Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Have you ever stopped to think about all the different kinds of information packed into your CRM database? Well, think about it now. You’ve got a whole bunch of fields that support each and every record. And of course, each and every record ‘belongs’ to a whole different bunch of sales reps. All this stuff is accessible by the sales team, the support team, warehouse fulfilment staff, managers, etc. have I missed anyone? There’s really quite a circus going on in there to say the least.

Is it wise to have all these people freely access the main database? Think about it a bit more… There’s certainly a security risk when anyone and his dog can get into the main ‘engine’ that powers your business. But there’s more to consider too. It may not be such a good idea to let work colleagues have viewing access to each other’s data on commissions, etc.

It doesn’t really matter either whether your business is dealing in business to customer sales, or business to business sales, other than the fact that you will be gathering slightly different data in each case. Gathering customer information is likely to include such things as a social security number, home address, credit card details, buying preferences, wealth status, etc. And if you deal with other business it might be sensitive information like, purchase histories, sales goals, and other things that could represent many thousands–even millions of dollars!

Microsoft CRM Software Provider

(part 2 follows tomorrow…)

It’s not that sales persons of yesteryear didn’t know what they wanted or needed. It’s just that they had to struggle so hard to get it. Is the CRM software of today making sales people more lazy? Not at all! They recognize a golden opportunity when they see one. Today people have more money in their pockets than previously. This means that there are greater opportunities for selling, and CRM has arrived at exactly the right time to take advantage of that unique situation.

So, where does that leave the small business? It doesn’t leave them–it places them right in the forefront alongside the larger businesses. It empowers them to go on to bigger and greater things, if they bother to grab the opportunity awaiting them. It’s not a matter of whether or not they can afford to implement CRM–training, deployment, managing, etc–it is simply a matter of how can they possibly not afford to.

Microsoft CRM Software Provider

Come back with me for a moment to the “old days.” Customer details was all written down, or typed at best, and the contact information was stored in a rolodex. Bills and orders may have been stored in files, and archival data may have been stored anywhere. Imagine trying to figure out if Mr Smith of 234 New Avenue is below 40, is married, and if so, has children, and if so does he have two, three, or more?

It could be done, of course. But if you have 100, or worse still, 1,000 similar customers, and you need to find out similar detailed information about each one–well, I guess you get the point. Today it is all so much easier. First we had the desktop computer revolution. This encouraged programmers to write better and better software. Finally, along came CRM software, which now automates customer management and relationships better and more efficiently than ever before.

Microsoft CRM Software Provider

(Part 3 follows tomorrow…)

Perhaps resistance to many small businesses employing CRM is that they do not fully understand why they might need it. CRM, or customer relationship management, means that when a prospect is contacted it is with the hope in mind that they will soon become a customer. If they become a customer they become even more valuable.

It is therefore very sound practice to retain all the contact information for both the prospect and the resultant customer so that they can be contacted again with fresh offers. This simple practice leverages the fact that an existing customer costs much less to market successfully to than a cold prospect that has yet to purchase.

Knowing as much as possible about a customer allows the sales person to be able to tailor and market products to them in a much more focused way. This is where CRM, or customer relationship management, software comes in. It can do all the boring, difficult jobs for you, which you can then access at will at the click of a button. It employs strategies, methods and proven techniques to gather and organize the information in meaningful ways. It then makes all this fully accessible in a multitude of different ways, allowing the sales person a freedom that formerly was unknown.

Microsoft CRM Software Provider

(Part 2 follows tomorrow…)

Because Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 makes full use of existing and proven industry platforms, it starts out with a significant head start. Employees who already use Word, Excel and Access, as well as Outlook, will have little resistance to a new program that integrates fully with these known and proven entities. They will realize that the introduction of such software will not make their working lives more difficult, but will enhance it, making their working lives so much easier.

The automation possible with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 will most likely amaze them if they were previously unaware that such possibilities existed. Mass email broadcast, customer analysis with meaningful reports–all so easy and so useful. Tracking customers and each customer’s requirements is essential to meaningful customer relationship management. It becomes almost comically simple when you employ Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 to do the job.

Microsoft CRM Software Provider

If you have Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 integrating into your company’s existing software solution, will it make your employees happier? It most likely will. They will realize that their cherished work habits are not about to be abandoned for something new and shiny–and unproven. They will be much more likely to be behind the introduction, thereby giving it their silent approval, which in turn will mean a much greater and speedier success for the company as a whole.

Customization lies at the heart of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 secret of success. The program can be customized so easily to fit into your company’s standardized style of documentation. This is how it will fit in seamlessly and invisibly. Other CRM solutions have suffered from implementation failure simply because they failed to make integration and easy and seamless maneuver. This leads to change resistance, which in turn leads to disaster. At this point it would be easy for any manager to conclude erroneously that CRM “doesn’t work.”

Microsoft CRM Software Provider

(Part 3 follows tomorrow…)

Introducing new software into any company can be disruptive and can pose a challenge for employees. They will most likely have to be trained to learn how to use the new software. But employees can feel resentful to new software, feeling that the old solution, which they understand perfectly, are good enough. This can mean that they do not cooperate fully, which in turn can lead to a less than fully successful training experience for the company.

It has to be said that this is indeed true of CRM software as much as it is of any other type of software. But one provider has come up with a solution that can change all that. The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 software package works with you–not against you.It works in the same way that you do, learning and adapting. It works in the same way that your employees do, which of course, should be the way that your business as a whole does.

How can it achieve this level of synchronization? Does your business currently use the modules within Microsoft Office, as well as Microsoft Outlook? If it does, then Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 will seamlessly and invisibly slot into your existing systems–your way of working–without requiring any major changes, or major re-training of your employees.

Microsoft CRM Software Provider

(Part 2 follows tomorrow…)

Some businesses are put off implementing a CRM solution because they think it will take too long to set up. In a way they are right; if you try to get everything little thing just perfect, then it probably will take a long time. Too long in fact, because by the time you achieve perfection your CRM software will most likely be well out of date!

All you really need to do is get your CRM solution working for you. Not perfectly, but at least adequately:

“Every CRM application will need some amount of customization to yield optimal benefits to your business. This does not mean that you should spend days on customization. Calculate the amount of time you need on customization so that you can start with the implementation as soon as possible.”

Have a plan. A good plan if possible. Implement the plan, being flexible where necessary. Then it’s just a matter of ensuring that the data you input is relevant to your needs:

“No CRM program, no matter how sophisticated, is of much use if the data it provides is not relevant. You should be able to use the inputs of the sales staff, customers and agents in a constructive manner in order to boost ROI.”

And always bear in mind, as part of the overall plan:

“Whatever CRM solution you opt for, remember that its implementation needs to be quick, well planned and relevant to the target customers in order to be effective.”

Microsoft CRM Software Provider

I met a friend once who was working for another company. He started talking about customer relationships and sales, and then sked how the company I was working for was getting to grips with the new-fangled CRM thingn we’d recently installed.

This was a while ago admittedly, but some things never change. I told him we were doing fine - just fine, and getting more efficient every day.

He laughed and said something like, “Oh, we’ll never get software to control our business deals.” I replied that the software was not controlling our business. Just the reverse, in fact. But I don’t think I got through to him. We parted with him saying, “Why would we need CRM when we have a dozen or so support reps who know how to hande our customers?”

Why indeed.

I wonder what he’s doing now…

Microsoft CRM Software Provider

Purchasing a CRM package is certainly a daunting task for any small company today. There’s so much behind CRM that it takes a while to learn all the complexities involved.

“For the inexperienced person, choosing the best Customer Relationship Management system can be a difficult. Does your business need an on demand solution, meaning a hosted, accessible over the Internet platform, or can your organization use a real run-on-Windows application.”

However, a few simple rules are all you need to worry about to ensure you get the best there is - for you. Not the best there is, full stop, but the best there is for you!

Be sure that your chosen system can be customized for your indivifual needs. This is important. If you cannot customize the software, then it won’t be what YOU need.

Choose a product that is popular and well placed in the marketplace. If the company behind the product is not doing well, then the product itself may not be around for very long. That will create problems when you need to upgrade or expand.

Getting the right software is not easy, but if you choose carefully after careful research into your own needs, then it shouldn’t be too difficult.

Microsoft CRM Software Provider