Microsoft Dynamics CRM Customization Essentials

"Microsoft Dynamics CRM Customization Essentials" written by Nicolae Tarla, a MVP alumni. This book has published on December 2014, targeting to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015. But in my option, most of the contents in this book can also apply to CRM 2011 and 2013.

The bright spot of this book is about “Use a no-code approach to create powerful business solutions using Dynamics CRM 2015”. Therefore the audience of this book are business administration users, functional consultant etc. Developers could also benefit from this book by recognising what are the out-of-box Microsoft Dynamics CRM offerings, and how to leverage them; rather than try to develop everything – noted in most scenarios, we should follow the “CCDI” route: 

Configuration -> Customisation -> Development -> Integration.  

In some scenarios, the right route would be CCID - so use the best of CRM, not everything (in which other technology/products can provide a better solution, so integration would be preferable and scalable).

Either way, “CC” are always the first choices, which are the focus of this book; it has 6 chapters:

• Chapter 1: Getting Started – get a free trial of CRM Online and configure CRM Outlook.
• Chapter 2: Dynamics CRM Application Structure – CRM modules and major components.
• Chapter 3: Customizing Entities – Entities in detail, customise entities and extend the system.
• Chapter 4: Business Processes – Customise business processes and business roles.
• Chapter 5: Social Features in Microsoft Dynamics CRM – various social platforms, internally and externally of Dynamics CRM platform.
• Chapter 6: Dynamics CRM Administration – Various administration options available in Dynamics CRM.

In summary, it is a recommended book of Microsoft Dynamics CRM business administration / functional readers who learn/design/build their CRM systems using the “Configuration and Customisation” approach.

Although in a complex business environment, you will need more or less in-deep development work to extend CRM further to fit your business, but those are not the focus of this book.

New Book Review: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 Marketing Automation

This book is written by Alok Singh and Sandeep Chanda at Neudesic.

The target audience of this book is anyone who wants to implement effective marketing strategies using Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013. It starts with the current marketing analysis and concluded the important of Target Marketing: "Marketing is now a revenue process that is not about broadcasting the product information to all, it's about targeting and nurturing relationships with prospects from an early stage until they become ready to buy."

The book then reflects the present Marketing challenges in which the right automation tools can help to run the modern Marketing activities, as well as closing the gap between Sales and Marketing by providing a shared customer data repository which is where CRM coming from, follows with what can CRM also help on Marketing activities, such as Targeting, Automation and Execution, Close looping and Revenue Management by Collaboration with Sales. And then explains how CRM can help to effectively manage Leads and render Lead Funnel in each stages (Lead generation >> Lead nurturing >> Lead scoring and conversion >> Sales opportunity and recycling >> Post sale loyalty.

This book begins with overall how CRM can help on Marketing Automation, and then introducing how Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 can be used to implement those activities.

The book uses the step-by-step approach to demonstrate the following Marketing activities with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013:
  * How to build a Marketing list with target customers, examples like the revenue, size of purchase and profitability.
  * How to build and execute flexible Marketing Campaign and keep everything on track.
  * How to measure the Marketing Campaign with ROI, as well as reconcile the campaign response.
  * How to manage the Campaign Response and its lifecycle, as well as converting them into lead and opportunities. Also measuring the response with CRM reports.
  * How to virtualise and analyse Marketing data with CRM chart and dashboard, as well as managing goals using key metrics.
  * How to enhance CRM Marketing with ISV solutions: ClickDimensions and CoreMotives, using email marketing and web tracking, social integration and nurture marketing features.

The only down size I found in the book was not clear (need more details) about How to bind your Marketing strategy and measure ROI with Dynamics CRM in more detail, maybe some real world example could help here.

Overall, this is a kind of book I like and enjoy to read - easy reading with screenshots, small but focused. It can drive you through from Theory to Implementation for a particular area, in this case it's the Marketing module in CRM.

Thank you for writing it.

Jim Wang
June 2014

New Book Review: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Application Design

This book is written by Mahender Pal, a CRM MVP.

On the first chapter, it briefly introduced Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011; along with deployment options, client options, requirements and typical CRM modules: Sales, Marketing and Service. The book gives an example of how to design and develop a "Project Training Enrollment System" using Dynamics CRM 2011, with abundant screenshots and detailed steps. As a reader, you will learn how Dynamics CRM works as a 'xRM' application; you will go through the CRM customisation concepts and form design; You will also learn how process, plugins and web resource works in Dynamics CRM. The book also covers the application development using Dynamics CRM web services. Compares different CRM mobile client. Last but not least, it also introduces how to build an Issue Tracker tool using Dynamics CRM 2011.

This book will give you a good idea of CRM application design and development; it's suitable for technical consultant and developers.

Thanks Mahender!

Get a free Dynamics CRM 2011 Project Tutorial book offer

Do you want free copies of my latest book?

Well, all you need to do is visit Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 New Features and tell me the one feature, that makes you want to own this book in the comments section below (on this post).
Make sure to enter your email address, so that I can in touch with you. Two individuals who have mentioned the best reasons will be provided with an e-copy each.

Thanks,
Jim

New CRM 2011 Book Released: << Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 New Features - with a CRM project tutorial >>.

New CRM 2011 Book Released: << Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 New Features - with a CRM project tutorial >>.

This book is your one stop resource to get to grips with all the new features of Dynamics CRM 2011. To make learning fun and engaging, we will build an Airline Compensation Management (ACM) system using Dynamics CRM 2011.

The book starts by setting up the development environment for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011. We will then build a structural architecture for the ACM system and configure it in Dynamics CRM 2011. While doing this, we will learn about the new customization features offered by Dynamics CRM 2011.

We will then move on to Data Importing and will cover the Import Data Wizard tool, as well as the Import file/data web service which provides additional capabilities that are not available in the Import Data Wizard.

We will use client-side programming to perform data validation, automation, and process enhancement and learn powerful event driven server-side programming methods: Plug-Ins and Processes (Formerly Workflows).

The book then steers you towards SharePoint integration, Charts and Dashboards, Customizing the Ribbon and Sitemap, and extending Dynamics CRM 2011 in the cloud.

Finally we will package the ACM solution and learn how to deploy it.

What you will learn from this book :

• Set up a development environment for Dynamics CRM 2011
• Import your important data from various sources using the Import Data Wizard
• Use web resources to store files virtually
• Visualize your data using filters, charts, and dashboards
• Customize the default Microsoft Dynamics ribbon
• Improve document management in your CRM system by integrating it with SharePoint 2010

Approach

This book is packed with practical steps and screenshots to make learning fun and addictive. You will learn to build a complete Airline Compensation Management system using Dynamics CRM 2011.

Who this book is written for

If you want a focused book that gets you up-to-speed with the new features of Microsft Dynamics CRM 2011 then this is the perfect book for you.Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 New Features - with a CRM project tutorial

Chapter 1, Setting up the Development Workspace, shows how to set up and configure your Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 development workspace that you can use for the project.
Chapter 2, System Design and Configuration, gives you a high level overview of an Airline Compensation Management (ACM) XRM application in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 that we are going to build.
Chapter 3, Data Import, populates some sample data into Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, using new Import Data Wizard for testing and further development.
Chapter 4, Client-side Programming, gives you an overview of the new client-side programming features in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.
Chapter 5, Server-side Programming, introduces the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 event driven server-side programming methods: Plug-ins and Processes.
Chapter 6, SharePoint Integration, guides you through how to enable and configure the SharePoint integration feature in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.
Chapter 7, Charts and Dashboards, covers the new business intelligent features such as filters, charts, and dashboards.
Chapter 8, Extending Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 in the Cloud, introduces Microsoft cloud offerings and sets up a portal site on the Windows Azure platform and integrates the portal with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Online.
Chapter 9, Sitemap and Ribbon Customization, covers the Sitemap and Ribbon customization.
Chapter 10, Packaging it Up, explains solutions and how to better use solutions to help our deployments into different environments.

Software Advice: 15 Favourites Microsoft Dynamics CRM Industry Solutions

Lauren Carlson has recently posted a blog about the 15 Favourites Microsoft Dynamics CRM Industry Solutions:

When most industry observers hear customer relationship management (CRM), they think of applications for sales, service and marketing. However, actual CRM software users think of the much more specific functionality required to do business in their industry. For example, sales software used by a pharmaceutical rep to track FDA-related information will vary greatly from that used by a cattle rancher to track their herd. Yes, there’s an app for that.

To meet these unique industry requirements, Microsoft has called on hundreds of partners that resell, customize and implement Microsoft Dynamics CRM. These value-added resellers (VARs) and independent software vendors (ISVs) are extending the core Dynamics CRM applications to meet the unique needs of companies in a range of vertical markets. There are now over 750 certified industry solutions built on Microsoft Dynamics CRM. The breadth of industry solutions available is impressive – a testament to the scope and sophistication of the Microsoft partner channel.

To demonstrate the specificity of these solutions, we decided to highlight some of our favorite Microsoft Dynamics CRM partner solutions. For easy navigation, we’ve linked each industry to its corresponding solution:

Advertising	Financial Services	Non-Profit
Agriculture	Healthcare	Pharmaceuticals
Automotive	Hospitality/Travel	Public Sector
Construction	Insurance	Real Estate
Distribution	Legal	Retail

Read more: http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/crm/microsoft-dynamics-crm-industry-solutions-our-20-favorites-1082010/#ixzz0xYTF2cHC