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The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Release Candidate (RC) is now available for download in the Microsoft Download Center. As with the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Beta, the Release Candidate is available for anyone to download, and will be available until the RTM release scheduled for Q1, 2011. This release represents the combined efforts and feedback from customers and partners working on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Beta so thank you for all of you involved in this process.
Upgrades: On-premises Beta databases can be upgraded to this new RC release which can then be upgraded to the upcoming RTM release.
Release Candidate is the last external milestone before the CRM Online Release to Web (RTW) launch in January 2011, and the on-premises Release to Manufacturing (RTM) in Q1, 2011, so please continue testing and validating this new pre-release version as well as continue building your deployments and solutions to be ready for the RTW and RTM releases.
Download links at Dynamics CRM Blog
Microsoft said on Thursday that it is ready with a public beta of the next version of its CRM software, a program for midsize businesses to track their clients.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, as the program is known, can be purchased either as server software or as a hosted service. The current version CRM 4, is available in hosted form from Microsoft only in the U.S. and Canada. With the new release, which is due in final form by the end of the year, Microsoft is expanding the hosted option to more than 40 countries.
In an interview this week, Microsoft Vice President Michael Park said that the new CRM version is designed to add new reporting capabilities and is designed to work better with and more closely resemble Outlook.
Park declined to predict how many more customers this time will opt for the hosted product as opposed to the version customers run on their own servers. "It's hard to tell, and to be honest I don't care as long as the customer is taking it," Park said.
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Today’s retailer is facing ever-expanding opportunity, but they are also facing unprecedented challenges. Retailers have more channels to reach their customers and grow globally, but they must also serve an empowered consumer with access to more information and choice than ever before. It’s commonplace to find retail customers in the store cross-shopping the latest promotion or competitor down the street – forcing retailers to use IT in an entirely different way to drive visibility across the organization, to react quickly, seize new opportunities, and build customer loyalty. Retailers also have to find new ways to make their most valuable asset – people – more productive.
This week marks the worldwide general availability of Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail, a new end-to-end solution for midsized specialty retailers that offers a deep level of integration across point of sale, store management, supply chain, merchandising and financials to address business productivity, while enhancing customer service
You can find out more at http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/en/us/products/ax-retail.aspx. For an extended blog post, please visit “The Edge,” the Microsoft Dynamics ERP blog.
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For nonprofits and NGOs interested in the on-demand deployment, the solution is available through Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online — an on-demand service hosted and managed by Microsoft. Pricing for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online for qualifying nonprofits and NGOs is $9.99 per user, per month. Customizations for nonprofits and NGOs are offered free of charge.
“Nonprofits and NGOs are always challenged with doing more with less,” said Sarah Barnhart, senior program manager of community affairs at Microsoft. “We see technology being a key enabler of helping nonprofits to reduce administration and focus their resources on where they can have the biggest impact. Microsoft Dynamics CRM for nonprofits and NGOs includes customized features that simplify administration and management for organizations of every size.”
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Microsoft Corp. today announced the Community Technical Preview 3 (CTP3) for the next generation of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, code-named “CRM5.” This CTP is primarily aimed at software developers within the broad partner base of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, including independent software vendors (ISVs), global system integrators (GSIs), hosting partners and value-added resellers (VARs), giving them an opportunity to start early development and testing of their solutions for this new release.
The CTP software is available as on-premises software, as well as through pre-release versions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online running in datacenters in North America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA); and Asia Pacific (APAC). The availability in international datacenters is in preparation for the global expansion of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online service beyond the U.S. and Canada today and into EMEA, APAC and Latin America.
More than 400 select partners are engaged in the CTP3 program, and that number will be expanded in the coming months.
“We see Microsoft Dynamics CRM driving innovation and focus in the customer relationship management (CRM) marketplace. It continues to raise the bar on ease of use, and delivers real and measurable value to our customers,” said Aziz Virani, executive vice president of the Avanade Technology Solutions Group. “This next generation of the product provides us with more opportunities to create innovative solutions for our customers.”
“With this next version, Microsoft is continuing to drive new levels of user productivity and collaboration, giving customers deep core CRM capabilities, low total cost of ownership, and fast and easy deployment options for their CRM applications,” said Brad Wilson, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
The next generation of Microsoft Dynamics CRM will support more than 40 languages, and will be offered as an online service, as on-premises software and via partner-hosted offerings. Availability of the new product will begin in the second half of 2010.
More information about “CRM5” is available at the Microsoft Dynamics CRM team blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/crm/default.aspx. More information on partner opportunities with Microsoft Dynamics CRM can be found at the Microsoft Partner Network Web site, https://partner.microsoft.com/global/productssolutions/dynamics/microsoftdynamicscrm.
Microsoft Corp. today announced the general availability of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009, an adaptable business management solution that offers powerful new capabilities to help growing multisite organizations streamline processes, reduce operational costs, manage compliance and drive informed decision-making.
As businesses expand globally, so does the complexity of managing accurate business insights and standardizing operations across multiple locations. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 offers new multisite and shared services capabilities, enabling customers to manage complex financial and supply chain processes more easily. For example, the new software can run multiple legal entities on a central installation and provide a single, integrated view of financial and supply chain information from facilities around the world, helping organizations simplify global planning. Advanced planning and reporting scenarios, such as consolidation and budgeting, are offered through integration with Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server.
“With its innovative role-based user experience, improved reporting and BI capabilities, and improving platform harmonization, Microsoft Dynamics products should be on ERP selection shortlists for a variety of SMBs, particularly those that use Microsoft’s server-based products,” wrote R “Ray” Wang of Forrester Research Inc. in the firm’s report “Microsoft Dynamics Gets Renewed Focus” in April 2008. “Multisite companies should consider Dynamics AX.”
Another business challenge that growing companies face is the increasing pressure to meet global and local regulatory compliance, a complex and costly problem that has been a top priority for chief executive officers and chief financial officers. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 delivers core features to help companies limit these risks and lower total cost of compliance, including the following:
A compliance center that provides one central, integrated view of internal controls, key performance indicators (KPIs) and other compliance data
Embedded workflows that automate business processes, enforcing standard operating procedures to limit organizational risks while still enabling organizations to quickly respond to changing market needs
Country-specific functionality to help customers more easily comply with local regulations in 36 countries
“Managing risk is an integral part of my job, and Microsoft Dynamics AX makes my job easier,” said John Elmer, vice president, information systems, and controller, the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. “I can access critical company information from within the Executive Role Center and see a 360-degree view of our global IT and finance operations, ranging from compliance risks to how the company is tracking against forecasts.” The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, based in New York, represents a wide variety of entertainment copyrights for more than 200 writers, including Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, through its theatrical, concert and music publishing divisions.
In a fast-paced world, people need software that helps them do their jobs more effectively and with minimal training. To increase productivity and foster more confident decision-making, the RoleTailored design of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 gives employees access to critical business data through the following new features:
A Role Center that prioritizes tasks and real-time information for a majority of business functions
A user interface that looks and feels like familiar Microsoft Office software to help employees ramp up quickly, resulting in higher user productivity and more consistent adherence to business processes
Self-service business intelligence tools using Microsoft Business Intelligence technologies to deliver standard KPIs by role and simplify end-user reporting, which results in more informed decision-making and integrity of information across the organization. Preconfigured KPIs and reports enable customers to start immediately.
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For the past couple of years, Microsoft has been crowing about its hosted CRM service that competes head-to-head with services from Salesforce.com. It wasn’t until today, April 22, however, that Microsoft’s offering in this space became generally available.
Microsoft has now taken the “Early Access” label off its Microsoft-hosted Dynamics CRM Online service. Starting today, Microsoft will be offering two different versions of its hosted service: Dynamics CRM Online Professional and Dynamics CRM Online Professional Plus. (The main difference between the two, besides the $20 price differential, is the Plus version provides offline data-sync and expanded storage.)
Dynamics CRM Online was formerly known as Dynamics CRM Live. Microsoft changed the name of the service last month, so that it would be consistent with other Microsoft-managed services, such as Microsoft Exchange Online and Microsoft SharePoint Online.
Microsoft is offering the Professional version of Dynamics CRM Online for an introductory price (an offer that lasts throughout calendar 2008) of $39 per user per month. The Professional Plus release is $59 per user per month.
Microsoft says more than 500 customers and 200 resellers have been testing the Professional version of the service for the past six months.
As my ZDNet blogging colleage Josh Greenbaum noted last week, while Microsoft will be competing with Oracle, Zoho and other hosted CRM vendors, Microsoft (and Salesforce) really see the hosted CRM space as a Microsoft vs. Salesforce contest. And just like it has done traditionally with on-premise software, Microsoft is going to emphasize low price/high volume as its primary advantage. The Redmondians are also playing up the familiar Office user interface and its network of partners as other areas where Microsoft will have a strong story vs. Salesforce.
The downloads for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 are now available for customers and partners. This is the English language version, more to follow soon.
The downloads can be found at the following links:
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As Michael Lu reports, they shipped 4.0 on Friday. It generally takes a couple of weeks for everything to hit all of the download sites, etc... But it looks like the Product Development made good on a Q4 Delivery Date for Microsoft Dynamics 4.0. (aka Titan....) The US Launch parties for customers start in March
This Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 RC0 VPC is designed to allow you to demonstrate the features and functionality of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 in a live environment utilizing a single PC or laptop computer. The VPC is based on the Release Candidate 0 (RC0) code base of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 product and contains sample data.
The VPC Contains:
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/products/mscrm/newsevents/news/CRM4VPCImageRC0Release It will also be up on the Microsoft Partner Portal Site for those of you who do not have access to PartnerSource.
Q&A: Microsoft’s U.S. financial services leader Tracy Issel discusses how Microsoft and its partners are working to provide new technologies for the ultra-competitive banking industry to attract, retain and extend customer relationships.
Banks are getting squeezed on all sides by consolidation, regulation, lower margins and fierce competition. Couple that with the rise of consumerism – or the push by consumers for better overall experiences and services – and it’s understandable why banks are so concerned over customer attraction, retention and extension.
Today, at one of the leading forums for the financial services industry, the BAI Retail Delivery Conference & Expo, Microsoft’s U.S. Financial Services Group is showcasing a number of new technologies to help banks differentiate – and ultimately win over new customers, retain long-standing ones and extend relationships to achieve a greater share of wallet. To learn more, PressPass spoke with Tracy Issel, general manager, U.S. Financial Services Group at Microsoft.
PressPass: What are the three biggest challenges facing banks today?
Issel: Unlike in years past, where growing market share was a priority, banks today are primarily concerned with attracting new customers, retaining existing ones and extending those relationships to achieve a greater share of wallet. Differentiation, then, becomes critical in a commoditized market in which many customers view one bank as indistinguishable from another. As consumers get quality service and superior experiences from other institutions – such as making travel plans online or booking dinner reservations – they expect the same personalized, high-quality service from their financial institutions.
That’s why it’s so important that banks differentiate from competitors and provide the superior service that customers expect. Failure to meet expectations can result in a customer opening an account across the street. Thankfully, technology can be a tool to create this differentiation for the industry. Technology can help banks find new value in existing systems, explore new market opportunities and realize measurable returns on their investments. Microsoft’s software, in particular, is well positioned to help banks achieve this differentiation in the market – whether it’s attracting customers by creating a dazzling online banking interface with Microsoft Silverlight or retaining customers by providing a complete, 360-degree view of their accounts with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Continue At Source
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq “MSFT”) today announced that Midas Inc. (NYSE “MDS”), one of the world’s largest providers of automotive services, has selected Microsoft Dynamics GP to overhaul and expand its corporate business management systems.
Midas’ headquarters in Itasca, Ill., recently switched its financial management and general ledger reporting systems from another company’s more limited enterprise resource planning system to Microsoft Dynamics GP, which provides completely integrated and scalable financial management, intelligence, forecasting, budgeting and reporting. Working with Microsoft Gold Certified Partner IDT Consulting Inc., also of Itasca, Ill., throughout the Microsoft Dynamics GP evaluation, selection, system-integration and implementation processes, Midas will move its remaining financial management systems to Microsoft’s premier business management solution over the next two years.
“We looked at other software packages, but nothing came close to Microsoft Dynamics GP,” said Bennett Cikoch, vice president of IT at Midas. “The powerful business management tools, flexible and familiar components and many personalization features of Microsoft Dynamics GP are transforming the way we manage Midas’ corporate finance and other business systems.”
Microsoft Dynamics GP is a complete and scalable business management solution that offers a cost-effective way to manage and integrate finances, e-commerce, supply chain, manufacturing, project accounting, field service, customer relationships and human resources. Based on the familiar People-Ready Microsoft Office system interface, Microsoft Dynamics GP makes it easy for executives, managers and staff to access information that is meaningful to their specific roles and responsibilities, gain deep contextual insight into the key drivers that matter to their business, and improve efficiency throughout their organization. The solution is also easy to configure and maintain, adding to overall return on investment.
Microsoft Dynamics GP will enable Midas’ 40-member finance team to integrate and electronically manage virtually all of the business processes and corporate transactions within the organization’s more than 1,700 franchise and company-owned locations in the United States and Canada. In addition to accounts receivable, accounts payable, order processing and inventory management, Midas will rely on Microsoft Dynamics GP for security-enhanced online distribution of financial reports to field staff via the integrated FRx Report Server and Business Portal.
Midas’ finance team is already seeing positive productivity results from the new system: greater speed, functionality and tools that make financial reporting easier. “We expect the new Microsoft Dynamics solution to bring us efficiencies throughout the fivnance department and in improving information flow with the field,” said James Haeger, vice president and controller for Midas.
Cikoch credits the IDT Consulting organization for putting all the pieces together — a thorough understanding of its critical business issues and internal processes, compliance mandates, strong accounting and product knowledge — to make the transition to the new financial management system as seamless as possible.
Other specific benefits include the following: Continue At Source