Search: partners

Where To Get Help With Salesforce Implementation

by Timothy Sanderson on December 15, 2011

If your firm is seeking a strategy to better manage the partnership you have with your customers to the extent that this information can be useful and beneficial to help the business grow and provide a much better service then you can be considering CRM software and cloud solutions for instance Salesforce. Buying these items is something, but putting them into practice can be another thing entirely and also this is why it is important that your salesforce implementation be achieved by certified experts.

As your salesforce consultants comprehend, time is regarded as the precious commodity in a business although you intend to implement new tools to make you more streamlined you and your staff don’t have an endless period of time to learn about how exactly to get started on them. This is why sales quickstart packages are offered.

These short courses take only around three days and during this time the sales consultants can get you as well as your business installed and operating with this new software. To a particular extent this training will likely be tailored to the needs of the individual business but certain elements will be the same overall – such as basic user instructions.

A three day package involves Salesforce implementation and training. The consultant will spend around half of the very first day understanding your business and how it operates to give them a better idea of what you must get out of this useful CRM tool to be able to then show you how to accomplish this effectively.

After this initial ‘getting-to-know-you’ session, your consultant should invest some time setting up your systems and training staff members in using this tool to be able to start making the most of your new purchase at the earliest opportunity.

There really is no way around a sales quickstart package because it is the obvious way to study the new CRM tool you have just acquired and if you want to make use of it from day one then you need the support of the certified professionals.

If you need help with salesforce implementation why not stop by the crmSOS website where you can find out more about the support they offer including sales quickstart.

{ 0 comments }

CRMUG ~ the power of Networking

by C.R. Matín on June 29, 2011

The Dynamics CRM User Group (CRMUG®) provides users a wealth of opportunities to learn, network, and share expertise about Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Powered by Dynamic Communities, Inc., CRMUG is an independent community and the only one recognized by Microsoft as the official user group for Dynamics CRM. CRMUG is designed to connect you with others who rely on CRM to help their organization thrive by allowing you to engage through a variety of channels, including live and virtual events, a vibrant online community and discussion forums, regional networking opportunities, and valuable training courses.

Top 5 Reasons to participate:

  1. Information
    An intimate learning environment filled with detailed conversations and deep dives into functional and technical areas.
  2. Skills
    How2, presentation, and roundtable sessions offer multiple opportunities where you will learn valuable skills from subject matter experts.
  3. Energy
    Network with other Dynamics users, partners and key Dynamics personnel from Microsoft.
  4. Knowledge
    You will learn better ways to innovate, collaborate and report more effectively on a daily basis.
  5. Savings
    This FOCUS event brings you thousands of dollars worth of education and consulting resources all in one compact two-day format, at a fraction of the cost. Plus register by July 24th and you'll get our Early Bird Rate saving you $50!

Upcoming Events

CRMUG 10@10 of 10
6/29 - 12:50PM ET
Register Now

CRMUG: The Power of Choice: On-Premise or Cloud Implementaton?
6/30 - 1:00PM ET
Register Now

CRMUG 10@10 of 10
7/6 - 12:50PM ET
Register Now

CRMUG: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Migration Planning
7/7 - 1:00PM ET
Register Now

CRMUG: Insights from the Influencers
7/12 - 11:00AM ET
Register Now

CRMUG: Dynamics CRM and Tenrox Cloud-based Project Management
7/12 - 2:00PM ET
Register Now

CRMUG 10@10 of 10
7/13 - 12:50PM ET
Register Now

CRMUG: Hands-On Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Migration
7/13 - 1:00PM ET
Register Now

CRMUG SIG: Manufacturing
7/14 - 11:30AM ET
Register Now

CRMUG Workshop - Planning for CRM Success!
7/14 - 1:30PM ET
Register Now

CRMUG SIG: Financial Services
7/14 - 3:00PM ET
Register Now

Regional Chapter Meetings

CRMUG New England Regional Chapter Meeting
7/13 - 6:00PM EST
Register Now

CRMUG PacNW Regional Chapter
7/19 - 10:00AM PST
Register Now

CRMUG Denver Regional Chapter
7/20 - 4:00PM MST
Register Now

Cheers,

JaAG

{ 0 comments }

We’re at the midpoint of the bug contest. Get your’s in today!

June 24, 2011

We are approaching the midpoint of the SugarCRM Community Bug Fix Contest, and the entries have been slowly trickling in this week. I know everyone has that one annoyance, bug, or issue they’ve reported that they would love to be fixed once and for all, and now it’s your chance to do so and possibility win an [...]

Read the full article →

Why is Salesforce.com So Worried about Microsoft?

June 9, 2011

Salesforce.com spends a lot of time bashing Microsoft. Their CEO, Marc Benioff, can’t stop talking about us, whether in customer events or on their financial analyst calls. Their sales force tries desperately to spread FUD (fear, uncertainty, and…

Read the full article →

MVP Approved: Top Dynamics CRM Community Resources

June 8, 2011

Today’s guest blogger is MVP Julie Yack. Julie is one of the founding partners of Colorado Technology Consultants, Inc. and currently serves as the company’s Chief Operations Officer. This list is a revised version of the bit I did with Anne Stant…

Read the full article →

SugarCRM and Cloudera Debut on List of Open Source Firms to Watch in 2011

May 16, 2011

ZDNet

Red Hat, Acquia, SugarCRM, EnterpriseDB, Jaspersoft, Cloudera, Google and Novell, in that order, were named the top 8 open source companies to watch in the North Bridge Venture Part…

Read the full article →

CRM MVPs Make Dynamics Most Influential People Top 100 list

May 13, 2011

imageA number of our CRM MVPs were recognized as Microsoft Dynamics Most Influential People Top 100. This annual list consists of influential people for all of the Microsoft Dynamics products, not just Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Microsoft Dynamics is a suite of integrated business management solutions for financial, supply chain and customer relationship management.

The Most Influential People in Microsoft Dynamics for 2011 is based on a number of criteria, and with more than 25,000 unique voters and more than 500,000 votes in total the annual list is now firmly established in the Microsoft Dynamics consciousness. More criteria information is available here.

The following CRM MVPs were recognized:

40 – Umar Khan

uMar Khan has developed into one of the leading Pakistan CRM Functional go to people. As a Microsoft CRM Dynamics Consultant working in Australia, uMar is currently focusing on implementing and enhancing Microsoft Dynamics CRM for different vertical industries; working with companies who wish to implement Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Partners who are implementing CRM for their customers. uMar’s blog is one of the most widely read Indian CRM blogs and the success of his blog comes from his insights that he can bring to the functional issues that end clients continue to wrestle with.

44 – Jürgen Beck (second award)

Jurgen works as an independent consultant, programmer, trainer and author since 1995. Jurgen is a holder of a diploma in commerce with specialization in Business Information Systems. He graduated in 2002 with excellence from the University of Osnabrück in Germany. In the world of Microsoft technologies he is certified as a MCP, MCAD, MCSD.NET, MCDBA, MCITP, MCSE and MCT. He is also certified as MBS Certified Master and CRM Developer for Microsoft CRM.For his activity on the Microsoft .NET and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Community in Germany he was first awarded with the Microsoft MVP – Most Valuable Professional for Microsoft Visual C# followed by Microsoft Dynamics CRM. He is the first MVP for a Microsoft Business Solutions product in Europe. A consultant, trainer, author and programmer. He was the first MVP for a Microsoft Business Solutions product in Europe, also a MBS Certified Master. His books have created a following of over 3000 for his website and blog. Website: http://www.ComBeck.de

57 – Frank Lee (second award)

Frank is the President of Workopia Inc a premier Microsoft Dynamics CRM certified specialist for small and medium size businesses across America, Workopia began in 2003 and has grown to be the preeminent Dynamics CRM practice. Frank has been actively involved with Microsoft CRM implementations since v1.0 beta (2002). He has consistently achieved the MVP for Microsoft Dynamics, and his ability to customise not only small CRM solutions but the larger implementations comes from his previous Siebel experience. He is widely renowned in the channel as a speaker and his convergence talks are the most blogged in the CRM space.

71 – Matthew Wittemann (second award)

Matthew Wittemann, author of The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Administration Bible, is the CRM Practice Director of North Carolina (USA) based C5 Insight, a CRM and SharePoint consultancy that has been helping companies improve their use of technology in sales, marketing, service and operations since 2001. A six-time Microsoft MVP award recipient, Matthew is a frequent contributor to CRM industry publications and user communities. He is well-known for his ICU-MSCRM blog, a website dedicated to Microsoft Dynamics CRM, which he has maintained since the earliest versions of the software. He speaks internationally to technical and business audiences about implementing and leveraging the Microsoft Dynamics CRM platform. With a diverse background in web technologies, he has led the development of numerous complex and award-winning CRM deployments, and has recently turned much of his focus towards using Microsoft CRM and SharePoint technologies as a rapid application development platform.

97 – Leon Tribe

Dynamics CRM consultant and business thought leader based in Sydney, Australia. Leon regularly applies his skills to improve businesses through applying a strategic focus, implementing transparent processes and using technology to bring everything together. Initially working as a trainer/lecturer, Leon transitioned into technology and started working with CRM systems in the late 1990s. Consulting at Interact Commerce (now part of Sage) on the ACT! and Saleslogix products, Leon moved to Deloittes in 2001 to hone his consulting skills. Leon moved on to work with numerous customers across multiple industries and was part of the first group of consultants in Australia trained on the beta edition of Microsoft CRM 1.0 (now Dynamics CRM). Seeing the future of the product, Leon transitioned to Dynamics CRM and has worked almost exclusively with the product ever since. A prolific business writer, Leon has been writing on consulting and the CRM industry for almost ten years. These days Leon writes and contributes to industry books, writes his humorous syndicated blog, “Leon’s CRM Musings” (http://leontribe.blogspot.com), and regularly tweets.

Kudos!

JaAG

Read the full article →

Released! Customer Care Accelerator for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

May 13, 2011

imageThe Customer Care Accelerator for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 officially went out the door for folks today and it is now available publicly. You can head over to Microsoft Pinpoint and pick it up here or you can find it on the Dynamics Marketplace here.

As a bit of a teaser… here are two screen shots of the new interface provided as part of the Reference Implementation for CCA.

imageimage

And a bit of a rehash from my previous post on this:

Here are a few highlights to help you be prepared and knowledgeable on CCA for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.

  • First, The Customer Care Accelerator R1 will continue to fully Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.
  • The Customer Care Accelerator R2 and User Interface Integration (UII) for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 is scheduled to be released on April 15, 2011.
  • The Customer Care Accelerator R2 and UII will fully support Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Online and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 On-Premises.
  • The UII framework will support all of the authentication models supported by Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, including Active Directory, IFD (Internet Facing Deployment), Live (for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online) and partial support for Claims (Security Assertion Markup Language — please see the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 SDK and Installation documentation for more information on Claims/SAML support).
  • The Customer Care Accelerator R2 and UII for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 have been updated to .net 4.
  • The Customer Care Accelerator R2 will include updated and restructured reference implementation, providing several prebuilt scenarios to help partners and customers get a jumpstart on learning how to work with the building blocks within the UII. As an example, one of the scenarios will include creating user sessions from various activity types in CRM, and using UII tasks to create cases.
  • The Hosted Application Toolkit (HAT) will be updated for .net 4.0 using the .net 4.0 workflow engine and HAT will fully support Visual Studio 2010

Let me know what you think.

Matthew Barbour

Read the full article →

Statement of Direction for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

May 12, 2011

I had it on my plate to review this document but the good folks at Sonoma beat me to it… again. So I pinged my good friend and CRM MVP Mike Snyder and got permission to repost it here for those of you who aren’t reading the Sonoma Partners blog regularly.

imageWe just got our hands on the updated Microsoft Dynamics CRM Statement of Direction from Microsoft, and we wanted to share our thoughts on the document. The Statement of Direction (SoD) outlines the future direction of Microsoft Dynamics CRM over the short and longer term. If you remember, Microsoft last updated this document back in April 2010…so this May 2011 SoD release is a pretty big milestone. While the May 2011 SoD is just 7 pages long (short compared to the 20 page April 2010 update), it does contain some goodies.

Here’s our highlights from the document:

  • Microsoft will remain committed to the “power of choice” allowing customers to deploy EITHER cloud-based and on-premise versions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
  • SOCIAL CRM! Yes of course social will be part of the future CRM roadmap. Some of the social and collaboration subpoints called out in the SoD include: micro-blogging, business activity feeds, and social intelligence.
  • Microsoft Dynamics CRM will continue to “harness and surface” the collaboration capabilities from Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Lync, and Microsoft Office. This is great to see the continued investment in making the Microsoft products work better together. While Microsoft’s Skype acquisition was too late breaking for this document, it wouldn’t surprise me to see some Skype-to-CRM integration in the future.
  • Improved provisioning and evaluation of Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace solutions, nice!
  • Improved reporting: additional charting, visualization and dashboarding capabilities. Who can argue with better, easier and sexier reporting?
  • Cross-device support: while the SoD does not provide details about specific devices CRM will support (iPad and iPhone?!?), it does call out different form factors such as desktop, PC, laptop, tablet and phone.
  • Multi-browser support: Microsoft Dynamics CRM will work on different web browsers by utilizing HTML5 (again no specifics about Chrome, Safari,etc.).
  • Better support for enterprise organizations to run Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online (as part of their IT infrastructure plus better on-boarding, admin and integration capabilities).

Of course this all sounds like GREAT new stuff and we can’t wait to get it! So we’re guessing the next question on your mind is when can customers expect to see new versions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM? The SoD covers future release timing too:

  • Instead of the traditional 3 years between major releases, Microsoft Dynamics CRM will change to a semi-annual release cycle (spring and fall).
  • Microsoft will release an “automatic update” to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online in Q4 of calendar 2011. There will be a “scheduled update” to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online in Q2 of calendar 2012.
  • As you would expect, automatic updates happen all at once while scheduled updates allow Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online customers to schedule their update within one year. I think it’s pretty safe to assume that scheduled updates will be larger in scope and complexity compared to automatic updates.
  • Microsoft will release an “update” for the on-premise version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM in Q4 of calendar 2011. An “upgrade” of the on-premise version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM will be available in Q2 of calendar 2012.
  • On-premise upgrades may incorporate significant Microsoft platform innovations (e.g. the next releases of Windows Server and desktop, .NET Framework, SQL Server, Office), while updates offer smaller scale new capabilities.

From a customer and partner perspective, I am really jazzed up about the semi-annual release cycles. It will be outstanding to get new features and capabilities more quickly. However from a book author perspective, I am slightly terrified! :)

Of course, you can download and read the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Statement of Direction from our website.

Enjoy,

Mike Snyder

Read the full article →

Social CRM: Walk Before You Run

May 4, 2011

Information Management

There is no doubt that businesses of all shapes and sizes have been affected by the explosive nature of social media. Customers, partners and employees are leveragi…

Read the full article →