Microsoft CRM vs. Salesforce

Alert not all CRM’s are born equal!  This blog will address the differences that CRM solutions offer and of course the comparison Microsoft CRM vs. Salesforce.

 

We are always asked “what is the best CRM solution” and the answer is always simple, the one that will do what you need now, and will grow with you, and will deliver benefits at the right cost.

We come across free or very inexpensive software that claims to have great CRM functionality but often they are flat form databases that don’t have the power of a true CRM solution. And sometimes that’s fine, if it works for your business. At the end of the day remember it’s about providing benefits and efficiencies.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a powerful CRM solution that can manage multiple relationships, manages processes and will be sure to grow with your business and evolving needs.

 

So what does multiple relationships mean?

Multiple relationships or ‘many to many’ relationships means the ability to relate records to one another. So a single contact can be linked to many opportunities or perhaps a contact wants to be linked to a product, a team and an account and they can be any one of several records, a lead or prospect for different lines of business.

CRM solutions can be very powerful and Microsoft CRM and Salesforce are both very credible solutions. So gloves off, what’s the difference between Microsoft CRM and Salesforce?

 

Microsoft CRM vs. Salesforce Comparison

As Microsoft Dynamics CRM consultants, we stress that the information here is collected from Microsoft sources and that we have not been able to verify them. Hopefully it will give you some pointers regarding the key differences of the products when evaluating your options.

 

Pricing

Microsoft Dynamics CRM professional license includes full functionality for sales, marketing, cases and “anything” CRM.  It also includes a production instance and one non-production instance. Microsoft CRM Online offers 5GB of storage and includes mobile and offline. (The Caltech Hosted Microsoft CRM solutions comes with 10GB of storage). For some users that do not work with opportunities then a basic license may be best, and will incur savings.

Salesforce has 4 CRM editions. There is also a mobile classic, which is an “add on” for mobile access. The most popular license is the Enterprise. Other license options include Unlimited, Professional and Group. There is also a Performance bundle.

 

SLA up time

As both Microsoft CRM Online and Salesforce are hosted in the cloud, then the SLA up time is an important feature. The Microsoft guarantee is 99.9%.

 

Document storage

Another product from the dynamics suite is SharePoint. It is a firm favourite for intranet and document library storage and integrates completely with Microsoft CRM extending its capability.

 

Offline

Microsoft CRM offers strong offline data with Outlook.

 

User Interface

When Microsoft released version 2013 it was a much flatter CRM solution. Gone were the windows and pop ups of 2011. The structure has been a real hit with users and administrators alike.

 

Microsoft CRM vs. Salesforce

See the full report here from Microsoft.

Other functional variations that Microsoft CRM provides include:

  • Consolidated information on a single screen.
  • Implementation options for Online, Hosted or On Premise
  • Data centres
  • SLAs that guarantee 99.9% uptime
  • Low subscription costs
  • Microsoft CRM dashboard reporting data is real time
  • Dashboard reporting, Microsoft CRM allows charts, lists and iframes display

 

Good luck with your evaluation and I hope this information has helped?  But remember, ultimately the goal is to ensure that your CRM solution is delivering efficiencies, at the right price and driving benefits.

For a guide to building a CRM strategy see our popular SlideShare or our top ten CRM tips.

 

Want to see Microsoft CRM?  Contact us for a free demonstration of Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

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