With Windows 10 slowly securing control of the Windows desktop market and Server 2012 introducing a similar user interface, every other Microsoft product is being directed toward the same end. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 is no exception but the User Interface (UI) is hardly the only change you’ll notice. With it, Microsoft sets out to completely change the application experience in hopes of driving innovation and unifying to a greater degree the business applications it produces.
Looking Like Windows 10
There’s no denying that from an interface perspective the new flat look of CRM is modern, fast and clean. What’s finally becoming a common theme in every Microsoft application, this new interface is more intuitive and logical than we’ve ever seen.
Microsoft in response to the common practice of heavy CRM customization felt our pain and has included new process guidance tools to ease what were formerly more complicated achievements. Field management during entry, form display alterations and much more can now be accomplished without code via tools that allow you to carefully craft and deliver a fluid process that matches your customers real world scenarios.
So mobile, who needs an office?
Ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but Microsoft has recently become more interested on being more devices and more brands. Every mobile platform will get a great CRM experience via their browser or through native apps as they become available. A fully touch optimized experience means better on-the-go navigation and overall ease of use.
Platform Reform
Microsoft been no slouch with the undercarriage of CRM. Gutting and redesigning, but also building in new functionality.
- Customer Driven Update
- Scheduled Updates and Downtime for Cloud Users
- Access Teams
- Record based access teams keep people connected to customers and contacts where overlapping involvement happens. This type of management is much more intuitive and flexible than simple role-based security
- Business Rules
- No-code, rule based actions across all devices. Field requirements, form design based on entry and field validation.
- Real-time Workflow
- Formerly asynchronous workflow is now synchronous. Executing workflows as actions occur in the system mean less waiting for workflow completion. Additionally the engine has been enhanced to limit or completely remove the need for coding with complex workflows.
- Office 2013 Compatibility (of course)
- Extended Mobile Application Options
- Build your own custom apps to address the CRM API and extend CRM to a level of flexibility not available on any other platform.
Lets wrap this up!
Microsoft continues to provide the most comprehensive, most compatible and most capable CRM system in the world today. Extendable and customizable to match your pre-existing business processes and make data collection easy and intuitive.
By Andy Casper, Business Technology Consultant, Premier Computing. Microsoft Dynamics GP & CRM partner based in Salt Lake City UT, and serving Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming and Utah.
