Microsoft Dynamics CRM or MS CRM is a very powerful Relationship Management software package from Microsoft, of which Caltech are providers and implementers.  You will note that I haven’t referred to it as a Customer Relationship Management software package, as, although it is named CRM, MS CRM will manage anything – so calling it CRM is limiting. 

Microsoft are now referring to MS CRM as MS xRM - anything relationship management.

MS CRM without any tailoring, focuses on Sales, Service and Marketing however once the system is tailored it will manage almost anything.  Caltech has clients from many industries using MS CRM to do lots of amazing things such as mapping projects to the right people and automating processes, managing product data, managing leads, clients, employees, donors, supporters, students and much, much more!   Have  a look at our case study library in the industries tab, they are being added to all the time. 

Users can access MS CRM via their email interface, or by using a web application, which makes the solution feel like its not part of your usual systems.  Caltech find that users have their own preferences to the way that they use the system and it is best to let end users find the best way for them.  Its the same system so either way of using will give the same result and still give the fully joined up, central repository for information on “whatever” you are using MS CRM for!

The current version of MS CRM is 4.0 although Microsoft have announced that they will be launching MS CRM 5.0 late 2010 early 2011, it is currently being beta tested. 

MS CRM can be used as a hosted solution (in the cloud) or on premise.  This all is dependant on the organisation that is using the software, their situation, their needs etc.  Some say that MS CRM hosted option is great for smaller organisations, but Caltech do not find that is the case at all, as some industries will get a great deal on licensing costs so hosted would not be as cost effective for them.  This choice would also be based on their IT infrastructure.  Caltech have clients using Hosted and On Premise with many different reasons – they do what is right for them and Caltech can offer advice.

Either way, hosted or on premise, MS CRM delivers extraordinary capability and the results are exciting, if implemented correctly, if end users are engaged and using it, and when it is being tapped for management information. 

Accelerators

Accelerators offer additional capability to MS CRM.  They are free but will require some work to adapt to your organisation and the way you are using CRM.   

To find out more or if you would like to see a demo, please contact George@caltech.co.uk