Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a customer relationship management software package developed by Microsoft. The product focuses mainly on Sales, Marketing, and Service (help desk) sectors, but Microsoft has been marketing Dynamics CRM as an XRM platform and has been encouraging partners to use its proprietary (.NET based) framework to customize it. It is part of the Microsoft Dynamics family of business applications.
Dynamics CRM is a server-client application, which, like Microsoft SharePoint, is primarily an IIS-based web application which also supports extensive web services interfaces. Clients access Dynamics CRM either by using a Browser or by a thick client plug-in to Microsoft Outlook. Besides Internet Explorer the Chrome and Firefox browsers are fully supported since Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Update Rollup 12.
The current version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM is 2016. Microsoft Dynamics CRM has over 40,000 customers.
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History
- Microsoft CRM 1.0 launched in January 2003.
- Microsoft CRM 1.2 was released December 8, 2003. Microsoft CRM 1.2 was not widely adopted by industry.
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016
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Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.0
Versions
- Workgroup Edition
This edition is only allowed 5 CALs maximum,it is not possible to add more CALs. If more CALs are needed, an upgrade to Professional or Enterprise should be done. Also all the server roles are installed on 1 machine and cannot be separated. You can only create 1 organization in this version and the use of external connectors is not allowed. This version is ideal for small organizations that can use it with the SQL Server Workgroup Edition and on a Windows Small Business Server.
- Professional Edition
The Professional Edition has the same functionality as the Workgroup Edition except there is no limit on the CALs. If the installation profile calls for supporting either multiple organizations or servers, the Enterprise Edition is required.
- Enterprise Edition
Has the same functionality as the Professional Edition but without limits. This version is to be used when multiple divisions should be accessing CRM from one platform.
- Service Provider Edition
This edition is actually an Enterprise Edition that is configured to accept Internal user requests from AD and external user requests through IFD (Internet Facing Deployment). This version is mostly implemented by Microsoft Partners that offer Hosted CRM functionality, when letting external users connect to this CRM version through the Internet..
Licensing
Microsoft Dynamics CRM offers two types of licenses: Server license and Client Access License (CAL). Each deployment should have at least one server license and one CAL. CAL is also known as a user license.
There are two types of Client CAL:
- Named User CAL: This is tied with the user name i.e. the user can access MSCRM from any computer.
- Device CAL: This is tied with the Device (i.e., CRM can be accessed from only one device). This model is useful in environments such as Call Centers.
Read Only Licenses
New in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 are readonly licenses. Users that do not have to have write permissions can be assigned Read Only licenses. These licenses are cheaper because they do not allow any write operations on the records. If later a user should be able to perform a write operation, a step-up license can be bought to upgrade the Read-Only license to a Full Client Access License.
Full Use Licenses Full Use Licenses are licenses where the client (user / device) has read, write and update permissions.
External Connector Licenses
Whenever an application (windows or web) reads or writes data from/in Microsoft Dynamics CRM, an external connector license is required. External Connector licenses are only valid when bought for a Professional or Enterprise edition. It is not allowed to use them with a Workgroup Edition.
These also come in 3 forms:
- External Connector : Is a combination of the Limited External Connector (that provides Read Only functionality) and the Full Use Additive External Connector (that provides Write Only functionality)
- Limited External Connector: Provides Read Only functionality for the external application. This license can be upgraded to an 'External Connector License' when the Full Use Additive External Connector is bought.
- Full Use Additive External Connector: Provides the Write functionality to a "Limited External Connector" license.
Dynamics CRM version 4.0 adds a number of new features, including support for duplicate data detection and other enhancements. Perhaps most importantly, CRM 4.0 provides true multi-tenancy, which will allow the creation of multiple organizations on a single server. CRM 4.0 was released with the following improvements:
- More powerful and easier to configure Reporting and BI (now based on SSRS instead of Crystal)
- More powerful data import tools, de-duplication capability now included
- Enhanced entity relationships - many to many, self-referential
- Improved programmability - enhanced Web Services, unified event model, plug-ins to replace callouts
- Light enquiry user license now available - potentially reducing the costs associated with rolling out across larger organizations
- Multi Tenancy - One server can host more than one business organization
- Multi Currency
- Multi Lingual
- Microsoft Office Communicator / Windows Live Messenger presence integration support
- cloud computing with Microsoft Online Services
Updates
Microsoft publishes updates for Microsoft Dynamics CRM (called Rollups) every two months. At the time of writing, CRM 4.0 Rollup 21 is available. For CRM 2011, rollup 18 is available. For CRM 2013, rollup 3 is available which was introduced after an SP1 releases.
Accelerators for Microsoft Dynamics CRM
In order to maximize the integration with other products and to enable basic templating, Microsoft released the Accelerators, a set of basic vertical solution templates that can be used to extend Microsoft Dynamics CRM in a few directions. These accelerators can be downloaded (for free) from the CodePlex website and adapted by the organization itself. This was eventually retired Feb 28, 2013.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 is available as a cloud offering or an on-premises installation by a partner/customer. As in CRM 4 these versions can be highly customized using advanced extensions. New feature set includes - Visualizations, Dashboards, Document Management, Grid Filters, Dialogs, Recurring Appointments, Custom Activities, Goal Management, Fetch based Reports, MAPI based Outlook clients, FLS etc.
- Native integration with SharePoint 2010
- Ability to create a query behind a look-up
- Placing of a grid with child records on the parent record
- Auto filter sorting capability like in Microsoft Office Excel
- Microsoft Office Ribbon interface replaces menus
- OData endpoints
- LINQ programming API in the SDK
- WCF services
- Global Optionset which can be used for other entities
- Customization can be packaged as solutions
- CRM Online supports plugins in sandboxed mode
- Multiple forms per entity
- Dashboard designer
- Yammer integration
- Lync integration
The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 RTW/RTM is available since January and mid February 2011 respectively. 41 languages are supported.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 is available as a cloud offering, on-premises or a hybrid of cloud and on-premises installation by a partner/Customer.
- Navigation drops down from the top of the screen. The old navigation pane is gone
- You can hover over the Microsoft Dynamics CRM logo to access different work areas
- Clicking on a work area will bring you to the record types you work with most often
- To get to other info related to the record you're viewing, all you have to do is click the arrow next to the name of the record
- You can edit info inline rather than having to flip to a different screen
- You can add notes to each record
- Lookup lists and inline editing help keep data current
- No longer have to click "save." Records are saved automatically
- CRM 2013 apps for Windows Phone, iPhone, Android, & Windows 8
- 5 - 200 GB of storage
- Process-driven user experience
- Contractual privacy protections via European Model Clauses hap hap
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015
On Sept. 16, 2014, Microsoft announced that Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015, as well as updates to its Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online and Microsoft Dynamics Marketing services, will be generally available in the fourth quarter of 2014. Microsoft also released a preview guide with details.
On Nov 30, 2014 Microsoft announced the general availability of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015 and the 2015 Update of Microsoft Dynamics Marketing.
On Jan 6, 2015, Microsoft announced the availability of a CRM Cloud service specifically for US Government that is designed for FedRAMP compliance.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016 was officially released on November 30, 2015. In the official press release Microsoft calls this "The most comprehensive upgrade ever for Dynamics CRM" and says it "includes advancements in intelligence, mobility and service, with significant productivity enhancements".
Since the 2011 version, it is possible to store and manage documents in the context of Dynamics CRM records on a server that is running Microsoft SharePoint. This feature allows to use the advanced SharePoint framework for the content management infrastructure inside Dynamics CRM. With the SharePoint integration, it is also possible to share documents for external users with granted permission but no access to Dynamics CRM account.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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