can help deploy Microsoft CRM. First Direct Corp has deep knowledge about how to configure Microsoft CRM to help ensure that your business gains maximum advantage from the software-and does so at a competitive price. |
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Microsoft partner hosted deployment. Finally, a new solution is to run Microsoft CRM as a partner hosted deployment: The software itself is deployed at a remote location by a company that runs and maintains the software and charges the user a fee. This removes the issues involved with maintaining software on company servers while offering all the functionality, speed, and security of Microsoft CRM. |
Microsoft CRM is designed to take full advantage of key Microsoft business productivity products and tools, including Microsoft Office Outlook, Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheet software, Microsoft Office Word, the Microsoft Office PowerPoint presentation graphics program, Microsoft SharePoint, and Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services. As Microsoft Certified Partner First Direct Corp can assess current software and hardware capabilities as well as the future hardware and software needs of your organization and determine how to integrate Microsoft CRM into your evolving business environment. First Direct Corp also can:
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Help integrate Microsoft CRM into the existing software and hardware environment of an organization so that the business gains maximum value from its Microsoft CRM investment. |
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Work with a business to help ensure that customer records stored on other systems can be migrated into the new Microsoft CRM environment. |
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Help maximize the performance of a Microsoft CRM deployment so that it performs optimally for all people within the organization. |
Microsoft Dynamics service plans do more than simply help to ensure that your software is well maintained. Service plans are a key part of making the most of a business investment in Microsoft CRM. Through support, training, and product upgrades, Microsoft Dynamics service plans can help keep your Microsoft CRM system current, safe, and fully effective.
Microsoft offers a broad range of service plans. Find the one that's right for you:
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Deluxe Support Services The highest level of support, Deluxe Support Services for Microsoft CRM includes an assigned professional to manage support; one-hour response time for critical problems; discounts for Microsoft e-courses; and more. |
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Flex support These affordable pay-as-you-go plans enable a business to purchase a fixed number of support contacts in advance or to purchase per-incident support. |
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Full-package product maintenance With this option, a business receives all major releases and updates. It includes the ability to move to new releases of Microsoft CRM software with the same functionality that a business already enjoys. |
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Select or enterprise agreements Volume purchasers benefit from unlimited technical support, online chat support for fast responses, collaboration with other Microsoft CRM users through newsgroups, and more. |
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Software assurance Microsoft Volume Licensing customers are automatically enrolled in this program. The program offers two technical support incidents, discounts for flex support options, online training, and many more benefits. |
Learn more about the service plans available for Microsoft CRM.
As a Microsoft Certified Partner First Direct Corp can build the Microsoft CRM system that is right for your business. First Direct Corp can design the right hardware system, and design services to help ensure smooth implementation.
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