Microsoft Launches Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Cloud Service Globally
REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 17, 2011 — Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq “MSFT”) CEO Steve Ballmer today announced the worldwide availability of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, the cloud version of the new Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 release that delivers new levels of productivity to sales, service and marketing organizations. The on-premises and partner-hosted versions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 will be globally available on Feb. 28, 2011.
For the first time outside North America, customers can access Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online in 40 markets and 41 languages and sign up for a free trial at http://crm.dynamics.com. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is available today at a promotional price of $34 per user per month for the first 12 months of service to qualified customers that sign up by June 30, 2011.
“Sales professionals are at the heart of almost every successful business,” Ballmer said. “Microsoft Dynamics CRM redefines productivity by offering an industry-leading product that is fully embracing the cloud. The things that make Microsoft Dynamics CRM an industry leader include giving sales professionals a familiar user experience, enabling greater collaboration, streamlining of processes and access to real-time data so they can improve their customers’ experiences and effectively compete in the market.”
Based on the new Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 release, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online delivers breakthrough productivity by providing familiar, intelligent and connected experiences to users across the organization:
- Familiar experiences for sales, service and marketing users through a next-generation native Microsoft Outlook client, browser-based and mobile access, RoleTailored design, and advanced user personalization, improving user adoption and giving users easy access to the information they need to be successful
- Intelligent experiences through guided process dialogs, inline business intelligence for performance and goal management, and real-time dashboards, providing the most up-to-date information critical to enabling sales, service and marketing professionals to do their jobs effectively
- Connected experiences through flexible cloud development, Windows Azure interoperability, contextual Microsoft SharePoint capabilities and the new Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace, making it easy for customers and partners to configure and customize Microsoft Dynamics CRM to meet specific business needs
More than 11,500 customers and 2,000 partners have used Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 as part of the beta program, including customers that have switched from competing solutions. For example, Magma Design Automation Inc., an electronic design automation (EDA) software development company, switched from Salesforce.com to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online in order to support its key business requirements, including better reporting, insight and flexible change processes, while also being predictably affordable.
“The EDA space can be very complex and business processes can rapidly change. We needed a system that was flexible enough to fit us and our specific business needs,” said Vickie Flores, vice president of Information Systems for Magma Design Automation. “With Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online we can quickly change our workflow and business processes. Improving user adoption is a priority for us, and the native Outlook user interface delivered by Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online makes this extremely easy as there isn’t a steep learning curve.”
Ceridian Corp., a business services company in the human resources, transportation and retail markets, switched from a competitive solution to Microsoft Dynamics CRM to better fit its technology road map and cost structure. Microsoft Dynamics CRM enabled Ceridian to get more value from its existing IT technology investments and resources and reduce costs.
“We needed a flexible solution that supported both our back-end technology requirements and the .NET skills of our IT department,” said Mike Shea, chief operations officer, Ceridian. “Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 gives Ceridian an extensible contact center application that we can rapidly deploy and extend across multiple business units using the existing .NET skills of our IT professionals.”
Salesforce.com and Oracle customers that switch to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online between now and June 30, 2011, can take advantage of the Cloud CRM for Less offer. Through this offer, eligible customers will receive up to $200 per user, which can be applied for services such as migrating data or customizing the solution to meet unique business needs. This offer is available in most markets for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, and details on the offer can be found at http://www.cloudcrmforless.com.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Availability
The 40 markets in which Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is now available are Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Those who attend the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 worldwide virtual launch event can experience the new Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 through on-demand videos and content, including a customer showcase and business productivity, IT productivity, and industry tracks. Availability of the online launch experience begins Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011, at 9 a.m. PST with the broadcast of the launch keynote address from Steve Ballmer and Kirill Tatarinov, corporate vice president, Microsoft Business Solutions. Registration is at http://crm.dynamics.com/2011launch.
Those who want to follow and engage with the Microsoft Dynamics CRM community can do so at http://www.twitter.com/msdynamicscrm, #crm2011.
About Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of easy-to-use, integrated and adaptable ERP and CRM applications that enable business decision-makers to quickly respond to market shifts, take advantage of new trends, increase their competitive edge and drive business success. Microsoft Dynamics solutions are delivered through a world-class network of reselling partners providing specialized services and additional innovation to help customers excel in their industries.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.
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Syncsort Increases User Adoption and Reduces Costs With Microsoft Dynamics CRM
REDMOND, Wash. — Dec. 14, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today announced that Syncsort, a global leader in extreme performance data integration and data protection software, has switched from Salesforce.com to Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Syncsort began its migration in July after realizing it needed a solution that could more effectively integrate with its partner portal and support rapid company growth. By switching to Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Syncsort has doubled user adoption, improved reporting and reduced customer management inconsistencies, and projected cost reductions through the automation of manual marketing and sales processes.
The company’s switch precedes recent recognition from Ovum, a leading independent analyst research firm, which positioned Microsoft Dynamics CRM in the shortlist category of the “Decision Matrix: Selecting a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Vendor” report.* “This category includes the leading solutions, which signifies that the vendor has established a commanding market position with a product that is widely accepted as best of breed,” said Rhonda Ascierto, Angela Eager and Warren Wilson, senior analysts at Ovum.
“We have been experiencing rapid growth and required a solution that was more scalable and could better accommodate our transformation to a more partner-centric organization,” said Joseph Stamboulie, senior director of global information technology, Syncsort. “We needed to improve our ability to generate and track leads, manage our sales pipeline, and service our customers and partners, from all of our offices worldwide.”
Other reasons Syncsort decided to switch to Microsoft Dynamics CRM include ease of use, customization capabilities, total cost of ownership, and interoperability with other Microsoft business productivity products, including Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Office, Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Exchange. The company also uses Microsoft Dynamics GP to manage its accounts payable system and acknowledged that Microsoft Dynamics CRM would offer the interoperability between the two technologies.
“We chose Microsoft Dynamics CRM because of its flexibility — we see significant value in having the option to go from an on-premises deployment to an online deployment to support changing business needs — and native Microsoft Outlook interoperability, which has increased user adoption. Microsoft Dynamics has enabled us to scale as our business grows, while minimizing associated costs,” Stamboulie said.
Syncsort also acknowledged that having support from an established partner program was important. “The overall depth of Microsoft’s partner ecosystem gave us added confidence,” Stamboulie said. “We depended heavily on Axonom for its powerful and flexible partner portal capabilities, Tribridge for its professional CRM project management, customization and implementation, and AbleBridge for reporting and automation.”
“Organizations need the most innovative and efficient solutions to help them manage growth and change,” said Brad Wilson, general manager, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Product Management Group. “We are excited that Microsoft Dynamics CRM fulfills that need for our customers by giving them a solution that is easy to use, flexible and can grow to support their business needs.”
More information on Syncsort and other Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers that have switched from Salesforce.com can be found at http://www.DontGetForced.com. The latest information on updates and offers for Microsoft Dynamics CRM can be found at http://www.crm2011beta.com and http://www.cloudcrmforless.com, and those wanting to join the conversation should follow @MSDynamicsCRM, #MSDYNCRM.
About Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of simple to learn and use ERP and CRM solutions that work with your existing technology and scale as you grow to give you long-term value. By using software and online services that work the way people and organizations work, businesses are better able to make informed decisions and adapt to rapid change. Microsoft Dynamics helps your people be more productive and your investments in existing systems last longer, while enabling your business to derive the insights necessary to respond quickly and have a competitive edge in an ever-changing world of business.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
* copyright Ovum October 2010
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Microsoft Dynamics Introduces “Cloud CRM for Less” Offer
REDMOND, Wash. — Dec. 6, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today released an Open Letter from Michael Park, corporate vice president, sales, marketing and operations, Microsoft Business Solutions, inviting customers to learn about and evaluate Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. As part of the letter, Microsoft announced the “Cloud CRM for Less” offer for Salesforce.com and Oracle customers. Through this offer, Microsoft will rebate eligible customers up to $200 for each user that makes the switch to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online between now and June 30, 2011. The offer can be applied for services such as migrating data or customizing the solution to meet unique business needs. More details on the offer can be found at http://www.cloudcrmforless.com.
Complete text of the letter from Michael Park
Between economic pressures, technological advancements, and the need to manage growth and scale, businesses are reevaluating their customer relationship management (CRM) systems to ensure that they are getting the most value from their technology investments.
What we hear from customers is that they are looking for increased user productivity, better integration with existing tools and technologies, and more flexibility and affordability when it comes to their CRM systems. They are struck by the overwhelming amount of information and hype in the market, which is leading to confusion and frustration when trying to determine which CRM solution is the best fit for their businesses.
If you are looking for a CRM system that will deliver productivity for your people, offer flexibility to your business and work with your existing IT investments, you should consider Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online.
In making the switch from other solutions, such as Salesforce.com, you will join thousands of companies that have found that Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is easier to use, adds value to the technology investments they’ve already made and delivers greater business insight.
For instance, Data Reduction Systems switched from Salesforce.com and has since saved more than 50 percent in user costs and reached 100 percent user adoption. In addition, in just one month since switching CRM systems, Smead realized a 75 percent decrease in annual subscription costs and a 20 percent increase in user adoption. Both companies saw improved business intelligence and collaboration.
If you are a Salesforce.com customer attending Dreamforce this week, we encourage you to ask the following:
- In this economy, how can I justify paying two to three times more for an enterprise CRM system than I need to?*
- Microsoft provides a financially backed 99.9 percent uptime commitment for every Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online customer; why does Salesforce.com only provide me with “commercially reasonable efforts” to keep my business running?
- Having access to the most up-to-date information is critical to my business; why doesn’t Salesforce.com provide real-time access to data and dashboards, refreshed whenever I need it like Microsoft does?
- Microsoft works great with Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Office; why does Salesforce.com want me to start from scratch when it comes to productivity tools for my people?
- Microsoft provides the flexibility for my CRM system to work with other systems whether they run in the cloud or on-premises; why does Salesforce.com lock me into one way of doing things?
For more than a decade, Microsoft has run some of the largest, most reliable cloud services in the world. With the combined power of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online and the full depth and breadth of Microsoft’s productivity offerings, we can deliver value in a way that works best for your business. Just ask Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers such as Jelly Belly and Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift Europe, which have won some of the CRM industry’s most notable awards.
In addition, Salesforce.com customers that switch to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online between now and June 30, 2011, are eligible for the “Cloud CRM for Less”** promotion. Through this promotion, Microsoft will pay your organization $200 cash for each user that makes the switch to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. This rebate can be applied for services to help you switch — such as migrating your data or customizing the solution for your unique business needs. At Microsoft, we do not believe you should be forced to pay a premium to achieve business success.
Please visit DontGetForced.com/CRM8 to see product demos and hear from companies on why they made the switch to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. You can also join the conversation @MSDynamicsCRM on Twitter and on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM page on Facebook.
We look forward to hearing from you as we work hard every day to earn your confidence in our products.
Michael Park
Corporate Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Operations, Microsoft Business Solutions
About Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of simple to learn and use ERP and CRM solutions that work with your existing technology and scale as you grow to give you long-term value. By using software and online services that work the way people and organizations work, businesses are better able to make informed decisions and adapt to rapid change. Microsoft Dynamics helps your people be more productive and your investments in existing systems last longer, while enabling your business to derive the insights necessary to respond quickly and have a competitive edge in an ever-changing world of business.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
* Comparison based on Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online vs. Salesforce.com Enterprise Edition.
** Read the complete terms and conditions for the “Cloud CRM for Less” promotion at CloudCRMforLess.com.
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IGH Solutions Drives User Adoption Up by 246 Percent by Switching From Salesforce.com to Microsoft Dynamics CRM
REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 23, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today highlighted the benefits attained by IGH Solutions, a world leader in developing and delivering innovative solutions for specialty and dimensional printing, in three years since switching from Salesforce.com to Microsoft Dynamics CRM. They include an increase in sales-team productivity valued at $1.2 million, nearly $400,000 in reduced costs for licensing fees, a 246 percent increase in user adoption, and an ROI of 595 percent — all realized by establishing a cost-effective and standardized sales-force automation solution for use across the enterprise.
With Microsoft Dynamics CRM, IGH Solutions also resolved integration and data entry issues that had plagued the company because Salesforce.com could not integrate with its Hagen ERP system. In addition, the company was able to capitalize on its existing investment in Microsoft business productivity software, including Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Office, Microsoft InfoPath and Microsoft SQL Server, because of the interoperability Microsoft Dynamics CRM has with these applications.
“Our biggest draw to Microsoft Dynamics CRM from Salesforce.com was the ease of integration,” said Drew Climer, business technology specialist, IGH Solutions. “With our prior Salesforce.com-based CRM system, we were struggling to share customer data, resulting in the double entry of information. With Microsoft, we now have a single integrated customer-oriented solution.”
“IGH Solutions illustrates some key reasons why our customers have switched from other CRM products,” said Brad Wilson, general manager, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Product Management Group. “Microsoft Dynamics CRM delivers an outstanding experience for end users, as well as easy integration with external systems and services, so customers can have the control and flexibility they need to help their employees be more productive at a much lower cost.”
IGH Solutions also recognized the support Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Inetium LLC provided during the migration, as well as the advantages of an accessible partner ecosystem. “We had a lot of account consolidation to take care of, and Inetium came up with an ingenious solution to make the transition seamless and ensure that all future integrations would also be accommodated,” Climer said. “And with the plethora of Microsoft ISVs, the sky is the limit on what we can explore to extend our CRM solution.”
“I’ve been working hands on with CRM solutions since 1996, including Salesforce.com, SAP, Siebel, Sybase and PeopleSoft, and can honestly say that Microsoft Dynamics CRM is the best one I’ve worked with,” Climer said. “The same reasons we switched to Microsoft Dynamics CRM — improved productivity and ease of integration — are why we will be making the move to Microsoft Dynamics AX within the next five years.”
More information on IGH Solutions, including its migration to Microsoft Dynamics CRM, can be found at http://bit.ly/asKhbr. Information about the latest updates to Microsoft Dynamics CRM can be found at http://www.crm2011beta.com, and Twitter users can join the conversation by following @MSDynamicsCRM and the hashtag #MSDYNCRM. More information about other Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers that have switched from Salesforce.com can be found at http://www.DontGetForced.com.
About Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of simple to learn and use ERP and CRM solutions that work with your existing technology and scale as you grow to give you long-term value. By using software and online services that work the way people and organizations work, businesses are better able to make informed decisions and adapt to rapid change. Microsoft Dynamics helps your people be more productive and your investments in existing systems last longer, while enabling your business to derive the insights necessary to respond quickly and have a competitive edge in an ever-changing world of business.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.
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Customer Spotlight: Federal Lending Organizations Increasingly Employ Microsoft Dynamics CRM to Streamline Access to Financing
REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 22, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today announced increased demand for its Microsoft Dynamics CRM solution in the federal lending community. Access to financing is essential to the nation’s economic recovery, and federal lending institutions are implementing Microsoft Dynamics CRM to streamline the services they offer to small-business and farm owners across the United States.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has leveraged Microsoft Dynamics CRM to support the estimated 27.5 million small businesses in the United States. SBA helps small businesses gain access to vital funding and IT resources, and deployment of Microsoft Dynamics CRM was critical in helping the agency fulfill its responsibilities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The solution, implemented by Microsoft partner Engage Inc., consolidated previously siloed IT systems and helped SBA streamline all staff interactions with borrowers, lenders, partners and the public. SBA is now able to centrally track field-office activities, establish performance metrics and access business intelligence tools for more informed decision-making within the organization.
Much like the SBA, Greenstone Farm Credit Services (FCS) experienced incredible gains in efficiency, customer service quality and cost savings when it deployed Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Greenstone FCS provides loans, insurance and financial services to thousands of agricultural customers in Michigan and Wisconsin, as part of the Farm Credit System created by Congress in 1916. As the organization matured over the past decade, Greenstone FCS experienced efficiency challenges caused by siloed IT applications, a reliance on paper-based processes and an expanding customer base. The Greenstone FCS Information Services team turned to Microsoft Dynamics CRM to centralize customer service across the entire organization. Sales teams were able to obtain a holistic view of every customer through automated case files, improving customer responsiveness and maintaining the intimate relationships that Greenstone FCS clients had come to expect.
Other farm lending organizations such as AgVantis have achieved similar efficiency and customer service improvements through deployment of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Customer service personnel at AgVantis are leveraging real-time access to essential customer data through one centralized solution, enabling staff to focus on solving customer challenges rather than searching for client information in multiple applications.
“AgVantis is implementing Microsoft Dynamics CRM on behalf of our farm credit lending customers not only as a CRM tool, but as a basis upon which to develop a comprehensive front-office solution,” said Dennis Hunsberger, vice president of Application Systems at AgVantis. “We’ve been able to easily customize Microsoft Dynamics CRM based on the specific needs of the farm credit industry and our customers.”
“Government organizations of all sizes are seeking technology solutions that reduce cost, increase efficiency and improve citizen satisfaction,” said Radu Burducea, federal director of Microsoft Dynamics CRM at Microsoft. “This momentum illustrates how Microsoft Dynamics CRM solutions are helping lending businesses of all sizes improve accountability to customers.”
More about the benefits of Microsoft Dynamics CRM can be found at http://crm.dynamics.com/en-us/industries/government.aspx.
About Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of simple to learn and use ERP and CRM solutions that work with your existing technology and scale as your grow to give you long-term value. By using software and online services that work the way people and organizations work, businesses are better able to make informed decisions and adapt to rapid change. Microsoft Dynamics helps your people be more productive and your investments in existing systems last longer, while enabling your business to derive the insights necessary to respond quickly and have a competitive edge in an ever-changing world of business.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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Customer Spotlight: Microsoft Dynamics CRM Task Management Solution Helps U.S. Government Achieve Significant Process Improvements
REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 15, 2010 — Microsoft Corp., in collaboration with its Public Sector Gold Partner Avanade, today announced new federal government customers using its Microsoft Dynamics CRM Task Management Tracker (TMT). The scalable and flexible commercial-off-the-shelf solution provides a simple interface for responding to task and process management challenges, such as personnel evaluations, logistics processes, requests for information, and awards and decorations within the military and federal government communities.
The Microsoft Dynamics CRM Task Management Tracker has already enabled efficiencies across the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). The USAFE mission to support American and multinational soldiers involves a tremendous volume of tasks that need to be tracked, acted upon and resolved: anything from a request for status on a construction project to the feasibility of airlifts to provide humanitarian relief. Before Task Management Tracker, directorates lacked cross-organization or cross-directorate transparency, using excessive time to coordinate tasks.
“What was once completed by using signal flags on the battlefield and messengers on horseback now demands the most up-to-date software allowing worldwide, synchronized, ‘same page’ collaboration where six generals can agree on an action within 24 hours,” said Kevin Levija, with U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM). “Tasking is not just important, but tasking at the speed of light, in this age, is paramount.”
Microsoft, Avanade and USAFE initially made TMT available to 1,800 USAFE users, which immediately allowed them to store task information in one security-enhanced, central location, as well as assignments to be made and tracked, resolving huge management issues that impacted organizations across the entire Air Force. Now fully implemented, TMT is helping Air Force users dramatically reduce user training costs and “tool” confusion, which has resulted in USAFE experiencing a 60 percent reduction in associated contractor support. Also, because TMT’s central document repository helps reduce the amount of e-mail attachments being sent through the network, USAFE has seen a 90 percent reduction in data storage requirements and a nearly 24-fold increase in task visibility.
This functionality helps address critical issues with government-related tasks. Because multiple people and organizations are often added to these tasks, it is important that the originator’s thoughts be conveyed precisely to help achieve a common organizational goal. In the military, where tasks have traditionally been managed using paper-based mechanisms, warfighters now operate in a highly evolved, synchronized environment where multiple senior leaders must agree on an action within hours or minutes. Tasking, therefore, has increased exponentially in importance.
“TMT provides a familiar and easy-to-use environment, integrating commonly used software tools such as Microsoft Office Outlook and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server,” said Radu Burducea, federal director of Dynamics CRM at Microsoft. “From executive staff to action personnel, the solution improves communication and collaboration using a simple and more security-enhanced e-mail mechanism, which is already serving to maximize resources and could also help answer Secretary Gates’ call to increase efficiency.”
More information on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Task Management Tracker can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/industry/government/solutions/task_management/default.aspx.
About Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of simple to learn and use ERP and CRM solutions that work with your existing technology and scale as your grow to give you long-term value. By using software and online services that work the way people and organizations work, businesses are better able to make informed decisions and adapt to rapid change. Microsoft Dynamics helps your people be more productive and your investments in existing systems last longer, while enabling your business to derive the insights necessary to respond quickly and have a competitive edge in an ever-changing world of business.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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Smead Reduces Costs by 75 Percent Switching From Salesforce.com to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online
REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 9, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq “MSFT”) today announced that Smead, a privately held, 100 percent woman-owned company known for its high-quality, environmentally responsible organizational home and office systems, has switched from Salesforce.com to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. In one month since switching CRM systems, Smead experienced a 75 percent reduction in its annual subscription cost. Smead also increased user adoption by 20 percent, improved collaboration among employees and provided better business intelligence to its managers.
“Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is the best CRM solution in the cloud for us,” said Daniel Hart, systems development manager, Smead. “In addition to offering a seamless experience across our systems, features such as customizable dashboards give our managers insight into accounts, sales and opportunities, which helps them make more-informed decisions.”
“Customers like Smead are switching from Salesforce.com to Microsoft Dynamics CRM to increase productivity, collaboration and user adoption while reducing costs,” said Brad Wilson, general manager, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Product Management Group. “We are committed to offering a familiar and flexible cloud solution that fits our customers’ needs.”
Smead acknowledged that the switch to Microsoft Dynamics CRM resulted in seamless interoperability and gave its employees a familiar experience as the company was already invested in Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint. Features such as the native Microsoft Outlook experience, integrated contextual CRM Ribbon, RoleTailored design and flexibility to personalize the user experience within the application have reduced the learning curve for this solution and improved the overall productivity of employees at the company.
“We worked directly with Microsoft and really appreciated the level of service it provided during the migration, in addition to the world-class training,” Hart said.
More on Smead can be found at http://www.smead.com. The latest updates to Microsoft Dynamics CRM can be found at http://www.crm2011beta.com, and the conversation on Twitter can be followed at @MSDynamicsCRM, #MSDYNCRM. More information about other Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers that have switched from Salesforce.com can be found at http://www.DontGetForced.com.
About Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of simple to learn and use ERP and CRM solutions that work with your existing technology and scale as you grow to give you long-term value. By using software and online services that work the way people and organizations work, businesses are better able to make informed decisions and adapt to rapid change. Microsoft Dynamics helps your people be more productive and your investments in existing systems last longer, while enabling your business to derive the insights necessary to respond quickly and have a competitive edge in an ever-changing world of business.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.
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Infor Expands CRM Offering with New Solution Powered by Microsoft® Dynamics CRM and Tailored for Mid-Sized Companies
ATLANTA – Oct 12, 2010 – Infor, the leading provider of business software for mid-market companies, today launched Infor CRM Business, the latest addition to its customer relationship management (CRM) solution family. Infor CRM Business is designed to provide mid-sized companies leading-edge functionality that is easy and intuitive to learn, use and manage. The first version of Infor CRM Business is available now, providing diverse tools for improving customer experiences and harnessing immediate growth opportunities across marketing, sales and customer service. Infor plans to extend the core functionality of Microsoft Dynamics CRM in subsequent releases, adding exclusive new capabilities based on its deep domain expertise in key verticals, including distribution, manufacturing and public sector.
News
- Infor introduced Infor CRM Business in direct response to mid-sized customers’ increasing requests for a cost-effective CRM solution that is closely aligned with their company size, usage models and typical IT resources.
- To address this demand quickly, Infor expanded its independent software vendor (ISV) agreement with Microsoft, enabling it to use Microsoft Dynamics CRM as the core of the new Infor CRM Business solution.
- Infor plans to significantly extend the core Dynamics CRM functionality, adding industry-specific configurations and content for added value. Planned enhancements in subsequent releases include vertical industry business processes, reporting templates, data analytics, key performance indicators (KPIs), dashboards, data entry screens and menus.
- Other planned enhancements include the following:
- Enablement of data sharing and business process participation with other Infor applications using Infor ION.
- Addition of a Microsoft SharePoint powered interface to create a unified experience with other Infor software solutions.
- Inclusion of Microsoft single sign-on services, allowing employees to use one set of credentials for a variety of Infor applications, including Infor CRM Business.
- The addition of Infor CRM Business allows Infor to provide CRM solutions to a significantly wider range of companies, spanning the mid-market to the largest multinationals. The complete Infor CRM family is now comprised of the following:
- Infor CRM Epiphany: The best fit for the largest companies seeking maximum scalability, with integration and use of customer data across an extensive set of communication channels, using the intelligent decision making capabilities of Interaction Advisor.
- Infor CRMi: Designed specifically for the needs of larger companies with significant existing investments in System i (AS/400) infrastructure.
- Infor CRM Business: Optimized for mid-sized companies, with comprehensive functionality that is simple to configure and easy to use, closely integrated with other widely adopted Microsoft products, such as Microsoft Office.
What MSFT Says
“Our unique and growing relationship with Infor allows us to deliver exceptional quality and value to our mutual customers,” said Brad Wilson, general manager, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Product Management Group. “We are excited to support Infor and Infor partners driving business with Microsoft Dynamics CRM and SQL Server.”
What We Say
“As we looked to further address mid-sized companies’ needs and differentiate ourselves in the market, we realized we needed an easy-to-use, affordable CRM solution that would complement our unified technology strategy and provide fast return on the customer’s investment,” said Soma Somasundaram, senior vice president, Global Product Development, Infor. “Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a natural fit given our recently announced agreement to more closely align technologies, its low cost and ease-of-use. Perhaps most importantly, an increasing number of our mid-sized customers have been asking for it.”
Additional Resources
- Infor CRM spotlight – http://www.infor.com/solutions/crm/crmspotlight/
- Infor CRM Business – http://www.infor.com/product_summary/crm/crm-business/
- Infor CRM Epiphany – http://www.infor.com/solutions/crm/
- Infor CRMi – http://www.infor.com/product_summary/crm/iedition/
- Infor ION – http://www.infor.com/company/technology/ION/
- Join the conversation – www.infor.com/infornow/inforlive/
At Infor, we work with a core belief. We believe in the customer. We believe that the customer is seeking a better, more collaborative relationship with its business software provider. And a new breed of business software: created for evolution, not revolution. Software that’s simple to buy, easy to deploy and convenient to manage. Our 70,000 customers in more than 100 countries and 8,000+ employees stand with us. We look forward to your sharing in the results of our belief. There is a better way. For additional information, visit www.infor.com.
This announcement reflects the direction Infor may take with regard to the specific product(s) described herein, all of which is subject to change by Infor in its sole discretion, with or without notice to you. This announcement is not a commitment to you in any way and you should not rely on this document or any of its content in making any decision. Infor is not committing to develop or deliver any specified enhancement, upgrade, product or functionality, even if such is described in this announcement and even if such description is accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “predict,” “should,” “will,” and/or similar expressions. Many factors can affect Infor’s product development plans and the nature, content and timing of future product releases, all of which remain in the sole discretion of Infor. This announcement, in whole or in part, may not be incorporated into any contractual agreement with Infor or its subsidiaries or affiliates. Infor expressly disclaims any liability with respect to this announcement.
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Microsoft Announces Forthcoming Availability of Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011
REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 5 — Microsoft Corp.(Nasdaq: MSFT) today announced that Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011, its enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution designed for midsize project-driven organizations, will be generally available in the second quarter of 2011 in English in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico. Availability of a Spanish version for Latin America will be announced later.
The new solution, which is particularly well-suited for the construction, professional services, government contracting, architecture and engineering fields, features a broad range of new enhancements and innovation to support increased productivity, business value and insight across an organization, helping it become a more dynamic business.
Enhance Productivity
Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011 delivers a RoleTailored user experience for customers. This significant update features the familiar Microsoft Office look and feel and role-specific dashboards that give people a comprehensive view across their organizations. This helps reduce the time required for people to learn how to use it and allows them to focus on the information that matters most to them. Other new productivity-enhancing features include Quick Query, which provides more than 50 predesigned search options to find information faster, and the ability to Quick Send documents, such as invoices and purchase orders from within Microsoft Dynamics SL to customers and vendors.
“Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011 will drive significant value for midsize, project-driven businesses with its ease of use and ability to extend connections across the entire business ecosystem,” said Crispin Read, general manager, Microsoft Dynamics ERP Product Management Group. “The new level of innovation we’re providing with the release of Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011 will help customers make more informed decisions with speed.”
Increase Business Value and Insight
Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011 further extends existing IT investments by supporting integration with Microsoft Project Server 2010, Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM through Web Services. Integration with Microsoft Project Server 2010 brings together project management and project accounting by adding functionality that reduces redundant data entry and provides synchronization of project and accounting information, as well as the creation and viewing of budgeting and net profit information. In addition, interoperability with Microsoft SharePoint 2010 offers people the versatility to access information from virtually anywhere, as well as adapt to specific project needs, helping to drive improved business insight and value across their organizations.
“Many of the new features in Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011, such as the fantastic user interface, integrated login and multicompany switching, make navigating fast and easy,” said Scott Kopald, controller at Metson Marine Services Inc., an ocean services company headquartered in Ventura, Calif. “With this release, Microsoft has shown that it understands our needs and is committed to supporting the solution for the long term.”
The new enhancements help partners deliver added benefits to project-based companies. “Everything in Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011 is geared toward saving our customers time, and making the experience easier, better and faster,” said Carolyn Jasiulewicz, president for Progressive System Solution Inc., a Microsoft Dynamics Gold Certified partner. “This is a very compelling upgrade for our existing customers and further supports our ability to focus on fulfilling the specific needs of project-based companies.”
Existing Microsoft Dynamics SL customers and midsize project-driven organizations in need of a new ERP solution can learn more about the new solution at the Project Management Institute Global Congress in Washington, D.C., Oct. 9–12, by visiting booth 1001, or by visiting the Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011 launch portal at http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/SL2011-uslaunch.
About Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of simple to learn and use ERP and CRM solutions that work with your existing technology and scale as you grow to give you long-term value. By using software and online services that work the way people and organizations work, businesses are better able to make informed decisions and adapt to rapid change. Microsoft Dynamics helps your people be more productive and your investments in existing systems last longer, while enabling your business to derive the insights necessary to respond quickly and have a competitive edge in an ever-changing world of business.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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Microsoft Dynamics CRM Named a Leader by Two Independent Research Firms
REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 4 — Microsoft Corp. today announced Microsoft Dynamics CRM has garnered recognition as a Leader from two leading independent research firms, Gartner Inc. and Forrester Research Inc. Forrester acknowledged Microsoft Dynamics CRM for offering a flexible customer service solution, earning a Leader position in The Forrester Wave™: CRM Suites Customer Service Solutions, Q3, 2010 (July 2010) report, while Gartner placed it as a Leader in the Magic Quadrant for Sales Force Automation (July 2010) report.
These acknowledgements follow recent placements for Microsoft Dynamics CRM among the Leaders in The Forrester Wave™: CRM Suites for Midsized Organizations, Q2 2010 (June 2010), The Forrester Wave™: CRM Suites for Large Organizations, Q2 2010 (June 2010) and the 2010 Magic Quadrant for CRM Customer Service Contact Centers.
“We provide a strong vision and a road map of ongoing innovation to help customers get the maximum return from their CRM investments,” said Brad Wilson, general manager, Microsoft Dynamics CRM. “With the upcoming release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, customers will reach new levels of productivity and collaboration with a low total cost of ownership, and partners will unlock new opportunities with a single development environment for cloud-based and on-premises deployments.”
Results From Gartner
Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Sales Force Automation evaluates vendors on their ability to execute and completeness of vision. Evaluation criteria weighed for each included product/service, overall viability, sales execution/pricing, customer experience and operations, and offering (product) strategy, business model, innovation and geographic strategy, respectively.
According to Gartner, “Vendors placed in the Leaders quadrant of Gartner’s Sales Force Automation Magic Quadrant demonstrate a market-defining vision of how technology can help the top sales executives achieve business objectives. Leaders have the ability to execute against that vision through products, services and demonstrated solid business results in the form of revenue and earnings. Leaders have significant successful customer deployments in North America, EMEA and Asia/Pacific in a wide variety of vertical industries with multiple proof points above 500 users.”
Results From Forrester Research
To assess the market of CRM suites customer service solutions software and see how vendors compare with one another, Forrester evaluated the customer service strengths and weaknesses of the top CRM suites vendor products against 196 criteria organized into three high-level categories: current offering, strategy and market presence. According to Forrester, vendors in the Leader category have both a strong product and strategy.
“Microsoft Dynamics CRM shines by offering customer service flexibility for large and midsized organizations,” wrote William Band, vice president and principal analyst, and James Kobielus, senior analyst, Forrester Research, in the report. “It supports flexible options in deployment (on-premises, on-demand and partner-hosted deployments); how to pay (license, subscribe, finance); and how to use (Outlook client, browser, SharePoint site, other interfaces). Microsoft Dynamics CRM provides strong support for: phone agents; call center infrastructure; agent collaboration tools; knowledge base; customer data management; analytics; email response management; architecture and platform; business process and workflow tools; integration; security; and Web 2.0 tools.”
Customers using Microsoft Dynamics CRM to get their sales force quickly up to speed include the following:
- IGH Solutions, a worldwide printing company, implemented Microsoft Dynamics CRM to dramatically reduce labor costs and to gain one additional hour of sales productivity per day for each salesperson. More about IGH Solutions’ success can be found here.
- Trion, a benefits consultant, deployed Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online and enabled it to double sales efficiency, improve business insight, lower costs and gain instant feedback on marketing investments. More on Trion’s success can be found here.
- Panduit, a manufacturer, increased its sales force productivity by 15 percent to 20 percent in two months after implementing Microsoft Dynamics CRM. More on Panduit’s story can be found here.
The Gartner Sales Force Automation Magic Quadrant and The Forrester Wave™: CRM Suites Customer Service Solutions, Q3 2010 (July 2010) reports are available at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/itanalyst/default.mspx. Readers who want to learn more about Microsoft Dynamics CRM should visit http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics, follow the Microsoft Dynamics CRM conversation at http://www.twitter.com/msdynamicscrm and engage with the community at http://www.twitter.com/msdyncomm.
About the Magic Quadrant
The Magic Quadrant is copyrighted 2010 by Gartner Inc. and is reused with permission. The Magic Quadrant is a graphical representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner’s analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the Magic Quadrant, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors placed in the “Leaders” quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is intended solely as a research tool, and is not meant to be a specific guide to action. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
About Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of easy-to-use, integrated and adaptable ERP and CRM applications that enable business decision-makers to quickly respond to market shifts, take advantage of new trends, increase their competitive edge and drive business success. Microsoft Dynamics solutions are delivered through a world-class network of reselling partners providing specialized services and additional innovation to help customers excel in their industries.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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