Last week Microsoft announced it will be releasing the next major upgrade to Dynamics CRM (CRM 2013) this fall. And while upgrades of this nature are very exciting because they generally signal significant improvements in the software’s features and functionality, we know that current users as well as those who are evaluating whether Dynamics CRM is right for their business are bound to have plenty of questions about this upgrade and what it means for them.
So, today I’d like to take a few minutes to try to answer some of those questions based on what we know thus far.
Q: Will this update be available for all Microsoft Dynamics CRM users, regardless of the type of deployment they have?
A: Yes, this upcoming release will be made available to both Dynamics CRM on premise and Dynamics CRM Online users.
Q: When will Dynamics CRM 2013 be available?
A: According to Microsoft, this Dynamics CRM upgrade will be generally available this fall, right now reports say sometime in October.
Q: Will mobile capabilities be included in this release?
A: Yes, there will be applications for both PC and tablets, including the iPad. Fred Studer, general manager for Microsoft Dynamics marketing stated in a recent CRM Buyer article, “after the initial release, Microsoft will be offering touch-optimized capabilities for phones including Windows 8 phones, iOS, and Android.”
Q: How can mobile CRM access help my organization?
A: The goal of these mobile CRM applications is simple; make your sales team smarter no matter where they are by delivering anytime, anywhere access to the information they need most. See screenshot below:
Q: What other new features/functionality will be included in Dynamics CRM 2013?
A: Here’s a brief description of some of the new features you can look forward to in the next release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM:
- Redesigned user experience—Cleaner, faster, more intuitive interfaces with no pop ups or flipping from one application to the next. Information at your fingertips gives you the insights you need to get in, get going, and get done, so you can focus on what is most important: your customers. Studer described the new user interface “as very intuitive, our goal was to have people love using these tools, not to be forced to use them."
See screenshot below for an example of what the redesigned user experience will look like.
- Process guidance—No more guessing what comes next. Process guidance, based on industry-leading best practices, helps your sales team easily move from lead to close—faster than ever before. Flexible and configurable, it gives your organization the ability to be agile in the face of change.
- Yammer integration—The enterprise social capabilities of Yammer allow you put your business strategies into action more quickly and effectively, flatten hierarchies and encourage collaboration across geographies and in real time. See screenshot below:
- MarketingPilot integration—This marketing automation tool helps businesses manage products, campaigns and resources across various channels. It also offers analytic tools that help users understand their customers' digital footprint and convert these "footprints" to leads and then sales.
I hope I’ve helped to answer some of your questions about the upcoming new release of Dynamics CRM. As more information on Dynamics CRM 2013 becomes available, I will share it with you in future blog posts. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about how Microsoft Dynamics CRM can help your business succeed, please visit our website or contact us.
By: Laura Heinbockel, Intelligent Technologies, Inc., a North Carolina Dynamics CRM Partner
Major Dynamics CRM Update Coming This Fall: CRM 2013 Frequently Asked Questions is a post from: CRM Software Blog